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THE SECOND BOOKE 287
world : then the world is capable of reason. By the
same arguing Cotta maketh the world a Mathematician,
and by this other arguing of Zeno, he makes him a
Musitian and an Organist. The whole is more than
the part: we are capable of wisdom, and we are part
of the world : then the world is wise. There are infinit
like examples seene, not only of false, but foolish arguments,
which cannot hold, and which accuse their
authors not so much of ignorance as of folly, in the
reproaches that Philosophers charge one another with,
about the disagreeings in their opinions and sects. He
that should fardle-up a bundle or huddle of the fooleries
of mans wisdome, might recount wonders. I willingly
assemble some (as a shew or patterne) by some means
or byase, no lesse profitable than the most moderate
instructions. Let us by that judge what we are to
esteeme of man, of his sense, and of his reason ; since
in these great men, and who have raised mans sufficiencie
so high, there are found so grose errors and so
apparant defects. As for me, I would rather beleeve
that they have thus casually treated learning even as a
sporting childs baby, and have sported themselves with
reason, as of a vaine and frivolous instrument, setting
forth all sorts of inventions, devices, and fantasies,
sometimes more outstretched, and sometimes more
loose. The same Plato, who defineth man like unto
a Capon, saith elsewhere, after Socrates, that in good
sooth he knoweth not what man is; and that of all
parts of the world there is none so hard to be knowne.
By this varietie of conceits and instabilitie of opinions,
they, as it were, leade us closely by the hand to this
resolution of their irresolution. They make a profession
not alwayes to present their advice manifest and
unmasked : they have oft concealed the same under
the fabulous shadows of Poesie, and sometimes under
other vizards. For our imperfection admitteth this
also, that raw meats are not alwayes good for our
stomacks: but they must be dried, altred, and corrupted,
and so doe they who sometimes shadow their
simple opinions and judgements; and that they may