Deluded wretches, (thus their madness cries) Pleasures of the stews, Pleasures which Riot's frantic bowls infuse. 510 515 i Thofe are th' Opinions, who have guided right The unexperienc'd to the plain of light: 520 Returning, new adventurers to bring, Opinion's foot is never never found 525 Where Knowledge dwells, 'tis interdicted ground, At Wisdom's gate th' Opinions must refign Their charge, thofe limits their employ confine. Thus trading barks, fkill'd in the wat'ry road, To distant climes convey their precious load, 530 Then turn their prow, light bounding o'er the main, And with new traffic store their keels again. Thus far is clear. But yet untold remains What the Good Genius to the crowd ordains, ↑ The diftinction between Opinion and Knowledge. Full * He bids them hold 535 Fuft on the verge of life. A spirit with erected courage bold. Never (he calls) on Fortune's faith rely, Bad bankers, vain of treasure not their own, 540 545 The gift which Wisdom to her fons divides; Knowledge, whofe beam the doubting judgment guides, Scatters the fenfual fog, and clear to view 555 Distinguishes false int'reft from the true. Nor parly for a moment at the place Where Pleasure and her Harlots tempt, nor rest But at False Wisdom's inn, a tranfient gueft: 560 For For fhort refection, at her table fit, And tafte what fcience may your palate hit : Neceffity there's none. Their merit in fome lefs utility; 565 570 575 But they contribute, we aver, no part 580 May glimmer thro' tranflation in our own: Yet mafters of his language, we might gain So in the fciences, tho', rudely taught, and burtful. Some trivial purposes by tedious pain. We may attain the little that we ought; Natural knowledge, how far ufeful, and when unprofitable 585 Yet, Yet, accurately known they might convey How! not the learn'd excel the common fhoal, What boafts the man of letters o'er the reft? 590 595 Skill'd in all tongues, of all the arts poffeft, What hinders but he fink into a fot, A libertine, or villain in a plot, Mifer, or knave, or whatfo'er you'll name 600 Scandals too rife! How, then, for living right Avail those studies, and their vaunted light Beyond the vulgar? Nothing. But difclofe The caufe from whence this strange appearance grows. Held by a potent charm in this retreat They dwell, content with nearness to the feat 605 Of Virtuous Wisdom. Near, methinks, in vain: Since numbers, oft, from out the nether plain, 'Scap'd from the Snares of Lewdness and Excess, Undevious to her lofty station prefs, Yet pass thefe letter'd clans. 610 What, What, then, are these In moral things, advantag'd o'er the lees Of human race in moral things, we find Decipher that. Pride, pride averts their eyes From offer'd light: in felf-fufficience wife, 615 Altho' unknowing, they prefume to know: Clogg'd with that vain conceit they creep below, True Wisdom's manfion, by the humble found. 620 Not found by thefe, till the vain vifions fpread, By Fale Opinion, in the learned head, Repentance Scatter; and deceiv'd no more, Defpife aught elfe as crring from your end. 625 630 The |