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Numb. 22. Saturday, June 2, 1750.

Ego nee f.udium fine divite vena,

Nee rude quid profit video ingenium, a/terius fie

Jbera ptseit eptut res, W conjurat amice. Hot.

Without a genius learning soars in vain;
And without learning genius sinks again;
Their force united crowns the sprightly reign.

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WIT and Learnino were the children of Apollo, by different mothers; Wit was the offspring of Euphrosyne, and resembled her in cheersulness and vivacity; Learning was born of Sophia, and retained her seriousness and caution. As their mothers were rivals, they were bred up by them from their birth in habitual oppofition, and all means were so incessantly employed to impress upon them a hatred and contempt of each other, that though Apollo, who forefaw the ill effects of then. discord, endeavoured to soften them, by dividing his regard equally between them, yet his impartiality and kindness were without effect; the maternal animofity was deeply rooted, having been intermingled with their sirst ideas, and was confirmed every hour, as frcsh opportunities occurred of exerting it. No sooner were they of age to be received into the apartments of the other celestials, than Wit began to entertain Venus at her toilet, by aping the solemnity of Learning, and Learning to divert Mi6 nerva

nerva at her loom, by expofing the blunders. and ignorance of Wit.

Thus they grew up, with malice perpetually increasing, by the encouragement which each received from thofe whom their mothers had persuaded to patronise and support them; and longed to be admitted to the table of Jupiter, not so much for the hope of gaining honour, as of excluding a rival from all pretensions to regard, and of putting an everlasting stop to the progress of that influence which either believed the other to have obtained by mean arts and false appearances.'

At last the day came, when they were both, with the usual solemnities, received into the class of superior deities, and allowed to take nectar from the hand of Hebe. But from that hour Concord lost her authority at the table of Jupiter. The rivals^ animated by their new dignity, and incited by the alternate applauses of the associate powers, harassed each other by incesfant contests, with such a regular vicissitude of victory, that neither was depressed.

It was observable, that, at the beginning of every debate, the advantage was on the fide of Wit; and that, at the first fallies, the whole assembly sparkled, according to Homer's expression, with unextinguishable merriment. But Learning would reserve her strength till the burst of applause was over, and the languor, with which the violence of joy is always succeeded, began to promise more calm and patient attention. She then attempted her desence, and, by comparing one part of her antagonist's objections with another, commonly made him consute himfelf; or, by shewing how small a part of the question he

Vot.V, L had -as had taken into his view, proved that his opinion could have no weight. The audience began gradually to lay aside their prepossessions, and rofe, at last, with great veneration for Learning, but with greater kindness for Wit.

Their conduct was, whenever they desircd.to recommend themselves to distinction, entirely opposite. Wit was daring and adventurous; Learning cautious and deliberate. Wit thought nothing reproachsul but duiness; Learning was asraid ot" no imputation but that of error. Wit answered before he understood, lest his quickness of apprehension should be questioned; Learning paused, where there was no difficulty, lest any insidious sophism lhould lie undiscovered. Wit perplexed every debate by rapidity and consusion; Learning tired the hearers with endless distinctions, and prolonged the dispute without advantage, by proving that which never was denied. Wit, in hopes of shining, would venture to produce what he had not considered, and osten succeeded beyond his own expectation, by following the train ot a lucky thought; Learning would reject every new notion, for sear of being intangled in consequences which she could not foresee, and was often hinde red, by her caution, from pressing her advantages, and subduing her opponent.

lioth had prejudices, which in some degree hindered their progress towards persection, and left them open to attack '. Novelty was the darling of Wit, and antiquity of Learning. To Wtit, all ri.at was new was specious; to Learning, whatever was ancient was venerable. Wit however

• seldom seldom sailed to divert thofe whom he could not convince, and to convince was not often his ambition; Learning always supported her opinion with so many collateral truths, that, when the cause was decided against her, her arguments were remembered with admiration.

Nothing was more common, on either fide, than to quit their proper characters, and to hope for a complete conquest by the use of the weapons which had been employed against them. Wit would sometimes labour a syllogism, and Learning distort her seatures with a jest; but they always sufsered by the experiment, and betrayed themselves to consutation or contempt. The seriousness of Wit was without dignity, and the Tnerriment of Learning without vivacity.

Their contests, by long continuance, grew at last important, and the divinities broke into parties. Wit was taken into protection of the laughterloving Venus, had a retinue allowed him of Smiles , and Jests, and was often permitted to dance among the Graces. Learning still continued the savourite of Minerva, and seldom went out of her palace, without a train of the severer virtues, Chastity, Temperance, Fortitude, and Labour. Wit, cohabiting with Malice, had a son named Satyr, who followed him, carrying a quiver filled wich poisoned arrows, which, where they once drew blood, could by no skill ever be extracted. These arrows he frequently shotat Learning, when she was most earnestly or usefully employed, engaged in abstruse enquiries, or giving instructions to her followers. Minerva therefore deputed Criticism to her aid, who

L 2 generally generally broke the point of Satyr's arrows, turned them aside, or retorted them on himself.

Jupiter was at last angry, that the peace of the heavenly regions should be in perpetual danger of violation, and resolved to dismiss these troublesome antagonists to the lower world. Hither therefore they came, and carried on their ancient quarrel among mortals, nor was either long without zealous votaries. Wit,, by his gaiety, captivated the young; and Learning, by her authority, influenced the old. Their power quickly appeared by very eminent effects, theatres were built for the reception of Wit, and colleges endowed for the residence of Learning. Each party endeavoured to outvie the other in cost and magnificence, and to propagate an opinion, that it was necessary, from the first entrance into lise, to enlist in one of the sactions; and that none could hope for the regard of either divinity, who had once entered the temple of the rival power.

There were indeed a class of mortals, by whom Wit and Learning were' equally disregarded: these were the devotees of Plutus, the god of riches; among these it seldom happened that the gaiety of Wit could raise a smile, or the eloquence of Learning procure attention. In revenge of this contempt they agreed to incite their followers against them; but the forces that were sent on thofe expeditions frequently betrayed their trust; and, in contempt of the orders which they had received, flattered the rich in publick, while they scorned them in their hearts; and when, by this treachery, they had obtained the savour of Plutus, affected to look C with

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