The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

BooK II. ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 215
which are the most abstracted of knowledges, and &c. than he did in introducing the canker of epipolicy which is the most immersed; and howso- tomes; and yet (as it is the condition of human
ever contention hath been moved, touching a things that, according to the ancient fables,, The
uniformity of method in multiformity of matter, most precious things have the most pernicious
yet we see how that opinion, besides the weakness keepers;") it was so, that the attempt of the one
of it, hath been of ill desert towards learning, as made him fall upon the other. For he had need
that which taketh the way to reduce learning to be well conducted that should design to make
certain empty and barren generalities; being but axioms convertible, if he make them not withal
the very husks and shells of sciences, all the kernel circular, and " non promovent," or incurring into
being forced out and expulsed with the torture and themselves: but yet the intention was excellent.
press of the method: and therefore, as I did allow The other considerations of method, concerning
well of particular topics for invention, so I do propositions, are chiefly touching the utmost proallow likewise of particular methods of tradition. positions, which limit the dimensions of sciences;
Another diversity of judgment in the delivery for every knowledge may be fitly said, besides the
and teaching of knowledge is, according unto the profundity, (which is the truth and substance of
light and presuppositions of that which is deliver- it, that makes it solid,) to have a longitude and a
ed; for that knowledge whichis new, and foreign latitude; accounting the latitude towards other
from opinions received, is to be delivered in sciences, and the longitude towards action; that
another form than that that is agreeable and fa- is, from the greatest generality to the most parmiliar; and therefore Aristotle, when he thinks ticular precept: the one giveth rule how far one
to tax Democritus, doth in truth commend him, knowledge ought to intermeddle within the prowhere he saith,, If we shall indeed dispute, and vince of another, which is the rule they call KaeavrO;
not follow after similitudes," &c. For those the other giveth rule unto what degree of particuwhose conceits are seated in popular opinions, larity a knowledge should descend: which latter
need only but to prove or dispute; but those I find passed over in silence, being in my judgwhose conceits are beyond popular opinions have, ment the more material; for certainly there must
a double labour; the one to make themselves be somewhat left to practice; but how much is
conceived, and the other to prove and demon- worthy the inquiry. We see remote and superstrate: so that it is of necessity with them to have ficial generalities do but offer knowledge to scorn
recourse to similitudes and translations to express of practical men; and are no more aiding to practhemselves. And therefore in the infancy of tice, than an Ortelius's universal map is to direct
learning, and in rude times, when those conceits the way between London and York. The better
which are now trivial were then new, the world sort of rules have been not unfitly compared to
was full of parables and similitudes; for else glasses of steel unpolished, where you may see
would men either have passed over without mark, the images of things, but first they must be filed;
or else rejected for paradoxes that which was so the rules will help, if they be laboured and
offered before they had understood or judged. So polished by practice. But how crystalline they
in divine learning, we see how frequent parables may be made at the first, and how far forth they
and tropes are; for it is a rule, 4" That whatsoever may be polished aforehand, is the question; the
science is not consonant to presuppositions, must inquiry whereof seemeth to me deficient.
pray in aid of similitudes." - There hath been also laboured and put in pracThere be also other diversities of methods, vul- tice a method, which is not a lawful method, but
gar and received: as that of resolution or analysis, a method of imposture; which is, to deliver knowof constitution or systasis, of concealment or ledges in such manner, as men may speedily come
cryptic, &c., which I do allow well of, though I to make a show of learning who have it not: such
have stood upon those which are least handled was the travail of Raymundus Lullius, in making
and observed. All which I have remembered to that art which bears his name; not unlike to some
this purpose, because I would erect and constitute books of typocosmy, which have been made since;
one general inquiry, which seems to me deficient, being nothing but a mass of words of all arts, to
touching the wisdom of tradition. give men countenance, that those which use the
But unto this part of knowledge, concerning terms might be thought to understand the art;
methods, doth farther belong not only the archi- which collections are much like a fripper's or
tecture of the whole frame of a work, but also the broker's shop, that hath ends of every thing, but
severals beams and columns thereof; not as to nothing of worth.
their stuff, but as to their quantity and figure: Now we descend to that part which concerneth
and therefore method considereth not only the the illustration of tradition, comprehended in that
disposition of the argument or subject, butlikewise science which we call Rhetoric, or art of elothe propositions; not as to their truth or matter, but quence; a science excellent, and excellently well
as to their limitation and manner. For herein Ra- laboured. For although in true value it is inferior
mus merited better a great deal in reviving the to wisdom, (as it is said by God to Moses, when
good rules of propositions, KaO6Xov Trp3crov KaTra ravr6o, he disabled himself for want of this faculty, A - ron