I. Science, like Virtue, has its imitators and its hypocrites; and the
vulgar are as much imposed upon by the one as the other. The numbers of
unlearned people who pass for men of literature, is considerable; and the
false appearances they put on, becomes a copious source of errors, both
particular and common. In this earthly region which we inhabit, apparent
learning is as much reverenced, and often-times as much respected, as
true. There are those, who are very expert at putting on the semblance of
learned men, and of imposing themselves as such upon the world, although
the portion of literature they possess is but very small; however, if
they have the address to make their copied imitation of it appear an
original painting, the copy will often make the same impression on
mens minds, as if it actually was an original. When Zeuxis with his
pencil imitated grapes, the birds flew with as much eagerness to eat the
painted, as if they had been real and natural grapes.
II. In the eleventh century, Arnoldus Brixiens, who was a man of but
little literature, did great mischief with his errors, both in his own
country, and even in Rome itself; for as Gunterus Ligurinus observes,
that besides being an elegant reasoner, he had the address of giving
himself the air and appearance of a man of learning; _Assumpta sapientis
fronte, disserto fallebat sermone rudes_; or as Otho Frinsingens
remarks, a copious verbosity passed in him for knowledge and erudition;
_Vir quidem naturæ non hebetis; plus tamen verborum profluvio, quam
sententiarum pondere copiosus._ Thus Vigilantius, although he was
an ignorant man, by his art in gaining over to him booksellers and
publishers, who were the proclaimers of his fame, so far acquired the
reputation of a person of literature, that he had the assurance to write
against Saint Jerom, and to accuse him of being an Origenist.
III. The vulgar, who are incompetent judges of men of letters, are apt,
although it is against their own interest, to countenance and give
credit to unlearned persons, whose deceptions in consequence of this
encouragement become formidable. The delusion of popular ignorance is apt
to magnify a very small light, into the blaze of a flaming torch; and to
fancy it is as luminous, as the lanthorn placed on the top of the tower
of Pharos, which Pliny says, at a great distance off, appears like a star
to those who navigate the sea of Alexandria.
IV. It may not be improperly remarked, that in order for a man to be
esteemed a person of learning with the populace, it is not so necessary
that he should really be one, as that he should put on the pompous
appearance of such a person. Arrogance and verbosity, if they are
accompanied with a small degree of discernment, that helps a man to
judge, when are the proper times to talk, and when to hold his tongue,
and what are the subjects he should discourse, and what be silent upon:
I say, if he has a little discretion to know how to conduct himself
in these particulars, such management will have a notable effect. A
confident magisterial air in his decisions, and an artificial gesture,
which when he sprinkles about the little he understands of the subject he
is talking upon, and which seems to indicate that he has an infinitely
greater stock of knowledge of the matter treasured up in his inside; such
affected appearances, I say, will have great weight and efficacy to
fascinate the ignorant vulgar.