The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton
page 148 of 2094 (07%)
page 148 of 2094 (07%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
|
prodigious paradoxes, _et risum teneatis amici_? You shall find that of
Aristotle true, _nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae_, they have a worm as well as others; you shall find a fantastical strain, a fustian, a bombast, a vainglorious humour, an affected style, &c., like a prominent thread in an uneven woven cloth, run parallel throughout their works. And they that teach wisdom, patience, meekness, are the veriest dizzards, harebrains, and most discontent. [715]"In the multitude of wisdom is grief, and he that increaseth wisdom, increaseth sorrow." I need not quote mine author; they that laugh and contemn others, condemn the world of folly, deserve to be mocked, are as giddy-headed, and lie as open as any other. [716]Democritus, that common flouter of folly, was ridiculous himself, barking Menippus, scoffing Lucian, satirical Lucilius, Petronius, Varro, Persius, &c., may be censured with the rest, _Loripedem rectus derideat, Aethiopem albus._ Bale, Erasmus, Hospinian, Vives, Kemnisius, explode as a vast ocean of obs and sols, school divinity. [717]A labyrinth of intricable questions, unprofitable contentions, _incredibilem delirationem_, one calls it. If school divinity be so censured, _subtilis [718]Scotus lima veritatis, Occam irrefragabilis, cujus ingenium vetera omnia ingenia subvertit_, &c. Baconthrope, Dr. Resolutus, and _Corculum Theolgiae_, Thomas himself, Doctor [719]Seraphicus, _cui dictavit Angelus_, &c. What shall become of humanity? _Ars stulta_, what can she plead? what can her followers say for themselves? Much learning, [720] _cere-diminuit-brum_, hath cracked their sconce, and taken such root, that _tribus Anticyris caput insanabile_, hellebore itself can do no good, nor that renowned [721]lantern of Epictetus, by which if any man studied, he should be as wise as he was. But all will not serve; rhetoricians, _in ostentationem loquacitatis multa agitant_, out of their volubility of tongue, will talk much to no purpose, orators can persuade other men what they will, _quo volunt, unde volunt_, move, pacify, &c., but cannot settle their own brains, what saith Tully? _Malo indisertam prudentiam, quam loquacem, |
|


