Page 99 [99]
upon FOLLY. 39
Ir is Folly that, in a ſeveral Dreſs, governs
dicatures ; and, in fhort, makes the whole
Courſe of a Man’s Life a meer Childrens
Play, and a worfe than Pufh-pin Diverfion. The
Invention of all Arts and Sciences are likewife
owing to the fame Caufe: For what fedentary,
thoughtful Men would have beat their Brains
in the Search of new and unheard-of Mytte¬
ries, if not egg’d on by the bubbling Hopes of
Credit and Réputation ? They think a little
glittering Flafh of Vain-glory is a fufficient
Reward for all their’ Sweat, and Toil, and
tedious Drudgery, while they that are fup¬
pofedly more foolifh reap Advantage of the
others Labours.
Ann now fince I have made good my Title
to Valour and Induftry, what if 1 challenge
an equal Share of W2/fdom? Hew! This (you'll
fay) is abfurd and contradiétoty ; the Eaft and
Weft may as foon fhake Hands as Folly and
out my Claim. Firft then, if Wifdom (as
nefs of doing Good, and an expedite Method
of becoming ferviccable tothe World, to whom
does this Vertué more properly belong ? To
the Wife Man, who partly our of Modefty,
Jy in no Attempt; or to the Fool, that goes
and fo ventures thro’ the moft hazardous Un¬
dertaking without ‘any Senfe or Profpect of
the
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