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22 Erasmus in me lies by bringing them back to a second childhood, from whence they are not improperly called 1 Twice-Children. Which, if ye ask me how I do it, I shall not be shy in the point. I bring them to our River Lethe (for it’s springhead rises in the Fortunate Islands, and that other of Hell is but a Brook in comparison), from which, as soon as they have drunk down a long forgetfulness, they wash away by degrees the perplexity of their minds, and so wax young again. But perhaps you'll say, They are foolish and doting. Admit it; ’tis the very essence of Child-hood ; as if to be such were not to be a fool, or that that condition had any thing pleasant in it, but that it understood nothing. For who would not look upon that Child as a Prodigy that should have as much Wisdome as a Man ?—according to that common Proverb, 2¢T do not like a Child that is a Man too soon.’ Or who would endure a Converse or Friendship with that Old-man, who to so large an experience of things, had joyn’d an equal strength of mind and sharpness of judgement? And therefore 1 Ha\iumaidas. 2 Odi puerulum praecoci sapientia.
