The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher - Volume 2 of 10: Introduction to the Elder Brother by Francis Beaumont;John Fletcher
page 16 of 226 (07%)
page 16 of 226 (07%)
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_Char._ Man's life, Sir, being so short, and then the way that leads unto the knowledge of our selves, so long and tedious, each minute should be precious. _Bri._ In our care to manage worldly business, you must part with this Bookish contemplation, and prepare your self for action; to thrive in this Age is held the blame of Learning: You must study to know what part of my Land's good for the Plough, and what for Pasture; how to buy and sell to the best advantage; how to cure my Oxen when they're o'er-grown with labour. _Char._ I may do this from what I've read, Sir; for, what concerns Tillage, who better can deliver it than _Virgil_ in his _Georgicks_? and to cure your Herds, his _Bucolicks_ is a Masterpiece; but when he does describe the Commonwealth of Bees, their industry, and knowledge of the herbs from which they gather Honey, with their care to place it with _decorum_ in the Hive; their Government among themselves, their order in going forth, and coming loaden home; their obedience to their King, and his rewards to such as labour, with his punishments only inflicted on the slothful Drone; I'm ravish'd with it, and there reap my Harvest, and there receive the gain my Cattle bring me, and there find Wax and Honey. _Bri._ And grow rich in your imagination; heyday, heyday! _Georgicks_, _Bucolicks_, and Bees! art mad? _Char._ No, Sir, the knowledge of these guards me from it. _Bri._ But can you find among your bundle of Books (and put in all your Dictionaries that speak all Tongues) what pleasure they enjoy, that do |
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