The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

ANALYSIS OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 141
volume, (not presuming to speak of your ma- 4. It mitigates the fear of death or adverse forjesty that liveth,) in my judgment the most tune.
excellent is that of Queen Elizabeth, your im- Virgil did excellently and profoundly couple
mediate predecessor in this part of Britain; a the knowledge of causes and the conquest of
princess that, if Plutarch were now alive to all fears together, as "concomitantia."
write lives by parallels, would trouble himn, Iere s,
"- Felix qui potuit rerzm cognoscere causas,
think, to find for her a parallel amongst Quique metus omnes, et inexorabile fatum
women. This lady was endued with learning Subjecit pedibus, strepitumque.ctherontis avari."
in her sex singular, and rare even amongst
masculineprinces; whether we speak of learn- 5. It disposes the mind not to be fixed in its deing, language, or of science, modern or ancient, fects................................. 182
divinity or humanity: and unto the very last The unlearned man knows not what it is to
year of her life she was accustomed to appoint descend into himself, or to call himself to acset hours for reading, scarcely any young stu- count; nor the pleasure of that "suaviss,.ma
dent in a university more daily, or more vita, indies sentire sefieri meliorem."
duly. As for her government, I assure my- Certain it is that "veritas" and " bonitas"
self, I shall not exceed, if 1 do affirm that this differ but as the seal and the print: for truth
part of the island never had forty-five years prints goodness; and they be the clouds of erof better times; and yet not through the calm- ror which descend in the storms of passions
ness of the season, but through the wisdom of and perturbations.
her regimen. For if there be considered of 5. Learning is power.2
the one side, the truth of religion established, 6. Learning advances fortune................. 18
the constant peace and security, the good ad- 7. The pleasure of knowledge is the greatest of pleaministration of justice, the temperate use of sures.183
the prerogative, not slackened, nor much strain- We see in all other pleasures there is satiety,
ed, the flourishing state of learning, sortable and after they be used, their verdure departeth;
to so excellent a patroness, the convenient estate which showeth well they be but deceits of plea.
of wealth and means, both of crown and sub- sure, and not pleasures; and that it was the
ject, the habit of obedience, and the moderation novelty which pleased, and not the quality:
of discontents; and there be considered, on the and therefore we see that voluptuous men turn
other side, the differences of religion, the trou- friars, and ambitious princes turn melancholy.
bles of neighbour countries, the ambition of But of knowledge there is no satiety, but
Spain, and opposition of Rome, and then, that satisfaction and appetite are perpetually inshe was solitary and of herself: these things, terchangeable.
I say, considered, as I could not have chosen an I is a view of delight, to stand or walk
instance so recent and so proper, so, I suppose, upon the shore side, and to see a ship tossed
I could not have chosen one more remarkable with tempest upon the sea; or to be in a foror eminent to the purpose now in hand, which tified tower, and to see two battles join upon a
is concerning the conjunction of learning in plain; but it is a pleasure incomparable, for
the prince with felicity in the people.'.. 178 the mind of man to be settled, landed, and for3. There is a concurrence between learning and mi- tified in the certainty of truth; and from
litary virtue.......................... 181 thence to descry and behold the errors, perturWhen Caesar, after war declared, did possess bations, labours, and wanderings up and down
himself of the city of Rome; at which time of other men.
entering into the inner treasury to take the 8. Learning insures immortality............... 183
money there accumulated, Metellus, being tri- If the invention of the ship was thought so
bune, forbade him: whereto Csesar said, "That noble, which carrieth riches and commodities
if he did not desist, he would lay him dead in fSom place to place, and consociateth the most
the place." Andpresently taking himself up, remote regions in participation of their fruits,
he added, " Adolescens, durius est mihi hoc di- how much more are letters to be magnified,
cere quumfacere." Young man, it is harder which, as ships, pass through the vast seas offor me to speak than to do it. A speech com- time, and make ages so distant to participate
pounded of the greatest terror and greatest of the wisdom, illuminations, and inventions,
clemency that could proceed out of the mouth the one of the other?
of man. Nevertheless, I do not pretend, and I know
4. Learning improves private virtues........... 181 it will be impossible for me, by any pleading
1. It takes away the barbarism of men's minds. of mine, to reverse the judgment, either of
Silicet ingeues didicisse deliter ares, Esop's cock, that preferred the barleycorn 5eEmotlit mores, nec sinit esse feros." fore the gem; or of Midas, that being chosen
judge between Apollo president of the Muses.
2. It takes away levity, temerity, and insolency. and Pan god of the flocks, judged for plenty,
3. It takes away vain admiration.......... 182 or of Paris, that judged for beauty and love
If a man meditate much upon the universal against wisdom and power; nor of Agrippiframe of nature, the earth with men upon it, na, "occidat matrem, modo imperet," that prethe divineness of souls excepted, will not seem ferred empire with conditions never so detestamuch other than an ant hill, where as some ble; or of Ulyssus, "qui vetulam prxtulit
ants carry corn, and some carry their young, immortalitati," being a figure of.those which
and some go empty, and all to andfro a little prefer custom and habit before all excellency;
heap of dust. or of a number of the like popular judgments.
1 This beautiful passage is omitted in the Treatise De Augmentis. a See note (L) at the end of this Treatise