Excerpt from The Art of Pluck: Being a Treatise After the Fashion of Aristotle; Writ for the Use of Students in the Universities to Which Is Added Fragments From the Examination Papers

Tms Preface divideth itself into three parts; whereof first, the usefulness of the art second, the history of it third, the deri vation of the word. To begin then with each in its own order. First, for the usefulness of the art, which indeed wanteth no proof for persons unprejudiced; but whereas the generality is not of this sort, I think best to say thus much upon it. For it is a thing not to be denied, that every art is good in proportion as it assisteth in producing some end, whereat mankind do aim in common. Now of this kind is the Art of Pluck; for upon looking about this University, who doth not see that to be plucked is an end pursued by many persons, yea and these per sons, such as from their age cannot be said not to have judg ment? To these then and the like, this art teacheth an easy way to this their end, by a collection of subtle rules long prac tised at random, but till now never brought down to the axioms of true philosophy. Whereat let people wonder if they please; yet was the same the case with all arts at the beginning, as hath been acutely said of Logic. Let so much have been said about the usefulness of this art, which indeed deserveth rather the name of a science, inasmuch as it not only serveth for an instrument, but likewise discusseth, as will be seen, the principles of Pluck. Nevertheless as it is still in its infant condition, content we with the term Art, and so to proceed with what cometh next in order.

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