IN THE MOON.
49
Nor take upon him t'understand, henceforth,
More than his weekly Contribution's worth:
That all those, that have purchas'd of the College
A half, or but a quarter Share of Knowlege,
455 And brought none in themselves, but spent Repute,
Should never be admitted to dispute;
Nor any Member undertake to know
More than his equal Dividend comes to?
For Partners have perpetually been known,
460 T'impose upon their publick Int'rest, prone;
And, if we have not greater Care of ours,
It will be sure to run the self-same Course,
This said, the whole Society allow'd
The Doctrine to be orthodox, and good;
465 And from th' apparent Truth of what th'had heard,
Resolv'd, henceforth, to give Truth no Regard,
But what was for their Interests to vouch,
And either find it out, or make it such:
That 'twas more admirable to create
470 Inventions like Truth out of strong Conceit,
Than with vexatious Study, Pains, and Doubt,
To find, or but suppose t'have found it out.
More than his weekly Contribution's worth:
That all those, that have purchas'd of the College
A half, or but a quarter Share of Knowlege,
455 And brought none in themselves, but spent Repute,
Should never be admitted to dispute;
Nor any Member undertake to know
More than his equal Dividend comes to?
For Partners have perpetually been known,
460 T'impose upon their publick Int'rest, prone;
And, if we have not greater Care of ours,
It will be sure to run the self-same Course,
This said, the whole Society allow'd
The Doctrine to be orthodox, and good;
465 And from th' apparent Truth of what th'had heard,
Resolv'd, henceforth, to give Truth no Regard,
But what was for their Interests to vouch,
And either find it out, or make it such:
That 'twas more admirable to create
470 Inventions like Truth out of strong Conceit,
Than with vexatious Study, Pains, and Doubt,
To find, or but suppose t'have found it out.
