The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 433
leads him to hope that there yet remains a great hope; but, above all, the most certain hope is
mass of inventions which might be gained, not from the errors of the time past. And (as some
only from uncovering new properties, but also one said of the maladministration of civil governfrom transferring and applying those already ment) that may be the best for the future, which
known. is the worst on looking to the past; for if such
HTe accepted also as-happy omens what he ob- errors cease, (and giving warning is the first step
served in the mechanical arts and their success, towards it,) there would be a very great change in
especially when compared with philosophy. For things. But if men had passed through the course
the mechanical arts, as if enjoying a certain vital of so many years, without being able to make any
air, grow and perfect themselves daily; while progress, no hope could remain. For then it
philosophy, like a statue, is adored and celebrated, would be clear that the difficulty was in the matbut moves not. The former also are seen rude, ter and subject, (which are out of our power,) not in
and commonly without proportion and cumbrous the instrument, (which is within it,) that is, in the
in the hands of their first authors; but afterwards things and their obscurity, not in the human mind
get new strength and aptness. The latter is in and its working. But now it appears that the
its greatest vigour with its first author, and after- way is not stopped up by any block or barrier, but
wards declines. And the real cause of this dif- turns from the path of men: it does, therefore,
ferent success is that, in the mechanical arts, the cause in some measure the fear of solitude, but
wits of many meet together in one; but in philo- threatens nothing more. In fine, he determined
sophy the wits of all are spoiled by one. For that, if even a much weaker and less sensible air
after they have surrendered themselves they give breathed from that new continent, it should yet be
no increase, but are employed in the servile office attempted. For there is not the same danger in
of dressing and attending one. Wherefore every not trying a thing and not succeeding in it; since,
philosophy, torn up from the roots of experience, in the former case, the loss of a great benefit, in
from which it first sprung and grew, becomes the latter, of a little human labour is concerned.
dead matter. And, roused by this thought, he ob- In truth, both from what has and has not been
served also, that the means of arts and sciences said, he saw well that there was sufficient hope,
are, by universal consent, empirical or rational, not only for a diligent man to make trial, but also
that is, philosophical; but he has not yet seen for a prudent and sober one to give credit.
these well put together and united. For the em- He thought also, that, when the desire is kinpirical, like the ant, only collects and uses; the died, and the hope formed, we must look to the
rational, like the spider, spins from itself. But means of performance. This is then what appeared
the practice of the bee is midway, which draws to him generally in that matter; and he thought
materials from the flowers of both garden and fit to enclose and embrace it in naked and open
field, but transmutes and digests them by a faculty sentences.
of its own. Nor is the work of true philosophy He saw that things must be done entirely otherdifferent, which stores up the matter supplied by wise than they are now; and therefore that the
natural history and mechanical experiments, not disproving of the past is a kind of oracle for what
raw in the memory, but changed and prepared in is to come.
the understanding. And he is aware that there He thought that theories, and opinions, and
are some of the empirical who wish not to be held common notions, as far as can be obtained from
as merely empirical, and of the reasoners who aim the stiffness and firmness of the mind, should be
at seeming industrious and plain in practice. But entirely done away with; and that the understandthese have been and are the artifices of a few, ing should begin anew- plainly and fairly with
aiming at the character of each excelling in his particulars; since there is no other entrance open
own sect; though, in reality, there has always to the kingdom of nature than to the kingdom of
been a division and almost antipathy between heaven, into which no one may enter except in the
these faculties. So he thought there was hope form of a little child.
of excellent effects from a close and confirmed He thought that a body and mass of particulars,
union of them. both from their number, kind, and certainty or
He saw also with pleasure that he found an subtility sufficient for information, might be colinfinite expense of wit, time, and means, which lected and stored up, both from natural history
men employ in matters and pursuits that, rightly and mechanical experiments, the latter especially
considered, are useless; while if a small part of because nature displays herse lfmore fulty when
therm were turned to what is sound and useful, it she is held and pressed by art than at her own
might conquer every difficulty. Nor is there any liberty. He thought that this mass should be re
reason to fear the multitude of particulars, since duced and digested into tables and regular order,
the phenomena of the arts are but a handful to the that the understanding may be able to act upon it
reasonings of the mind when disunited and dis- and perform its office; since eventhe divine wordl
tracted from the evidence of things. Now, all this did not work upon a mass of things without order.
that has been said has its effect in producing He thought that we must not suddenly pas~
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