VI

In this place also is to be resumed that which in the 99th, 119th, and 120th aphorisms of the first book I treated more at large, but which it may be enough here to enjoin shortly by way of precept — namely, that there are to be received into this history, first, things the most ordinary, such as it might be thought superfluous to record in writing because they are so familiarly known; secondly, things mean, illiberal, filthy (for "to the pure all things are pure," and if money obtained from Vespasian's tax smelt well, much more does light and information from whatever source derived); thirdly, things trifling and childish (and no wonder, for we are to become again as little children); and lastly, things which seem over subtle, because they are in themselves of no use. For the things which will be set forth in this history are not collected (as I have already said) on their own account; and therefore neither is their importance to be measured by what they are worth in themselves, but according to their indirect bearing upon other things and the influence they may have upon philosophy.