The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

310 THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS.
stir not or evade, which is noted also by the Di- "Tu regere imperio populos, Romane memento
vine Philosopher, Eccl. xii. 11: "c Verba sapien- Hie tibi erunt artes "
turm' saith he, "' sunt tanquam aculei et veluti Roman remember, that with sceptre's awe
clavi in altum defixi.~" The words of the wise are Thy realms thou rul'st. These arts let be thy rule.
like goads, and like nails driven far in.' It was, therefore, very apposite, that Augustus
Moreover, all science seems to be placed in Cesar, whether by premeditation, or by a chance,
uteep and high mountains; as being thought to bare a sphynx in his signet; for he, if ever any,
be a lofty and high thing, looking down upon was famous not only in political government, but
ignorance with a scornful eye. It may be ob- in all the course of his life; he happily discovered
served and seen also a great way, and far in cor- many new enigmas concerning the nature of
pass, as things set on the tops of mountains. man, which if he had not done with dexterity
Furthermore, science may well be feigned to and promptness, he had oftentimes fallen into
beset the highways, because which way soever imminent danger and destruction.
we turn in this progress and pilgrimage of human Moreover, it is added in the fable, that the
life, we meet with some matter or occasion offered body of Sphynx, when she was overcome, was
for contemplation. laid upon an ass; which indeed is an elegant
Sphynx is said to have received from the fiction, seeing there is nothing so acute and abmuses divers difficult questions and riddles, and struse, but, being well understood and divulged,
to propound them unto men, which remaining may be apprehended by a slow capacity.
with the muses, are free, it may be from savage Neither is it to be omitted, that Sphynx was
cruelty; for so long as there is no other end of overcome by a man lame in his feet; for when
study and meditation, than to know, the under- men are too swift of foot, and too speedy of pace
standing is not racked and imprisoned, but enjoys in hasting to Sphynx's enigmas, it comes to pass,
freedom and liberty, and even in doubts and that, she getting the upper hand, their wits and
variety finds a kind of pleasure and delectation; minds are rather distracted.- by disputations, than
but when once these enigmas are delivered by that ever they come to command by works and
the muses to Sphynx, that is, to practice, so that effects.
it be solicited and urged by action, and election,
and determination, then they begin to be trouble- PROSERPINA, OR SPIRIT
some and raging; and unless they be resolved
and expedited, they do wonderfully torment and PLUTO, they say, being made king of the infervex the minds of men, distracting, and in a man- nal dominions, by that memorable division, was
ner rending them into sundry parts. in despair of ever attaining any one of the supeMoreover, there is always a twofold condition rior goddesses in marriage, especially if he should
propounded with Sphynx's enigmas: to him that venture to court them, either with words, or with
doth not expound them, distraction of mind; and any amorous behaviour; so that of necessity he
to him that doth, a kingdom; for he that knows was to lay some plot to get one of them by rathat which he sought to know, hath attained the pine: taking, therefore, the benefit of opportunity,
end he aimed at, and every artificer also corm- he caught up Proserpina, the daughter of Ceres,
mands over his work. a beautiful virgin, as she was gathering Narcissus
Of Sphynx's riddles, they are generally two flowers in the meadows of Sicily, and carried her
kinds; some concerning the nature of things, away with him in his coach to the subterranean
others touching the nature of man. So also dominions, where she was welcomed with such
there are two kinds of empires, as rewards to respect, as that she was styled the Lady of Dis.
those that resolve them. The one over nature, But Ceres, her mother, when in no place she
the other over men; for the proper and chief end should find this her only beloved daughter, in a
of true natural philosophy is to command and sorrowful humour and distracted beyond measure,
sway over natural beings; as bodies, medicines, went compassing the whole earth with a burning
mechanical works, and infinite other things; torch in her hand, to seek and recover this her
although the school, being content with such lost child. But when she saw that all was in
thinos as are offered, and priding itself with vain, supposing peradventure that she was carried
speeches, doth neglect realities and works, tread- to hell, she importuned Jupiter with many tears
ing them as it were under foot. But that enigma and lamentations, that she might be restored unto
propounded to C(Edipus, by means of which he her again: and at length prevailed thus far, that
obtained the Theban empire, belonged to the if she had tasted of nothing in hell, she should
nature of man: for whosoever doth thoroughly have leave to bring her from thence. Which
consider the nature of man, may be in a manner condition was as good as a denial to her petition,
the contriver of his own fortune, and is born to Proserpina having already eaten three grains of
command, which is well spoken of the Roman a pomegranate. And yet for all this, Ceres gave
arts: not over her suit, but fell to prayers and moan?