The most elegant and witty epigrams of Sir Iohn Harrington, Knight digested into foure bookes: three vvhereof neuer before published.

12 Of learning nothing at a Lecture, vpon occasion of D•• Reynolds at Oxford, afore my Lord of Essex, and di∣uers Ladies and Courtiers, at the Queenes last beeing there, on these words:

I do him nihil est, An Idol is nothing.

WHile I at Oxford stay'd, some few months since, To see, and serue our deare & Soueraigne Prince▪ Where graciously her Grace did see and show The choisest fruits that learning could bestow, I went one day to heare a learned Lecture Read (as some said) by Bellarmines correcter, And sundry Courtiers more then present were, That vnderstood it well saue here and there: Among the rest, one whom it least concerned, Askt me what I had at the Lecture learned? I that his ignorance might soone be guile▪ Did say, I learned nothing all the while. Yet did the Reader teach with much facilitie, And I was wont to learne with some docilitie. What learn'd you, Sir, (quoth he) in swearing moode? I nothing learn'd, for nought I vnderstood, I thanke my Parents, they, when I was yong, Barr'd me to learne this Popish Romane tong,

And yet it seemes to me, if you say true, •• without learning learn'd the same that you, Most true, said I, yet few dare call vs Fooles, That this day learned nothing at the Schooles.