, also, might have chosen either Riches or Wisdom, and yet preferred a pretty Wench to the One and to the Other. I am not so young as
Paris,
by five times five Years, and would, therefore, prefer the One or the Other to the Wench --You then allow that
Paris
was a Blockhead in the present Case --Sir, I allow any Man to be so, in every Case, where he happens to differ in Opinion from myself--Why pray, sage Sir, have You got all the Wisdom of the World to yourself, or what Quantity thereof, think you, may there be upon Earth? --Less, by five Scruples, than any Man in judiciary Robes and a full bottomed Wig, conceives to have fallen to his own Share. --But Folly you take to be multiplied and various --Of two Sorts, quoth an eminent Author, That which belongs to the Writer, and That which belongs to the Reader of these Works.
Sir, this is wild Discourse, and very wide from the Purpose. Let me tell you the World was never so wise as now. It is filled with Men of deep Erudition, and Science --True, my Monitor; but are they a jot the wiser for all their Knowledge?
At the rate that you talk, in the Times of ancient Ignorance, there might have been a competent Modicum of wise Folk in the World --possible --And, by the same Rule, in these our enlightened Days of Connoissieurship and Erudition, nearly, all our Literati may turn out Fools --more than probable --These are Riddles --that might be solved --Explain 'em, I beseech you --Not at present. I will tell you a Story and pray listen. It is worth the hearing.
Fifty and five Pilgrims met, one Evening, at a great Inn, that led to more Roads than there are Points in the Compass. They supped merrily together, in a large Hall; and found, upon enquiry, that they were, all, bound to
the Castle of final Repose,
appointed for the Reception of the Sons of Science. When the Cloth was removed; Gentlemen, quoth the Pilgrim who first entered, I rejoice to be joined, by so much good Company, on these my honourable Travels; and, I am still better pleased to have it in my Power to conduct every Man of ye, the shortest and surest way, to your Journey's End. Here, Gentlemen, here is my Map of infallible
