The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

226 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. Boox II.;noral and civil matters; how, I say, to set affec- so an insatisfaction on the end: if too weak, of
tion against affection, and to master one by the other side, you may not look to perform and
another; even as we use to hunt beast with beast, overcome any great task.
and fly bird with bird, which otherwise perhaps Another precept is, to practise all things chiefly
we could not so easily recover: upon which foun- at two several times, the one when the mind is
dation is erected that excellent use of 66 premium" best disposed, the other when it is worst disposed;
and,, pcena," whereby civil states consist; em- that by the one you may gain a great step, by the
ploying the predominant affections of fear and other you may work out the knots and stonds of
hope, for the suppressing and bridling the rest. the mind, and make the middle times the more
For as in the government of states it is- some- easy and pleasant.
times necessary to bridle one faction with another, Another precept is that which Aristotle menso i' is in the government within. tioneth by the way, which is, to bear ever towards
Non.ome we to those points which are within the contrary extreme of that whereunto we are by
our own command, and have force and operation nature inclined: like unto the rowing against the
upon the mind, to affect the will and appetite, and stream, or making a wand straight by bending
to alter manners: wherein they ought to have him contrary to his natural crookedness.
handled custom, exercise, habit, education, exam- Another precept is, that the mind is brought to
ple, imitation, emulation, company, friends, praise, any thing better, and with more sweetness and
reproof, exhortation, fame, laws, books, studies: happiness, if that whereunto you pretend be net
these as they have determinate use in moralities, first in the intention, but " tanquam aliud agendo,"
from these the mind suffereth; and of these are because of the natural hatred of the mind against
such receipts and regimens compounded and de- necessity and constraint. Many other axioms
scribed, as may seem to recover or preserve the there are touching the managing of exercise and
health and good estate of the mind, as far as per- custom; which, being so conducted, doth prove intaineth to human medicine: of which number we deed anothernature; butbeing governed by change,
will insist upon some one or two, as an example doth commonly prove but an ape of nature, and
of the rest, because it were too long to prosecute bringeth forth that which is lame and counterfeit.
all; and therefore we do resume custom and ha- So if we should handle books and studies, and
bit to speak of. what influence and operation they have upon
The opinion of Aristotle seemeth to me a negli- manners, are there not divers precepts of great
gent opinion, that of those things which consist caution and direction appertaining thereunto.
by nature, nothing can be changed by custom; Did not one of the fathers in great indignation
using for example, that if a stone be thrown ten call poesy 6" vinum demonum," because it inthousand times up, it will not learn to ascend; creaseth temptations, perturbations, and vain opiand that by often seeing or hearing, we do not nions. Is not the opinion of Aristotle worthy to
learn to see or hear the better. For though this be regarded, wherein he saith, ", That young men
principle be true in things wherein nature is pe- are no fit auditors of moral philosophy, because
remptory, (the reason whereof we cannot now stand they are not settled from the boiling heat of their
to discuss,) yet it is otherwise in things wherein affections, nor attempered with time and expenature admitteth a latitude. For he might see riencee " And doth it not thereof come, that
that a strait glove will come more easily on with those excellent books and discourses of the anuse; and that a wand will by use bend otherwise cient writers, (whereby they have persuaded unto
than it grew; and that by use of the voice we virtue most effectually, by representing her in
speak louder and stronger; and that by use of state and majesty, and popular opinions against
enduring heat and cold, we endure it the better, virtue in their parasites' coats, fit to be scorned
and the like: which latter sort have a nearer and derided,) are of so little effect towards hcresemblance unto that subject of manners he nesty of life, because they are not read and rehandleth, than those instances which he allegeth. volved by men in their mature and settled years,
But allowing his conclusion, that virtues and but confined almost to boys and beginners t But
vices consist in habit, he ought so much the more is it not true also, that much less young men are
to have taught the manner of superinducing that fit auditors of matters of policy, till they have
habit: for there be many precepts of the wise or- been throroughly seasoned in religion and modering the exercises of the mind, as there is of rality; lest their judgments be corrupted, and
ordering the exercises of the body; whereof we made apt to think that there are no true differwill recite a few.. ences of things, but according to utility and forThe first shall be, that we beware we take not tune, as the verse describes it,
at the first either too high a strain, or too weak: s" Prosperum et felix scelus virtus vocatur:
for if too high, in a diffident nature you discou- and again,
rage; in a confident nature you breed an opinion "Ille crucem pretium sceleris tulit, hic diadema:"
of facility, and so a sloth; and in all natures you which the poets do speak satirically, and in inbreed a further expectation than can hold out, and dignation on virtue's behalf; but books of policy