The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

BooK I. ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. ]79
renown and veneration was the name of these two the great philosopher, who dedicated divers of his
princes in those days, that they would have it as books of philosophy unto him: he was attended
a perpetual addition in all the emperors' styles. with Callisthenes and divers other learned perIn this emperor's times also the church for the sons, that followed him in camp, throughout his
most part was in peace; so as in this sequence journeys and conquests. What price and estiof six princes we do see the blessed effects of mation he had learning in doth notably appear in
learning in sovereignty, painted forth in the these three particulars: first, in the envy he used
greatest table of the world. to express that he bore towards Achilles, in this,
But for a tablet, or picture of smaller volume, that he had so good a trumpet of his praises as
(not presuming to speak of your majesty that Homer's verses; secondly, in the judgment or
liveth,) in my judgment the most excellent is that solution he gave touching that precious cabinet of
of Queen Elizabeth, your immediate predecessor Darius, which was found among his jewels;
in this part of Britain; a princess that, if Plutarch whereof question was made what thing was worwere now alive to write lives by parallels, would thy to be put into it; and he gave his opinion for
trouble him, I think, to find for her a parallel Homer's works: thirdly, in his letterto Aristotle,
amongst women. This lady was endued with after he had set forth his books of nature, wherein
learning in her sex singular, and rare even he expostulated with him for publishing the secrets
amongst masculine princes; whether we speak or mysteries of philosophy; and gave him to underof learning, language, or of science, modern, or stand that himself esteemed it more to excel other
ancient, divinity or humanity: and unto the very men in learning and knowledge than in power
last year of her life she was accustomed to appoint and empire. And what use he had of learning
set hours for reading, scarcely any young student doth appear, or rather shine, in all his speeches
in any university more daily, or more duly. As and answers, being full of science, and use of
for her government, I assure myself I shall not science, and that in all variety.
exceed, if I do affirm that this part of the island And herein again it may seem a thing scholasnever had forty-five years of better times; and yet tical, and somewhat idle, to recite things that
not through the calmness of the season, but every man knoweth; but yet, since the argument
through the wisdom of her regimen. For if there I handle leadeth me thereunto, I am glad that
be considered of the one side, the truth of religion men shall perceive I am as willing to flatter, if
established, the constant peace and security, the they will so call it, an Alexander, or a Caesar, or
good administration of justice, the temperate use an Antoninus, that are dead many hundred years
of the prerogative, not slackened, nor much since, as any that now liveth: for it is the disstrained, the flourishing state of learning, sortable playing of the glory of learning in sovereignty
to so excellent a patroness, the convenient estate that I propound to myself, and not a humour of
of wealth and means, both of crown and subject, declaiming in any man's praises. Observe then
the habit of obedience, and the moderation of dis- the speech he used of Diogenes, and see if it tend
contents; and there be considered, on the other not to the true state of one of the greatest quesside, the differences of religion, the troubles of tions of moral philosophy; whether the enjoying
neighbour countries, the ambition of Spain, and of outward things, or the contemning of them, be
opposition of Rome: and then, that she was soli- the greatest happiness: for when he saw Diotary and of herself: these things, I say, considered, genes so perfectly contented with so little, he said
as I could not have chosen an instance so recent to those that mocked at his condition;,Were I
and so proper, so, I suppose, I could not have not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes."
chosen one more remarkable or eminent to the But Seneca inverteth it, and saith; "Plus erat,
purpose now in hand, which is concerning the quod hic nollet accipere, quam quod ille posset
conjunction of learning in the prince with felicity dare." (There were more things which Diogenes
in the people. would have refused, than there were which AlexNeither hath learning and influence an operation ander could have given.)
only upon civil merit and moral virtue, and the Observe again that speech which was usual
arts or temperature of peace and peaceable go- with him, "That he felt his mortality chiefly in
vernment; but likewise it hath no less power and two things, sleep and lust;" and see if it were not
efficacy in enablement towards martial and milita- a speech extracted out of the depth of natural phiry virtue and prowess; as may be notably repre- losophy, and liker to have come out of the mouth
sented in the examples of Alexander the Great, of Aristotle or Democritus, than from Alexander.
and Caesar the Dictator, mentioned before, butnow See again that speech of humanity and poesy,
in fit place to be resumed; of whose virtues and when upon the bleeding of his wounds, he called
acts in war there needs no note or recital, having unto him one of his flatterers, that was wont to as
ueen the wonders of time in that kind: but of cribe to him divine honour, and said, " Look, this
their affections towards learning, and perfections is very blood; this is not such a liquor as Homet
in learning, it is pertinent to say somewhat. speaketh of, which ran from Venus's hand, when
Alexander was bred and taught under Aristotle it was pierced by Diomedes."