DigitalDonne: the Online Variorum
The 1654 Prose Letters Letter 18, cont. (p.51) |
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For to chuse, is to do: but to be no part of any body, is to be nothing. At most, the greatest persons, are but great wens, and excrescences; men of wit and delightfull conversation, but as moales for ornament, except they be so incorporated into the bo- dy of the world, that they contribute some- thing to the sustentation of the whole. This I made account that I begun early, when I understood the study of our laws: but was diverted by the worst voluptuousnes, which is an Hydroptique immoderate desire of humane learning and languages: beauti- full ornaments to great fortunes; but mine needed an occupation, and a course which I thought I entred well into, when I sub- mitted my self to such a service, as I thought might imployed those poor advan- tages, which I had. And there I stumbled too, yet I would try again: for to this hour I am nothing, or so little, that I am scarce subject and argument good enough for one of mine own letters: yet I fear, that doth not ever proceed from a good root, that I [CW: am] |
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