OPPONENTS OF LINNAEUS. 
113 
w 
11 plaisant and so polite, that they would not offend any person with a 
« single word. 
“ I have perhaps been the only one, who after your own method, 
•< 
t{ acquired his learning without a master. I am still a learner, and 
“ you will indulge me for not having yet become learned. If science 
“ can be acquired by your method, I am also in hopes of it by my own*. 
« Finally I much doubt whether you or any other accademical pro 
« fessor can derive any benefit from quarrels. The first endeavour ol 
« a teacher should be to procure the confidence and respefit of his 
« audience. But if his pupils see him in error, how dangerous will 
« it prove to his authority ! What man, however learned or accom- 
« plished, has not been justly censured for having censured others. 
<c It always leaves some stigma behind. 
“ Consult the history of all literary champions, and show me but one 
« who ingratiated himself with the world by his feuds. Matthiolus 
« might in his time have been a great man, had he not given himself 
“ to litigiousness. What could Ray and Rivinus do with their quar- 
« rels? Dillenius still laments that the latter compelled him to enter 
« the lists ; and did his vi6tory add any thing to his celebrity ? Another 
« sent him a challenge some time after, but he wisely declined accept- 
a i n g it. The ingenious Vaillant endeavoured to pave himself the 
« way to glory by the downfall of Tournefort. How much greater 
would he have been, had he not a£ted thus 1 
“ I shudder at the idea of entering a combat. Because, whether you 
« vanquish or are vanquished— prejudice and blame will always attend 
* Ego deni urn fui et forte solus, qui secundum istam a tc datam methodum absque prac- 
ceptore ullo, quae novi, addidici. Disco adhuc; ignoscas quod doctus, etiamnum non 
evaserim. Si dottrina, tua methodo, comparari queat, spes doctrinx etiam apud me elucet. 
q “ your 
X 
