The confidence of much knowledge, an argument of no knowledge. [ 634]
THales sent the golden Tripos,* 1.1 which the Fisher-men took up in their Net, and the Oracle commanded to be given to the wisest, to Bias; Bias to Solon; and then they had but seven wise men; and if you will but believe the times, there are now hardly so many fools to be found ▪ If such a thing were now to be had, we should all fight for it,* 1.2 as the three Goddesses did for the golden apple, we are so wise, We have now women-Polititians, women-Preachers, Preaching-Souldiers, Teach∣ing-Tradesmen, Children-Metaphysitians, every silly fellow can square a Circle, make perpetual motions, find out the Philosopher's stone, interpret the Revelation of St. John, make new Theoricks, new Logick, dispute de omni scibili; Town and Country are now so full of deified spirits,* 1.3 divine souls, that you may sooner find a God than a man amongst us, we think so well of our selves; and that is an ample Testimony, a sufficient demonstration, that there is a great deal of folly, much ignorance, much indiscretion to be found amongst us.