The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

ANALYSIS OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 139
operation to discredit learning, even with vul- truth and unwearied travail of wit, hadjoined
gar capacities, when they see learned men's variety and universality of reading and conworks like the first letter of a patent or limned templation, they had proved excellent lights,
book; which though it hath large flourishes, to the great advancement of all learning and
yet it is but a letter? It seems to me that knowledge; but as they are, they are great unPygmalion's frenzy is a good emblem or por- dertakers indeed, and fierce with dark keeping.
traiture of this vanity, for words are but the
images ofj matter; and except they have life
of recason and invention, to fall in love with 1. It is falsehood, and is the foulest of all the disternthem is all one as to fall in love with a pic per of leaning.
ture. 2. Different sorts, and their connection.
2. Origin of the prevalence of delicate learning in late 1. Imposture.
times.............................. 170 2. Credulity.
3. Delicate learning exists more or less in all times 170 1. In matters of fact.
4. Attention to style ought not to be neglected.. 170 1. In ecclesiastical history.
But yet, notwithstanding, it is a thing not 2. In natural history.
hastily to be condemned, to clothe and adorn 2. In arts and sciences.
the obscurity, even of philosophy itself, with 1. In arts and sciences.
sensible and plausible elocution: Surely to alchymy this right is due, that it
But the excess of this is so justly contebandman whereof
tible, that as Hercules, when he saw the image hEsop makes the fable; t, when he died,
of Adonis, Venus's minion, in a temple, said told his sons, that he had left unto them gold
in disdain, "Nil sacri es;" so there is none yar; and
of Hercules's followers in learning, that is, the they digged over all the ground, andgold they
more severe and laborious sort of inquirers into found none; but by reason of their stirring
truth, but will despise those delicacies and af- digging the mould about the roots of their
fectations, as indeed capable of no divineness. vines, they had a great vintage the year follow.aing: so assuredly the search and stir to make
Contentious Learning. gold hath brought to light a great number of
1. It is vanity of matter, useless knowledge, and is good andfruitful inventions and experiments,
worse than vanity of words........... 170 as well for the disclosing of nature, as for the
As many substances in nature, which are use of man's life.
solid, do putrefy and corrupt into worms: so 2. Authors.
it is the property of good and sound know- Authors should be as consuls to advise, not
ledge, to putrefy and dissolve into a number as dictators to command.
of subtle, idle, unwholesome, and, as I may Let great authors have their duc, as time,
term them, vermiculate questions, which have which is the author of authors, be not deindeed a kind of quickness, and life of spirit, prived of his due, which is, further and further
but no soundness of matter or goodness of to discover truth.
quality. PECCANT REUMOURS OF LEARNING.
2. Badges of false science.................... 170 1. The extreme affecting either of antiquity or no1. Novelty of terms.
1. Novelty of terms. I. The extreme affecting either of antiquity or no2. Strictness of positions. velty............................... 172
3. Contentioualearning reigned chiefly amongst the "State super aias antiquas, et videte qu____ h —a he n r.r ~.~.~ - ~e.- 17-0 nam sit via recta et bona, et ambulate in ea."
".......Antiquits s.culi.juventus mundi." These
The wit and mind of man, if it work upon " Antiquitas seculijuventus mundi." These
times are the ancient times, when the world is
matter, which is the contemplation of the creatures of God, worketh according to the stuff, ancient, and not those which we account anand is limited thereby; but if it work upon cient "ordn rtrogrado," by a computation
itself, as the spider worketh his web, then it is 2 A subackward from ourselves.2
endless, and brings forth indeed cobwebs of 2. A suspicion that there is nothing new.
arnming, admirable for the Jineness of thread 3. A conceit that of former opinions or sects, after
and wor~k, btt of no srbstance OrproJit. variety and examination, the best hath preand work, but of no substance or profit.
vailed................................ 173
4. Unprofitable curiosity is of two sorts......... 171 The truth is, that time seemeth to be of the
The truth is, that time seemeth to be of the. Erroneouuitless spmodes of investigation. nature of a river or stream, which carrieth
Were it not betterfor a man in afair room and sineth and drown to s that which is light and blown up,
to set up one great light, or branching candlestick of lights, than to go about with a small weighty and solid.
4 Tch fe ioverearly a nd peremptory reduction of knowwatch candle into every corner?
The generality of the schoolmen are for a..... and
while good and proportionable; but then, when As young men, when they knit and shape
you descend into their distinctions and deci- perfetd-e-ze.o.ii grow to afurther stature;
so knowledge,; Whi~t'is~in aps mand ohsions, instead of a fruitful womb, for the useledge, whis zts sn t s and o
servation's, It-, ils- fi'ii ~gfl h /"bUt' t-b oi'ce
and benefit of man's life, they end in monstrous
is comprehen'ded;ne xat' methZ% it m y peraltercations and barking questions.s comprehended n ext methods i t per5. It is to be lamented that the learning of the school- posed and straean
men was so confined.................. 171 accommodaedforuse drt; t it in
creaseth no m oe in b-ulk and substance.3
If those schoolmen, to their great thirst of no more in bulk and substance.3
a See note (C) at the end of this Treatise.
See note /B) at the end of this Treatise., See note (D) at the end of this Treatise.