CFIAPTER L which some of the dead have possessed, and some of the living do possess. Read and be astonished at the almost incredible advances which have been made in science. Acquaint yourselves with some persons of great learning, that by converse among them, and comparing yourselves with them, you may acquire a mean opinion of your own attainments, and may be thereby ani- mated with new 'zeal to equal them as far as possible, or to ex- ceed ; thus let your diligence be quickened by a generous and laudableemulation. If Vanillus had never met with Seitorio 'and Polydes, he had never imagined himself a mere novice in Philo- sophy, nor ever set himself to study in good earnest. Remem- ber this, that if upon some few superficial acquirements you value, exalt and swell yourself as though you were aman of learning already, you are thereby building a most unpassable barrier against all improvement ; you will lie down and indulge idleness, end rest yourself contented in the midst of. deep and shameful ignorance. Multi ad scientiampervenissent si se lilac pervenisse non putassent. IV. Presume not too much upon a bright genius, a ready wit, andgood parts, for this without labour and study will never make a pan of knowledge and wisdom. This has been an un-' happy temptation to persons of a vigorous andgay fancy, to despise learning and study. They have been acknowledged to shine in an assembly, and sparkle in discourse upon common topics, and thence they took it into their heads to abandon readingand labour and grow old in ignorance ; but when they had lost the vivacities of animal nature and youth, they become stupid and sottish even to contempt and ridicule. Lucidas and Scintillo are young men of this stamp ; they shine in conversation, they spread their na- tive riches before the ignorant; they pride themselves in their own lively images of fancy, and imagine themselves wise and learned; but they had best avoid the presence of the skilful arid the test of reasoning; and I would advise them once a day to think forward a little, what a contemptible figure they will make in age. The witty men have sometimes sense enough to know their own foible, and therefore they craftily shun the attacks . of argument, or boldly pretend to despise and renounce them ; because they are conscious of their own ignorance, and in- wardly confess their want of acquaintance with the skill of reasoning. V. As you are not to fancy yourself a learned man because you are blessed with a ready wit, so neither must you ima gine that large and laborious reading, and a strong memory can denominate you truly wise. What that excellent critic has determined when he decided . the question, whether wit or study makes the best post, may well be applied.to every sort of learning----
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