Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/421

 cruel Step-mother of Hercules, has driven Men upon Heroic Actions, not out of any tender Affection, but hard Usage. Nor has it only been an excellent Mistress to particular Men, but even to whole States and Kingdoms; for which reason some have preferr'd a Barren Soil, for the Seat of an Imperial City, before a Fruitful; because thereby the Inhabitants being compell'd to take Pains, and to live industriously, will be secure from the dangerous Inchantments of Plenty and Ease; which are fatal to the Beginnings of all Commonwealths. Yet the Defects of this severe Author of great Works, are very many. It often indeed engages Men in brave Attempts, but seldom carries them on to finish what they begin: It labours at first for want of Bread; and that being obtain'd it commonly gives over: It rather sharpens than enlarges Mens Wits; it sooner puts them upon small Shifts, than great Designs; it seldom rises to high or magnanimous Things; for the same necessity which makes Men inventive, does commonly depress and fetter their Inventions.

And now these principal Causes of Mechanic Discoveries being found for the greatest part to be either corrupt or weak: It is but just, that Reason itself should interpose, and have some Place allow'd it in those Arts, which ought to be the chief Works of Reason. It is a shame to the Dignity of human Nature itself, that either Mens Lusts should tempt them, or their Necessities drive them, or blind Fortune should lead them in the dark, into those Things in which consists the chief Prerogative' of their Condition. What greater Privilege have Men to boast of than this; that they have the Pow'r of using, directing, changing, or advancing all the rest of the Creatures? This is the Rh