Page [unnumbered]
Elogies on the Illustrious Author.
Ben. Johnson, in his Discoveries, p. 101.
THere happened in my time, one Noble Speaker [Lord Verulam] who was full of gravity in his speaking. His Language (where he could spare or pass by a jest) was nobly censorious. No Man ever spake more neatly, more prestly, more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less Idleness in what he uttered. No member of his Speech but consisted of his own gra∣ces. His Hearers could not cough or look aside from him without loss. He commanded where he spoke; and had his Judges angry and pleased at his devotion. No Man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him, was, lest he should make an end. And afterwards, Lord Egerton, the Chan∣cellor, a great and grave Orator, &c. But his Learn∣ed and able, (though unfortunate) Successor, [Lord Bacon] is he, who hath filled up all members, and per∣formed that in our tongue, which may be compar'd or prefer'd, either to insolent Greece or haughty Rome. In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the Wits born, that could honour a Language or help study. Now things daily fall; Wits grow downward, and Eloquence goes backward: So that he may be nam••d and stand as the mark and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of our Language.
And a little after, My conceit of his Person was ne∣ver increased toward him, by his place or honours. But I have and do reverence him for the greatness that was only proper to himself, in that he seem'd to me e∣ver by his work, one of the greatest Men, and most worthy of admiration, that had been in many Ages. In his Adversity I ever prayed, that God would give him strength, for greatness he could not want. Neither