The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

OF THE -INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 87
at all in the other; and so one science greatly inclination of their nature, or from common exaiding to the invention and augmentation of an- ample and opinion, never questioning or examinother. And therefore, without this intercourse, ingthem,norreducing them to any clear certainty;
the axioms of sciences will fall out to be neither and use only to call themselves to account and
full nor true; but will be such opinions, as Aris- deliberation touching the means and second ends,
totle in some places doth wisely censure, when and thereby set themselves in the right way to
he saith, " These are the opinions of persons that the wrong place. So likewise upon the natural
have respect but to a few things." So then we curiosity and desire to know, they have put themsee, that this note leadeth us to an administration selves in way without foresight or consideration
of knowledge in some such order and policy, as of their journey's end.
the King of Spain, in regard of his great domi- For I find that even those that'have sought
nions, useth in state: who, though he hath parti- knowledge for itself, and not for benefit, or ostencular councils for several countries and affairs, tation, or any practicable enablement in the course
yet had one council of state, or last resort, that of their life, have nevertheless propounded to
receiveth the advertisements and certificates from themselves a wrong mark, namely, satisfaction,
all the rest. Hitherto of the diversion, succession. which men call truth, and not operation. For as
and conference of wits. in the courts and services of princes and states,
it is a much easier matter to give satisfaction than
That the end and scope of knowledge hath been to do the business; so in the inquiring of causes
generally mistaken, and that men were never well and reasons it is much easier to find out such
advised what it was they sought. causes as will satisfy the mind of man and quiet obBeinog the IXth chapter, immediately preceding jections, than such causes as will direct him and
the7 Inventory, and inducinothe rsame. give him light to new experiences and inventions.
the Inventory, and inducino the same c.
Dhe Inetoy adinu. And this did Celsus note wisely and truly, how that
IT appeareth then how rarely the wits and la- the causes which are in use, and whereof the knowhours of men have been converted to the severe ledges now received do consist, were in time miand original inquisition of knowledge; and in nors and subsequents to the knowledge of the parthose who have pretended, what hurt hath been ticulars, out of which they were induced and coldone by the affectation of professors, and the lected; and that it wasnot the light of those causes
distraction of such as were no professors; and which discovered particulars, but only the parhow there was never in effect any conjunction or ticulars being first found, men did fall on glossing
combination of wits in the first and inducing and discoursing of the causes; which is the reasearch, but that every man wrought apart, and son, why the learning that now is hath the curse
would either have his own way, or else would go of barrenness, and is courtesan-like, for pleasure
no further than his guide, having in the one case and not for fruit. Nay, to compare it rightly, the
the honour of a first, and in the other the ease of strange fiction of the poets of the transformation
a second; and lastly, how in the descent and of Scylla, seemeth to be a lively emblem of this
continuance of wits and labours, the succession philosophy and knowledge: a fair woman uphath been in the most popular and weak opinions, ward in the parts of show, but when you come to
like unto the weakest natures, which many times the parts of use and generation, barking monsters:
have most children; and in them also the condi- for no better are the endless distorted questions,
tion of succession hath been rather to defend and which ever have been, and of necessity must be,
to adorn, than to add; and if to add, yet that ad- the end and womb of such knowledge......
dition to be rather a refining of a part, than an But yet nevertheless, here I may be mistaken,
increase of the whole. But the impediments of by reason of some which have much in their pen
time and accidents, though they have wrought a the referring sciences to action and the use of
general indisposition, yet are they not so peremp- man, which mean quite another matter than I do.
tory and binding, as the internal impediments and For they mean a contriving of directions, and
clouds in the mind and spirit of man, whereof it precepts for readiness of practice, which I discomnow followeth to speak. mend not, so it be not occasion that some quantity
The Scripture, speaking of the worst sort of of the science be lost; for else it will be such a
error, saith, ", Errare fecit eos in invio et non in piece of husbandry, as to put away a manor lying
via." For a man may wander in the way, by somewhat scattered, to buy in a close that lieth
rounding up and down; but if men have failed handsomely about a dwelling. But my intenin their very.direction and address, that error will tion contrariwise is to increase and multiply the
never by good fortune correct itself. Now it revenues and possessions of man, and not to trim
hath fared with men in their contemplations, as up only, or order with conveniency the grounds
Seneca saith it fareth with them in their actions, whereof he is already stated. Wherefore the
" TDe partibus vitae quisque deliberat, de summa better to make myself understood, that I mean
nemo." A course very ordinary with men who nothing less than words, and directly to demonreceive for the most part their final ends from the strate the point which we are now upon, that is,