The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HELPS FOR THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS. 105
often clear the passage and current to a man's I made a funambulo, will prove more excellent in
fortune. But certain it is, whether it be believed his feats; but the less apt will be gregarius fuor no, that as the most excellent of metals, gold, nambulo also. And there is small question, but
is of all other the most pliant, and most ondur- that these abilities would have been more common,
ing to be wrought: so of all living and breathing and others of like sort not attempted would likesubstances, the perfectest man is the most suscep- wise have been brought upon the stage, but for
tible of help, improvement, impression, and altera- two reasons; the one because of men's diffidence
tion; and not only in his body, but in his mind and in prejudging them as impossibilities; for it holdspirit; and there again not only in his appetite and eth in those things which the poet saith, ", posaffection, but in his powers of wit and reason. sunt quia posse videntur;" for no man shall know
For as to the body of man, we find many and how much may be done, except he believe much
strange experiences, how nature is overwrought may be done. The other reason is, because they
by custom, even in actions that seem of most diffi- be but practices, base and inglorious, and of no
culty and least possible. As first in voluntary great use, and therefore sequestered from reward
motion, which though it be termed voluntary, yet of value; and on the other side, painful; so as
the highest degrees of it are not voluntary; for it the recompense balanceth not with the travel and
is in my power and will to run; but to run faster suffering. And as to the will of man, it is that
than according to my lightness or disposition of which is most maniable and obedient; as that
body, is not in my power nor will. We see the which admitteth most medicines to cure and alter
industry and practice of tumblers and funambulos it. The most sovereign of all is religion, which
what effects of great wonder it bringeth the body is able to change and transform it in the deepest
of man unto. So for suffering of pain and dolour, and most inward inclinations and motions: and
which is thought so contrary to the nature of man, next to that is opinion and apprehension; whether
there is much example of penancesinstrict orders it be infused by tradition and institution, or
of superstition, what they do endure such as may wrought in by disputation and persuasion: and the
well verify the report of the Spartan boys, which third is example, which transformeth the will of
were wont to be scourged upon the altar so bitter- man into the similitude of that which is most obly as sometimes they died of it, and yet were never servant and familiar towards it; and the fourth is,
heard to complain. And to pass to those faculties when one affection is healed and corrected by
which are reckoned more involuntary, as long fast- another; as when cowardice is remedied by shame
ing and abstinence, and the contrary extreme, vora- and dishonour, or sluggishness and backwardness
city. The leaving and forbearing the use of drink by indignation and emulation; and so of the like:
for altogether, the enduring vehement cold and and lastly, when all these means, or any of them,
the like; there have not wanted, neither do want have new framed or formed human will, then doth
divers examples of strange victories over the body custom and habit corroborate and confirm all the
in every of these. Nay, in respiration, the proof rest; therefore it is no marvel, though this faculty
hath been of some, who, by continual use of diving of the mind (of will and election) which inclineth
and working under the water, have brought them- affection and appetite, being butthe inceptions and
selves to be able to hold their breath an incredible rudiments of will, may be so well, governed and
time; and others that have been able, without managed, because it admitteth access to so divers
suffocation, to endure the stifling breath of an remedies to be applied to it and to work upon it,
oven or furnace, so heated as, though it did not the effects whereof are so many and so known as
scald nor burn, yet it was many degrees too hot require no enumeration; but generally they do
for any man not made to it to breathe or take in. issue as medicines do, into two kinds of cures,
And some impostors and counterfeits, likewise, whereof the one is a just or true cure, and the other
have been able to wreath and cast their bodies is called palliation; for either the labour and intoninto strange forms and motions: yea, and others tion is to reform the affections really and truly, reto bring themselves into trances and astonish- straining them if they be too violent, and raising
ments. All which examples do demonstrate how them if they be too soft and weak, or else it is tc
variously, and how to high points and degrees, cover them; or if occasion be, to pretend them and
the body of man may be (as it were) moulded and represent them: of the former sort whereof the ex.
wrought. And if any man conceive that it is amplesare plentiful inthe schools of philosophers,
some secret propriety of nature that hath been in and in all other institutions of moral virtue; and
these persons which have attained to those points, of the other sort, the examples are more plentiful
and that it is not open for every man to do the like, in the courts of princes, and in all politic trafthough he had been put to it; for which cause fic, where it is ordinary to find not only profound
such things come but very rarely to pass; it is true, dissimulations and suffocating the affections, that
no doubt, but some persons are apter than others; no note or mark appear of them outwardly, but
but so as the more aptness causeth perfection, but also lively simulations and affectations, carrying
the less aptness doth not disable; so that, for ex- the tokens of passions which are not, as "risus
ample, the more apt child, that is taken to be jussus," and " lachrymee coactee," and the like
VOL. I.- 14