The present King of England, of whom we have seen the whole world
writing panegyrics and encomiums, and whom his enemies, when their
interest does not silence them, are apt to say more of than
ourselves; as in the war he has given surprising instances of a
greatness of spirit more than common: so in peace, I daresay, with
submission, he shall never have an opportunity to illustrate his
memory more than by such a foundation. By which he shall have
opportunity to darken the glory of the French king in peace, as he
has by his daring attempts in the war.

Nothing but pride loves to be flattered, and that only as it is a
vice which blinds us to our own imperfections. I think princes as
particularly unhappy in having their good actions magnified as their
evil actions covered. But King William, who has already won praise
by the steps of dangerous virtue, seems reserved for some actions
which are above the touch of flattery, whose praise is in
themselves.

And such would this be. And because I am speaking of a work which
seems to be proper only for the hand of the king himself, I shall
not presume to carry on this chapter to the model, as I have done in
other subjects. Only thus far:

That a society be erected by the king himself, if his Majesty
thought fit, and composed of none but persons of the first figure in
learning; and it were to be wished our gentry were so much lovers of
learning that birth might always be joined with capacity.

The work of this society should be to encourage polite learning, to
polish and refine the English tongue, and advance the so much