No More Learning

Since then our businesse is, to rectifie
Nature, to what she was, wee'are led awry
By them, who man to us in little show; 35
Greater then due, no forme we can bestow
On him; for Man into himselfe can draw
All; All his faith can swallow,'or reason chaw.
All that is fill'd, and all that which doth fill,
All the round world, to man is but a pill, 40
In all it workes not, but it is in all
Poysonous, or purgative, or cordiall,
For, knowledge kindles Calentures in some,
And is to others icy _Opium_.
As brave as true, is that profession than 45
Which you doe use to make; that you know man.
This makes it credible; you have dwelt upon
All worthy bookes, and now are such an one.
Actions are authors, and of those in you
Your friends finde every day a mart of new. 50


[To S^r Edward _&c. _ _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F:_ A
Letter to S^r Edward Herbert (_or_ Harbert). _B_, _Cy_ (_which
adds_ Incerti Authoris), _S96:_ To Sir E. H. _A18_, _N_, _TC:_
_no title_, _P:_ Elegia Vicesima Tertia. _S:_ To S^r Edward
Herbert, now (since _1669_) Lord Herbert of Cherbury, being at
the siege of Iulyers. _1635-69_]

[4 Theater; _Ed:_ Theater, _1633-69:_ Theater. _D_]

[5 prey, _Ed:_ prey; _1633-69_]

[8 breed. ] breed; _1633_]

[10 minde! _Ed:_ minde?
_1633-69_]

[17 a headlong] a _om. 1669:_ an headlong _1635-54_]

[24 taste; _Ed:_ taste. _1633-69_]

[28 we know _1633 and MSS. :_ men know _1635-69_, _O'F_]

[35 show; _1669:_ show, _1633-54_, _Chambers_]

[36 due, _1633-69:_ due; _Chambers_. _See note_]

[38 All; All _1669:_ All: All _1635-54:_ All, All _1633_

chaw. _1633:_ chaw, _1635-69_, _Grolier_]

[39 fill, _1633-54:_ fill _1669:_ fill; _Grolier_]

[44 icy] jcy _1633_]

[47-8 credible; . . . bookes, _Ed:_ credible, . . . bookes;
_1633-69:_ credible . . . bookes _Grolier_]




_To the Countesse of Bedford. _


T'have written then, when you writ, seem'd to mee
Worst of spirituall vices, Simony,
And not t'have written then, seemes little lesse
Then worst of civill vices, thanklessenesse.