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64 Erasmus further design than to understand one another? What use of Logick, where there was no bickering about the double-meaning words? What need of Rhetorick, where there were no Law-suits ? Or to what purpose Laws, where there were no ill manners? from which without doubt good Laws first came. Besides, they were more religious than with an impious curiosity to dive into the secrets of Nature, the dimension of Starrs, the motions, effects, and hidden causes of things; as believing it a crime for any man to attempt to be wise beyond his condition. And as to the Inquiry of what was beyond Heaven, that madness never came into their heads. But the purity of the golden age declining by degrees, first, as I said before, Arts were invented by the evil Genii; and yet but few, and those too receiv’d by fewer. After that the Chaldean Superstition and Greek newfangledness, that had little to do, added I know not how many more; meer torments of Wit, and that so great that even Grammar alone is work enough for any man for his whole life. Though yet amongst these Sciences those only are in esteem that come nearest to common
