The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

178 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. BOOK I.
tude of the times, comlnrehended in a verse of sity. But Adrian spent his whole reign, which
1Homer's: was peaceable, in a perambulation or survey of
"Telis, Phebe, tuis lachrymas ulciscere nostras." the Roman empire; giving order, and making
Trajan, who succeeded, was for his person not assignation where he went, for re-edifying of
learned: but if we will hearken to the speech of cities, towns, and forts decayed; and for cutting
our Saviour, that saith, ", He that receiveth a pro- of rivers and streams, and for making bridges
phet in the name of a prophet, shall have a pro- and passages, and for policying of cities and
phet's reward," he deserveth to be placed amongst commonalties with new ordinances and constithe most learned princes: for there was not a tutions, and granting new franchises and incorgreater admirer of learning, or benefactor of porations; so that his whole time was a very
learning: a founder of famous libraries, a perpe- restoration of all the lapses and decays of former
tual advancer of learned men to office, and a times.
familiar converser with learned professors and Antoninus Pius, who succeeded him, was a
preceptors, who were noted to have then most prince excellently learned; and had the patient
credit in court. On the other side, how much and subtle wit of a schoolman; insomuch as in
Trajan's virtue and government was admired and common speech, which leaves no virtue untaxed,
renowned, surely no testimony of grave and faith- he was called 6" cymini sector," (a carver or diful history doth more livelily set forth, than that vider of cumin,) which is one of the least seeds;
legend tale of Gregorius Magnus, Bishop of Rome, such a patience he had and settled spirit, to enter
who was noted for the extreme envy he bore into the least and most exact differences of causes;
towards all heathen excellency: and yet he is re- a fruit no doubt of the exceeding tranquillity
ported, out of the love and estimation of Trajan's and serenity of his mind; which being noways
moral virtues, to have made unto God passionate charged or encumbered, either with fears, reand fervent prayers for the delivery of his soul morses, or scruples, but having been noted for a
out of hell; and to have ob,tained it, with a caveat man of the purest goodness, without all fiction or
that he should make no more such petitions. In affectation, that hath reigned or lived, made his
this prince's time also, the persecutions against mind continually present and entire. He likethe Christians received intermission, upon the wise approached a degree nearer unto Christicertificate of Plinius Secundus, a man of excellent anity, and became as Agrippa said unto St. Paul,
learning and by Trajan advanced. 6" half a Christian;" holding their religion and
Adrian, his successor, was the most curious law in good opinion, and not only ceasing perseman that lived, and the most universal inquirer; cution, but giving way to the advancement of
insomuch as it was noted for an error in his mind, Christians.
that he desired to comprehend all things, and not There succeeded him the first "6 divi-fratres,"
to reserve himself for the worthiest things; falling the two adoptive brethren, Lucius Commodus
into the like humour that was long before noted Verus (son to:ilius Verus, who delighted much
in Philip of Macedon; who, when he would needs in the softer kind of learning, and was wont to
overrule and put down an excellent musician in call the poet Martial his Virgil) and Marcus Auan argument touching music, was well answered relius Antoninus: whereof the latter, who obscured
by him again, " God forbid, sir," saith he, " that his colleague and survived him long, was named
your fortune should be so bad, as to know these the philosopher: who as he excelled all the rest
things better than I." It pleased God likewise to in learning, so he excelled them likewise in per
use the curiosity of this emperor as an inducement fection of all royal virtues; insomuch as Julianus
to the peace of his church in those days. For hav- the emperor, in his book entitled C Caesares,'
ing Christ in veneration, not as a God or Saviour, being as a pasquin or satire to deride all his pre.
but as a wonder or novelty; and having his pic- decessors, feigned'that they were all invited to a
ture in his gallery, matched with Apollonius, with banquet of the gods, and Silenus the Jester sat at
whom, in his vain imagination, he thought he the nether end of the table, and bestowed a scoff
had some conformity; yet it served the turn to on every one as they came in; but when Marcus
allay the bitter hatred of those times against the Philosophus came in, Silenus was gravelled and
Christian name, so as the church had peace during out of countenance, not knowing where to carp
his timne. And forhis governmentcivil, although at him; save at the last he gave a glance at his
lie did not attain to that of Trajan's in glory of patience towards his wife. And the virtue of this
arms, or perfection of justice, yet in deserving of prince, continued with that of his predecessor,
the weal of the subject he did exceed him. For made the name of Antoninus so sacred in the'I'rajan erected many famous monuments and world, that though it were extremely dishonoured
buildings; insomuch that Constan'ine the Great in Commodus, Caracalla, and Heliogabalus, who
in emulation was wont to call him " Parietaria," all bore the name, yet when Alexander Severus
(wall flower,) because his name was upon so refused the name, because he was a stranger to the
many walls: but his buildings and works were family, the senate with one acclamation said,
nsore of glory and triumph than use and neces- "Quo modo Augustus, sic et Antoninus." In such