Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/416

 only increase those Arts which we shall bestow upon them, but will also venture on new Searches themselves.

If any shall doubt of the first of these Advantages, let them consider that the spreading of Knowledge wider, does beget a higher and a clearer Genius in those that enjoy'd it before.

But the chief Benefit will arise from the New Converts; for they will not only receive from us our Old Arts, but in their first Vigour will proceed to new ones that were not thought of before. This is reasonable enough to be granted: For seeing they come fresh and unwearied, and the Thoughts of Men being most violent in the first opening of their Fancies; it is probable they will soon pass over those Difficulties about which these People, that have been long Civil, are already tir'd. To this Purpose I might give as many Examples as there have been different Periods of civilizing; that those Nations which have been taught, have prov'd wiser and more dextrous than their Teachers. The Greeks took their first Hints from the East; but out-did them in Music, in Statuary, in Graving, in Limning, in Navigation, in Horsemanship, in Husbandry, as much as the Ægyptians or Assyrians exceed their unskilful Ancestors in Architecture, Astronomy, or Geometry. The Germans, the French, the Britains, the Spaniards, the modern Italians, had their Light from the Romans; but surpass'd them in most of their own Arts, and well nigh doubled the ancient Stock Trades delivered to their keeping.

then, the whole Prize is not yet taken out of our Hands: The Mechanic Invention is not quite worn away, nor will be, as long as new Subjects may be discovered, as long as our old Materials may be alter'd or