Wits common wealth The second part. A treasurie of diuine, morall, and phylosophicall similies, and sentences, generally vsefull. But more particularly published, for the vse of schooles. By F.M. Master of Arts of bot Vniuersities.

Learning.

AS it maketh nothing to the dis∣patch of the iourney to haue knowne the way, except thou hast en∣deuour & strength to walke: so learning doth nothing profit, if thine owne ver∣tue be wanting. Lactantius l••b. 6. cap. 5.

As the maturity of things haue their ••easons, flowers in the spring; corne in ••ummer, and apples in autumne: so ••he fruits of winter is learning. Basilius ••pistol. 172.

As hunting dogges by the ••ent doe ••ollow wilde beasts a farre off: so the ••ouers of learning doe follow after ••ustice and other vertues being ena∣moured wi••h the sweete smell that comes from them. Philo lib. de somnijs.

As wels, whence much water is drawne, are not onely not diminished, but made the sweeter: so learning and science by teaching and infusing it into others is not decreased, but encreased. Idem lib. de somnijs & lib. de gigan∣••ibus.

As a light lighting many lights, continueth of the same bignesse, and is not lessened: so science in men by im∣parting it, is not annihilated ibidem.

As the images of our absent friends are gratefull vnto vs, because by a false solace they lighten the languorment of their absence: so much more must learning bee welcome vnto vs, which is the true foot•• step of an absent friend,

and a true note of his perfection. Senec•• epist. 10.

The Crocodile otherwise a dange∣rous and an inuincible creature, yet s•• feareth the men of the ile Tentyr••, that at their voyce shee is afrighted, so ty∣rants albeit they contemne all men, ye•• they feare the writings of the learned, as Tyberius did. Plinius lib. 8. cap▪ 25.

As wals area defence vnto a City: so learning vnto the the mind. Demo∣cratus apud Antonium in Meliss•• part, 1. serm. 56.

As husbandmen more willingly see the eares of corne hanging downe∣wards, then standing vp, because the one is fruitfull, the other fruitlesse: so learning and Phylosophie had rather see her Schollers submisse and humble, then lofty and swelling with glory, for the one becommeth profitable, the o∣ther vaine. Plut. in Moralibus.

Nightingals are so delighted with singing, that they dye with contending, their wind sooner failes them, then their song: so some through an immo∣derate loue of learning doe shipwracke their he alth, anwhilest learning they

will of none be ouercome, the perish in their endeuours. Plinius lib. 10. cap. 26.

Elephant although they cannot swim, yet they are wonderfully de∣lighted in riuers: so some although they are ignorant of learning, yet they de∣sire to be conuersant with learned men, idem. lib. cap. 5.

Nector the drunke of the Gods, the more it was drunke, the more it would ouer-flow the brimme of the cup; the stone that groweth in the riuer of Ca∣ria, the more it is cut, the more it in∣creaseth: so learning the more it is ex∣ercised, the more it increaseth and the more it is published, the more it is pro∣pagated.