The Speech of Birds also the Speech of Flowers, Title page – Dedication 2
ORNITHO-LOGIE OR, The Speech of BIRDS, ALSO, The Speech of FLOVVERS Partly Moral, Partly Mystical.
By T. Fuller Doctor in Divinity.
London, Printed for John Stafford, and are to be sold at his House in George Yard, neare Fleet-Bridge, 1662.
To my much Honored Friend, William Stafford Esquire, Merchant of Bristoll.
Worthy Sir,
IN this plundering age, wherein the studies of so many have beene ransacked, and many papers intended for private solace and content…nt have bin exposed to publike view, it …s my fortune to light on the ensuing dis…rse: It seemed to me pitty that it should …rangled in obscurity, as conceiving might conduce something to the delight the Reade… ▪ for surely no ingenuous …rson can be so constantly serious, yea surly …nd Criticall, but to allow some intervalls refreshment not onelyonly as lawfull but ne…sarie.
Let such morose, yea mischievous spirits pine themselves to walking Anatomies, who brand all refection of the mind by …udicrous intermissious to be unl…wfull, to spare an heavier censure (which may more resent of anger) the worst I wish them is alwaies to eate their meate without sauce, and let them try …hether their palate will be pleased with the gust thereof.
In the following discourse there is nothing presented but sweet Flowers and herbs: I could wish it had been in the s…mmer time, when the heate of the Sunne might have improved their fragrancie to the greatest advantage and rendred them more acceptable to the smell of the Reader: Being now sadly sensibl… that Autumne the Vsher of winter will abate of their s…e, and present them much to their loss.
Sure I am no bitter Colloquintida appeareth in this our Herball; I meane no tart and toothed reflections on any. Dull are those witts which cannot make some smile, except they make others cry, having no way to work▪ a delight and complacency in the Reader, save onelyonly by gashing, wounding and abusing the credits of others.
It is desired, that this discourse may but finde as much candidnesse as it brings, and be entertained according to his own innocency. I have heard a storie of an envious man, who had no other way to be revenged of his Neighbour, who abounded with store of Bee-hives, then by poysoning all the Flowers in his owne Garden wherein his Neighbours Bees tooke their constant repast, which infection caused a generall mortality in all the winged cattell of his Neighbour.
I hope none have so spleneticke a designe against this my harmelesse Treatise, as to invenome my flowers with pestilent and unintended interpretations, as if any thing more then flowers were meant in the flowers, or as if they had so deepe a root under ground, that men must mine t… understand some concealed and profou… mysterie therein, surely this Mythologie is … Cabinet which needeth no key to unlock it, the lid or cover lyeth open.
Let me i…treate you Sir to put your hana into this Cabinet, and after therein you finde what may please or content you, the same will be as much contentment unto
your True Friend, J. S.
To the Worshipfull, ROGER LE STRANGE Esquire.
SIR,
A Most learned Dutch writer hath maintained that Birds doe speake and converse one with another: nor doth it follow, that they cannot speake, because wee cannot heare, or that they want language, because we want understanding. Bee this true or false, in Mythologie Birds are allowed to speake, and and to teach Men too. We know that a man cannot reade a wiser, nor a child a plainer Booke then Aesops Fables.
These Birds now come to make their nest under the Bowes and Branches of your Favour; Bee you pleased Sir, to extend your shadow over them, and as they shal receive succour from you; you may be assured you shall receive no hurt from them: And thus Sir, I wish you all happinesse, not only to converse with Birds in the lowest Re…ion of the Aire sometime stiled Heaven, but that a better and higher place may bee reserved for your entertainement.
J. S.