The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

FILUM LABYRINTHI,
SIVE
FORMULA INQUISITIONIS.
AD FILIOS.
PARS PRIMA.
1. FRANCIS BACON thought in this manner. misunderstanding of the words of his authors,
The knowledge whereof the world is now pos- which maketh him listen after auricular traditions;
sessed, especially that of nature, extendeth not to or else a failing in the true porportions and scrumagnitude and certainty of works. The physi- ples of practice, which maketh him renew infician pronounceth many diseases incurable, and nitely his trials; and finding also that he lighteth
faileth oft in the rest. The alchemists wax old upon some mean experiments and conclusions by
and die in hopes. The magicians perform no- the way, feedeth upon them, and magnifieth them
thing that is permanent and profitable. The me- to the most, and supplieth the rest in hopes.
chanics take small light from natural philosophy, The magician, when he findeth something, as he
and do but spin on their own little threads. iconceiveth, above nature, effected, thinketh, when
Chance sometimes discovereth inventions; but *a breach is once made in nature, that it is all one
that worketh not in years, but ages. So he saw to perform great things and small; not seeing,
well, that the inventions known are very unper- that they are but subjects of a certain kind,
feet, and that new are not like to be brought to wherein magic and superstition hath played in all
light but in great length of time; and that those times. The mechanical person, if he can refine
which are, came not to light by philosophy. an invention, or put two or three observations or
2. He thought also this state of knowledge was practices together in one, or couple things better
he worse, because men strive against themselves with their use, or make the work in less or greater
to save the credit of ignorance, and to satisfy volume, taketh himself for an inventor. So he
themselves in this poverty. For the physician, saw well, that men either persuade themselves of
besides the cautels of practice, hath this general new inventions as of impossibilities, or else think
cautel of art, that he dischargeth the weakness they are already extant, but in secret and in few
of his art upon supposed impossibilities: neither hands; or that they account of those little induscan his art be condemned, when itself judgeth. tries and additions, as of inventions: all which
That philosophy also, out of which the knowledge turneth to the averting of their minds from any
of physic which now is in use is hewed, receiveth just and constant labour, to invent further in any
certain positions and opinions, which, if they be quantity.
well weighed, induce this persuasion, that no great 3. He thought also, when men did set before
works are to be expected from art, and the hand themselves the variety and perfection of works
of man; as, in particular that opinion, that," the produced by mechanical arts, they are apt rather to
heat of the sun and fire differ in kind;" and that admire the provisions of man, than to apprehend
other, 1" that composition is the work of man, and his wants; not considering, that the original inmixture is the work of nature," and the like; all ventions and conclusions of nature, which are the
tending to the circumscription of man's power, life of all that variety, are not many, nor deeply
and to artificial despair; killing in men not only fetched; and that the rest is but the subtile and
the comfort of imagination, but the industry of ruled motion of the instrument and hand; and that
trial; only upon vainglory, to have their art the shop therein is not unlike the library, which
thought perfect, and that all is impossible that is in such number of books containeth, for the far
not already found. The alchemists dischargeth greater part, nothing but iterations, varied somehis art upon his own errors, either supposing a times in form, but not new in substance. So he
96