Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/31

Rh Disputes: Controversies were rais'd: Fashions were made: Many Subtilities of confuting, and defending, were invented: But so instead of joining all their Strength to overcome the Secrets of Nature (all which would have been little enough, though ever so wisely manag'd) they only did that, which has undone many such great Attempts; before they had yet fully conquer'd her, they fell into an open Dissension, to which of them her Spoils did belong.

'Tis true, at the same time, some few Men did continue an earnest, and laborious Pursuit, after natural Causes, and Effects; and took that Course, which, if it had met with as much Encouragement, as the others had, would without question have produced extraordinary Things. But these Philosophers digging deep out of the sight of Men; and studying more, how to conceive Things aright, than how to set off, and persuade their Conceptions, to others; were quickly almost quite overwhelm'd, by the more plausible and talkative Sects.

This was the success of that famous Age of the Grecian Learning, in respect of natural Knowledge. They stay'd not for an Information sufficient for such a noble Enterprize: They would not suffer their Posterity to have any Share with them, in the Honour of performing it: But too suddenly, for present Use, they clap'd up an entire Building of Sciences: And therefore it is not to be wonder'd, if the hasty Fabrick, which they rais'd, did not consist of the best Materials.

But at last with their Empire, their Arts also were transported to Rome: The great Spirit of their Law-givers, and Philosophers, in Course of Time, Rh