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32 A PANEGYRICK you,) are very neceffary for the Management of War : Very true, but not fuch Counfel as Shall be prefcribed by the Ari& Rules of Wifdom and Juftice ; for a Battel fhall be more fuccefsfully fought by Serving-men, Porters, Bailiffs, Padders, Rogues, Goal-birds, and fuch like Tag-rags of Mankind, than by the moft Accomplifh’d Philofophers ; which lat, how unhappy they are in the Management of fuch Concerns, Socrates ( by the Oracle adjudg’d to be the Wifeft of Mortals) is a notable Example; who when he appeared in the Attempt of fome publick Performance before the People, he faultered in the firt Onfet, and could never recover himfelf, but was houted and hifled Home again: Yet this Philofopher was the lefs a Fool for refufing the Appellation of Wife, and not accepting the Oracles Complement; as alfo for advifin that no Philofophers fhould have any Hand inthe Government of the Commonwealth 3 he fhould have likewife at the fame time added that they fhould be banifhed all Human Society. And what made this great Man poiſon himſelf to prevent the’ Malice of his Accuſers ? What made him the Inſtrument of his own Death, but only his Exceffivenefs of Wifdom ? Whereby, while he was fearching into- the Nature of Clouds, while he was plodding and contemplating upon Idea’s, while he was exercifing his Geometry upon the Meaſure of a Flea, and diving into the Receffes of Nature for an Account how little Infeéts, when they were ſo ſmall, could make fo great a Buz and Hum ; while he was intent upon theſe
