The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

BOOK II. ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 213
continued impresses and emblems. And as for themselves to the ancient measures, yet in modern
gestures, they are as transitory hieroglyphics, and languages it seemeth to me as free to make new
are to hieroglyphics as words spoken are to words measures of verses as of dances; for a dance is
written,, in that they abide not; but they have a measured pace, as a verse is a measured speech.
evermore, as well as the other, an affinity with In these things the sense is better judge than the
the things signified: as Periander, being consulted' art;
with how to preserve a tyranny newly usurped, "Ccene fercula nostraw
bid the messenger attend and report what he saw Malleni convivis quam placuisse cocis."
him do; and went into his garden and topped all And of the servile expressing antiquity in an
the highest flowers: signifying, that it consisted unlike and an unfit subject, it is well said,
in the cutting off and keeping low of the nobility Quod tempore antiquum videtur, id incongruiand grandees. "4 Ad placitum," are the charac- tate est maxime novum."
ters real before mentioned, and words: although For ciphers, they are commonly in letters or
some have been willing by curious inquiry, or alphabets, but may be in words. The kinds of
rather by apt feigning, to have derived imposition ciphers, besides the s'iaple ciphers, with changes,
of names from reason and intendment; a specula- and interinixtures of nulls and non-significants,
tion elegant, and, by reason it searcheth into are many, according to the nature or rule of the
antiquity, reverent; but sparingly mixed with infolding, wheel-ciphers, key-ciphers, doubles,
truth, and of small fruit. This portion of know- &c. But the virtues of them, whereby they are
ledge, touching the notes of things, and cogita- to be preferred, are three; that they be not labotions in general, I find not inquired, but deficient. rious to write and read; that they be impossible
And although it may seem of no great use, con- to decipher; and, in some cases, that they be
sidering that words and writings by letters do far without suspicion. The highest degree whereof
excel all the other ways; yet because this part is to write ",omnia per omnia;" which is unconcerneth, as it were, the mint of knowledge, doubtedly possible, with a proportion quintuple
(for words are the tokens current and accepted at most of the writing infolding to the writing
for conceits, as moneys are for values, and that it infolded, and no other restraint whatsoever. This
is fit men be not ignorant that moneys may be of art of ciphering, hath for relative an art of decianother kind than gold and silver,) I thought phering, by supposition unprofitable, but, as
good to propound it to better inquiry. things are, of great use. For suppose that ciphers
Concerning speech and words, the considera- were well managed, there be multitudes of them
tion of them hath produced the science of Gram- which exclude the decipherer. But in regard of
mar: for man still striveth to reintegrate himself the rawness and unskilfulness of the hands
in those benedictions, from which by his fault he through which they pass, the greatest matters are
hath been deprived; and as he hath striven against many times carried in the weakest ciphers.
the first general curse by the invention of all other In the enumeration of these private and retired
arts, so hath he sought to come forth of the second arts, it may be thought I seek to make a great
general curse, which was the confusion of tongues, muster-roll of sciences, naming them for show
by the art of grammar: whereof the use in a and ostentation, and to little other purpose. But
mother tongue is small, in a foreign tongue more; let those which are skilful in them judge whether
but most in such foreign tongues as have ceased I brirng them in only for appearance, or whether in
to be vulgar tongues, and are turned only to that which I speak of them, though in few marks,
learned tongues. The duty of it is of two na- there be not some seed of proficience. And this
tures; the one popular, which is for the speedy must be remembered, that as there be many of
and perfect attaining languages, as well for inter- great account in their countries and provinces,
course of speech as for understanding of authors; which, when they come up to the seat of the
the other philosophical, examining the power and estate, are but of mean rank and scarcely renature of words, as they are the footsteps and garded; so these arts, being here placed with the
prints of reason: which kind of analogy between principal and supreme sciences, seem petty
words and reason is handled " sparsim," brokenly, things; yet to such as have chosen them to spend
though not entirely; and therefore I cannot report their labours and studies in them, they seem great
it deficient, though I think it very worthy to be matters.
reduced into a science by itself. For the method of tradition, I see it hath
Unto grammar also belongeth, as an appendix, moved a controversy in our time. But as in civil
the consideration of the accidents of words; business, if there be a meeting, and men fall at
which are measure, sound, and elevation or words, there is commonly an end of the matter
accent, and the sweetness and harshness of them; for that time, and no proceeding at all; so in
whence hath issued some curious observations in learning, where there is much controversy, there
rhetoric, but chiefly poesy, as we consider it, in is many times little inquiry. For this part of
respect of the verse, and not of the argument: knowledge of method seemeth to me so weakly
wherein though men in learned tongues do tie inquired as I shall report it deficient.