Crooke, Helkiah (1576-1648)

ΜΙΚΡΟΚΟΣΜΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ: A Description of the Body of Man [Mikrokosmographia, Microcosmographia]

London

Printed by William Iaggard

1615

"For seeing the soul of man being cast into this prison of the body, cannot discharge her offices and functions without a corporeal Organ or instrument of the body; whosoever will attain unto the knowledge of the soul, it is necessary that he know the frame and composition of the body."

Wisely therefore did the Oracle of Apollo, incite and stirre vp euery man to the knowledge of himselfe, as Plato hath it in his Alcibiade. This by the iudgement and consent of all men, is true and sound Philosophy. For Demonax being asked, When he beganne to professe Philosophy, made answere, When I began to know my selfe. Socrates held it the next point to fury and madnesse, to enquire into high matters, and to search into strange and vncouth businesses, and bee ignorant in the meane while of those things that bee in our selues. This preposterous skill was once very merrily and wittily by an old wife cast in the teeth of Thales the Philosopher of Miletum; who as he inconsiderately cast vp his eyes to behold the Heauens, fell into a pit; the old wife cried out, Thou Foole, thou priest into matters that are aboue thee, & art ignorant of those things that are below thee, nay euen within thee. Surely it was a worthy speech, and not beseeming an olde Beldame but a Philosopher. But this same knowledge of a mans selfe, as it is a very glorious thing, so it is also very hard and difficult. And yet by the dissection of the body, and by Anatomy, wee shall easily attaine vnto this knowledge. For seeing the soule of man being cast into this prison of the body, cannot discharge her offices and functions without a corporeall Organ or instrument of the body; whosoeuer will attaine vnto the knowledge of the soule, it is necessarie that hee know the frame and composition of the body.
(I.v, p. 12)

Architecture::Prison

Reading in EEBO

Helkiah Crooke, ΜΙΚΡΟΚΟΣΜΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ: A Description of the Body of Man (London: Printed by William Iaggard, 1615). <Link to EEBO>

09/27/2011