THE ROYAL ROAD
ERASMUS. I am told there is a certain compendious art, that will help a man to accomplish himself with all the liberal sciences by a very little labour.
DESIDERIUS. What is that you talk of? Did you ever see the book?
ERASMUS. I did see it, and that was all, having nobody to instruct me in the use of it.
DESIDERIUS. What was the subject of the book?
ERASMUS. It treated of various forms of dragons, lions, leopards; and various circles, and words written in them, some in Greek, some in Latin, and some in Hebrew and other barbarous languages.
DESIDERIUS. Pray, in how many days' time did the title-page promise you the knowledge of the arts and sciences?
ERASMUS. In fourteen.
DESIDERIUS. In truth, a very noble promise. But did you ever know anybody that has become learned by that notable art?
ERASMUS. No.
DESIDERIUS. No, nor nobody ever did, or ever will, till we can see an alchemist grow rich.
ERASMUS. Why, is there no such art then? I wish with all my heart there was.
DESIDERIUS. Perhaps you do, because you would not be at the pains which are required to become learned.
ERASMUS. You are right.
DESIDERIUS. It seemed meet to the Divine Being that the common riches, gold, jewels, silver, palaces, and kingdoms should be bestowed on the slothful and undeserving; but the true riches, and such as are properly our own, must be gotten by labour.
Erasmus. Colloquies: The Notable Art.