The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Democritus (ca. 460 BCE - ca. 370 BCE)

Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198606413.001.0001/acref-9780198606413-e-2114?rskey=gZ2fF2&result=1 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democritus Authority - ancient
 Relationships: Democritus was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Anaxagoras (500 BC -428 BC)

 Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - De his Quæ Fiunt apud Or­cum.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - Oceani Circumnavigatio.
 References in Documents:
Musaeum Clausum (1684)

14. King Mithridates his Oneirocritica. Aristotle de Precationibus. Democritus de his quæ fiunt apud Orcum, & Oceani circumnavigatio. A defence of Arnoldus de Villa Nova, whom the learned Postellus conceived to be the author of De Tribus Impostoribus. Epicurus de Pietate. A Tragedy of Thyestes, and another of Medea, writ by Diogenes the Cynick. King 199 Tract XIII. Bibliotheca Abscondita King Alfred upon Aristotle de Plantis. Seneca's Epistles to S. Paul. King Solomon de Umbris Idæarum, which Chicus Asculanus, in his Comment upon Johannes de Sacrobosco, would make us believe he saw in the Library of the Duke of Bavaria.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

Spiders, saith Aristotle, (e) (e) Hist. An. lib. 9. c. 39. cast their Threads, not from within, as an Excrement, as Democritus would have it; but from without, as the Histrix doth his Quills. Of the spining of Spiders, and the rest of their History, see the curious Observations of Mr. Lyster. (f)(f) Lib. de Araneis.

Inventarie of the Gabions, in M. George his Cabinet (1638) LETLet none offend, though in mine age I sing Swan-like, some lawfull joyes youthead did bring: My songs are mournings, which may clearly shew Th'inconstant course of all things here below: Yet guided by that steadfast hand alwayes Which, midst confusions great, the ballance stayes: Thus Heraclitus-like sometimes I mourne At giddie Fortunes reelings: thence I turne Like to Democritus in laughter wholly To see th'inconstant changes of her folly. Thus do I mourne, and laugh oftimes, by course, As giddie Fortune reeles from good to worse: For neither is the battell to the strong,Eccles. 9. 11. Nor doth unto the swift the race belong, Nor bread to these whose wit should have commanding, Nor riches to the men of understanding: Nor favour doth to men of knowledge fall, But chance (as would appear) doth order all. So, if the second causes we do view, We shall finde out a paradoxe most true.
Inventarie of the Gabions, in M. George his Cabinet (1638) This ansvvere vvhen they heard, they did compeer VVith ardent hearts some further nevves to speer, And vvhat brave sport vve found, vvhat pastime rare? Forthvvith in loftie verse Gall to declare Began, his breast vvhen Phoebus once did vvarme, Their ears and hearts, his heavenly voice did charme, And I to keep a consort vvith full voice, As fell by turn, did make them all rejoice VVith svveetest rimes; for both of us inclinde, Even as Democritus did truely minde Of Poets all, vvhen once that sacred fire Excludit sanos Helicone poetas Democritus, Horat. in arte. VVith divine furie did our breasts inspire. And thus vvith heavenlie rapture, as transported That vvhole dayes journey Gall to them reported, Till Hesperus appeard, and in despight Of heavens vvhich hearkned, forc'd to bid good night. VVhich vvhen I call to minde, it makes me cry Gall, svveetest Gall, vvhat ailed thethee to die?
Inventarie of the Gabions, in M. George his Cabinet (1638) Excludit sanos Helicone poetas Democritus, Horat. in arte.