Of the advancement and proficience of learning; or, The partitions of sciences· Nine books. Written in Latin by the most eminent, illustrious, and famous Lord Francis Bacon Baron of Verulam, Vicount St. Alban, Councellor of Estate, and Lord Chancellor of England. Interpreted by Gilbert Watts.

THE REPREHENSION.

THe Fallax of this Colour is, first in respect of Hope, which is a great Antidote against Evills: for the reformation of a fault is many times in our own power, but the amendment of fortune is not. Wherefore in many of his Orations De∣mosthenes saith thus to the People of Athens:* 1.1 That which having regard to the time past, is the worst point and Circumstance of all the rest; that as to the time to come, is the best: what is that? Even this, that by your sloth, irresolution, and misgoverment, your affaires are grown to this declination and Decay; for had you used and ordered your means and forces to the best, and done your parts every way to the full; and notwithstanding your matters should have gone backward in this point as they doe, there had bin no hope left of recovery or reputaton for hereafter; but since it hath bin only by your own errors chiefly, you may have good assu∣rance, that those errors amended, you may againe recover the ho∣nour of your former state.* 1.2 So Epictetus speaking of the De∣grees of the Tranquillity of mind, faith the worst state of man is to accuse externe things; Better then that to accuse a mans selfe; and best of all to accuse neither. Secondly this colour deceives

in respect of that pride which is implanted in the minds of men, whereby they are with much adoe induced to an ac∣knowledgement of their own personall errors; but that they may shift off this acknowledgement, they can suffer with farre greater patience such evills, as they have by their own oversights drawn upon themselves. For as we see it comes to passe that when a fault is committed, and it is not yet known who is the delinquent, men make much adoe; grow hot and impatient above measure upon the matter: but af∣ter, if it appeare to be done by a sonne, or by a wife, or by a neere friend, then it is light made of, and presently all is quiet: so is it when any thing falls out ill, the blame where∣of must needs light upon our selves. And this is common∣ly seen to come to passe in women, who if they have done any thing unfortunately against their Parents or friends consents, what ill soever betide them upon it, yet you shall see them seldome complaine, but set a good face on it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Demost. orat.
• * 1.2

  Epictet. Cap. 10.