setting of pen unto paper, I had not the assistance of any good book,
whereby to promote my invention, or relieve my memory, and therefore
there might be many real lapses therein, which others might take notice
of, and more than I suspected myself. It was set down many years past,
and was the sense of my conception at that time, not an immutable law
unto my advancing judgment at all times; and therefore there might be
many things therein plausible unto my past apprehension, which are not
agreeable unto my present self. There are many things delivered
rhetorically, many expressions therein merely tropical, and as they best
illustrate my intention, and therefore also there are many things to be
taken in a soft and flexible sense and not to be called unto the rigid
test of reason. Lastly, all that is contained therein, is in submission
unto maturer discernments; and as I have declared, shall no further
father them than the best and learned judgments shall authorise them;
under favour of which considerations I have made its secrecy public, and
committed the truth thereof to every ingenuous reader.



LAST LINES OF THE RELIGIO MEDICI


Bless me in this life with but peace of my conscience, command of my
affections, the love of Thyself and my dearest friends, and I shall be
happy enough to pity Caesar. These are, O Lord, the humble desires of my
most reasonable ambition, and all I dare call happiness on earth; wherein
I set no rule or limit to Thy hand of Providence; dispose of me according
to the wisdom of Thy pleasure. Thy will be done, though in my own
undoing.