The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

THE FIRST BOOK
OF
FRANCIS BACON
OF THE
PROFICIENCE AND ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING,
DIVINE AND HUMAN.
TO THE KING.
THERE were, under the law, excellent king, both the least occasion presented, or the least spark of
daily sacrifices, and freewill-offerings; the one pro- another's knowledge delivered. And as the Scripceeding upon ordinary observance, the other upon a ture saith of the wisest king, " That his heart was
devout cheerfulness: in like manner there belong- as the sands of the sea:" which though itbe one
eth to kings from their servants both tribute of duty of the largest bodies, yet it consisteth of the smalland presents of affection. In the former of these I est and finest portions; so hath God given your
hope I shall not live to be wanting, according to my majesty a composition of understanding admirable,
most humble duty, and the good pleasure of your being able to compass and comprehend the greatmajesty's employments: for the latter I thought it est matters, and nevertheless to touch and appremore respective to make choice of some oblation, hend the least: whereas it should seem an impossiwhich might rather refer to the propriety and ex- bility in nature, for the same instrument to make itcellency of your individual person, than to the busi- self fit for great and small works. And for your
ness of your crown and state. gift of speech, I call to mind what Cornelius TaciWherefore, representing your majesty many tus saith of Augustus Caesar; "o Augusto profluens,
times unto my mind, and beholding you not with et quae principem deceret, eloquentia fuit." For, if
the inquisitive eye of presumption, to discover that we note it well, speech that is uttered with labour
which the Scripture telleth me is inscrutable, but and difficulty, or speech that savoureth of the
with the observant eye of duty and admiration; affectation of art and precepts, or speech that is
leaving aside the other parts of your virtue and framed after the imitation of some pattern of
fortune, I have been touched, yea, and possessed eloquence, though never so excellent, all this has
with an extreme wonder at those your virtues and somewhat servile, and holding of the subject.
faculties, which the philosophers call intellectual; But your majesty's manner of speech is indeed
the largeness of your capacity, the faithfulness of prince-like, flowing as from a fountain, and yet
your memory, the swiftness of your apprehension, streaming and branching itself into nature's order,
the penetration of your judgment, and the facility full of facility and felicity, imitating none, and inand order of your elocution: and I have often imitable by any. And as in yourcivilestate there
thought, that of all the persons living that I have appeareth to be an emulation and contention ofyoui
known, your majesty were the best instance to majesty's virtue with your fortune; a virtuous dismake a man of Plato's opinion, that all knowledge position with a fortunate regiment; a virtuous ex
is but remembrance, and that the mind of man by pectation, when time was, of your greater fortune,
nature knoweth all things, and hath but our own with a prosperous possession thereof in the due
native and original motions (which by the strange- time; a virtuous observation of the laws ofmarriage
ness and darkness of this tabernacle of the body with most blessed and happy fruit of marriage; a
are sequestered) again revived and restored: such virtuous and most Christian desire of peace, with a
a light of nature I have observed in your majesty, fortunate inclination in your neighbour princes
and such a readiness to take flame and blaze from thereunto: so likewise, in these intellectual matters
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