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46 Erasmus
disturbing the peace of the Commonwealth
with his hair-brain’d accusations; the other,
while he too wisely vindicated its liberty, quite
overthrew it. Add to this the Bruti, Cassii,
nay Cicero himself, that was no less perni¬
cious to the Commonwealth of Rome than
was Demosthenes to that of Athens. Besides
M. Antoninus (that I may give ye one instance
that there was once one good Emperour; for
with much ado I can make it out) was become
burthensome and hated of his Subjects, upon
no other score but that he was so great a Philo¬
sopher. But admitting him good, he did the
Commonwealth more hurt in leaving behind
him such a Son as he did, than ever he did it
good by his own Government. For these kind
of Men that are so given up to the study of
Wisdome are generally most unfortunate, but
chiefly in their Children; Nature, it seems, so
providently ordering it, lest this mischief of
Wisdome should spread farther among mankind.
Forwhich reason ’tismanifest why Cicero’s Son was
so degenerate, and that wise Socrates’s Children,
as one has well observ’d, were more like their
Mother than their Father, that is to say, Fools.