Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/140

 of many of Osborne's arguments; so as that in downright disputation they would not bear weight; at least, so far, but that they might be weakened and better found in their rooms to confirm what is there said. He showed finely whence it happens that good writers are not admired by the present age; because there are but few in every age that do mind anything that is abstruse and curious; and so longer before anybody, do put the true praise, and set it on foot in the world: the generality of mankind pleasing themselves in the easy delights of the world: as eating, drinking, dancing, hunting, fencing, which we all see the meanest men do the best; those that profess it. A gentleman never dances so well as the dancing master, and an ordinary fiddler makes better musique for a shilling than a gentleman will do after spending forty, and so in all the delights of the world almost.'

' April 2nd, 1664.—At noon to the Coffee House, where excellent discourse with Sir William Petty, who proposed it as a thing truly questionable, whether there really be any difference between waking and dreaming; that it is hard not only to tell how we know when we do a thing really or in a dream; but also to know what the difference is between one and the other.'

' 22nd March, 1665.—With Creed to the Change, and to my house; but it being washing day, took him, (I being invited) to Mr. Houblons, the merchant, where Sir William Petty and abundance of most ingenious men: owners and freighters of the "Experiment," now going with her two bodies to sea. Most excellent discourse. Among others, Sir William Petty did tell me that, in good earnest, he hath in his Will left such parts of his estate to him that could invent such and such things; as, among others, that could truly discover the way of milk coming into the breasts of a woman; and he that could invent proper characters to express to another the mixture of relishes and tastes. And says, that to him that invents gold, he gives nothing for the philosophers' stone; for, says he, they that find out that, will be able to pay themselves. But, says he, by this means it is better than to give