The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

NEW ATLANTIS. 269
basilisks. We represent also ordnance and in- about how to draw out of them things of use and
struments of war, and engines of all -kinds: and practice for man's life and knowledge, as well for
likewise new mixtures and compositions of gun- works as for plain demonstration of causes, meanspowder, wildfires burning in water, and unquench- natural divinations, and the easy and clear disco
able. Also fireworks of all variety both for plea- very of the virtues and parts of bodies. These
sure and use. We imitate also flight of birds; we call dowry-men or benefactors.
we have some degrees of flying in the air; ",Then after divers meetings and consults of our
we have ships and boats for going under water, whole number, to consider of the former labours
and brooking of seas; also swimming-girdles and and collections, we have three that take care, out
supporters. We have divers curious clocks, and of them, to direct new experiments, of a higher
other like motions of return, and some perpetual light, more penetrating into nature than the formotions. We imitate also motions of living crea- mer. These we call lamps.
tures by images of men, beasts, birds, fishes, and',We have three others that do execute the exserpents; we have also a great number of other periments so directed, and report them. These
various motions, strange for equality, fineness, we call inoculators.
and subtilty. "Lastly, we'have three that raise the former,, We have also a mathematical house, where discoveries by experiments into greater observaare represented all instruments, as well of geome- tions, axioms, and aphorisms. These we call
try as astronomy, exquisitely made. interpreters of nature.
", We have also houses of deceits of the senses; " We have also, as you must think, novices and
where we represent all manner of feats of jug- apprentices, that the succession of the former emgling, false apparitions, impostures, and illusions; ployed men do not fail: besides a great number of
and their fallacies. And surely you will easily servants, and attendants, men and women. And
believe that we that have so many things truly this we do also: we have consultation, which of
natural, which induce admiration, could in a the inventions and experiences which wehavedisworld of particulars deceive the senses if we covered shall be published, and which not: and
would disguise those things, and labour to make take all an oath of secrecy, for the concealing of
them seem more miraculous. But we do hate those which we think fit to keep a secret: though
all impostures and lies: insomuch as le have some of those we do reveal sometimes to the state,
severally forbidden it to all our fellows, under and some not.
pain of ignominy and fines, that they do not
show any natural work or thing, adorned or ",For our ordinances and rites: we have two
swelling; but only pure as it is, and without very long and fair galleries: in one of these we
all affectation of strangeness. place patterns and samples of all manner of the
",These are, my son, the riches of Solomon's more rare and excellent inventions: in the other
House. we place the statues of all principal inventors.
There we have the statue of your Columbus, that
",For the several employments and offices of discovered the West Indies: also the inventor
our fellows; we have twelve that sail into fo- of ships: your monk that was the inventor of
reign countries, under the names of other na- ordnance, and of gunpowder: the inventor of
tions, for our own we conceal, who bring us the music: the inventor of letters: the inventor of
books, and obstructs, and patterns of experi- printing: the inventor of observations of astronoments of all other parts. These we call mer- my: the inventor of works in metal: the inchants of light. ventor of glass: the inventor of silk of thexworm:
",We have three that collect the experiments the inventor of wine: the inventor of corn and
which are in all books. These we call depre- bread: the inventor of sugars: and all these by
dators. more certain tradition than you have. Then have
", We have three that collect the experiments of we divers inventors of our own excellent works;
all mechanical arts; and also of liberal sciences; which since you have not seen, it were too long to
and also of practices which are not brought into make descriptions of them; and besides, in the
arts. These we call mystery-men. right understanding of these descriptions you,XVe have three that try new experiments, might easily err. For upon every invention of
such as themselves think good. These we call value, we erect a statue to the inventor, and give
pioneers or miners. him a liberal and honourable reward. These,,We have three that draw the experiments of statues are some of brass; some of marble and
the former four into titles, and tablets, to give touch-stone; some of cedar, and other special
the better light for the drawing of observations woods gilt and adorned: some of iron; some of
and axioms out of them. These we call com- silver; some of gold.
pilers. "We have certain hymns and services, which
",We have three that bend themselves, looking we say daily, of laud and thanks to God for his
into the experiments of their fellows, and cast marvellous works: and forms of prayers, imnplorz2