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that means be in better exercise and breath。 Do but observe him when he
comes back from school； after fifteen or sixteen years that he has been
there； there is nothing so unfit for employment； all you shall find he
has got； is； that his Latin and Greek have only made him a greater
coxcomb than when he went from home。 He should bring back his soul
replete with good literature； and he brings it only swelled and puffed up
with vain and empty shreds and patches of learning； and has really
nothing more in him than he had before。＇Plato's Dialogues： Protagoras。＇
These pedants of ours； as Plato says of the Sophists； their cousin…
germans； are； of all men； they who most pretend to be useful to mankind；
and who alone； of all men； not only do not better and improve that which
is committed to them； as a carpenter or a mason would do； but make them
much worse； and make us pay them for making them worse； to boot。 If the
rule which Protagoras proposed to his pupils were followedeither that
they should give him his own demand； or make affidavit upon oath in the
temple how much they valued the profit they had received under his
tuition； and satisfy him accordinglymy pedagogues would find themselves
sorely gravelled； if they were to be judged by the affidavits of my
experience。 My Perigordin patois very pleasantly calls these pretenders
to learning； 'lettre…ferits'； as a man should say； letter…markedmen on
whom letters have been stamped by the blow of a mallet。 And； in truth；
for the most part； they appear to be deprived even of common sense； for
you see the husbandman and the cobbler go simply and fairly about their
business； speaking only of what they know and understand； whereas these
fellows； to make parade and to get opinion； mustering this ridiculous
knowledge of theirs； that floats on the superficies of the brain； are
perpetually perplexing； and entangling themselves in their own nonsense。
They speak fine words sometimes； 'tis true； but let somebody that is
wiser apply them。 They are wonderfully well acquainted with Galen； but
not at all with the disease of the patient； they have already deafened
you with a long ribble…row of laws； but understand nothing of the case in
hand； they have the theory of all things； let who will put it in
practice。
I have sat by； when a friend of mine； in my own house； for sport…sake；
has with one of these fellows counterfeited a jargon of Galimatias；
patched up of phrases without head or tail； saving that he interlarded
here and there some terms that had relation to their dispute； and held
the coxcomb in play a whole afternoon together； who all the while thought
he had answered pertinently and learnedly to all his objections； and yet
this was a man of letters； and reputation； and a fine gentleman of the
long robe：
〃Vos； O patricius sanguis； quos vivere par est
Occipiti caeco； posticae occurrite sannae。〃
＇〃O you； of patrician blood； to whom it is permitted to live
with（out） eyes in the back of your head； beware of grimaces at you
from behind。〃Persius； Sat。； i。 61。＇
Whosoever shall narrowly pry into and thoroughly sift this sort of
people； wherewith the world is so pestered； will； as I have done； find；
that for the most part； they neither understand others； nor themselves；
and that their memories are full enough； but the judgment totally void
and empty； some excepted； whose own nature has of itself formed them into
better fashion。 As I have observed； for example； in Adrian Turnebus； who
having never made other profession than that of mere learning only； and
in that； in my opinion； he was the greatest man that has been these
thousand years； had nothing at all in him of the pedant； but the wearing
of his gown； and a little exterior fashion； that could not be civilised
to courtier ways； which in themselves are nothing。 I hate our people；
who can worse endure an ill…contrived robe than an ill…contrived mind；
and take their measure by the leg a man makes； by his behaviour； and so
much as the very fashion of his boots； what kind of man he is。 For
within there was not a more polished soul upon earth。 I have often
purposely put him upon arguments quite wide of his profession； wherein I
found he had so clear an insight； so quick an apprehension； so solid a
judgment； that a man would have thought he had never practised any other
thing but arms； and been all his life employed in affairs of State。
These are great and vigorous natures；
〃Queis arte benigna
Et meliore luto finxit praecordia Titan。〃
＇〃Whom benign Titan （Prometheus） has framed of better clay。〃
Juvenal； xiv。 34。＇
that can keep themselves upright in despite of a pedantic education。 But
it is not enough that our education does not spoil us； it must； moreover；
alter us for the better。
Some of our Parliaments； when they are to admit officers； examine only
their learning； to which some of the others also add the trial of
understanding； by asking their judgment of some case in law； of these the
latter； methinks； proceed with the better method； for although both are
necessary； and that it is very requisite they should be defective in
neither； yet； in truth； knowledge is not so absolutely necessary as
judgment； the last may make shift without the other； but the other never
without this。 For as the Greek verse says
＇〃To what use serves learning； if understanding be away。〃
Apud Stobaeus； tit。 iii。； p。 37 （1609）。＇
Would to God that； for the good of our judicature； these societies were
as well furnished with understanding and conscience as they are with
knowledge。
〃Non vita； sed scolae discimus。〃
＇〃We do not study for life； but only for the school。〃
Seneca； Ep。； 106。＇
We are not to tie learning to the soul； but to work and incorporate them
together： not to tincture it only； but to give it a thorough and perfect
dye； which； if it will not take colour； and meliorate its imperfect
state； it were without question better to let it alone。 'Tis a dangerous
weapon； that will hinder and wound its master； if put into an awkward and
unskilful hand：
〃Ut fuerit melius non didicisse。〃
＇〃So that it were better not to have learned。〃
Cicero； Tusc。 Quaes。； ii。 4。＇
And this； peradventure； is the reason why neither we nor theology require
much learning in women； and that Francis； Duke of Brittany； son of John
V。； one talking with him about his marriage with Isabella the daughter of
Scotland； and adding that she was homely bred； and without any manner of
learning； made answer； that he liked her the better； and that a woman was
wise enough； if she could distinguish her husband's shirt from his
doublet。 So that it is no so great wonder； as they make of it； that our
ancestors had letters in no greater esteem； and that even to this day
they are but rarely met with in the principal councils of princes； and if
the end and design of acquiring riches； which is the only thing we
propose to ourselves； by the means of law； physic； pedantry； and even
divinity itself； did not uphold and keep them in credit； you