The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

232 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. BooK II
well of the hawk, that can soar aloft, and can which is meant of a general outward behaviour,
also descend and strike upon the prey: in sub- and not of the private and subtile motions and lastance, because it is the perfect law of inquiry of bours of the countenance and gesture; which as
truth, ",that nothing be in the globe of matter, Q. Cicero elegantly saith, is ",animi janua."
which should not be likewise in the globe of None more close than Tiberius, and yet Tacitus
crystal, or form; " that is, that there be not any saith of Gallus, ", Etenim vultu offensionem conthing in being and action, which should not be jectaverat." So again noting the differing chadrawn and collected into contemplation and doc- racter and manner of his commending Germanicus
trine. Neither doth learning admire or esteem and Drusus in the senate, he saith, touching his
of this architecture of fortune, otherwise than as fashion wherein he carried his speech of Germaof an inferior work: for no man's fortune can be nicus, thus; "6 Magis in speciem adornatis verbis,
an end worthy of his being; and many times the quam ut penitus sentire videretur:" but of Drusus
worthiest men do abandon their fortune willingly thus; ", Paucioribus, sed intentior, et fida orafor better respects: but nevertheless fortune, as tione:" and in another place, speaking of his
an organ of virtue and merit, deserveth the consi- character of speech, when he did any thing that
deration. was gracious and popular, he saith, that in other
First, therefore, the precept which I conceive to things he was " velut eluctantium verborum;"
be most summary towards the prevailing in for- but then again, "( solutius vero loquebatur quando
tune, is to obtain that window which Momus did subveniret." So that there is no such artificer of
require: who seeing in the frame of men's heart dissimulation, nor no such commanded countesuch angles and recesses, found fault that there nance, " vultus jussus," that can sever from a
was not a window to look into them; that is, to feigned tale some of these fashions, either a more
procure good informations of particulars touching slight and careless fashion, or more set and forpersons, their natures, their desires and ends, their mal, or more tedious and wandering, or coming
customs and fashions, their helps and advantages, from a man more drily and hardly.
and whereby they chiefly stand: so again their Neither are deeds such assured pledges, as
weakness and disadvantages, and where they lie that they may be trusted without a judicious conmost open and obnoxious; their friends, factions, sideration of their magnitude and nature: ", Fraus
and dependencies; and again their opposites, sibi in parvis fidem prastruit, ut majore emoluenviers, competitors, their moods and times, mento fallat:" and the Italian thinketh himself
" Sola viri molles aditus et tempora noras;" their upon the point to be bought and sold, when he is
principles, rules, and observations, and the like: better used than he was wont to be, without maniand this not only of persons, but of actions; what fest cause. For small favours, they do but lull
are on foot from time to time, and how they are men asleep, both as to caution and as to industry;
conducted, favoured, opposed, and how they im- and are, as Demosthenes calleth them, 6, Alimenta
port, and the like. For the knowledge of present socordiee." So again we see how false the nature
actions is not only material in itself, but without of some deeds are, in that particular which Mutiit also the knowledge of persons is very errone- anus practised upon Antonius Primus, upon that
ous; for men change with the actions; and whilst hollow and unfaithful reconcilement which was
they are in pursuit they are one, and when they made between them; whereupon Mutianus adreturn to their nature they are another. These vanced many of the friends of Antonius: ", simul
informations of particulars, touching persons and amicis ejus praefecturas et tribunatus largitur'"
actions, are as the minor propositions in every wherein, under pretence to strengthen him, he did
active syllogism: for no excellency of observa- desolate him, and won from him his dependences.
tions, which are as the major propositions, can As for words, though they be like waters to
suffice to ground a conclusion, if there be error physicians, full of flattery and uncertainty, yet
and mistaking in the minors. they are not to be despised, especially with the
That this knowledge is possible, Solomon is advantage of passion and affection. For so we
our surety; who saith, "Consilium in corde viri see Tiberius, upon a stinging and incensing
tanquam aqua profunda; sed vir prudens exhau- speech of Agrippina, came a step forth of his
riet illud." And although the knowledge itself dissimulation, when he said, "You are hurt, befalleth not under precept, because it is of indivi- cause you do not reign;" of which Tacitus saith,
duals, yet the instructions for the obtaining of it "Audita hec raram occulti pectoris vocem elimay. cuere; correptamque Grneco versu admonuit, ideo
We will begin therefore with this precept, ac- laedi, quia non regnaret." And therefore the po:t
cording to the ancient opinion, that the sinews of doth elegantly call passions, tortures, that urge
wisdom are slowness of belief and distrust; that men to confess their secrets:
more trust be given to countenances and deeds "Vino tortas et ira.'
than to words; and in words, rather to sudden And experience showeth, there are few men so
passages and surprised words. Neither let that true to themselves and so settled, but that somebe feared which is said,, Fronti, nulla fides:" times upon heat, sometimes upon bravery, some