,,bacon',s ,,essays    ,,and    ,,wisdom
 ,,of ,,the ,,ancients    ,,with ,a     
,,biographical ,,notice ,,by ,a4        
,,spiers    ,,preface ,,by ,b4          
,,montagu1 ,,and    ,,notes ,,by        
,,different ,,writers  ,illustration    
,,boston    ,,little1 ,,brown1 ,,and    
,,company    ,copyright1 #ahhd1   ,,by  
,,little1 ,,brown1 ,,and ,,company4     
,,the ,,university ,,press1 ,,cambridge1
 ,,mass41 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4                   
,,advertisement4   ,in preparing the    
present volume for the press1 use has   
been freely made of several publications
 which have recently appeared in        
,england4 ,the ,biographical ,notice of 
the author is taken from an edition of  
the ,essays1 by ,a4 ,spiers1 ,ph4 ,d4   
,to this has been added the ,preface to 
,pickering's edition of the ,essays and 
,wisdom of the ,ancients1 by ,basil     
,montagu1 ,esq4 ,parker's edition1 by   
,thomas ,markby1 ,m4 ,a41 has furnished 
the arrangement of the ,table prefixed  
to the ,essays1 and also 8the references

 to the most important quotations40 ,the
 ,notes1 including the translations of  
the ,latin1 are chiefly copied from     
,bohn's edition1 prepared by ,joseph    
,devey1 ,m4 ,a4 ,we have given the      
modern translation of the ,wisdom of the
 ,ancients contained in ,bohn's edition1
 in preference to that 8done by ,sir    
,arthur ,gorges10 although the last     
mentioned has a claim upon regard1 as   
having been made by a contemporary of   
,lord ,bacon1 and published in his      
lifetime4 ,its language is in the style 
of ,english current in the author's age1
 and for this reason may resemble more  
nearly what the philosopher himself     
would have used1 had he composed the    
work in his own tongue instead of       
,latin4     ,,contents4                 
,,page   ,preface by ,b4 ,montagu1 ,esq4
                                        
xi    ,introductory ,notice of the ,life
 and ,writings of ,bacon1 by   ,a4      
,spiers1 ,ph4 ,d4                       
#a     ,,essays2 ,,or1 ,,counsels       

,,civil ,,and ,,moral4    ,,no4     #a4 
,of ,truth                              
#afbe2                          #eg     
#b4 ,of ,death                          
#afab2  enlarged #afbe           #fb    
#c4 ,of ,unity in ,religion2 ,of        
,religion #afab2  rewritten #afbe       
#fe     #d4 ,of ,revenge                
#afbe2                          #gc     
#e4 ,of ,adversity                      
#afbe2                          #ge     
#f4 ,of ,simulation and ,dissimulation  
#afbe2                          #gh     
#g4 ,of ,parents and ,children          
#afab2  enlarged #afbe           #hb    
#h4 ,of ,marriage and ,single ,life     
#afab2  slightly enlarged #afbe  #hd    
#i4 ,of ,envy                           
#afbe2                          #hg     
#aj4 ,of ,love                          
#afab2  rewritten #afbe          #ie    
#aa4 ,of ,great ,place                  
#afab2  slightly enlarged #afbe  #ih    
#ab4 ,of ,boldness                      
#afbe2                         #ajc     

#ac4 ,of ,goodness1 and ,goodness       
of ,nature                       #afab2 
enlarged #afbe          #aje    #ad4 ,of
 ,nobility                       #afab2 
rewritten #afbe         #aaj    #ae4 ,of
 ,seditions and ,troubles         #afbe 
#aac    #af4 ,of ,atheism               
#afab2  slightly enlarged #afbe #abd    
#ag4 ,of ,superstition                  
#afab2     0        0     #afbe #acj    
#ah4 ,of ,travel                        
#afbe2                         #acb     
#ai4 ,of ,empire                        
#afab2  much enlarged #afbe     #ace    
#bj4 ,of ,counsels                      
#afab2  enlarged #afbe          #adc    
#ba4 ,of ,delays                        
#afbe2                         #aea     
#bb4 ,of ,cunning                       
#afab2  rewritten #afbe         #aec    
#bc4 ,of ,wisdom for a ,man's ,self     
#afab2  enlarged #afbe          #aei    
#bd4 ,of ,innovations                   
#afbe2                         #afa     
#be4 ,of ,dispatch                      

#afab2                         #afc     
#bf4 ,of ,seeming ,wise                 
#afab2                         #aff     
#bg4 ,of ,friendship                    
#afab2  rewritten #afbe         #afh    
#bh4 ,of ,expense                       
#aeig2  enlarged #afab2                 
and again #afbe       #agi    #bi4 ,of  
the true ,greatness of         ,kingdoms
 and ,estates            #afab2         
enlarged #afbe          #aha    #cj4 ,of
 ,regimen of ,health              #aeig2
  enlarged #afab2                       
again #afbe           #aie    #ca4 ,of  
,suspicion                      #afbe2  
#aig    #cb4 ,of ,discourse             
#aeig2  slightly enlarged #afab2        
again #afbe           #aii    #cc4 ,of  
,plantations                    #afbe2  
#bjb    #cd4 ,of ,riches                
#afab2  much enlarged #afbe     #bjg    
#ce4 ,of ,prophecies                    
#afbe2                         #bab     
#cf4 ,of ,ambition                      
#afab2  enlarged #afbe          #bag    

#cg4 ,of ,masques and ,triumphs         
#afbe2                         #bah     
#ch4 ,of ,nature in ,men                
#afab2  enlarged #afbe          #bbc    
#ci4 ,of ,custom and ,education         
#afab2     0      0            #bbe     
#dj4 ,of ,fortune                       
#afab2  slightly enlarged #afbe #bbh    
#da4 ,of ,usury                         
#afbe2                         #bca     
#db4 ,of ,youth and ,age                
#afab2  slightly enlarged #afbe #bcg    
#dc4 ,of ,beauty                        
#afab2     0         0    #afbe #bdj    
#dd4 ,of ,deformity                     
#afab2  somewhat altered #afbe  #bda    
#de4 ,of ,building                      
#afbe2                         #bdc     
#df4 ,of ,gardens                       
#afbe2                         #bdi     
#dg4 ,of ,negotiating                   
#aeig2  enlarged #afab2                 
very slightly                           
altered #afbe         #bei    #dh4 ,of  
,followers and ,friends          #aeig2 

slightly enlarged #afbe #bfa    #di4 ,of
 ,suitors                        #aeig2 
enlarged #afbe          #bfd    #ej4 ,of
 ,studies                        #aeig2 
0    #afbe          #bff    #ea4 ,of    
,faction                        #aeig2  
much enlarged #afbe     #bfi    #eb4 ,of
 ,ceremonies and ,respects        #aeig2
  enlarged #afbe          #bga    #ec4  
,of ,praise                             
#afab2      0    #afbe          #bgc    
#ed4 ,of ,vainglory                     
#afab2                         #bgf     
#ee4 ,of ,honor and ,reputation         
#aeig2 omitted #afab2                   
republished #afbe      #bgi    #ef4 ,of 
,judicature                     #afab2  
#bhb    #eg4 ,of ,anger                 
#afbe2                         #bhi     
#eh4 ,of the ,vicissitude of ,things    
#afbe2                         #bib     
,,appendix ,,to ,,essays4     #a4       
,fragment of an ,essay of ,fame         
#cja     #b4 ,of a ,king                
#cjc     #c4 ,an ,essay on ,death       

#cjg     ,,the ,,wisdom ,,of ,,the      
,,ancients2 ,a ,,series ,,of            
,,mythological ,,fables4    ,preface    
#cag     #a4 ,cassandra1 or ,divination4
 ,explained of too free and             
unseasonable ,advice                    
#cbc     #b4 ,typhon1 or a ,rebel4      
,explained of ,rebellion                
#cbd     #c4 ,the ,cyclops1 or the      
,ministers of ,terror4 ,explained       
of base ,court ,officers                
#cbg     #d4 ,narcissus1 or ,self-,love 
#cbi     #e4 ,the ,river ,styx1 or      
,leagues4 ,explained of ,necessity1     
in the ,oaths or ,solemn ,leagues of    
,princes                      #cca      
#f4 ,pan1 or ,nature4 ,explained of     
,natural ,philosophy                    
#ccc     #g4 ,perseus1 or ,war4         
,explained of the ,preparation and      
,conduct necessary to ,war              
#cdc     #h4 ,endymion1 or a ,favorite4 
,explained of ,court ,favorites         
#cdh     #i4 ,the ,sister of the        
,giants1 or ,fame4 ,explained of        

,public ,detraction                     
#cej    #aj4 ,acteon and ,pentheus1 or a
 ,curious ,man4 ,explained         of   
,curiosity1 or ,prying into the ,secrets
 of ,princes         and ,divine        
,mysteries                              
#cea    #aa4 ,orpheus1 or ,philosophy4  
,explained of ,natural and              
,moral ,philosophy                      
#cec    #ab4 ,clum1 or ,beginnings4     
,explained of the ,creation1         or 
,origin of all ,things                  
#ceg    #ac4 ,proteus1 or ,matter4      
,explained of ,matter and its           
,changes                                
#cfj    #ad4 ,memnon1 or a ,youth too   
forward4 ,explained of the         fatal
 ,precipitancy of ,youth                
#cfc    #ae4 ,tythonus1 or ,satiety4    
,explained of ,predominant              
,passions                               
#cfd    #af4 ,juno's ,suitor1 or        
,baseness4 ,explained of ,submission    
and ,abjection                          
#cfe    #ag4 ,cupid1 or an ,atom4       

,explained of the ,corpuscular          
,philosophy                             
#cff    #ah4 ,diomed1 or ,zeal4         
,explained of ,persecution1 or ,zeal    
for ,religion                           
#cga    #ai4 ,ddalus1 or ,mechanical    
,skill4 ,explained of ,arts and         
,artists in ,kingdoms and ,states       
#cgd    #bj4 ,ericthonius1 or           
,imposture4 ,explained of the improper  
,use of ,force in ,natural ,philosophy  
#cgh    #ba4 ,deucalion1 or             
,restitution4 ,explained of a useful    
,hint         in ,natural ,philosophy   
#cgi    #bb4 ,nemesis1 or the           
,vicissitude of ,things4 ,explained of  
the ,reverses of ,fortune               
#chj    #bc4 ,achelous1 or ,battle4     
,explained of ,war by ,invasion         
#chc    #bd4 ,dionysus1 or ,bacchus4    
,explained of the ,passions             
#chd    #be4 ,atalanta and ,hippomenes1 
or ,gain4 ,explained of the             
,contest betwixt ,art and ,nature       
#chi    #bf4 ,prometheus1 or the ,state 

of ,man4 ,explained of an               
,overruling ,providence1 and of ,human  
,nature                    #cia    #bg4 
,icarus and ,scylla and ,charybdis1 or  
the ,middle ,way4         ,explained of 
,mediocrity in ,natural and ,moral      
,philosophy                             
#djg    #bh4 ,sphinx1 or ,science4      
,explained of the ,sciences             
#dji    #bi4 ,proserpine1 or ,spirit4   
,explained of the ,spirit included      
in ,natural ,bodies                     
#dac    #cj4 ,metis1 or ,counsel4       
,explained of ,princes and their        
,council                                
#dai    #ca4 ,the ,sirens1 or           
,pleasures4 ,explained of ,men's        
,passion         for ,pleasures         
#dbj     ,,preface4   ,in the early part
 of the year #aeig1 ,lord ,bacon's first
 publication appeared4 ,it is a small   
#abmo4 volume1 entitled 8,essayes1      
,religious ,meditations1 ,places of     
,perswasion and ,disswasion40 ,it is    
dedicated    8,to ,m4 ,anthony ,bacon1  

his deare ,brother4    8,louing and     
beloued ,brother1 ,i doe nowe like some 
that have an   ,orcharde ill            
,neighbored1 that gather their ,fruit   
before it is   ripe1 to preuent         
stealing4 ,these ,fragments of my       
,conceites were   going to print1 ,to   
labour the staie of them had bin        
troublesome1   and subiect to           
interpretation2 to let them passe had   
beene to   aduenture the wrong they     
mought receiue by vntrue ,coppies1 or   
by some ,garnishment1 which it mought   
please any that should set   them forth 
to bestow vpon them4 ,therefore ,i helde
 it best as   they passed long agoe from
 my ,pen1 without any further disgrace1 
then the weaknesse of the ,author4 ,and 
as ,i did euer hold1 there   mought be  
as great a vanitie in retiring and      
withdrawing mens   conceites 7except    
they bee of some nature7 from the       
,world1 as   in obtruding them3 ,so in  
these particulars ,i haue played myself 
the ,inquisitor1 and find nothing to my 

vnderstanding in them   contrarie or    
infectious to the state of ,religion1 or
 ,manners1 but   rather 7as ,i suppose7 
medecinable4 ,only ,i disliked now to   
put   them out1 because they will be    
like the late new ,halfepence1   which1 
though the ,siluer were good1 yet the   
,peeces were small4   ,but since they   
would not stay with their ,master1 but  
would needes   trauaile abroade1 ,i haue
 preferred them to you that are next my 
selfe1 ,dedicating them1 such as they   
are1 to our ,loue1 in the   depth       
whereof 7,i assure you7 ,i sometimes    
wish your ,infirmities   translated     
vppon my selfe1 that her ,maiestie      
mought haue the   ,seruice of so actiue 
and able a ,mind1 and ,i mought be with 
excuse confined to these ,contemplations
 and ,studies for which ,i   am fittest1
 so commend ,i you to the ,preseruation 
of the ,diuine   ,maiestie3 ,from my    
,chamber at ,graies ,inne1 this #cj of  
,januarie1   #aeig4 ,your entire ,louing
 ,brother1 ,,fran4 ,,bacon40  ,the      

,essays1 which are ten in number1 abound
 with condensed thought and practical   
wisdom1 neatly1 pressly1 and weightily  
stated1 and1 like all his early works1  
are simple1 without imagery4 ,they are  
written in his favorite style of        
aphorisms1 although each essay is       
apparently a continued work1 and without
 that love of antithesis and false      
glitter to which truth and justness of  
thought are frequently sacrificed by the
 writers of maxims4  ,a second edition1 
with a translation of the ,meditationes 
,sacr1 was published in the next year2  
and another edition enlarged in #afab1  
when he was solicitor-general1          
containing thirty-eight essays2 and one 
still more enlarged in #afbe1 containing
 fifty-eight essays1 the year before his
 death4  ,the ,essays in the subsequent 
editions are much augmented1 according  
to his own words3 8,i always alter when 
,i add1 so that nothing is finished till
 all is finished10 and they are adorned 
by happy and familiar illustration1 as  

in the essay of ,wisdom for a ,man's    
,self1 which concludes1 in the edition  
of #afbe1 with the following extract1   
not to be found in the previous edition3
 8,wisdom for a man's self is1 in many  
branches thereof1 a depraved thing4 ,it 
is the wisdom of rats1 that will be sure
 to leave a house somewhat before it    
fall4 ,it is the wisdom of the fox1 that
 thrusts out the badger1 who digged and 
made room for him4 ,it is the wisdom of 
crocodiles1 that shed tears when they   
would devour4 ,but that which is        
specially to be noted is1 that those    
which 7as ,cicero says of ,pompey7 are  
,sui ,amantes sine ,rivali are many     
times unfortunate4 ,and whereas they    
have all their time sacrificed to       
themselves1 they become in the end      
themselves sacrifices to the inconstancy
 of ,fortune1 whose wings they thought1 
by their self wisdom1 to have pinioned40
  ,so in the essay upon ,adversity1 on  
which he had deeply reflected before the
 edition of #afbe1 when it first        

appeared1 he says3 8,the virtue of      
prosperity is temperance2 the virtue of 
adversity is fortitude2 which in morals 
is the more heroical virtue4 ,prosperity
 is the blessing of the ,old ,testament2
 adversity is the blessing of the ,new1 
which carrieth the great benediction1   
and the clearer revelation of ,god's    
favor4 ,yet1 even in the ,old           
,testament1 if you listen to ,david's   
harp1 you shall hear as many hearse-like
 airs as carols2 and the pencil of the  
,holy ,ghost hath labored more in       
describing the afflictions of ,job than 
the felicities of ,solomon4 ,prosperity 
is not without many fears and distastes1
 and adversity is not without comforts  
and hopes4 ,we see in needle-works and  
embroideries1 it is more pleasing to    
have a lively work upon a sad and solemn
 ground than to have a dark and         
melancholy work upon a lightsome ground2
 judge1 therefore1 of the pleasure of   
the heart by the pleasure of the eye4   
,certainly1 virtue is like precious     

odors1 most fragrant when they are      
incensed1 or crushed2 for prosperity    
doth best discover vice1 but adversity  
doth best discover virtue40  ,the       
,essays were immediately translated into
 ,french and ,italian1 and into ,latin1 
by some of his friends1 amongst whom    
were ,hacket1 ,bishop of ,lichfield1 and
 his constant1 affectionate friend1 ,ben
 ,jonson4  ,his own estimate of the     
value of this work is thus stated in his
 letter to the ,bishop of ,winchester3  
8,as for my ,essays1 and some other     
particulars of that nature1 ,i count    
them but as the recreations of my other 
studies1 and in that manner purpose to  
continue them2 though ,i am not ignorant
 that these kind of writings would1 with
 less pains and assiduity1 perhaps yield
 more lustre and reputation to my name  
than the others ,i have in hand40       
,although it was not likely that such   
lustre and reputation would dazzle him1 
the admirer of ,phocion1 who1 when      
applauded1 turned to one of his friends1

 and asked1 8,what have ,i said amiss80 
although popular judgment was not likely
 to mislead him who concludes his       
observations upon the objections to     
learning and the advantages of knowledge
 by saying3 8,nevertheless1 ,i do not   
pretend1 and ,i know it will be         
impossible for me1 by any pleading of   
mine1 to reverse the judgment either of 
sop's cock1 that preferred the          
barleycorn before the gem2 or of ,midas1
 that being chosen judge between        
,apollo1 president of the ,muses1 and   
,pan1 god of the flocks1 judged for     
plenty2 or of ,paris1 that judged for   
beauty and love against wisdom and      
power4 ,for these things continue as    
they have been2 but so will that also   
continue whereupon learning hath ever   
relied and which faileth not1           
,justificata est sapientia a filiis     
suis30 yet he seems to have undervalued 
this little work1 which for two         
centuries has been favorably received by
 every lover of knowledge and of beauty1

 and is now so well appreciated that a  
celebrated professor of our own times   
truly says3 8,the small volume to which 
he has given the title of #8,essays1'   
the best known and the most popular of  
all his works1 is one of those where the
 superiority of his genius appears to   
the greatest advantage1 the novelty and 
depth of his reflections often receiving
 a strong relief from the triteness of  
the subject4 ,it may be read from       
beginning to end in a few hours2 and yet
 after the twentieth perusal one seldom 
fails to remark in it something         
overlooked before4 ,this1 indeed1 is a  
characteristic of all ,bacon's writings1
 and is only to be accounted for by the 
inexhaustible aliment they furnish to   
our own thoughts and the sympathetic    
activity they impart to our torpid      
faculties40  ,during his life six or    
more editions1 which seem to have been  
pirated1 were published2 and after his  
death1 two spurious essays1 8,of        
,death10 and 8,of a ,king10 the only    

authentic posthumous essay being the    
,fragment of an ,essay on ,fame1 which  
was published by his friend and         
chaplain1 ,dr4 ,rawley4  ,this edition  
is a transcript of the edition of #afbe1
 with the posthumous essays4 ,in the    
life of ,bacon#a there is a minute      
account of the different editions of the
 ,essays and of their contents4  ,they  
may shortly be stated as follows3--     
,first edition1 #aeig1 genuine4  ,there 
are two copies of this edition in the   
university library at ,cambridge2 and   
there is ,archbishop ,sancroft's copy in
 ,emanuel ,library2 there is a copy in  
the ,bodleian1 and ,i have a copy4      
,second edition1 #aeih1 genuine4  ,third
 edition1 #afjf1 pirated4  ,fourth      
edition1 entitled 8,the ,essaies of ,sir
 ,francis ,bacon1 ,knight1 the ,kings   
,solliciter ,generall4 ,imprinted at    
,london by ,iohn ,beale1 #afab10        
genuine4 ,it was the intention of ,sir  
,francis to have dedicated this edition 
to ,henry1 ,prince of ,wales2 but he was

 prevented by the death of the prince on
 the #fth of ,november in that year4    
,this appears by the following letter3--
    ,to the ,most ,high and ,excellent  
,prince1 ,henry1 ,prince of ,wales1     
,duke of ,cornwall1 and ,earl of        
,chester4    ,it may please your        
,highness3 ,having divided my life into 
the   contemplative and active part1 ,i 
am desirous to give his ,majesty   and  
your ,highness of the fruits of both1   
simple though they be4   ,to write just 
treatises1 requireth leisure in the     
writer and   leisure in the reader1 and 
therefore are not so fit1 neither in    
regard of your ,highness's princely     
affairs nor in regard of my   continual 
service2 which is the cause that hath   
made me choose   to write certain brief 
notes1 set down rather significantly    
than   curiously1 which ,i have called  
,essays4 ,the word is late1 but the     
thing is ancient2 for ,seneca's         
,epistles to ,lucilius1 if you mark     
them well1 are but ,essays2 that is1    

dispersed meditations though   conveyed 
in the form of epistles4 ,these labors  
of mine1 ,i know1   cannot be worthy of 
your ,highness1 for what can be worthy  
of you8   ,but my hope is1 they may be  
as grains of salt1 that will rather     
give you an appetite than offend you    
with satiety4 ,and although   they      
handle those things wherein both men's  
lives and their   persons are most      
conversant2 yet what ,i have attained ,i
 know not2   but ,i have endeavored to  
make them not vulgar1 but of a nature   
whereof a man shall find much in        
experience and little in books2   so as 
they are neither repetitions nor        
fancies4 ,but1 however1 ,i   shall most 
humbly desire your ,highness to accept  
them in gracious   part1 and to         
conceive1 that if ,i cannot rest but    
must show my   dutiful and devoted      
affection to your ,highness in these    
things   which proceed from myself1 ,i  
shall be much more ready to do it in    
performance of any of your princely     

commandments4 ,and so wishing   your    
,highness all princely felicity1 ,i rest
 your ,highness's most   humble servant1
    #afab4             ,,fr4 ,,bacon4   
,it was dedicated as follows3--    ,to  
my loving ,brother1 ,sir ,john          
,constable1 ,knt4    ,my last ,essaies  
,i dedicated to my deare brother ,master
 ,anthony   ,bacon1 who is with ,god4   
,looking amongst my ,papers this        
vacation1   ,i found others of the same 
nature3 which1 if ,i myselfe shall   not
 suffer to be lost1 it seemeth the      
,world will not2 by the   often printing
 of the former4 ,missing my ,brother1 ,i
 found you   next2 in respect of bond   
both of neare ,alliance1 and of straight
   ,friendship and ,societie1 and       
particularly of communication in        
,studies4 ,wherein ,i must acknowledge  
my selfe beholding to you4   ,for as my 
,businesse found rest in my             
,contemplations1 so my   ,contemplations
 ever found rest in your loving         
,conference and   ,judgment4 ,so wishing

 you all good1 ,i remaine your louing   
,brother   and ,friend1    ,,fra4       
,,bacon4   ,fifth edition1 #afab1       
pirated4 ,sixth edition1 #afac1 pirated4
 ,seventh edition1 #afbd1 pirated4      
,eighth edition1 #afbd1 pirated4 ,ninth 
edition1 entitled1 8,the ,essayes or    
,covnsels1 ,civill and ,morall1 of      
,francis ,lo4 ,vervlam1 ,viscovnt ,st4  
,alban4 ,newly enlarged4 ,london1       
,printed by ,iohn ,haviland for ,hanna  
,barret and ,richard ,whitaker1 and are 
to be sold at the ,signe of the ,king's 
,head in ,paul's ,churchyard40 #afbe1   
genuine4  ,this edition is a small      
quarto of #cdj pages2 it clearly was    
published by ,lord ,bacon2 and in the   
next year1 #afbf1 ,lord ,bacon died4    
,the ,dedication is as follows1 to the  
,duke of ,buckingham3--    ,to the      
,right ,honorable my very good ,lo4 the 
,duke of ,buckingham   his ,grace1 ,lo4 
,high ,admirall of ,england4            
,,excellent ,,lo43--,salomon saies1 ,a  
good ,name is as a precious   ,oyntment2

 and ,i assure myselfe1 such wil your   
,grace's ,name bee1   with ,posteritie4 
,for your ,fortune and ,merit both1 haue
 beene   eminent4 ,and you haue planted 
things that are like to last4 ,i   doe  
now publish my ,essayes2 which1 of all  
my other ,workes1 have   beene most     
currant3 for that1 as it seemes1 they   
come home to   ,mens ,businesse and     
,bosomes4 ,i haue enlarged them both in 
number   and weight1 so that they are   
indeed a new ,work4 ,i thought it       
therefore agreeable to my ,affection1   
and ,obligation to your   ,grace1 to    
prefix your ,name before them1 both in  
,english and in   ,latine4 ,for ,i doe  
conceiue1 that the ,latine ,volume of   
them 7being   in the vniuersal language7
 may last as long as ,bookes last4 ,my  
,instauration ,i dedicated to the ,king3
 my ,historie of ,henry the   ,seventh  
7which ,i haue now also translated into 
,latine71 and my   ,portions of         
,naturall ,history1 to the ,prince3 and 
these ,i dedicate   to your ,grace3     

being of the best ,fruits1 that by the  
good   encrease which ,god gives to my  
pen and labours1 ,i could yeeld4   ,god 
leade your ,grace by the ,hand4 ,your   
,graces most obliged and   faithfull    
,seruant4    ,,fr4 ,,st4 ,,alban4   ,of 
this edition1 ,lord ,bacon sent a copy  
to the ,marquis ,fiat1 with the         
following letter3#b--    8,,monsieur    
,l',,ambassadeur ,,mon ,,filz3 ,voyant  
que vostre ,excellence   faict et traite
 ,mariages1 non seulement entre les     
,princes   d',angleterre et de ,france1 
mais aussi entre les langues 7puis   que
 faictes traduire mon ,liure de         
l',advancement des ,sciences en         
,francois7 i'ai bien voulu vous envoyer 
mon ,liure dernierement   imprim que    
i'avois pourveu pour vous1 mais i'estois
 en doubte1   de le vous envoyer1 pour  
ce qu'il estoit escrit en ,anglois4     
,mais   a' cest'heure pour la raison    
susdicte ie le vous envoye4 ,c'est un   
,recompilement de mes ,essays ,morales  
et ,civiles2 mais tellement   enlargis  

et enrichis1 tant de nombre que de poix1
 que c'est de   fait un ouvre nouveau4  
,ie vous baise les mains1 et reste      
vostre   tres affectione ,ami1 et tres  
humble ,serviteur4     ,,the ,,same ,,in
 ,,english4    ,,my ,,lord ,,ambassador1
 ,,my ,,son3 ,seeing that your          
,excellency makes and   treats of       
,marriages1 not only betwixt the        
,princes of ,france and   ,england1 but 
also betwixt their languages 7for you   
have caused   my book of the            
,advancement of ,learning to be         
translated into   ,french71 ,i was much 
inclined to make you a present of the   
last   book which ,i published1 and     
which ,i had in readiness for you4 ,i   
was sometimes in doubt whether ,i ought 
to have sent it to you1   because it was
 written in the ,english tongue4 ,but   
now1 for that   very reason1 ,i send it 
to you4 ,it is a recompilement of my    
,essays   ,moral and ,civil2 but in such
 manner enlarged and enriched both in   
number and weight1 that it is in effect 

a new work4 ,i kiss your   hands1 and   
remain your most affectionate friend and
 most humble   servant1 c4  ,of the     
translation of the ,essays into ,latin1 
,bacon speaks in the following letter3--
    8,,to ,,mr4 ,,tobie ,,mathew3 ,it is
 true my labors are now most set to     
have those works which ,i had formerly  
published1 as that of   ,advancement of 
,learning1 that of ,henry ,,vii41 that  
of the ,essays1   being retractate and  
made more perfect1 well translated into 
,latin by the help of some good pens    
which forsake me not4 ,for   these      
modern languages will1 at one time or   
other1 play the   bankrupt with books2  
and since ,i have lost much time with   
this   age1 ,i would be glad1 as ,god   
shall give me leave1 to recover it      
with posterity4 ,for the ,essay of      
,friendship1 while ,i took your   speech
 of it for a cursory request1 ,i took my
 promise for a   compliment4 ,but since 
you call for it1 ,i shall perform it40  
,in his letter to ,father ,fulgentio1   

giving some account of his writings1 he 
says3--    8,the ,novum ,organum should 
immediately follow2 but my moral and    
political writings step in between as   
being more finished4 ,these   are1 the  
,history of ,king ,henry ,,vii41 and the
 small book1 which1   in your language1 
you have called ,saggi ,morali1 but ,i  
give it a   graver title1 that of       
,sermones ,fideles1 or ,interiora       
,rerum1   and these ,essays will not    
only be enlarged in number1 but still   
more in substance40  ,the nature of the 
,latin edition1 and of the ,essays in   
general1 is thus stated by ,archbishop  
,tenison3--    8,the ,essays1 or        
,counsels ,civil and ,moral1 though a   
by-work   also1 do yet make up a book of
 greater weight by far than the         
,apothegms2 and coming home to men's    
business and bosoms1 his   lordship     
entertained this persuasion concerning  
them1 that   the ,latin volume might    
last as long as books should last4 ,his 
lordship wrote them in the ,english     

tongue1 and enlarged them as   occasion 
served1 and at last added to them the   
,colors of ,good and   ,evil1 which are 
likewise found in his book ,de          
,augmentis4 ,the   ,latin translation of
 them was a work performed by divers    
hands3   by those of ,dr4 ,hacket 7late 
,bishop of ,lichfield71 ,mr4 ,benjamin  
,jonson 7the learned and judicious      
poet17 and some others1 whose   names ,i
 once heard from ,dr4 ,rawley1 but ,i   
cannot now recall them4   ,to this      
,latin edition he gave the title of     
,sermones ,fideles1   after the manner  
of the ,jews1 who called the words      
,adagies1 or   ,observations of the     
,wise1 ,faithful ,sayings2 that is1     
credible   propositions worthy of firm  
assent and ready acceptance4 ,and   7as 
,i think71 he alluded more particularly1
 in this title1 to   a passage in       
,ecclesiastes1 where the preacher saith1
 that he   sought to find out ,verba    
,delectabilia 7as ,tremellius rendereth 
the ,hebrew71 pleasant words2 7that is1 

perhaps1 his ,book of   ,canticles27 and
 ,verba ,fidelia 7as the same           
,tremellius71   ,faithful ,sayings2     
meaning1 it may be1 his collection of   
,proverbs4   ,in the next verse1 he     
calls them ,words of the ,wise1 and so  
many   goads and nails given ab eodem   
pastore1 from the same shepherd   of the
 flock of ,israel04  ,in the year #afch1
 ,rawley published1 in folio1 a volume  
containing1 amongst other works1        
,sermones ,fideles1 ab ipso             
,honoratissimo ,auctore1 prterquam in   
paucis1 ,latinitate donati4 ,in his     
address to the reader1 he says3--       
,accedunt1 quas pris ,delibationes      
,civiles et ,morales   inscripserat2    
,quas etiam in ,linguas plurimas        
,modernas translatas   esse novit2 sed  
eas poste1 et ,numero1 et ,pondere1     
auxit2 ,in   tantum1 ut veluti ,opus    
,novum videri possint2 ,quas mutato     
,titulo1   ,sermones ,fideles1 sive     
,interiora ,rerum1 inscribi placuit4    
,the   title-page and dedication are    

annexed3 ,sermones ,fideles sive        
,interiora ,rerum4 ,per ,franciscum     
,baconum ,baronem de ,vervlamio1        
,vice-,comitem ,sancti ,albani4 ,londini
 ,excusum typis ,edwardi   ,griffin4    
,prostant ad ,insignia ,regia in        
,cmeterio ,d4 ,pauli1   apud ,richardum 
,whitakerum1 #afch4     ,illustri et    
,excellenti ,domino ,georgio ,duci      
,buckinghami1   ,summo ,angli           
,admirallio4    ,honoratissime ,domine1 
,salomon inquit1 ,nomen bonum est       
instar ,vnguenti fragrantis et pretiosi2
 ,neque dubito1   quin tale futurum sit 
,nomen tuum apud ,posteros4 ,etenim   et
 ,fortuna1 et ,merita tua1 prcelluerunt4
 ,et videris ea   plantasse1 qu sint    
duratura4 ,in lucem jam edere mihi visum
   est ,delibationes meas1 qu ex omnibus
 meis ,operibus fuerunt   acceptissim3  
,quia forsitan videntur1 pr cteris1     
,hominum   ,negotia stringere1 et in    
sinus fluere4 ,eas autem auxi1 et       
,numero1 et ,pondere2 ,in tantum1 ut    
plan ,opus ,novum sint4   ,consentaneum 

igitur duxi1 ,affectui1 et ,obligationi 
me1 erga   ,illustrissimam ,dominationem
 tuam1 ut ,nomen tuum illis   prfigam1  
tam in ,editione ,anglic1 quam ,latin4  
,etenim1 in   bon spe sum1 ,volumen     
earum in ,latinam 7,linguam scilicet    
universalem71 versum1 posse durare1     
quamdi ,libri et ,liter   durent4       
,instaurationem meam ,regi dicavi3      
,historiam   ,regni ,henrici ,septimi   
7quam etiam in ,latinum verti et        
,portiones meas ,naturalis ,histori1    
,principi73 ,has autem   ,delibationes  
,illustrissim ,dominationi tu dico1 ,cm 
sint1   ex ,fructibus optimis1 quos     
,gratia divin ,calami mei laboribus     
indulgente1 exhibere potui4 ,deus       
illustrissimam ,dominationem   tuam manu
 ducat4 ,illustrissim ,dominationis tu  
,servus   ,devinctissimus et ,fidelis4  
,,fr4 ,s4 ,,alban4   ,in the year #afah1
 the ,essays1 together with the ,wisdom 
of the ,ancients1 was translated into   
,italian1 and dedicated to ,cosmo de    
,medici1 by ,tobie ,mathew2 and in the  

following year the ,essays were         
translated into ,french by ,sir ,arthur 
,gorges1 and printed in ,london4        
,,wisdom ,,of ,,the ,,ancients4  ,in the
 year #afji1 as a relaxation from       
abstruse speculations1 he published in  
,latin his interesting little work1 ,de 
,sapientia ,veterum4  ,this tract seems1
 in former times1 to have been much     
valued4 ,the fables1 abounding with a   
union of deep thought and poetic beauty1
 are thirty-one in number1 of which a   
part of ,the ,sirens1 or ,pleasures1 may
 be selected as a specimen4  ,in this   
fable he explains the common but        
erroneous supposition that knowledge and
 the conformity of the will1 knowing and
 acting1 are convertible terms4 ,of this
 error1 he1 in his essay of ,custom and 
,education1 admonishes his readers1 by  
saying3 8,men's thoughts are much       
according to their inclination2 their   
discourse and speeches according to     
their learning and infused opinions1 but
 their deeds are after as they have been

 accustomed2 sop's ,damsel1 transformed 
from a cat to a woman1 sat very demurely
 at the board-end till a mouse ran      
before her40 ,in the fable of the       
,sirens he exhibits the same truth1     
saying3 8,the habitation of the ,sirens 
was in certain pleasant islands1 from   
whence1 as soon as out of their         
watchtower they discovered any ships    
approaching1 with their sweet tunes they
 would first entice and stay them1 and1 
having them in their power1 would       
destroy them2 and1 so great were the    
mischiefs they did1 that these isles of 
the ,sirens1 even as far off as man can 
ken them1 appeared all over white with  
the bones of unburied carcasses2 by     
which it is signified that albeit the   
examples of afflictions be manifest and 
eminent1 yet they do not sufficiently   
deter us from the wicked enticements of 
pleasure40  ,the following is the       
account of the different editions of    
this work3 ,the first was published in  
#afji4 ,in ,february #bg1 #afaj1 ,lord  

,bacon wrote to ,mr4 ,mathew1 upon      
sending his book ,de ,sapientia         
,veterum3--    8,,mr4 ,,mathew3 ,i do   
very heartily thank you for your letter 
of the   #bdth of ,august1 from         
,salamanca2 and in recompense therefore 
,i   send you a little work of mine that
 hath begun to pass the world4   ,they  
tell me my ,latin is turned into silver1
 and become current3   had you been     
here1 you should have been my inquisitor
 before it   came forth2 but1 ,i think1 
the greatest inquisitor in ,spain will  
allow it4 ,but one thing you must pardon
 me if ,i make no haste to   believe1   
that the world should be grown to such  
an ecstasy as   to reject truth in      
philosophy1 because the author          
dissenteth in   religion2 no more than  
they do by ,aristotle or ,averroes4 ,my 
great   work goeth forward2 and after my
 manner1 ,i alter even when ,i add2   so
 that nothing is finished till all be   
finished4 ,this ,i have   written in the
 midst of a term and parliament2        

thinking no time   so possessed1 but    
that ,i should talk of these matters    
with so   good and dear a friend4 ,and  
so with my wonted wishes ,i leave you   
to ,god's goodness4    8,from ,gray's   
,inn1 ,feb4 #bg1 #afaj40   ,and in his  
letter to ,father ,fulgentio1 giving    
some account of his writings1 he says3  
8,my ,essays will not only be enlarged  
in number1 but still more in substance4 
,along with them goes the little piece  
,de ,sapientia ,veterum40  ,in the      
,advancement of ,learning he says3--    
8,there remaineth yet another use of    
poesy parabolical1 opposite   to that   
which we last mentioned2 for that       
tendeth to demonstrate   and illustrate 
that which is taught or delivered1 and  
this other   to retire and obscure it2  
that is1 when the secrets and mysteries 
of religion1 policy1 or philosophy are  
involved in fables or   parables4 ,of   
this in divine poesy we see the use is  
authorized4   ,in heathen poesy we see  
the exposition of fables doth fall out  

sometimes with great felicity2 as in the
 fable that the giants   being          
overthrown in their war against the     
gods1 the earth1 their   mother1 in     
revenge thereof brought forth ,fame1--  
,illam ,terra parens1 ir irritata       
,deorum1     ,extremam1 ut perhibent1   
,co ,enceladoque sororem     ,progenuit1
    expounded1 that when princes and    
monarchs have suppressed actual   and   
open rebels1 then the malignity of the  
people1 which is the   mother of        
rebellion1 doth bring forth libels and  
slanders1 and   taxations of the ,state1
 which is of the same kind with         
rebellion1   but more feminine4 ,so in  
the fable1 that the rest of the gods    
having conspired to bind ,jupiter1      
,pallas called ,briareus1 with   his    
hundred hands1 to his aid2 expounded1   
that monarchies need   not fear any     
curbing of their absoluteness by mighty 
subjects1   as long as by wisdom they   
keep the hearts of the people1 who      
will be sure to come in on their side4  

,so in the fable1 that   ,achilles was  
brought up under ,chiron1 the centaur1  
who was part   a man and part a beast1  
expounded ingeniously1 but corruptly by 
,machiavel1 that it belongeth to the    
education and discipline   of princes to
 know as well how to play the part of   
the lion in   violence1 and the fox in  
guile1 as of the man in virtue and      
justice4 ,nevertheless1 in many the like
 encounters1 ,i do rather   think that  
the fable was first1 and the exposition 
then devised1   than that the moral was 
first1 and thereupon the fable framed4  
,for ,i find it was an ancient vanity in
 ,chrysippus1 that troubled   himself   
with great contention to fasten the     
assertions of the   stoics upon the     
fictions of the ancient poets2 but yet  
that all   the fables and fictions of   
the poets were but pleasure1 and not    
figure1 ,i interpose no opinion4        
,surely1 of those poets which   are now 
extant1 even ,homer himself             
7notwithstanding he was made   a kind of

 ,scripture by the latter schools of the
 ,grecians71 yet   ,i should without any
 difficulty pronounce that his fables   
had no   such inwardness in his own     
meaning2 but what they might have upon  
a more original tradition1 is not easy  
to affirm2 for he was not   the inventor
 of many of them40  ,in the treatise ,de
 ,augmentis the same sentiments will be 
found1 with a slight alteration in the  
expressions4 ,he says3--    8,there is  
another use of parabolical poesy        
opposite to the   former1 which tendeth 
to the folding up of those things1 the  
dignity whereof deserves to be retired  
and distinguished1 as   with a drawn    
curtain2 that is1 when the secrets and  
mysteries of   religion1 policy1 and    
philosophy are veiled and invested with 
fables and parables4 ,but whether there 
be any mystical sense   couched under   
the ancient fables of the poets1 may    
admit some   doubt2 and1 indeed1 for our
 part1 we incline to this opinion1 as   
to think that there was an infused      

mystery in many of the ancient   fables 
of the poets4 ,neither doth it move us  
that these matters   are left commonly  
to school-boys and grammarians1 and so  
are   embased1 that we should therefore 
make a slight judgment upon   them1 but 
contrariwise1 because it is clear that  
the writings   which recite those       
fables1 of all the writings of men1 next
 to   sacred writ1 are the most ancient2
 and that the fables themselves   are   
far more ancient than they 7being they  
are alleged by those   writers1 not as  
excogitated by them1 but as credited and
 recepted   before7 seem to be1 like a  
thin rarefied air1 which1 from the      
traditions of more ancient nations1 fell
 into the flutes of the   ,grecians40   
,of this tract1 ,archbishop ,tenison1 in
 his ,baconiana1 says3--    8,in the    
seventh place1 ,i may reckon his book   
,de ,sapientia   ,veterum1 written by   
him in ,latin1 and set forth a second   
time with enlargement2 and translated   
into ,english by ,sir   ,arthur ,gorges2

 a book in which the sages of former    
times are   rendered more wise than it  
may be they were1 by so dexterous an    
interpreter of their fables4 ,it is this
 book which ,mr4 ,sandys   means1 in    
those words which he hath put before his
 notes on the   ,metamorphosis of ,ovid4
 #8,of modern writers1 ,i have received 
the   greatest light from ,geraldus1    
,pontanus1 ,ficinus1 ,vives1 ,comes1    
,scaliger1 ,sabinus1 ,pierius1 and the  
crown of the latter1 the   ,viscount of 
,st4 ,albans4'    8,it is true1 the     
design of this book was instruction in  
natural   and civil matters1 either     
couched by the ancients under those     
fictions1 or rather made to seem to be  
so by his lordship's wit1   in the      
opening and applying of them4 ,but      
because the first ground   of it is     
poetical story1 therefore1 let it have  
this place till a   fitter be found for 
it40  ,the author of ,bacon's ,life1 in 
the ,biographia ,britannica1 says3--    
8,that he might relieve himself a little

 from the severity of   these studies1  
and1 as it were1 amuse himself with     
erecting a   magnificent pavilion1 while
 his great palace of philosophy was     
building1 he composed and sent abroad1  
in #afaj1 his celebrated   treatise of  
the ,wisdom of the ,ancients1 in which  
he showed   that none had studied them  
more closely1 was better acquainted     
with their beauties1 or had pierced     
deeper into their meaning4   ,there have
 been very few books published1 either  
in this or any   other nation1 which    
either deserved or met with more general
   applause than this1 and scarce any   
that are like to retain it   longer1 for
 in this performance ,sir ,francis      
,bacon gave a singular   proof of his   
capacity to please all parties in       
literature1 as   in his political       
conduct he stood fair with all the      
parties in   the nation4 ,the admirers  
of antiquity were charmed with this     
discourse1 which seems expressly        
calculated to justify their             

admiration2 and1 on the other hand1     
their opposites were no   less pleased  
with a piece from which they thought    
they could   demonstrate that the       
sagacity of a modern genius had found   
out   much better meanings for the      
ancients than ever were meant by        
them40  ,and ,mallet1 in his ,life of   
,bacon1 says3--    8,in #afaj he        
published another treatise1 entitled1   
,of the ,wisdom   of the ,ancients4     
,this work bears the same stamp of an   
original   and inventive genius with his
 other performances4 ,resolving not   to
 tread in the steps of those who had    
gone before him1 men1   according to his
 own expression1 not learned beyond     
certain   commonplaces1 he strikes out a
 new tract for himself1 and enters      
into the most secret recesses of this   
wild and shadowy region1 so   as to     
appear new on a known and beaten        
subject4 ,upon the whole1   if we cannot
 bring ourselves readily to believe that
 there is all   the physical1 moral1 and

 political meaning veiled under those   
fables of antiquity1 which he has       
discovered in them1 we must   own that  
it required no common penetration to be 
mistaken with   so great an appearance  
of probability on his side4 ,though it  
still remains doubtful whether the      
ancients were so knowing as   he        
attempts to show they were1 the variety 
and depth of his own   knowledge are1 in
 that very attempt1 unquestionable40    
,in the year #afai this tract was       
translated by ,sir ,arthur ,gorges4     
,prefixed to the work are two letters2  
the one to the ,earl of ,salisbury1 the 
other to the ,university of ,cambridge1 
which ,gorges omits1 and dedicates his  
translation to the high and illustrious 
princess the ,lady ,elizabeth of ,great 
,britain1 ,duchess of ,baviare1         
,countess ,palatine of ,rheine1 and     
chief electress of the empire4  ,this   
translation1 it should be noted1 was    
published during the life of ,lord      
,bacon by a great admirer of his works4 

,the editions of this work with which ,i
 am acquainted are3--    ,year4         
,language4    ,printer4      ,place4    
,size4    #afji     ,latin1     ,r4     
,barker1    ,london1     #abmo4   #afag 
0        ,j4 ,bill1         0          0
   #afah     ,italian1   ,g4 ,bill1     
0          0   #afai     ,english1   ,j4
 ,bill1         0          0   #afbj    
0           0             0          0  
#afcc     ,latin1     ,f4 ,maire1       
,lug4 ,bat41    0   #afcd       0       
,f4 ,kingston1  ,london1       0   #afch
       0        ,e4 ,griffin1      0    
,folio4   #afia       0        ,h4      
,wetstein1  ,amsterdam1  #abmo4   #ahjd 
,french1    ,h4 ,frantin1   ,dijon1     
#hvo4     ,,notice  ,,of  ,,francis     
,,bacon4   ,francis ,bacon1 the subject 
of the following memoir1 was the        
youngest son of highly remarkable       
parents4 ,his father1 ,sir ,nicholas    
,bacon1 was an eminent lawyer1 and for  
twenty years ,keeper of the ,seals and  
,privy ,counsellor to ,queen ,elizabeth4

 ,sir ,nicholas was styled by ,camden   
sacris conciliis alterum columen2 he was
 the author of some unpublished         
discourses on law and politics1 and of a
 commentary on the minor prophets4 ,he  
discharged the duties of his high office
 with exemplary propriety and wisdom2 he
 preserved through life the integrity of
 a good man1 and the moderation and     
simplicity of a great one4 ,he had      
inscribed over the entrance of his hall1
 at ,gorhambury1 the motto1 mediocria   
firma2 and when the ,queen1 in a        
progress1 paid him a visit there1 she   
remarked to him that his house was too  
small for him4 8,madam10 answered the   
,lord ,keeper1 8my house is well1 but it
 is you that have made me too great for 
my house40 ,this anecdote has been      
preserved by his son1#c who1 had he as  
carefully retained the lesson of        
practical wisdom it contained1 might    
have avoided the misfortunes and sorrows
 of his checkered life4  ,bacon's       
mother1 ,anne ,cooke1 was the daughter  

of ,sir ,anthony ,cooke1 tutor to ,king 
,edward the ,sixth2 like the young      
ladies of her time1 like ,lady ,jane    
,grey1 like ,queen ,elizabeth1 she      
received an excellent classical         
education2 her sister1 ,lady ,burleigh1 
was pronounced by ,roger ,ascham1 ,queen
 ,elizabeth's preceptor1 to be1 with the
 exception of ,lady ,jane ,grey1 the    
best ,greek scholar among the young     
women of ,england4#d ,anne ,cooke1 the  
future ,lady ,bacon1 corresponded in    
,greek with ,bishop ,jewel1 and         
translated from the ,latin this divine's
 ,apologia2 a task which she performed  
so well that it is said the good prelate
 could not discover an inaccuracy or    
suggest an alteration4 ,she also        
translated from the ,italian a volume of
 sermons on fate and freewill1 written  
by ,bernardo ,ochino1 an ,italian       
reformer4 ,francis ,bacon1 the youngest 
of five sons1 inherited the classical   
learning and taste of both his parents4 
,he was born at ,york ,house1 in the    

,strand1 ,london1 on the #bb;d of       
,january1 #aefj-fa4 ,his health1 when he
 was a boy1 was delicate2 a circumstance
 which may perhaps account for his early
 love of sedentary pursuits1 and        
probably the early gravity of his       
demeanor4 ,queen ,elizabeth1 he tells   
us1 took particular delight in 8trying  
him with questions10 when he was quite a
 child1 and was so much pleased with the
 sense and manliness of his answers that
 she used jocularly to call him 8her    
young ,lord ,keeper of the ,seals40     
,bacon himself relates that while he was
 a boy1 the ,queen once asked him his   
age2 the precocious courtier readily    
replied that he 8was just two years     
younger than her happy reign40 ,he is   
said1 also1 when very young1 to have    
stolen away from his playfellows in     
order to investigate the cause of a     
singular echo in ,st4 ,james's ,fields1 
which attracted his attention4  ,until  
the age of thirteen he remained under   
the tuition of his accomplished mother1 

aided by a private tutor only2 under    
their care he attained the elements of  
the classics1 that education preliminary
 to the studies of the ,university4 ,at 
thirteen he was sent to ,trinity        
,college1 ,cambridge1 where his father  
had been educated4 ,here he studied     
diligently the great models of          
antiquity1 mathematics1 and philosophy1 
worshipped1 however1 but indevoutly at  
the shrine of ,aristotle1 whom1         
according to ,rawley1 his chaplain and  
biographer1 he already derided 8for the 
unfruitfulness of the way1--being only  
strong for disputation1 but barren of   
the production of works for the life of 
man40 ,he remained three years at this  
seat of learning1 without1 however1     
taking a degree at his departure4  ,when
 he was but sixteen years old he began  
his travels1 the indispensable end of   
every finished education in ,england4   
,he repaired to ,paris1 where he resided
 some time under the care of ,sir ,amyas
 ,paulet1 the ,english minister at the  

court of ,france4  ,here he invented an 
ingenious method of writing in cipher2  
an art which he probably cultivated with
 a view to a diplomatic career4  ,he    
visited several of the provinces of     
,france and of the towns of ,italy4     
,italy was then the country in which    
human knowledge in all its branches was 
most successfully cultivated4 ,it is    
related by ,signor ,cancellieri that    
,bacon1 when at ,rome1 presented himself
 as a candidate to the ,academy of the  
,lincei1 and was not admitted4#e ,he    
remained on the continent for three     
years1 until his father's death1 in     
#aehj4 ,the melancholy event1 which     
bereft him of his parent1 at the age of 
nineteen1 was fatal to his prospects4   
,his father had intended to purchase an 
estate for his youngest son1 as he had  
done for his other sons2 but he dying   
before this intention was realized1 the 
money was equally divided between all   
the children2 so that ,francis inherited
 but one fifth of that fortune intended 

for him alone4 ,he was the only one of  
the sons that was left unprovided for4  
,he had now 8to study to live10 instead 
of 8living to study40 ,he wished1 to use
 his own language1 8to become a true    
pioneer in that mine of truth which lies
 so deep40 ,he applied to the government
 for a provision which his father's     
interest would easily have secured him1 
and by which he might dispense with a   
profession4 ,the ,queen must have looked
 with favor upon the son of a minister1 
who had served her faithfully for twenty
 long years1 and upon a young man whom1 
when he was a child1 she had caressed1  
she had distinguished by the appellation
 of her 8young ,lord ,keeper40 ,but     
,francis ,bacon was abandoned1 and      
perhaps opposed by the colleague and    
nearest friend of his father1 the       
brother-in-law of his mother1 his       
maternal uncle1 ,lord ,burleigh1 then   
,prime ,minister1 who feared for his son
 the rivalry of his all-talented nephew4
 ,it is a trick common to envy and      

detraction1 to convert a man's very     
qualities into their concomitant        
defects2 and because ,bacon was a great 
thinker1 he was represented as unfit for
 the active duties of business1 as 8a   
man rather of show than of depth10 as 8a
 speculative man1 indulging himself in  
philosophical reveries1 and calculated  
more to perplex than to promote public  
business40#f ,thus was the future       
ornament of his country and of mankind  
sacrificed to ,robert1 afterwards ,sir  
,robert ,cecil1 ,earl of ,salisbury1 of 
whose history fame has learned but      
little1 save the execution of ,essex and
 ,mary ,queen of ,scots1 the name1 and  
this petty act of mean jealousy of his  
father6 ,in the disposal of patronage   
and place1 acts and even motives of this
 species are not so unfrequent as the   
world would appear to imagine4 ,in all  
ages1 it is to be feared1 many and      
great1 as in ,shakspeare's time1 are1   
the spurns   ,that patient merit of th' 
unworthy takes4  ,it is1 however1 but   

justice to the morals of ,lord          
,burleigh1 to add that he was insensible
 to literary merit2 he thought a hundred
 pounds too great a reward to be given  
to ,spenser for what he termed 8an old  
song10 for so he denominated the ,faery 
,queen4  ,bacon then selected the law as
 his profession2 and in #aehj he was    
entered of ,gray's ,inn2#g he resisted  
the temptations of his companions and   
friends1 7for his company was much      
courted71 and diligently pursued the    
study he had chosen2 but he did not at  
this time entirely lose sight of his    
philosophical speculations1 for he then 
published his ,temporis partus maximus1 
or ,the ,greatest ,birth of ,time4 ,this
 work1 notwithstanding its pompous      
title1 was unnoticed or rather fell     
stillborn from the press2 the sole trace
 of it is found in one of his letters to
 ,father ,fulgentio4  ,in #aehf1 he was 
called to the bar2 his practice there   
appears to have been limited1 although  
not without success2 for the ,queen and 

the ,court are said to have gone to hear
 him when he was engaged in any         
celebrated cause4 ,he was1 at this      
period of his life1 frequently admitted 
to the ,queen's presence and            
conversation4 ,he was appointed her     
,majesty's ,counsel ,extraordinary1#h   
but he had no salary and small fees4    
,in #aeib1 his uncle1 the ,lord         
,treasurer1 procured for him the        
reversion of the registrarship of the   
,star ,chamber1 worth sixteen hundred   
pounds 7forty thousand francs7 a year2  
but the office did not become vacant    
till twenty years after1 so that1 as    
,bacon justly observes1 8it might mend  
his prospects1 but did not fill his     
barns40  ,a parliament was summoned in  
#aeic1 and ,bacon was returned to the   
,house of ,commons1 for the ,county of  
,middlesex2 he distinguished himself    
here as a speaker4 8,the fear of every  
man who heard him10 says his            
contemporary1 ,ben ,jonson1 8was lest he
 should make an end40 ,he made1 however1

 on one occasion a speech which much    
displeased the ,queen and ,court4       
,elizabeth directed the ,lord ,keeper to
 intimate to him that he must expect    
neither favor nor promotion2 the        
repentant courtier replied in writing1  
that 8her ,majesty's favor was dearer to
 him than his life40#i  ,in the         
following year the situation of         
,solicitor-,general#aj became vacant4   
,bacon ardently aspired to it4 ,he      
applied successively to ,lord ,burleigh1
 his uncle1 to ,lord ,puckering1 his    
father's successor1 to the ,earl of     
,essex1 their rival1 and finally to the 
,queen herself1 accompanying his        
letters1 as was the custom of the times1
 with a present1 a jewel4#aa ,but once  
more he saw mediocrity preferred1 and   
himself rejected4 ,a ,serjeant ,fleming 
was appointed her ,majesty's            
,solicitor-,general4 ,bacon1 overwhelmed
 by this disappointment1 wished to      
retire from public life1 and to reside  
abroad4 8,i hoped10 said he in a letter 

to ,sir ,robert ,cecil1 8her ,majesty   
would not be offended that1 not able to 
endure the sun1 ,i fled into the shade40
  ,the ,earl of ,essex1 whose mind1 says
 ,mr4 ,macaulay1 8naturally disposed to 
admiration of all that is great and     
beautiful1 was fascinated by the genius 
and the accomplishments of ,bacon10#ab  
had exerted every effort in ,bacon's    
behalf2 to use his own language1 he     
8spent all his power1 might1 authority1 
and amity20 he now sought to indemnify  
him1 and1 with royal munificence1       
presented him with an estate of the     
value of nearly two thousand pounds1 a  
sum worth perhaps four or five times the
 amount in the money of our days4 ,if   
anything could enhance the benefaction1 
it was the delicacy with which it was   
conferred1 or1 as ,bacon himself        
expresses it1 8with so kind and noble   
circumstances as the manner was worth   
more than the matter40  ,bacon published
 his ,essays in #aeig2 he considered    
them but as the 8recreations of his     

other studies40 ,the idea of them was   
probably first suggested by ,montaigne's
 ,essais1 but there is little           
resemblance between the two works beyond
 the titles4 ,the first edition         
contained but ten ,essays1 which were   
shorter than they now are4 ,the work was
 reprinted in #aeih1 with little or no  
variation2 again in #afjf2 and in #afab 
there was a fourth edition1 etc4        
,however1 he afterwards1 he says1       
8enlarged it both in number and weight20
 but it did not assume its present form 
until the ninth edition1 in #afbe1 that 
is1 twenty-eight years after its first  
publication1 and one year before the    
death of the author4 ,it appeared under 
the new title of ,the ,essaies or       
,covnsels ,civill and ,morall1 of       
,francis ,lo4 ,vervlam1 ,viscovnt ,st4  
,alban4 ,newly enlarged4 ,this is not   
followed by the ,religious ,meditations1
 ,places of ,perswasion and ,disswasion1
 seene and allowed4 ,the ,essays were   
soon translated into ,italian with the  

title of ,saggi ,morali del ,signore    
,francesco ,bacono1 ,cavagliero         
,inglese1 ,gran ,cancelliero d'         
,inghilterra4 ,this translation was     
dedicated to ,cosmo de ,medici1 ,grand  
,duke of ,tuscany2 and was reprinted in 
,london in #afah4 ,of the three ,essays 
added after ,bacon's decease1 two of    
them1 ,of a ,king and ,of ,death1 are   
not genuine2 the ,fragment of an ,essay 
on ,fame alone is ,bacon's4  ,in this   
same year 7#aeig7 he again took his seat
 in ,parliament4 ,he soon made ample    
amends for his opposition speech in the 
previous session2 but this time he      
gained the favor of the ,court without  
forfeiting his popularity in the ,house 
of ,commons4  ,he now thought of        
strengthening his interest1 or          
increasing his fortune1 by a matrimonial
 connection2 and he sought the hand of a
 rich widow1 ,lady ,hatton1 his second  
cousin2 but here he was again doomed to 
disappointment2 a preference was given  
to his old rival1 the                   

,attorney-,general1 ,sir ,edward ,coke1 
notwithstanding the 8seven objections to
 him--his six children and himself40    
,but although ,bacon was perhaps unaware
 of it1 the rejection of his suit was   
one of the happiest events of his life2 
for the eccentric manners and violent   
temper of the lady rendered her a       
torment to all around her1 and probably 
most of all to her husband4 ,in reality1
 as has been wittily observed1 the lady 
was doubly kind to him2 8she rejected   
him1 and she accepted his enemy40       
,another mortification awaited him at   
this period4 ,a relentless creditor1 a  
usurer1 had him arrested for a debt of  
three hundred pounds1 and he was        
conveyed to a spunging-house1 where he  
was confined for a few days1 until      
arrangements could be made to satisfy   
the claim or the claimant4  ,we now     
arrive at a painfully sad point in the  
life of ,bacon2 a dark foul spot1 which 
should be hidden forever1 did not       
history1 like the magistrate of ,egypt  

that interrogated the dead1 demand that 
the truth1 the whole truth1 should be   
told4  ,we have seen that between ,bacon
 and the ,earl of ,essex1 all was       
disinterested affection on the part of  
the latter2 the ,earl employed his good 
offices for him1 exerted heart and soul 
to insure his success as                
,solicitor-,general1 and1 on ,bacon's   
failure1 conferred on him a princely    
favor1 a gift of no ordinary value4     
,when ,essex's fortunes declined1 and   
the ,earl fell into disgrace1 ,bacon    
endeavored to mediate between the ,queen
 and her favorite4 ,the case became     
hopeless4 ,essex left his command in    
,ireland without leave1 was ordered in  
confinement1 and after a long           
imprisonment and trial before the ,privy
 ,council1 he was liberated4 ,irritated 
by the refusal of a favor he solicited1 
he was betrayed into reflections on the 
,queen's age and person1 which were     
never to be forgiven1 and he engaged in 
a conspiracy to seize on the ,queen1 and

 to settle a new plan of government4 ,on
 the failure of this attempt1 he was    
arrested1 committed to the ,tower1 and  
brought to trial for high treason before
 the ,house of ,peers4 ,during his long 
captivity1 who does not expect to see   
,bacon1 his friend1 a frequent visitor  
in his cell8 ,before the two tribunals1 
can we fail to meet ,bacon1 his counsel1
 at his side8 ,we trace ,bacon at       
,court1 where1 he assures us1 after     
,elizabeth's death1 that he endeavored  
to appease and reconcile the ,queen2 but
 the place was too distant from the     
prison3 for he never visited there his  
fallen friend4  ,at the first trial1    
,bacon did indeed make his appearance1  
but as 8her ,majesty's ,counsel         
extraordinary10 not for the defence1 but
 for the prosecution of the prisoner4   
,but he may be expected at least to have
 treated him leniently8 ,he admits he   
did not1 on account1 as he tells us1 of 
the 8superior duty he owed to the       
,queen's fame and honor in a public     

proceeding40 ,but hitherto1 the ,earl's 
liberty alone had been endangered2 now1 
his life is at stake4 ,do not the       
manifold favors1 the munificent         
benefactions all arise in the generous  
mind of ,bacon8 ,does he not waive all  
thought of interest and promotion and   
worldly honor to devote himself wholly  
to the sacred task of saving his patron1
 benefactor1 and friend8 ,her ,majesty's
 ,counsel extraordinary appeared in the 
place of the ,solicitor-,general1 to    
reply to ,essex's defence2 he compared  
the accused first to ,cain1 then to     
,pisistratus4 ,the ,earl made a pathetic
 appeal to his judges2 ,bacon showed he 
had not answered his objections1 and    
compared him to the ,duke of ,guise1 the
 most odious comparison he could have   
instituted4 ,essex was condemned2 the   
,queen wavered in her resolution to     
execute him2 his friend's intercession  
might perhaps have been able to save    
,essex from an ignominious death4 ,did  
,bacon1 in his turn1 8spend all his     

power1 might1 and amity80 ,the ,queen's 
,counsel extraordinary might have       
offended his sovereign by his           
importunity1 and have been forgotten in 
the impending vacancy of the office of  
,solicitor-,general6 ,essex died on the 
scaffold4 ,but the execution rendered   
the ,queen unpopular1 and she was       
received with mournful silence when she 
appeared in public4 ,she ordered a      
pamphlet to be written to justify the   
execution2 she made choice of ,bacon as 
the writer2 the courtier did not decline
 the task1 but published ,a ,declaration
 of the ,practices and ,treasons        
attempted and committed by ,robert1 late
 ,earle of ,essex and his ,complices1   
against her ,maiestie and her ,kingdoms4
 ,this faithless friend1 to use the     
language of ,macaulay1 8exerted his     
professional talents to shed the ,earl's
 blood1 and his literary talents to     
blacken the ,earl's memory40  ,the      
memory of ,essex suffered but little    
from the attack of the pamphlet2 the    

base pamphleteer's memory is blackened  
forever1 and to his fair name of 8the   
wisest1 brightest10 has been appended   
the 8meanest of mankind40 ,but let us   
cast a pall over this act1 this moral   
murder1 perpetrated by the now degraded 
orator1 degraded philosopher1 the now   
most degraded of men4  ,elizabeth died  
in #afja2 and before the arrival of     
,james1 in ,england1 ,bacon wrote him a 
pedantic letter1 probably to gratify the
 taste of the pedant king2 but he did   
not forget in it1 8his late dear        
sovereign ,mistress--a princess happy in
 all things1 but most happy--in such a  
successor40  ,bacon solicited the honor 
of knighthood1 a distinction much       
lavished at this period4 ,at the ,king's
 coronation1 he knelt down in company   
with above three hundred gentlemen2 but 
8he rose ,sir ,francis40 ,he sought the 
hand of a rich alderman's daughter1     
,miss ,barnham1 who consented to become 
,lady ,bacon4  ,the ,earl of            
,southampton1 ,shakspeare's generous    

patron and friend1 who had been         
convicted of high treason in the late   
reign1 now received the ,king's pardon4 
,this called to all men's minds the fate
 of the unhappy ,earl of ,essex1 and of 
his odiously ungrateful accuser2 the    
latter unadvisedly published the ,sir   
,francis ,bacon1 his ,apologie in       
certaine imputations concerning the late
 ,earle of ,essex2 a defence which1 in  
the estimation of one of his            
biographers1 ,lord ,campbell1 has       
injured him more with posterity than all
 the attacks of his enemies4  ,in the   
new ,parliament1 he represented the     
borough of ,ipswich2 he spoke           
frequently1 and obtained the good graces
 of the ,king by the support he gave to 
,james's favorite plan of a union of    
,england and ,scotland2 a measure by no 
means palatable to the ,king's new      
subjects4  ,the object of all his hopes1
 the price1 perhaps1 of his conduct to  
,essex1 seemed in #afjf to be within his
 reach2 but he was once more to be      

disappointed4 ,his old enemy1 ,sir      
,edward ,coke1 prevented the vacancy4   
,the following year1 however1 after long
 and humiliating solicitation1 he       
attained the office to which he had so  
long aspired1 and was appointed         
,solicitor-,general to the ,crown4      
,official advancement was now the object
 nearest his heart1 and he longed to be 
,attorney-,general4#ac  ,in #afac1 by a 
master stroke of policy1 he created a   
vacancy for himself as                  
,attorney-,general1 and managed at the  
same time to disserve his old enemy1    
,coke1 by getting him preferred in rank1
 but at the expense of considerable     
pecuniary loss4  ,after his new         
appointment1 he was relected to his seat
 in the ,house of ,commons2 he had      
gained so much popularity there1 that   
the ,house admitted him1 although it    
resolved to exclude future              
,attorneys-,general2 a resolution       
rescinded by later ,parliaments4  ,the  
,attorney-,general1 as may be supposed1 

did not lack zeal in his master's       
service and for his master's            
prerogative4 ,one case1 in particular1  
was atrocious4 ,an aged clergyman1 named
 ,peacham1 was prosecuted for high      
treason for a sermon which he had       
neither preached nor published2 the     
unfortunate old man was apprehended1 put
 to the torture in presence of the      
,attorney-,general1 and as the latter   
himself tells us1 was examined 8before  
torture1 between torture1 and after     
torture10 although ,bacon must have been
 fully aware that the laws of ,england  
did not sanction torture to extort      
confession4 ,bacon tampered with the    
judges1 and obtained a conviction2 but  
the government durst not carry the      
sentence into execution4 ,peacham       
languished in prison till the ensuing   
year1 when ,providence rescued him from 
the hands of human justice4  ,in #afaf1 
,bacon was offered the formal promise of
 the ,chancellorship1 or an actual      
appointment as ,privy ,councillor2 he   

was too prudent not to prefer an        
appointment to a promise1 and he was    
accordingly nominated to the functions  
of member of the ,privy ,council4 ,his  
present leisure enabled him to prosecute
 vigorously his ,novum ,organum1 but he 
turned aside to occupy himself with a   
proposition for the amendment of the    
laws of ,england1 on which ,lord        
,campbell1 assuredly the most competent 
of judges1 passes a high encomium4  ,at 
length1 in #afag1 ,sir ,francis ,bacon  
attained the end of the ambition of his 
life1 he became ,lord ,keeper of the    
,seals1 with the functions1 though not  
the title1 of ,lord ,high ,chancellor of
 ,england4 ,his promotion to this       
dignity gave general satisfaction2 his  
own university1 ,cambridge1             
congratulated him2 ,oxford imitated the 
example2 the world expected a perfect   
judge1 formed from his own model in his 
,essay of ,judicature4 ,he took his seat
 in the ,court of ,chancery with the    
utmost pomp and parade4  ,the ,lord     

,keeper now endeavored to 8feed fat the 
ancient grudge0 he bore ,coke4 ,he      
deprived him of the office of ,chief    
,justice1 and erased his name from the  
list of privy councillors4 ,coke        
imagined a plan of raising his falling  
fortunes2 he projected a marriage       
between his daughter by his second wife1
 a very rich heiress1 and ,sir ,john    
,villiers1 the brother of ,buckingham1  
the ,king's favorite4 ,bacon was        
alarmed1 wrote to the ,king1 and used   
expressions of disparagement towards the
 favorite1 his new patron1 to whom he   
was indebted for the ,seals he held4    
,the ,king and his minion were equally  
indignant2 and they did not conceal from
 him their resentment4 ,on the return of
 the court1 ,bacon hastened to the      
residence of ,buckingham2 being denied  
admittance1 he waited two whole days in 
the ante-chamber with the ,great ,seal  
of ,england in his hand4 ,when at length
 he obtained access1 the ,lord ,keeper  
threw himself and the ,great ,seal on   

the ground1 kissed the favorite's feet1 
and vowed never to rise till he was     
forgiven6 ,it must after this have been 
difficult indeed for him to rise again  
in the world's esteem or his own4       
,bacon was made to purchase at a dear   
price his reinstatement in the good     
graces of ,buckingham4 ,the favorite    
constantly wrote to the judge in behalf 
of one of the parties1 and in the end1  
says ,lord ,campbell1 intimated that he 
was to dictate the decree4 ,nor did     
,bacon once remonstrate against this    
unwarrantable interference on the part  
of the man to whom he had himself       
recommended 8by no means to interpose   
himself1 either by word or letter in any
 cause depending on any court of        
justice40 ,the ,lord ,keeper received   
soon after1 in #afah1 the reward of his 
8many faithful services0 by the higher  
title of ,lord ,high ,chancellor of     
,england1 and by the peerage with the   
name of ,baron of ,verulam4  ,the new   
,minister of ,justice lent himself with 

his wonted complaisance to a most       
outrageous act of injustice1 which      
,macaulay stigmatizes as a 8dastardly   
murder10 that of the execution of ,sir  
,walter ,raleigh1 under a sentence      
pronounced sixteen years before2 ,sir   
,walter having been in the interval     
invested with the high command of       
,admiral of the fleet4 ,such an act it  
was the imperative duty of the first    
magistrate of the realm not to promote1 
but to resist to the full extent of his 
power2 and the ,chancellor alone could  
issue the warrant for the execution6    
,in #afbj1 he published what is usually 
considered his greatest work1 his ,novum
 ,organum 7,new ,instrument or ,method71
 which forms the second part of the     
,instauratio ,magna 7,great ,restoration
 of the ,sciences74 ,this work had      
occupied ,bacon's leisure for nearly    
thirty years4 ,such was the care he     
bestowed on it1 that ,rawley1 his       
chaplain and biographer1 states that he 
had seen about twelve autograph copies  

of it1 corrected and improved until it  
assumed the shape in which it appeared4 
,previous to the publication of the     
,novum ,organum1 says the illustrious   
,sir ,john ,herschel1 8natural          
philosophy1 in any legitimate and       
extensive sense of the word1 could      
hardly be said to exist40#ad  ,it cannot
 be expected that a work destined       
completely to change the state of       
science1 we had almost said of nature1  
should not be assailed by that prejudice
 which is ever ready to raise its loud  
but unmeaning voice against whatever is 
new1 how great or good soever it may be4
 ,bacon's doctrine was accused of being 
calculated to produce 8dangerous        
revolutions10 to 8subvert governments   
and the authority of religion40 ,some   
called on the present age and posterity 
to rise high in their resentment against
 8the ,bacon-faced generation10 for so  
were the experimentalists termed4 ,the  
old cry of irreligion1 nay1 even of     
atheism1 was raised against the man who 

had said3 8,i would rather believe all  
the fables in the ,legend1 and the      
,talmud1 and the ,alcoran1 than that    
this universal frame is without a       
mind40#ae ,but ,bacon had to encounter  
the prejudices even of the learned4     
,cuffe1 the ,earl of ,essex's secretary1
 a man celebrated for his attainments1  
said of the ,instauratio ,magna1 8a fool
 could not have written such a book1 and
 a wise man would not40 ,king ,james    
said1 it was 8like the peace of ,god1   
that surpasseth all understanding40 ,and
 even ,harvey1 the discoverer of the    
circulation of the blood1 said to       
,aubrey3 8,bacon is no great            
philosopher2 he writes philosophy like a
 ,lord ,chancellor40 ,rawley1 his       
secretary and his biographer1 laments1  
some years after his friend's death1    
that 8his fame is greater and sounds    
louder in foreign parts abroad than at  
home in his own nation2 thereby         
verifying that divine sentence3 ,a      
prophet is not without honor1 save in   

his own country and in his own house40  
,bacon was for some time without honor  
8in his own country and in his own      
house40 ,but truth on this1 as on all   
other occasions1 triumphs in the end4   
,bacon's assailants are forgotten2      
,bacon will be remembered with gratitude
 and veneration forever4  ,he was again1
 in #afba1 promoted in the peerage to be
 ,viscount ,saint-,albans2 his patent   
particularly celebrating his 8integrity 
in the administration of justice40  ,in 
this same year the ,parliament          
assembled4 ,the ,house of ,commons first
 voted the subsidies demanded by the    
,crown1 and next proceeded1 as was usual
 in those times1 to the redress of      
grievances4 ,a committee of the ,house  
was appointed to inquire into 8the      
abuses of ,courts of ,justice40 ,a      
report of this committee charged the    
,lord ,chancellor with corruption1 and  
specified two cases2 in the first of    
which ,aubrey1 a suitor in his court1   
stated that he had presented the ,lord  

,chancellor with a hundred pounds2 and  
,egerton1 another suitor in his court1  
with four hundred pounds in addition to 
a former piece of plate of the value of 
fifty pounds2 in both cases decisions   
had been given against the parties whose
 presents had been received4 7,lord     
,campbell asserts that in the case of   
,egerton both parties had made the      
,chancellor presents47#af ,his enemies1 
it is said1 estimated his illicit gains 
at a hundred thousand pounds2 a         
statement which1 it is more than        
probable1 is greatly exaggerated4#ag 8,i
 never had10 said ,bacon in his defence1
 8bribe or reward in my eye or thought  
when ,i pronounced sentence or order40  
,this is an acknowledgment of the fact1 
and perhaps an aggravation of the       
offence4 ,he then addressed 8an humble  
submission0 to the ,house1 a kind of    
general admission1 in which he invoked  
as a plea of excuse vitia temporis4     
,how widely different from this is his  
own language6 ,it is fair justice to    

appeal from the judge to the tribunal of
 the philosopher and moralist2 it is    
appealing from ,philip drunk to ,philip 
sober2 unhappily it is likewise         
to have the engineer   ,hoist with his  
own petar4  ,he says1 in his ,essay of  
,great ,place3 8,for corruption3 do not 
only bind thine own hands1 or thy       
servant's hands from taking1 but bind   
the hands of suitors from offering4 ,for
 integrity used doth the one2 but       
integrity professed1 and with a manifest
 detestation of bribery1 doth the other2
 and avoid not only the fault1 but the  
suspicion40#ah ,he says again1 in the   
same ,essay3 8,set it down to thyself1  
as well to create good precedents as to 
follow them40  ,but the allegation that 
it was a custom of the times requires   
examination4 ,it was a custom of the    
times in reality to make presents to    
superiors4 ,queen ,elizabeth received   
them as ,new ,year's gifts from         
functionaries of all ranks1 from her    
prime minister down to ,charles ,smith1 

the dust-man 7see note #a1 page #g71 and
 this custom probably continued under   
her successor1 and may have been applied
 to other high functionaries1 but it    
does not appear to have been in         
legitimate use in the courts of         
judicature4 ,coke1 himself ,chief       
,justice1 was ,bacon's principal        
accuser2 and1 although an enemy1 he has 
been said to have conducted himself with
 moderation and propriety on this       
occasion only4 ,lord ,campbell1 ,chief  
,justice of the ,court of ,queen's      
,bench1 and author of the ,lives of the 
,chancellors and ,chief ,justices of    
,england1 repels the plea1 as           
inadmissible4 ,it cannot be denied that 
if ,bacon extended the practice to the  
courts of justice1 he has heaped coals  
of fire on his head2 for applied to his 
own case personally it would be         
sufficiently odious2 but what odium     
would not that man deserve who should   
systematize1 nay1 legitimize a practice 
that must inevitably poison the stream  

of justice at its fountain-head6 ,what  
execration could be too great1 if that  
man were the most intelligent1 the      
wisest of his century1 one of the most  
dignified in rank in the land1 clad in  
spotless ermine1 the emblem of purity1  
in short1 the ,minister of ,justice6    
,the ,lords resolved that ,bacon should 
be called upon to put in a particular   
answer to each of the special charges   
preferred against him4 ,the formal      
articles with proofs in support were    
communicated to him4 ,the ,house        
received the 8confession and humble     
submission of me1 the ,lord             
,chancellor40 ,in this document1 ,bacon 
acknowledges himself to be guilty of    
corruption2 and in reply to each special
 charge admits in every instance the    
receipt of money or valuable things from
 the suitors in his court2 but alleging 
in some cases that it was after         
judgment1 or as ,new ,year's gifts1 a   
custom of the times1 or for prior       
services4 ,a committee of nine temporal 

and three spiritual lords was appointed 
to ascertain whether it was he who had  
subscribed this document4 ,the committee
 repaired to his residence1 were        
received in the hall where he had been  
accustomed to sit as judge1 and merely  
asked him if the signature affixed to   
the paper they exhibited to him was his4
 ,he passionately exclaimed3 8,my lords1
 it is my act1 my hand1 my heart4 ,i    
beseech your lordships to be merciful to
 a broken reed40 ,the committee         
withdrew1 overwhelmed with grief at the 
sight of such greatness so fallen4      
,four commissioners dispatched by the   
,king demanded the ,great ,seal of the  
,chancellor1 confined to his bed by     
sickness and sorrow and want of         
sustenance2 for he refused to take any  
food4 ,he hid his face in his hand1 and 
delivered up that ,great ,seal for the  
attainment of which he 8had sullied his 
integrity1 had resigned his             
independence1 had violated the most     
sacred obligations of friendship and    

gratitude1 had flattered the worthless1 
had persecuted the innocent1 had        
tampered with judges1 had tortured      
prisoners1 had plundered suitors1 had   
wasted on paltry intrigues all the      
powers of the most exquisitely          
constructed intellect that has ever been
 bestowed on any of the children of     
men40#ai  ,all this he did to be ,lord  
,high ,chancellor of ,england2 and1 had 
he not been the unworthy minister of    
,james1 he might have been1 to use the  
beautiful language of ,hallam1 8the     
high-priest of nature40  ,on the #c;d of
 ,may1 he was unanimously declared to be
 guilty1 and he was sentenced to a fine 
of forty thousand pounds1 to be         
imprisoned in the ,tower during the     
,king's pleasure1 to be incapable of    
holding any public office1 and of       
sitting in ,parliament or of coming     
within the verge of the court4#bj ,such 
was the sentence pronounced on the man  
whom three months before the ,king      
delighted to honor for 8his integrity in

 the administration of justice40  ,the  
fatal verdict affected his health so    
materially that the judgment could not  
receive immediate execution2 he could   
not be conveyed to the ,tower until the 
#cast of ,may2 the following day he was 
liberated4 ,he repaired to the house of 
,sir ,john ,vaughan1 who held a         
situation in the prince's household4#ba 
,he wished to retire to his own         
residence at ,york ,house2 but this was 
refused4 ,he was ordered to proceed to  
his seat at ,gorhambury1 whence he was  
not to remove1 and where he remained1   
though very reluctantly1 till the       
ensuing spring4  ,the heavy fine was    
remitted4 ,but as he had lived in great 
pomp1 he had economized naught from his 
legitimate or ill-gotten gains4 ,as he  
was now insolvent1 a pension of twelve  
hundred pounds a year was bestowed on   
him2 from his estate and other revenues 
he derived thirteen hundred pounds per  
annum more4 ,on the #agth of ,october1  
his remaining penalties were remitted4  

,it cannot but strike the reader as a   
most remarkable circumstance that1      
within eighteen months of the           
condemnation1 all the penalties were    
successively remitted4 ,would this      
induce the belief that he was but the   
scape-goat of the court1 that the       
condemnation was purely political8 ,it  
is1 we believe1 to be explained         
ostensibly by the advanced age of       
,bacon1 but really by the circumstance  
that the ,king's favorite1 ,buckingham1 
was an accomplice4  ,bacon discovered1  
alas6 when it was too late1 that the    
talent ,god had given him he had        
8misspent in things for which he was    
least fit20 or as ,thomson has          
beautifully expressed it3#bb--          
,hapless in his choice1   ,unfit to     
stand the civil storm of state1   ,and  
through the smooth barbarity of courts1 
,with firm1 but pliant virtue1 forward  
still   ,to urge his course2 him for the
 studious shade   ,kind ,nature form'd2 
deep1 comprehensive1 clear1   ,exact1   

and elegant2 in one rich soul1   ,plato1
 the ,stagyrite and ,tully join'd4      
,the great deliverer he6  ,it is        
gratifying to turn from the melancholy  
scenes exhibited by the political life  
of ,bacon1 to behold him in his study in
 the deep search of truth2 no contrast  
is more striking than that between the  
chancellor and the philosopher1 or1 as  
,macaulay has well termed it1 8,bacon   
seeking for truth1 and ,bacon seeking   
for the ,seals--,bacon in speculation1  
and ,bacon in action40 ,from amidst     
clouds and darkness we emerge into the  
full blaze and splendor of midday light4
  ,we now find ,bacon wholly devoting   
himself to the pursuits for which nature
 adapted him1 and from which no extent  
of occupation could entirely detach him4
 ,the author redeemed the man2 in the   
philosopher and the poet there was no   
weakness1 no corruption4    ,nothing is 
here for tears2 nothing to wail   ,or   
knock the breast2 no weakness1 no       
contempt1   ,dispraise or blame1 nothing

 but well and fair4  ,here the writer   
yielded not to vitia temporis2 but      
combated them with might and main1 with 
heart and soul4  ,in #afbc1 he published
 the ,life of ,henry ,,vii4 ,in a letter
 addressed to the ,queen of ,bohemia    
with a copy1 he says pathetically3      
8',time was ,i had honor without        
leisure1 and now ,i have leisure without
 honor40 ,but his honor without leisure 
had precipitated him into 8bottomless   
perdition20 his leisure without honor   
retrieved his name1 and raised him again
 to an unattainable height4  ,in the    
following year1 he printed his ,latin   
translation of the ,advancement of      
,learning1 under the title of ,de       
,dignitate et ,augmentis ,scientiarum4  
,this was not1 however1 a mere          
translation2 for he made in it omissions
 and alterations2 and appears to have   
added about one third new matter2 in    
short1 he remodelled it4 ,his work1     
replete with poetry and beautiful       
imagery1 was received with applause     

throughout ,europe4 ,it was reprinted in
 ,france in #afbd1 one year after its   
appearance in ,england4 ,it was         
immediately translated into ,french and 
,italian1 and was published in ,holland1
 the great book-mart of that time1 in   
#afde1 #afej1 and #affb4  ,in #afbd1 he 
solicited of the ,king a remission of   
the sentence1 to the end1 says he1 8that
 blot of ignominy may be removed from me
 and from my memory with posterity40    
,the ,king granted him a full pardon4   
,but he never more took his seat in the 
,house of ,lords4 ,when the new         
,parliament met1 after the accession of 
,charles the ,first1 age1 infirmity1 and
 tardy wisdom had extinguished the      
ambition of ,baron ,verulam1 ,viscount  
,st4 ,albans4 ,when the writ of summons 
to the ,parliament reached him1 he      
exclaimed3 8,i have done with such      
vanities60  ,but the philosopher pursued
 his labor of love4 ,he published new   
editions of his writings1 and translated
 them into ,latin1 from the mistaken    

notion that in that language alone could
 they be rescued from oblivion4 ,his    
crabbed latinity is now read but by few1
 or even may be said to be nearly       
forgotten2 while his noble1 majestic    
,english is read over the whole ,british
 empire1 on which the sun never sets1 is
 studied and admired throughout the old 
world and the new1 and it will be so by 
generations still unborn2 it will       
descend to posterity in company with his
 contemporary1 ,shakspeare 7whose name  
he never mentions71 and will endure as  
long as the great and glorious language 
itself2 indeed1 as he foretold of his   
,essays1 it 8will live as long as books 
last40  ,in the translation of his works
 into ,latin1 he was assisted by        
,rawley1 his future biographer1 and his 
two friends1 ,ben ,jonson1 the poet1 and
 ,hobbes1 the philosopher4  ,he wrote   
for his 8own recreation10 amongst very  
serious studies1 a ,collection of       
,apophthegms1 ,new and ,old1 said to    
have been dictated in one rainy day1 but

 probably the result of several 8rainy  
days40 ,this contains many excellent    
jocular anecdotes1 and has been1        
perhaps1 with too much indulgence1      
pronounced by ,macaulay to be the best  
jest-book in the world4  ,he commenced a
 ,digest of the ,laws of ,england1 but  
he soon discontinued it1 because it was 
8a work of assistance1 and that which he
 could not master by his own forces and 
pen40 ,james the ,first had not         
sufficient elevation of mind to afford  
him the means of securing the assistance
 he required4  ,he wrote his will with  
his own hand on the #aith of ,december1 
#afbe4 ,he directs that he shall be     
interred in ,st4 ,michael's ,church1    
near ,st4 ,albans3 8,there was my mother
 buried1 and it is the parish church of 
my mansion-house at ,gorhambury4444 ,for
 my name and memory1 ,i leave it to     
men's charitable speeches1 and to       
foreign nations1 and the next ages40    
,this supreme act of filial piety       
towards his gifted mother is affecting4 

,let no 8uncharitable0 word be uttered  
over his last solemn behest2 foreign    
nations and all ages will not refuse a  
tribute of homage to his genius6        
,gassendi presents an analysis of his   
labors1 and pays a tribute of admiration
 to their author2 ,descartes has        
mentioned him with encomium2            
,malebranche quotes him as an authority2
 ,puffendorff expressed admiration of   
him2 the ,university of ,oxford         
presented to him1 after his fall1 an    
address1 in which he is termed 8a mighty
 ,hercules1 who had by his own hand     
greatly advanced those pillars in the   
learned world which by the rest of the  
world were supposed immovable40         
,leibnitz ascribed to him the revival of
 true philosophy2 ,newton had studied   
him so closely that he adopted even his 
phraseology2 ,voltaire and ,d',alembert 
have rendered him popular in ,france4   
,the modern philosophers of all ,europe 
regard him reverentially as the father  
of experimental philosophy4  ,he        

attempted at this late period of his    
life a metrical translation into        
,english of the ,psalms of ,david2      
although his prose is full of poetry1   
his verse has but little of the divine  
art4  ,he again declined to take his    
seat as a peer in ,charles's second     
,parliament2 but the last stage of his  
life displayed more dignity and real    
greatness than the 8pride1 pomp1 and    
circumstance0 of his high offices and   
honors4 ,the public of ,england and of  
8foreign nations0 forgot the necessity  
of 8charitable speeches0 and anticipated
 8the next ages40 ,the most             
distinguished foreigners repaired to    
,gray's ,inn to pay their respects to   
him4 ,the ,marquis d',effiat1 who       
brought over to ,england the ,princess  
,henrietta ,maria1 the wife of ,charles 
the ,first1 went to see him4 ,bacon1    
confined to his bed1 but unwilling to   
decline the visit1 received him with the
 curtains drawn4 8,you resemble the     
angels10 said the ,french minister to   

him1 8we hear those beings continually  
talked of2 we believe them superior to  
mankind2 and we never have the          
consolation to see them40  ,but in ill  
health and infirmity he continued his   
studies and experiments2 as it occurred 
to him that snow might preserve animal  
substances from putrefaction as well as 
salt1 he tried the experiment1 and      
stuffed a fowl with snow with his own   
hands4 8,the great apostle of           
experimental philosophy was destined to 
become its martyr20 he took cold4 ,from 
his bed he dictated a letter to the     
,earl of ,arundel1 to whose house he had
 been conveyed4 8,i was likely to have  
had the fortune of ,caus ,plinius the   
,elder1 who lost his life by trying an  
experiment about the burning of the     
,mount ,vesuvius4 ,for ,i was also      
desirous to try an experiment or two    
touching the conservation and induration
 of bodies4 ,as for the experiment      
itself1 it succeeded excellently well40 
,he had1 indeed1 the fortune of ,pliny  

the ,elder2 for he never recovered from 
the effects of his cold1 which brought  
on fever and a complaint of the chest2  
and he expired on the #ith of ,april1   
#afbf1 in the sixty-sixth year of his   
age4 ,thus died1 a victim to his        
devotion to science1 ,francis ,bacon1   
whose noble death is an expiation of the
 errors of his life1 and who was1 as has
 been justly observed1 notwithstanding  
all his faults1 one of the greatest     
ornaments and benefactors of the human  
race4  ,no account has been preserved of
 his funeral2 but probably it was       
private4 ,sir ,thomas ,meautys1 his     
faithful secretary1 erected at his own  
expense a monument to ,bacon's memory4  
,bacon is represented sitting1 reclining
 on his hand1 and absorbed in           
meditation4 ,the effigy bears the       
inscription3 sic sedebat4  ,the singular
 fact ought not to be omitted1 that     
notwithstanding the immense sums that   
had been received by him1 legitimately  
or otherwise1 he died insolvent4 ,the   

fault of his life had been that he never
 adapted his expenses to his income2    
perhaps even he never calculated them4  
,to what irretrievable ruin did not this
 lead him8 ,to disgrace and dishonor1 in
 the midst of his career2 to insolvency 
at its end4 ,his love of worldly        
grandeur was uncontrollable1 or at least
 uncontrolled4 8,the virtue of          
prosperity is temperance10 says he      
himself2 but this virtue he did not     
possess4 ,his stately bark rode proudly 
over the waves1 unmindful of the rocks2 
on one of these1 alas6 it split and     
foundered4  ,bacon was very             
prepossessing in his person2 he was in  
stature above the middle size2 his      
forehead was broad and high1 of an      
intellectual appearance2 his eye was    
lively and expressive2 and his          
countenance bore early the marks of deep
 thought4  ,it might be mentioned here  
with instruction to the reader1 that few
 men were more impressed than ,bacon    
with the value of time1 the most        

precious element of life4 ,he           
assiduously employed the smallest       
portions of it2 considering justly that 
the days1 the hours1 nay minutes of     
existence require the greatest care at  
our hands2 the weeks1 months1 and years 
have been wisely said to take care of   
themselves4 ,his chaplain1 ,rawley1     
remarks3 8,nullum momentum aut temporis 
segmentum perire et intercidere passus  
est10 he suffered no moment nor fragment
 of time to pass away unprofitably4 ,it 
is this circumstance that explains to us
 the great things he accomplished even  
in the most busy part of his life4  ,the
 whole of ,bacon's biography has been   
admirably recapitulated by ,lord        
,campbell#bc in the following           
paragraph3--    8,we have seen him      
taught his alphabet by his mother2      
patted   on the head by ,queen          
,elizabeth2 mocking the worshippers of  
,aristotle at ,cambridge2 catching the  
first glimpses of his great             
discoveries1 and yet uncertain whether  

the light was from heaven2   associating
 with the learned and the gay at the    
court of ,france2   devoting himself to 
,bracton#bd and the ,year ,books in     
,gray's   ,inn2 throwing aside the musty
 folios of the law to write a moral     
,essay1 to make an experiment in natural
 philosophy1 or to detect   the         
fallacies which had hitherto obstructed 
the progress of   useful truth2         
contented for a time with taking 8all   
knowledge for   his province20 roused   
from these speculations by the stings of
   vulgar ambition2 plying all the arts 
of flattery to gain official            
advancement by royal and courtly favor2 
entering the ,house of   ,commons1 and  
displaying powers of oratory of which he
 had been   unconscious2 being seduced  
by the love of popular applause1 for   a
 brief space becoming a patriot2 making 
amends1 by defending   all the worst    
excesses of prerogative2 publishing to  
the world   lucubrations on morals1     
which show the nicest perception of what

   is honorable and beautiful as well as
 prudent1 in the conduct   of life2 yet 
the son of a ,lord ,keeper1 the nephew  
of the prime   minister1 a ,queen's     
counsel1 with the first practice at the 
bar1 arrested for debt1 and languishing 
in a spunging-house2   tired with vain  
solicitations to his own kindred for    
promotion1   joining the party of their 
opponent1 and after experiencing the    
most generous kindness from the young   
and chivalrous head of   it1 assisting  
to bring him to the scaffold1 and to    
blacken his   memory2 seeking1 by a     
mercenary marriage to repair his broken 
fortunes2 on the accession of a new     
sovereign offering up the   most servile
 adulation to a pedant whom he utterly  
despised2   infinitely gratified by     
being permitted to kneel down1 with     
three   hundred others1 to receive the  
honor of knighthood2 truckling   to a   
worthless favorite with the most slavish
 subserviency that   he might be        
appointed a law-officer of the ,crown2  

then giving   the most admirable advice 
for the compilation and emendation   of 
the laws of ,england1 and helping to    
inflict torture on a   poor parson whom 
he wished to hang as a traitor for      
writing an   unpublished and unpreached 
sermon2 attracting the notice of all    
,europe by his philosophical works1     
which established a new era   in the    
mode of investigating the phenomena both
 of matter and   mind2 basely intriguing
 in the meanwhile for further promotion1
   and writing secret letters to his    
sovereign to disparage his   rivals2    
riding proudly between the ,lord ,high  
,treasurer and ,lord   ,privy ,seal1    
preceded by his mace-bearer and         
purse-bearer1 and   followed by a long  
line of nobles and judges1 to be        
installed   in the office of ,lord ,high
 ,chancellor2 by and by1 settling with  
his servants the account of the bribes  
they had received for   him2 a little   
embarrassed by being obliged1 out of    
decency1 the   case being so clear1 to  

decide against the party whose money    
he had pocketed1 but stifling the       
misgivings of conscience by   the       
splendor and flattery which he now      
commanded2 struck to the   earth by the 
discovery of his corruption2 taking to  
his bed1   and refusing sustenance2     
confessing the truth of the charges     
brought against him1 and abjectly       
imploring mercy2 nobly rallying   from  
his disgrace1 and engaging in new       
literary undertakings1   which have     
added to the splendor of his name2 still
 exhibiting   a touch of his ancient    
vanity1 and1 in the midst of pecuniary  
embarrassment1 refusing to #8be stripped
 of his feathers2'#be   inspired1       
nevertheless1 with all his youthful zeal
 for science1   in conducting his last  
experiment of #8stuffing a fowl with    
snow   to preserve it1' which succeeded 
#8excellently well1' but brought   him  
to his grave2 and1 as the closing act of
 a life so checkered1   making his will1
 whereby1 conscious of the shame he had 

incurred   among his contemporaries1 but
 impressed with a swelling   conviction 
of what he had achieved for mankind1 he 
bequeathed   his #8name and memory to   
men's charitable speeches1 to foreign   
nations1 and the next ages4'0  ,after   
this brilliant recapitulation of the    
principal facts of ,bacon's eventful    
life1 there remains the difficult task  
of examining his character as a writer  
and philosopher2 and then of presenting 
some observations on his principal      
works4 ,as these subjects have occupied 
the attention of the master minds and   
most elegant writers of ,england1 we    
shall unhesitatingly present the reader 
with the opinions of these1 the most    
competent judges in each special        
department4  ,but first1 let the        
philosopher speak for himself4  ,the end
 and aim of the writings of ,bacon are  
best described by himself1 as these     
descriptions may be gleaned from his    
various works4 ,he taught1 to use his   
own language1 the means1 not of the     

8amplification of the power of one man  
over his country1 nor of the            
amplification of the power of that      
country over other nations2 but the     
amplification of the power and kingdom  
of mankind over the world40#bf 8,a      
restitution of man to the sovereignty of
 nature40#bg 8,the enlarging the bounds 
of human empire to the effecting of all 
things possible40#bh ,from the          
enlargement of reason1 he did not       
separate the growth of virtue2 for he   
thought that 8truth and goodness were   
one1 differing but as the seal and the  
print1 for truth prints goodness40#bi   
,the art which ,bacon taught1 has been  
well said to be 8the art of inventing   
arts40  ,the great qualities of his     
mind1 as they are exhibited in his      
works1 have been well portrayed by the  
pen of ,sir ,james ,mackintosh4 ,we     
subjoin the opinion of this elegant     
writer in his own words3    8,it is easy
 to describe his transcendent merit in  
general terms   of commendation3 for    

some of his great qualities lie on the  
surface of his writings4 ,but that in   
which he most excelled all   other men1 
was in the range and compass of his     
intellectual   view--the power of       
contemplating many and distant objects  
together1 without indistinctness or     
confusion--which he himself   has called
 the discursive or comprehensive        
understanding4 ,this   wide-ranging     
intellect was illuminated by the        
brightest ,fancy   that ever contented  
itself with the office of only          
ministering   to ,reason3 and from this 
singular relation of the two grand      
faculties of man1 it has resulted1 that 
his philosophy1 though   illustrated    
still more than adorned by the utmost   
splendor of   imagery1 continues still  
subject to the undivided supremacy of   
intellect4 ,in the midst of all the     
prodigality of an imagination   which1  
had it been independent1 would have been
 poetical1 his   opinions remained      
severely rational4    8,it is not so    

easy to conceive1 or at least to        
describe1 other   equally essential     
elements of his greatness1 and          
conditions of   his success4 ,he is     
probably a single instance of a mind    
which1   in philosophizing1 always      
reaches the point of elevation whence   
the whole prospect is commanded1 without
 ever rising to such   a distance as to 
lose a distinct perception of every part
 of   it40#cj  ,mr4 ,macaulay speaks of 
the following peculiarity of ,bacon's   
understanding3#ca--    8,with great     
minuteness of observation he had an     
amplitude   of comprehension such as has
 never yet been vouchsafed to   any     
other human being4 ,the small fine mind 
of ,la ,bruyre had   not a more delicate
 tact than the large intellect of       
,bacon4   ,the 8,essays0 contain        
abundant proofs that no nice feature of 
character1 no peculiarity in the        
ordering of a house1 a garden1   or a   
court-masque1 could escape the notice of
 one whose mind   was capable of taking 

in the whole world of knowledge4 ,his   
understanding resembled the tent which  
the fairy ,paribanou gave   to prince   
,ahmed4 ,fold it1 and it seemed a toy   
for the hand of the   lady4 ,spread it1 
and the armies of powerful sultans might
 repose   beneath its shade4    8,in    
keenness of observation he has been     
equalled1 though1   perhaps1 never      
surpassed4 ,but the largeness of his    
mind was all   his own4 ,the glance with
 which he surveyed the intellectual     
universe1 resembled that which the      
archangel1 from the golden   threshold  
of heaven1 darted down into the new     
creation4      8,round he surveyed and  
well might1 where he stood     ,so high 
above the circling canopy     ,of       
night's extended shade--from eastern    
point     ,of ,libra1 to the fleecy star
 which bears     ,andromeda far off     
,atlantic seas     ,beyond the horizon40
  ,bacon's philosophy is1 to use an     
expression of his own1 8the servant and 
interpreter of nature20 he cultivated it

 in the leisure left him by the         
assiduous study and practice of the law 
and by the willing duties of a courtier2
 it was rather the recreation than the  
business of his life2 8my business10    
said he1 8found rest in my              
contemplations20 but his very           
recreations rendered him1 according to  
,leibnitz1 the father of experimental   
philosophy1 and1 according to all1 the  
originator of all its results1 of all   
later discoveries in chemistry and the  
arts1 in short1 of all modern science   
and its applications4  ,mr4 ,macaulay is
 of opinion that the two leading        
principles of his philosophy are utility
 and progress2 that the ethics of his   
inductive method are to do good1 to do  
more and more good1 to mankind4  ,lord  
,campbell believes that a most perfect  
body of ethics might be made out from   
the writings of ,bacon4  ,the origin of 
his philosophy was the conviction with  
which he was impressed of the           
insufficiency of that of the ancients1  

or rather of that of ,aristotle1 which  
reigned with almost undisputed sway     
throughout ,europe4 ,he reverenced      
antiquity for its great works1 its great
 men2 but not because of its            
ancientness2 he deemed its decrees      
worthy of reverential consideration1 but
 did not think they admitted of no      
appeal2 he was not a bigot to antiquity 
or a contemner of modern times4 ,he     
happily combated that undue and blind   
submission to the authority of ancient  
times for the mere reason that they are 
older than our own1 alleging truly that 
8,,antiquitas ,,seculi ,,juventus       
,,mundi1 that our times are the ancient 
times1 when the world is ancient1 and   
not those which we account ancient1     
ordine retrogrado1 by a computation     
backward from ourselves40#cb  ,throwing 
off1 then1 all allegiance to antiquity1 
he appealed directly from ,aristotle to 
nature1 from reasoning to experiment4   
,but let us invoke the testimony of an  
eminent philosopher1 ,sir ,john         

,herschel3--    8,by the discoveries of 
,copernicus1 ,kepler1 and ,galileo1 the 
errors of the ,aristotelian philosophy  
were effectually overturned   on a plain
 appeal to the facts of nature2 but it  
remained to   show1 on broad and general
 principles1 how and why ,aristotle     
was in the wrong2 to set in evidence the
 peculiar weakness of   his method of   
philosophizing1 and to substitute in its
 place a   stronger and better4 ,this   
important task was executed by ,francis 
,bacon1 ,lord ,verulam1 who will        
therefore justly be looked upon in   all
 future ages as the great reformer of   
philosophy1 though his   own actual     
contributions to the stock of physical  
truths were   small1 and his ideas of   
particular points strongly tinctured    
with   mistakes and errors1 which were  
the fault rather of the general   want  
of physical information of the age than 
of any narrowness   of view on his own  
part2 of this he was fully aware4 ,it   
has been   attempted by some to lessen  

the merit of this great achievement1    
by showing that the inductive method had
 been practised in many   instances1    
both ancient and modern1 by the mere    
instinct of   mankind2 but it is not the
 introduction of inductive reasoning1   
as a new and hitherto untried process1  
which characterizes the   ,baconian     
philosophy1 but his keen perception1 and
 his broad   and spirit-stirring1 almost
 enthusiastic1 announcement of its      
paramount importance1 as the alpha and  
omega of science1 as the   grand and    
only chain for the linking together of  
physical truths1   and the eventual key 
to every discovery and every            
application4   ,those who would deny him
 his just glory on such grounds would   
refuse to ,jenner or to ,howard their   
civic crowns1 because a   few farmers in
 a remote province had1 time out of     
mind1 been   acquainted with            
vaccination1 or philanthropists1 in all 
ages1 had   occasionally visited the    
prisoner in his dungeon40    8,it is to 

our immortal countryman ,bacon10 says   
he1 again1   8that we owe the broad     
announcement of this grand and fertile  
principle2 and the development of the   
idea1 that the whole of   natural       
philosophy consists entirely of a series
 of inductive   generalizations1        
commencing with the most                
circumstantially   stated particulars1  
and carried up to universal laws1 or    
axioms1   which comprehend in their     
statements every subordinate degree of  
generality and of a corresponding series
 of inverted reasoning   from generals  
to particulars1 by which these axioms   
are traced   back into their remotest   
consequences1 and all particular        
propositions deduced from them1 as well 
those by whose immediate   consideration
 we rose to their discovery1 as those of
 which we   had no previous             
knowledge4444    8,it would seem that a 
union of two qualities almost opposite  
to each other--a going forth of the     
thoughts in two directions1   and a     

sudden transfer of ideas from a remote  
station in one to   an equally distant  
one in the other--is required to start  
the   first idea of applying science4   
,among the ,greeks1 this point   was    
attained by ,archimedes1 but attained   
too late1 on the eve   of that great    
eclipse of science which was destined to
 continue   for nearly eighteen         
centuries1 till ,galileo in ,italy1 and 
,bacon   in ,england1 at once dispelled 
the darkness2 the one1 by his           
inventions and discoveries2 the other1  
by the irresistible force   of his      
arguments and eloquence40#cc  ,his style
 is copious1 comprehensive1 and smooth2 
it does not flow with the softness of   
the purling rill1 but rather with the   
strength1 fulness1 and swelling of a    
majestic river1 and the rude harmony of 
the mountain stream4 ,his images are    
replete with poetry and thought2 they   
always illustrate his subject4 ,hallam  
is of opinion that the modern writer    
that comes nearest to him is ,burke4    

8,he had10 said ,addison1 8the sound1   
distinct1 comprehensive knowledge of    
,aristotle1 with all the beautiful      
lights1 graces1 and embellishments of   
,cicero4 ,one does not know which to    
admire most in his writings1 the        
strength of reason1 force of style1 or  
brightness of imagination40#cd  ,bacon  
improved so much the melody1 elegance1  
and force of ,english prose1 that we may
 apply to him what was said of ,augustus
 with regard to ,rome3 lateritiam       
invenit1 marmoream reliquit2 he found it
 brick1 and he left it marble4 ,mr4     
,hallam's opinion differs somewhat from 
this2 it is as follows3--    8,the style
 of ,bacon has an idiosyncrasy which we 
might expect   from his genius4 ,it can 
rarely indeed happen1 and only in men   
of secondary talents1 that the language 
they use is not1 by   its very choice   
and collocation1 as well as its meaning1
 the   representative of an             
individuality that distinguishes their  
turn of thought4 ,bacon is elaborate1   

sententious1 often witty1   often       
metaphorical2 nothing could be spared2  
his analogies are   generally striking  
and novel2 his style is clear1 precise1 
forcible2 yet there is some degree of   
stiffness about it1 and in   mere       
language he is inferior to ,raleigh40#ce
  ,it is a most remarkable              
characteristic of ,bacon1 and one in    
which ,burke resembled him1 that his    
imagination grew stronger with his      
increasing years1 and his style richer  
and softer4 8,the fruit came first10    
says ,mr4 ,macaulay1 8and remained till 
the last2 the blossoms did not appear   
till late4 ,in eloquence1 in sweetness  
and variety of expression1 and in       
richness of illustration1 his later     
writings are far superior to those of   
his youth40 ,his earliest ,essays have  
as much truth and cogent reasoning as   
his latest2 but these are far superior  
in grace and beauty4 ,a most striking   
illustration of this is afforded by one 
of the last ,essays1 added a year before

 ,bacon's death1 that of ,adversity     
7,essay ,v471 than which naught can be  
more graceful and beautiful4  ,the      
account of ,bacon's works will          
necessarily be very succinct1 and1 we   
fear1 imperfect4 ,we shall1 however1 for
 each of them1 call in the aid of the   
most competent judges1 whose award      
public opinion will not reverse4        
,,essays4  ,bacon published his ,essays 
in #aeig4 ,they were1 in the estimation 
of ,mr4 ,hallam1 the first in time and  
in excellence of ,english writings on   
moral prudence4 ,of the fifty-eight     
,essays1 of which the work is now       
composed1 ten only appeared in the first
 edition4 ,but to these were added      
,religious ,meditations1 ,places of     
,perswasion and ,disswasion1 ,seene and 
allowed2 many of which were afterwards  
embodied in the ,essays4 ,these ,essays 
were3 #a4 ,of ,studie2 #b4 ,of          
,discourse2 #c4 ,of ,ceremonies and     
,respects2 #d4 ,of ,followers and       
,friends2 #e4 ,of ,sutors2 #f4 ,of      

,expence2 #g4 ,of ,regiment of ,health2 
#h4 ,of ,honor and ,reputation2 #i4 ,of 
,faction2 #aj4 ,of ,negociating4 ,in the
 edition of #afab1 8,the ,essaies of ,sr
 ,francis ,bacon ,knight1 the ,king's   
,atturny ,generall10 were increased to  
forty-one4  ,the new ,essays added are3 
#a4 ,of ,religion2 #b4 ,of ,death2 #c4  
,of ,goodnesse1 and ,goodnesse of       
,nature2 #d4 ,of ,cunning2 #e4 ,of      
,marriage and ,single ,life2 #f4 ,of    
,parents and ,children2 #g4 ,of         
,nobility2 #h4 ,of ,great ,place2 #i4   
,of ,empire2 #aj4 ,of ,counsell2 #aa4   
,of ,dispatch2 #ab4 ,of ,love2 #ac4 ,of 
,friendship2 #ad4 ,of ,atheism2 #ae4 ,of
 ,superstition2 #af4 ,of ,wisedome for a
 ,man's selfe2 #bj4 ,of seeming wise2   
#ba4 ,of ,riches2 #bb4 ,of ,ambition2   
#bc4 ,of ,young ,men and ,age2 #bd4 ,of 
,beauty2 #be4 ,of ,deformity2 #bf4 ,of  
,nature in ,men2 #bg4 ,of ,custom and   
,education2 #bh4 ,of ,fortune2 #ce4 ,of 
,praise2 #cf4 ,of ,judicature2 #cg4 of  
,vaine-,glory2 #ch4 ,of ,greatnesse of  

,kingdomes2 #ci4 ,of the ,publique2 #dj4
 ,of ,warre and ,peace4  ,these         
forty-one ,essays were afterwards again 
augmented to fifty-eight1 with the new  
title of ,the ,essaies or ,covnsels1    
,civill and ,morall2 they were likewise 
improved by corrections1 additions1 and 
illustrations4 ,by the peculiarity of   
,bacon1 already noticed1 the later      
,essays rise in beauty and interest4    
,bacon considered his ,essays but as    
8the recreations of his other studies40 
,he has entitled them1 in the ,latin    
translation1 ,sermones fideles1 sive    
,interiora rerum4 ,the idea of them1 as 
has been already mentioned1 was         
suggested by those of ,montaigne2 but   
there is but little resemblance between 
the two productions4 ,montaigne is      
natural1 ingenuous1 sportive4 ,bacon's  
8,essays or ,counsels1 civil and moral10
 8the fragments of his conceits10 as he 
styles them1 are all study1 art1 and    
gravity2 but the reflections in them are
 true and profound4 ,montaigne          

confessedly painted himself1 declared   
that he was the matter of his own       
book1#cf while with ,bacon the man was  
merged in the author and the            
philosopher1 who propounded like        
,seneca1 and somewhat in ,seneca's      
style1 the maxims of practical wisdom1  
that1 to use ,bacon's own language1     
8come home to men's business and        
bosoms10 and clothed them in a garb1    
new1 elegant1 and rich1 hitherto unknown
 in ,england4 ,but our author1 if we may
 judge by the matter and even manner of 
his ,essays1 may have had in view1 not  
so much ,montaigne's ,essais as         
,seneca's ,letters to ,lucilius4 ,the   
,essay of ,death is obviously founded on
 ,seneca's ,epistles on this subject4   
,that he was well acquainted with       
,seneca's ,letters1 is incontrovertible4
 ,he alludes to them thus in the        
dedication to ,prince ,henry1 in #afab3 
8,the word 7,essays710 says he1 8is     
late1 but the thing is ancient2 for     
,seneca's ,epistles to ,lucilius1 if you

 mark them well1 are but ,essays1 that  
is1 dispersed meditations1 though       
conveyed in the form of epistles40      
,bacon justly foretold of his ,essays   
that they 8would live as long as books  
last40  ,the following is the opinion of
 ,dugald ,stewart1 himself an eminent   
philosopher and elegant writer3    8,his
 ,essays are the best known and most    
popular of all his   works4 ,it is also 
one of those where the superiority of   
his   genius appears to the greatest    
advantage2 the novelty and depth   of   
his reflections often receiving a strong
 relief from triteness   of the subject4
 ,it may be read from beginning to end  
in a few   hours2 and yet1 after the    
twentieth perusal1 one seldom fails   to
 remark in it something unobserved      
before4 ,this1 indeed1 is a             
characteristic of all ,bacon's writings1
 and only to be accounted   for by the  
inexhaustible aliment they furnish to   
our own   thoughts1 and the sympathetic 
activity they impart to our torpid      

faculties40#cg  ,the reader will1       
perhaps1 be rather gratified than       
wearied with another appreciation of    
this valuable production of our young   
moralist of twenty-six4 ,it is of no    
incompetent judge1--,mr4 ,hallam4       
8,the transcendent strength of ,bacon's 
mind is visible in the   whole tenor of 
these ,essays1 unequal as they must be  
from the   very nature of such          
compositions4 ,they are deeper and more 
discriminating than any earlier1 or     
almost any later work in the   ,english 
language1 full of recondite observation1
 long matured and   carefully sifted4   
,it is true that we might wish for more 
vivacity   and ease2 ,bacon1 who had    
much wit1 had little gayety2 his ,essays
   are consequently stiff and grave     
where the subject might have   been     
touched with a lively hand2 thus it is  
in those on ,gardens   and on ,building4
 ,the sentences have sometimes too      
apophthegmatic   a form and want        
coherence2 the historical instances1    

though far   less frequent than with    
,montaigne1 have a little the look of   
pedantry to our eyes4 ,but it is from   
this condensation1 from this   gravity1 
that the work derives its peculiar      
impressiveness4   ,few books are more   
quoted1 and what is not always the case 
with such books1 we may add that few are
 more generally read4   ,in this respect
 they lead the van of our prose         
literature2 for   no gentleman is       
ashamed of owning that he has not read  
the   ,elizabethan writers2 but it would
 be somewhat derogatory to a man   of   
the slightest claim to polite letters1  
were he unacquainted   with the ,essays 
of ,bacon4 ,it is1 indeed1 little worth 
while to   read this or any other book  
for reputation sake2 but very few in    
our language so well repay the pains1 or
 afford more nourishment   to the       
thoughts4 ,they might be judiciously    
introduced1 with a   small number more1 
into a sound method of education1 one   
that   should make wisdom1 rather than  

mere knowledge1 its object1 and   might 
become a text-book of examination in our
 schools40#ch   ,,advancement ,,of      
,,learning4  ,the ,advancement of       
,learning was published in #afje4 ,it   
has usually been considered that the    
whole of ,bacon's philosophy is         
contained in this work1 excepting1      
however1 the second book of the ,novum  
,organum4 ,of the ,advancement of       
,learning he made a ,latin translation1 
under the title of ,de ,dignitate et    
,augmentis ,scientiarum1 which1 however1
 contains about one third of new matter 
and some slight interpolations2 a few   
omissions have been remarked in it4     
,the ,advancement of ,learning is1 as it
 were1 to use his own language1 8a small
 globe of the intellectual world1 as    
truly and faithfully as ,i could        
discover with a note and description of 
those facts which seem to me not        
constantly occupate or not well         
converted by the labor of man4 ,in      
which1 if ,i have in any point receded  

from that which is commonly received1 it
 hath been with a purpose of proceeding 
in melius and not in aliud1 a mind of   
amendment and proficience1 and not of   
change and difference4 ,for ,i could not
 be true and constant to the argument ,i
 handle1 if ,i were not willing to go   
beyond others1 but yet not more willing 
than to have others go beyond me40  ,the
 ,advancement of ,learning is divided   
into two parts2 the former of which is  
intended to remove prejudices against   
the search after truth1 by pointing out 
the causes which obstruct it2 in the    
second1 learning is divided into        
history1 poetry1 and philosophy1        
according to the faculties of the mind  
from which they emanate--memory1        
imagination1 and reason4 ,our author    
states the deficiencies he observes in  
each4  ,all the peculiar qualities of   
his style are fully developed in this   
noble monument of genius1 one of the    
finest in ,english1 or perhaps any other
 language2 it is full of deep thought1  

keen observation1 rich imagery1 ,attic  
wit1 and apt illustration4 ,dugald      
,stewart and ,hallam have both expressed
 their just admiration of the short     
paragraph on poesy2 but1 with all due   
deference1 we must consider that the    
beautiful passage on the dignity and    
excellency of knowledge is surpassed by 
none4 ,can aught excel the noble        
comparison of the ship8 ,the reader     
shall judge for himself4    8,if the    
invention of the ship was thought so    
noble1 which   carrieth riches and      
commodities from place to place1 and    
consociateth the most remote regions in 
participation of their   fruits2 how    
much more are letters to be magnified1  
which1   as ships1 pass through the vast
 seas of time1 and make ages   so       
distant to participate of the wisdom1   
illuminations1 and   inventions1 the one
 of the other80   ,,de ,,sapientia      
,,veterum4  ,the ,wisdom of the         
,ancients1 or rather1 ,de sapientia     
veterum 7for it was written in ,latin71 

is a short treatise on the mythology of 
the ancients1 by which ,bacon endeavors 
to discover and to show the physical1   
moral1 and political meanings it        
concealed4 ,if the reader is not        
convinced that the ancients understood  
by these fables all that ,bacon         
discovers in them1 he must at least     
admit the probability of it1 and be     
impressed with the penetration of the   
author and the variety and depth of his 
knowledge4   ,,instauratio ,,magna4     
,the ,instauratio ,magna was published  
in #afbj1 while ,bacon was still        
chancellor4  ,in his dedication of it to
 ,james the ,first1 in #afbj1 in which  
he says he has been engaged in it nearly
 thirty years1 he pathetically remarks3 
8,the reason why ,i have published it   
now1 specially being imperfect1 is1 to  
speak plainly1 because ,i number my     
days1 and would have it saved40 ,his    
country and the world participate in the
 opinion of the philosopher1 and would  
have deemed its loss one of the greatest

 to mankind4  ,such was the care with   
which it was composed1 that ,bacon      
transcribed it twelve times with his own
 hand4  ,it is divided into six parts4  
,the first entitled ,partitiones        
,scientiarum1 or the divisions of       
knowledge possessed by mankind1 in which
 the author has noted the deficiencies  
and imperfections of each4 ,this he had 
already accomplished by his ,advancement
 of ,learning4  ,part #b is the ,novum  
,organum ,scientiarum1 or new method of 
studying the sciences1 a name probably  
suggested by ,aristotle's ,organon      
7treatises on ,logic74 ,he intended it  
to be 8the science of a better and more 
perfect use of reason in the            
investigation of things and of the true 
end of understanding40 ,this has been   
generally denominated the inductive     
method1 i4 e4 the experimental method1  
from the principle of induction1 or     
bringing together facts and drawing from
 them general principles or truths1 by  
which the author proposes the           

advancement of all kinds of knowledge4  
,in this consists preminently the       
philosophy of ,bacon4 ,not reasoning    
upon conjecture on the laws and         
properties of nature1 but1 as ,bacon    
quaintly terms it1 8asking questions of 
nature10 that is1 making experiments1   
laboriously collecting facts first1 and1
 after a sufficient number has been     
brought together1 then forming systems  
or theories founded on them4  ,but this 
work is rather the summary of a more    
extensive one he designed1 the aphorisms
 of it being rather1 according to       
,hallam1 8the heads or theses of        
chapters40 ,but some of these principles
 are of paramount importance4 ,an       
instance may be afforded of this1       
extracted from the 8,interpretation of  
,nature1 and ,man's dominion over it40  
,it is the very first sentence in the   
,novum ,organum4 8,man1 the servant and 
interpreter of nature1 can only         
understand and act in proportion as he  
observes and contemplates the order of  

nature2 more1 he can neither know nor   
do40 ,this1 as has justly been observed1
 is undoubtedly the foundation of all   
our real knowledge4  ,the ,novum        
,organum is so important1 that we deem  
it desirable to present some more       
detailed accounts of it4  ,the body of  
the work is divided into two parts2 the 
former of which is intended to serve as 
an introduction to the other1 a         
preparation of the mind for receiving   
the doctrine4  ,bacon begins by         
endeavoring to remove the prejudices and
 to obtain fair attention to his        
doctrine4 ,he compares philosophy to 8a 
vast pyramid1 which ought to have the   
history of nature for its basis20 he    
likens those who strive to erect by the 
force of abstract speculation to the    
giants of old1 who1 according to the    
poets1 endeavored to throw ,mount ,ossa 
upon ,pelion1 and ,olympus upon ,ossa4  
,the method of 8anticipating nature10 he
 denounces 8as rash1 hasty1 and         
unphilosophical20 whereas1              

8interpretations of nature1 or real     
truths arrived at by deduction1 cannot  
so suddenly arrest the mind2 and when   
the conclusion actually arrives1 it may 
so oppose prejudice1 and appear so      
paradoxical as to be in danger of not   
being received1 notwithstanding the     
evidence that supports it1 like         
mysteries of faith40  ,bacon first      
attacks the 8,idols of the ,mind10 i4 e4
 the great sources of prejudice1 then   
the different false philosophical       
theories2 he afterwards proceeds to show
 what are the characteristics of false  
systems1 the causes of error in         
philosophy1 and lastly the grounds of   
hope regarding the advancement of       
science4  ,he now aspires1 to use his   
own language1 8only to sow the seeds of 
pure truth for posterity1 and not to be 
wanting in his assistance to the first  
beginning of great undertakings40 8,let 
the human race10 says he further1       
8regain their dominion over nature1     
which belongs to them by the bounty of  

their ,maker1 and right reason and sound
 religion will direct the use40  ,the   
second part of the ,novum ,organum may  
be divided into three sections4 ,the    
first is on the discovery of forms1 i4  
e4 causes in nature4 ,the second section
 is composed of tables illustrative of  
the inductive method1 and the third and 
last is styled the doctrine of          
instances1 i4 e4 facts regarding the    
discovery of causes4  ,part the third of
 the ,instauratio ,magna was to be a    
,natural ,history1 as he termed it1 or  
rather a history of natural substances1 
in which the art of man had been        
employed1 which would have been a       
history of universal nature4  ,part #d1 
to be called ,scala intellectus1 or     
,intellectual ,ladder1 was intended to  
be1 to use his own words1 8types and    
models which place before our eyes the  
entire process of the mind in the       
discovery of truth1 selecting various   
and remarkable instances40  ,he had     
designed in the fifth part to give      

specimens of the new philosophy2 a few  
fragments only of this have been        
published4 ,it was to be 8the fragment  
of interest till the principal could be 
raised40  ,the sixth and last part was  
8to display a perfect system of         
philosophy deduced and confirmed by a   
legitimate1 sober1 and exact inquiry    
according to the method he had laid down
 and invented40 8,to perfect this last  
part10 says ,bacon1 8is above our powers
 and beyond our hopes40  ,let us return1
 however1 for a moment to the           
commencement1 to remark that he         
concludes the introduction by an        
eloquent prayer that his exertions may  
be rendered effectual to the attainment 
of truth and happiness4 ,but he feels   
his own inability1 for 8his days are    
numbered10 to conduct mankind to the    
hoped for goal4 ,it was given to him to 
point out the road to the promised land2
 but1 like ,moses1 after having descried
 it from afar1 it was denied him to     
enter the land to which he had led the  

way4   ,,life ,,of ,,henry ,,vii4  ,the 
,life of ,henry ,,vii41 published in    
#afbb1 is1 in the opinion of ,hallam1   
8the first instance in our language of  
the application of philosophy to        
reasoning on public events in the manner
 of the ancients and the ,italians4     
,praise upon ,henry is too largely      
bestowed2 but it was in the nature of   
,bacon to admire too much a crafty and  
selfish policy2 and he thought also1 no 
doubt1 that so near an ancestor of his  
own sovereign should not be treated with
 severe impartiality40#ci   ,,letters4  
,his ,letters published in his works are
 numerous2 they are written in a stiff1 
ungraceful1 formal style2 but still1    
they frequently bear the impress of the 
writer's greatness and genius4          
,fragments of them have been frequently 
quoted in the course of this notice2    
they have1 perhaps1 best served to      
exhibit more fully the man in all the   
relations of his public and private     
life4   ,,miscellaneous ,,papers4       

,amongst his miscellaneous papers there 
was found after his death a remarkable  
prayer1 which ,addison deemed           
sufficiently beautiful to be published  
in the ,tatler#dj for ,christmas1 #agaj4
 ,we extract a passage or two1 that may 
serve to illustrate ,bacon's position or
 his character4    8,i have1 though in a
 despised weed1 procured the good of all
   men4 ,if any have been my enemies1 ,i
 thought not of them1 neither   hath the
 sun almost set upon my displeasure2 but
 ,i have been as   a dove1 free from    
superfluity of maliciousness40    8,just
 are thy judgments upon me for my sins1 
which are more in   number than the     
sands of the sea1 but have no proportion
 to   thy mercies2 for what are the     
sands of the sea8 ,earth1 heaven1   and 
all these are nothing to thy mercies40  
,addison observes of this prayer1 that  
for elevation of thought and greatness  
of expression1 8it seems--rather the    
devotion of an angel than a man40  ,in  
taking leave of the life and the works  

of the greatest of philosophers1 and    
alas6 the least of men1 we have         
endeavored to present a succinct but    
faithful narrative--8his glory not      
extenuated wherein he was worthy1 nor   
his offences enforced1 for which he     
suffered0 merited obloquy with his own  
contemporaries and all posterity4 ,our  
endeavor has been    ,verba animi       
proferre et vitam impendere vero4  ,but 
his failings1 great as they were1 are   
forgotten through his transcendent      
merit2 his faults injured but few1 and  
in his own time alone2 his genius has   
benefited all mankind4 ,the new         
direction he gave to philosophy was the 
indirect cause of all the modern        
conquests of science over matter1 or1 as
 it were1 over nature4 ,what it has     
already accomplished1 and may yet effect
 for the whole human race1 is           
incalculable4 ,macaulay1 the historian  
of ,england1 has been likewise the      
eloquent narrator of the progress1 that 
owes its origin to the genius of        

,francis ,bacon4    8,ask a follower of 
,bacon10 says ,macaulay1 8what the new  
philosophy1 as it was called in the time
 of ,charles the ,second1   has effected
 for mankind1 and his answer is ready3  
#8,it hath   lengthened life2 it has    
mitigated pain2 it has extinguished     
diseases2 it has increased the fertility
 of the soil2 it has   given new        
securities to the mariner2 it has       
furnished new arms   to the warrior2 it 
has spanned great rivers and estuaries  
with   bridges of form unknown to our   
fathers2 it has guided the   thunderbolt
 innocuously from heaven to earth2 it   
has lighted up   the night with the     
splendor of the day2 it has extended the
 range   of the human vision2 it has    
multiplied the power of the human       
muscle2 it has accelerated motion2 it   
has annihilated distance2   it has      
facilitated intercourse1 correspondence1
 all friendly   offices1 all dispatch of
 business2 it has enabled man to descend
   to the depths of the sea1 to soar    

into the air1 to penetrate   securely   
into the noxious recesses of the earth1 
to traverse the   land on cars which    
whirl along without horses1 and the     
ocean in   ships which sail against the 
wind4 ,these are but a part of its      
fruits1 and of its first-fruits4 ,for it
 is a philosophy which   never rests1   
which has never attained1 which is never
 perfect4   ,its law is progress4 ,a    
point which yesterday was invisible is  
its   goal to-day1 and will be its      
starting-post to-morrow4'0#da           
,,essays4     ,i4--,,of ,,truth4   ,what
 is truth8 said jesting ,pilate2#db and 
would not stay for an answer4           
,certainly1 there be that delight in    
giddiness2 and count it a bondage to fix
 a belief2 affecting freewill in        
thinking as well as in acting4 ,and     
though the sects of philosophers of that
 kind be gone1 yet there remain certain 
discoursing wits which are of the same  
veins1 though there be not so much blood
 in them as was in those of the         

ancients4 ,but it is not only the       
difficulty and labor which men take in  
finding out of truth3 nor again1 that1  
when it is found1 it imposeth upon men's
 thoughts1 that doth bring lies in      
favor2 but a natural though corrupt love
 of the lie itself4 ,one of the later   
schools#dc of the ,grecians examineth   
the matter1 and is at a stand to think  
what should be in it that men should    
love lies2 where neither they make for  
pleasure1 as with poets2 nor for        
advantage1 as with the merchant1 but for
 the lie's sake4 ,but ,i cannot tell2   
this same truth is a naked and open     
daylight1 that doth not show the masks1 
and mummeries1 and triumphs of the      
world1 half so stately and daintily as  
candle-lights4 ,truth may perhaps come  
to the price of a pearl1 that showeth   
best by day1 but it will not rise to the
 price of a diamond or carbuncle1 that  
showeth best in varied lights4 ,a       
mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure4
 ,doth any man doubt1 that if there were

 taken out of men's minds vain opinions1
 flattering hopes1 false valuations1    
imaginations as one would1 and the like1
 but it would leave the minds of a      
number of men poor shrunken things1 full
 of melancholy and indisposition1 and   
unpleasing to themselves8 ,one of the   
fathers1#dd in great severity1 called   
poesy 8vinum dmonum10#de because it     
filleth the imagination1 and yet it is  
but with the shadow of a lie4 ,but it is
 not the lie that passeth through the   
mind1 but the lie that sinketh in1 and  
settleth in it1 that doth the hurt1 such
 as we spake of before4 ,but howsoever  
these things are thus in men's depraved 
judgments and affections1 yet truth1    
which only doth judge itself1 teacheth  
that the inquiry of truth1 which is the 
love-making1 or wooing of it1 the       
knowledge of truth1 which is the        
presence of it1 and the belief of truth1
 which is the enjoying of it1 is the    
sovereign good of human nature4 ,the    
first creature of ,god1 in the works of 

the days1 was the light of the sense2#df
 the last was the light of reason2#dg   
and his sabbath work1 ever since1 is the
 illumination of his ,spirit4 ,first1 he
 breathed light upon the face of the    
matter1 or chaos2 then he breathed light
 into the face of man2 and still he     
breatheth and inspireth light into the  
face of his chosen4 ,the poet#dh that   
beautified the sect1#di that was        
otherwise inferior to the rest1 saith   
yet excellently well3 8,it is a pleasure
 to stand upon the shore1 and to see    
ships tossed upon the sea2 a pleasure to
 stand in the window of a castle1 and to
 see a battle1 and the adventures       
thereof below2 but no pleasure is       
comparable to the standing upon the     
vantage-ground of truth0 7a hill not to 
be commanded1 and where the air is      
always clear and serene71 8and to see   
the errors1 and wanderings1 and mists1  
and tempests1 in the vale below20#ej so 
always that this prospect be with pity1 
and not with swelling or pride4         

,certainly it is heaven upon earth1 to  
have a man's mind move in charity1 rest 
in providence1 and turn upon the poles  
of truth4  ,to pass from theological and
 philosophical truth to the truth of    
civil business2 it will be acknowledged1
 even by those that practise it not1    
that clear and round dealing is the     
honor of man's nature1 and that mixture 
of falsehood is like alloy in coin of   
gold and silver1 which may make the     
metal work the better1 but it embaseth  
it4 ,for these winding and crooked      
courses are the goings of the serpent2  
which goeth basely upon the belly1 and  
not upon the feet4 ,there is no vice    
that doth so cover a man with shame1 as 
to be found false and perfidious2 and   
therefore ,montaigne#ea saith prettily1 
when he inquired the reason why the word
 of the lie should be such a disgrace1  
and such an odious charge3 saith he1    
8,if it be well weighed1 to say that a  
man lieth1 is as much as to say that he 
is brave towards ,god and a coward      

towards men4 ,for a lie faces ,god1 and 
shrinks from man20 surely1 the          
wickedness of falsehood and breach of   
faith cannot possibly be so highly      
expressed1 as in that it shall be the   
last peal to call the judgments of ,god 
upon the generations of men3 it being   
foretold1 that1 when 8,christ cometh10  
he shall not 8find faith upon the       
earth40#eb     ,,ii4--,,of ,,death4#ec  
,men fear death as children fear to go  
in the dark2 and as that natural fear in
 children is increased with tales1 so is
 the other4 ,certainly1 the             
contemplation of death1 as the wages of 
sin1 and passage to another world1 is   
holy and religious2 but the fear of it1 
as a tribute due unto nature1 is weak4  
,yet in religious meditations there is  
sometimes mixture of vanity and of      
superstition4 ,you shall read in some of
 the friars' books of mortification1    
that a man should think with himself1   
what the pain is1 if he have but his    
finger's end pressed or tortured2 and   

thereby imagine what the pains of death 
are1 when the whole body is corrupted   
and dissolved2 when many times death    
passeth with less pain than the torture 
of a limb1 for the most vital parts are 
not the quickest of sense4 ,and by him  
that spake only as a philosopher and    
natural man1 it was well said1 8,pompa  
mortis magis terret1 quam mors ipsa40#ed
 ,groans and convulsions1 and a         
discolored face1 and friends weeping1   
and blacks#ee and obsequies1 and the    
like1 show death terrible4 ,it is worthy
 the observing1 that there is no passion
 in the mind of man so weak1 but it     
mates and masters the fear of death2 and
 therefore death is no such terrible    
enemy when a man hath so many attendants
 about him that can win the combat of   
him4 ,revenge triumphs over death2 love 
slights it2 honor aspireth to it2 grief 
flieth to it2 fear preoccupateth it2    
nay1 we read1 after ,otho the emperor   
had slain himself1 pity 7which is the   
tenderest of affections7 provoked many  

to die out of mere compassion to their  
sovereign1 and as the truest sort of    
followers4#ef ,nay1 ,seneca#eg adds     
niceness and satiety3 8,cogita quamdiu  
eadem feceris2 mori velle1 non tantum   
fortis1 aut miser1 sed etiam fastidiosus
 potest40#eh ,a man would die1 though he
 were neither valiant nor miserable1    
only upon a weariness to do the same    
thing so oft over and over4 ,it is no   
less worthy to observe1 how little      
alteration in good spirits the          
approaches of death make3 for they      
appear to be the same men till the last 
instant4 ,augustus ,csar died in a      
compliment3 8,livia1 conjugii nostri    
memor1 vive et vale40#ei ,tiberius in   
dissimulation1 as ,tacitus saith of him1
 8,jam ,tiberium vires et corpus1 non   
dissimulatio1 deserebant30#fj ,vespasian
 in a jest1 sitting upon the stool1#fa  
8,ut puto ,deus fio20#fb ,galba with a  
sentence1 8,feri1 si ex re sit populi   
,romani10#fc holding forth his neck2    
,septimus ,severus in dispatch1         

8,adeste1 si quid mihi restat           
agendum10#fd and the like4 ,certainly1  
the ,stoics#fe bestowed too much cost   
upon death1 and by their great          
preparations made it appear more        
fearful4 ,better1 saith he1 8qui finem  
vit extremum inter munera ponit         
natur40#ff ,it is as natural to die as  
to be born2 and to a little infant1     
perhaps1 the one is as painful as the   
other4 ,he that dies in an earnest      
pursuit1 is like one that is wounded in 
hot blood1 who1 for the time1 scarce    
feels the hurt2 and therefore a mind    
fixed and bent upon somewhat that is    
good1 doth avert the dolors of death2   
but1 above all1 believe it1 the sweetest
 canticle is 8,nunc dimittis10#fg when a
 man hath obtained worthy ends and      
expectations4 ,death hath this also1    
that it openeth the gate to good fame1  
and extinguisheth envy3 8,extinctus     
amabitur idem40#fh     ,,iii4--,,of     
,,unity ,,in ,,religion4   ,religion    
being the chief band of human society1  

it is a happy thing when itself is well 
contained within the true band of unity4
 ,the quarrels and divisions about      
religion were evils unknown to the      
heathen4 ,the reason was1 because the   
religion of the heathen consisted rather
 in rites and ceremonies1 than in any   
constant belief2 for you may imagine    
what kind of faith theirs was1 when the 
chief doctors and fathers of their      
church were the poets4 ,but the true    
,god hath this attribute1 that he is a  
jealous ,god2 and therefore his worship 
and religion will endure no mixture nor 
partner4 ,we shall therefore speak a few
 words concerning the unity of the      
church2 what are the fruits thereof2    
what the bounds2 and what the means4    
,the fruits of unity 7next unto the     
well-pleasing of ,god1 which is all in  
all71 are two2 the one towards those    
that are without the church1 the other  
towards those that are within4 ,for the 
former1 it is certain that heresies and 
schisms are1 of all others1 the greatest

 scandals1 yea1 more than corruption of 
manners2 for as in the natural body a   
wound or solution of continuity is worse
 than a corrupt humor1 so in the        
spiritual2 so that nothing doth so much 
keep men out of the church1 and drive   
men out of the church1 as breach of     
unity2 and therefore1 whensoever it     
cometh to that pass that one saith1     
8,ecce in ,deserto10#fi another saith1  
8,ecce in penetralibus20#gj that is1    
when some men seek ,christ in the       
conventicles of heretics1 and others in 
an outward face of a church1 that voice 
had need continually to sound in men's  
ears1 8nolite exire10 8go not out40 ,the
 doctor of the ,gentiles 7the propriety 
of whose vocation drew him to have a    
special care of those without7 saith3   
8,if a heathen#ga come in1 and hear you 
speak with several tongues1 will he not 
say that you are mad80 and1 certainly1  
it is little better3 when atheists and  
profane persons do hear of so many      
discordant and contrary opinions in     

religion1 it doth avert them from the   
church1 and maketh them 8to sit down in 
the chair of the scorners40#gb ,it is   
but a light thing to be vouched in so   
serious a matter1 but yet it expresseth 
well the deformity4 ,there is a master  
of scoffing1 that1 in his catalogue of  
books of a feigned library1 sets down   
this title of a book1 8,the             
,morris-,dance#gc of ,heretics20 for1   
indeed1 every sect of them hath a       
diverse posture1 or cringe1 by          
themselves1 which cannot but move       
derision in worldlings and depraved     
politicians1 who are apt to contemn holy
 things4  ,as for the fruit towards     
those that are within1 it is peace1     
which containeth infinite blessings2 it 
establisheth faith2 it kindleth charity2
 the outward peace of the church        
distilleth into peace of conscience1 and
 it turneth the labors of writing and   
reading of controversies into treatises 
of mortification and devotion4          
,concerning the bounds of unity1 the    

true placing of them importeth          
exceedingly4 ,there appear to be two    
extremes2 for to certain zealots all    
speech of pacification is odious4 8,is  
it peace1 ,jehu80--8,what hast thou to  
do with peace8 turn thee behind me40#gd 
,peace is not the matter1 but following1
 and party4 ,contrariwise1 certain      
,laodiceans#ge and lukewarm persons     
think they may accommodate points of    
religion by middle ways1 and taking part
 of both1 and witty reconcilements1 as  
if they would make an arbitrament       
between ,god and man4 ,both these       
extremes are to be avoided2 which will  
be done if the league of ,christians1   
penned by our ,saviour himself1 were in 
the two cross clauses thereof soundly   
and plainly expounded3 8,he that is not 
with us is against us20#gf and again1   
8,he that is not against us1 is with    
us20 that is1 if the points fundamental1
 and of substance in religion1 were     
truly discerned and distinguished from  
points not merely of faith1 but of      

opinion1 order1 or good intention4 ,this
 is a thing may seem to many a matter   
trivial1 and done already2 but if it    
were done less partially1 it would be   
embraced more generally4  ,of this ,i   
may give only this advice1 according to 
my small model4 ,men ought to take heed 
of rending ,god's church by two kinds of
 controversies2 the one is1 when the    
matter of the point controverted is too 
small and light1 not worth the heat and 
strife about it1 kindled only by        
contradiction2 for1 as it is noted by   
one of the fathers1 8,christ's coat     
indeed had no seam1 but the church's    
vesture was of divers colors20 whereupon
 he saith1 8,in veste varietas sit1     
scissura non sit10#gg they be two       
things1 unity and uniformity2 the other 
is1 when the matter of the point        
controverted is great1 but it is driven 
to an over-great subtilty and obscurity1
 so that it becometh a thing rather     
ingenious than substantial4 ,a man that 
is of judgment and understanding shall  

sometimes hear ignorant men differ1 and 
know well within himself1 that those    
which so differ mean one thing1 and yet 
they themselves would never agree2 and  
if it come so to pass in that distance  
of judgment1 which is between man and   
man1 shall we not think that ,god above1
 that knows the heart1 doth not discern 
that frail men1 in some of their        
contradictions1 intend the same thing1  
and accepteth of both8 ,the nature of   
such controversies is excellently       
expressed by ,st4 ,paul1 in the warning 
and precept that he giveth concerning   
the same3 8,devita profanas vocum       
novitates1 et oppositiones falsi nominis
 scienti40#gh ,men create oppositions   
which are not1 and put them into new    
terms1 so fixed as1 whereas the meaning 
ought to govern the term1 the term in   
effect governeth the meaning4 ,there be 
also two false peaces1 or unities2 the  
one1 when the peace is grounded but upon
 an implicit ignorance2 for all colors  
will agree in the dark2 the other1 when 

it is pieced up upon a direct admission 
of contraries in fundamental points2 for
 truth and falsehood1 in such things1   
are like the iron and clay in the toes  
of ,nebuchadnezzar's image2#gi they may 
cleave1 but they will not incorporate4  
,concerning the means of procuring      
unity1 men must beware that1 in the     
procuring or muniting of religious      
unity1 they do not dissolve and deface  
the laws of charity and of human        
society4 ,there be two swords amongst   
,christians1 the spiritual and temporal1
 and both have their due office and     
place in the maintenance of religion2   
but we may not take up the third sword1 
which is ,mahomet's sword1#hj or like   
unto it2 that is1 to propagate religion 
by wars1 or1 by sanguinary persecutions1
 to force consciences2 except it be in  
cases of overt scandal1 blasphemy1 or   
intermixture of practice against the    
state2 much less to nourish seditions1  
to authorize conspiracies and           
rebellions1 to put the sword into the   

people's hands1 and the like1 tending to
 the subversion of all government1 which
 is the ordinance of ,god2 for this is  
but to dash the first table against the 
second1 and so to consider men as       
,christians1 as we forget that they are 
men4 ,lucretius the poet1 when he beheld
 the act of ,agamemnon1 that could      
endure the sacrificing of his own       
daughter1 exclaimed2--    8,tantum      
religio potuit suadere malorum40#ha     
,what would he have said1 if he had     
known of the massacre in ,france1#hb or 
the powder treason of ,england8#hc ,he  
would have been seven times more epicure
 and atheist than he was2 for as the    
temporal sword is to be drawn with great
 circumspection in cases of religion1 so
 it is a thing monstrous to put it into 
the hands of the common people2 let that
 be left unto the ,anabaptists1 and     
other furies4 ,it was great blasphemy   
when the devil said1 8,i will ascend and
 be like the ,highest20#hd but it is    
greater blasphemy to personate ,god1 and

 bring him in saying1 8,i will descend1 
and be like the prince of darkness20 and
 what is it better1 to make the cause of
 religion to descend to the cruel and   
execrable actions of murdering princes1 
butchery of people1 and subversion of   
states and governments8 ,surely1 this is
 to bring down the ,holy ,ghost1 instead
 of the likeness of a dove1 in the shape
 of a vulture or raven2 and to set out  
of the bark of a ,christian church a    
flag of a bark of pirates and assassins2
 therefore1 it is most necessary that   
the church by doctrine and decree1      
princes by their sword1 and all         
learnings1 both ,christian and moral1 as
 by their ,mercury rod1#he do damn and  
send to hell forever those facts and    
opinions tending to the support of the  
same1 as hath been already in good part 
done4 ,surely1 in counsels concerning   
religion1 that counsel of the apostle   
would be prefixed3 8,ira hominis non    
implet justitiam ,dei20#hf and it was a 
notable observation of a wise father1   

and no less ingenuously confessed1 that 
those which held and persuaded pressure 
of consciences1 were commonly interested
 therein themselves for their own ends4 
,,iv4--,,of ,,revenge4   ,revenge is a  
kind of wild justice1 which the more    
man's nature runs to1 the more ought law
 to weed it out2 for as for the first   
wrong1 it doth but offend the law1 but  
the revenge of that wrong1 putteth the  
law out of office4 ,certainly1 in taking
 revenge1 a man is but even with his    
enemy1 but in passing it over1 he is    
superior2 for it is a prince's part to  
pardon2 and ,solomon1 ,i am sure1 saith1
 8,it is the glory of a man to pass by  
an offence40 ,that which is past is gone
 and irrevocable1 and wise men have     
enough to do with things present and to 
come2 therefore they do but trifle with 
themselves that labor in past matters4  
,there is no man doth a wrong for the   
wrong's sake1 but thereby to purchase   
himself profit1 or pleasure1 or honor1  
or the like2 therefore1 why should ,i be

 angry with a man for loving himself    
better than me8 ,and if any man should  
do wrong merely out of ill-nature1 why1 
yet it is but like the thorn or briar1  
which prick and scratch1 because they   
can do no other4 ,the most tolerable    
sort of revenge is for those wrongs     
which there is no law to remedy2 but    
then1 let a man take heed the revenge be
 such as there is no law to punish1 else
 a man's enemy is still beforehand1 and 
it is two for one4 ,some1 when they take
 revenge1 are desirous the party should 
know whence it cometh4 ,this is the more
 generous2 for the delight seemeth to be
 not so much in doing the hurt as in    
making the party repent2 but base and   
crafty cowards are like the arrow that  
flieth in the dark4 ,cosmus1 ,duke of   
,florence1#hg had a desperate saying    
against perfidious or neglecting        
friends1 as if those wrongs were        
unpardonable4 8,you shall read10 saith  
he1 8that we are commanded to forgive   
our enemies2 but you never read that we 

are commanded to forgive our friends40  
,but yet the spirit of ,job was in a    
better tune3 8,shall we10 saith he1     
8take good at ,god's hands1 and not be  
content to take evil also80#hh and so of
 friends in a proportion4 ,this is      
certain1 that a man that studieth       
revenge keeps his own wounds green1     
which otherwise would heal and do well4 
,public revenges#hi are for the most    
part fortunate2 as that for the death of
 ,csar2#ij for the death of ,pertinax2  
for the death of ,henry the ,third of   
,france2#ia and many more4 ,but in      
private revenges it is not so2 nay1     
rather1 vindictive persons live the life
 of witches1 who1 as they are           
mischievous1 so end they unfortunate4   
,v4--,,of ,,adversity4   ,it was a high 
speech of ,seneca 7after the manner of  
the ,stoics71 that 8the good things     
which belong to prosperity are to be    
wished1 but the good things that belong 
to adversity are to be admired40 78,bona
 rerum secundarum optabilia1 adversarum 

mirabilia407#ib ,certainly1 if miracles 
be the command over nature1 they appear 
most in adversity4 ,it is yet a higher  
speech of his than the other 7much too  
high for a heathen71 8,it is true       
greatness to have in one the frailty of 
a man1 and the security of a ,god40     
78,vere magnum habere fragilitatem      
hominis securitatem ,dei407#ic ,this    
would have done better in poesy1 where  
transcendencies are more allowed1 and   
the poets1 indeed1 have been busy with  
it2 for it is1 in effect1 the thing     
which is figured in that strange fiction
 of the ancient poets1#id which seemeth 
not to be without mystery2 nay1 and to  
have some approach to the state of a    
,christian1 8that ,hercules1 when he    
went to unbind ,prometheus 7by whom     
human nature is represented71 sailed the
 length of the great ocean in an earthen
 pot or pitcher10 lively describing     
,christian resolution1 that saileth in  
the frail bark of the flesh through the 
waves of the world4 ,but to speak in a  

mean1 the virtue of prosperity is       
temperance1 the virtue of adversity is  
fortitude1 which in morals is the more  
heroical virtue4 ,prosperity is the     
blessing of the ,old ,testament1        
adversity is the blessing of the ,new1  
which carrieth the greater benediction1 
and the clearer revelation of ,god's    
favor4 ,yet even in the ,old ,testament1
 if you listen to ,david's harp1 you    
shall hear as many hearse-like airs#ie  
as carols2 and the pencil of the ,holy  
,ghost hath labored more in describing  
the afflictions of ,job than the        
felicities of ,solomon4 ,prosperity is  
not without many fears and distastes2   
and adversity is not without comforts   
and hopes4 ,we see1 in needleworks and  
embroideries1 it is more pleasing to    
have a lively work upon a sad and solemn
 ground1 than to have a dark and        
melancholy work upon a lightsome ground3
 judge1 therefore1 of the pleasure of   
the heart by the pleasure of the eye4   
,certainly1 virtue is like precious     

odors1 most fragrant when they are      
incensed1 or crushed2 for prosperity    
doth best discover vice1 but adversity  
doth best discover virtue4#if           
,,vi4--,,of ,,simulation ,,and          
,,dissimulation4   ,dissimulation is but
 a faint kind of policy1 or wisdom2 for 
it asketh a strong wit and a strong     
heart to know when to tell truth1 and to
 do it2 therefore it is the weaker sort 
of politicians that are the great       
dissemblers4  ,tacitus saith1 8,livia   
sorted well with the arts of her        
husband1 and dissimulation of her       
son2#ig attributing arts or policy to   
,augustus1 and dissimulation to         
,tiberius30 and again1 when ,mucianus   
encourageth ,vespasian to take arms     
against ,vitellius1 he saith1 8,we rise 
not against the piercing judgment of    
,augustus1 nor the extreme caution or   
closeness of ,tiberius40#ih ,these      
properties of arts or policy1 and       
dissimulation or closeness1 are indeed  
habits and faculties several1 and to be 

distinguished2 for if a man have that   
penetration of judgment as he can       
discern what things are to be laid open1
 and what to be secreted1 and what to be
 showed at half-lights1 and to whom and 
when 7which indeed are arts of state1   
and arts of life1 as ,tacitus well      
calleth them71 to him a habit of        
dissimulation is a hinderance and a     
poorness4 ,but if a man cannot obtain to
 that judgment1 then it is left to him  
generally to be close1 and a dissembler2
 for where a man cannot choose or vary  
in particulars1 there it is good to take
 the safest and wariest way in general1 
like the going softly by one that cannot
 well see4 ,certainly1 the ablest men   
that ever were1 have had all an openness
 and frankness of dealing1 and a name of
 certainty and veracity3 but then they  
were like horses well managed1 for they 
could tell passing well when to stop or 
turn2 and at such times1 when they      
thought the case indeed required        
dissimulation1 if then they used it1 it 

came to pass that the former opinion    
spread abroad1 of their good faith and  
clearness of dealing1 made them almost  
invisible4  ,there be three degrees of  
this hiding and veiling of a man's self3
 the first1 closeness1 reservation1 and 
secrecy2 when a man leaveth himself     
without observation1 or without hold to 
be taken1 what he is3 the second1       
dissimulation in the negative2 when a   
man lets fall signs and arguments1 that 
he is not that he is3 and the third1    
simulation in the affirmative2 when a   
man industriously and expressly feigns  
and pretends to be that he is not4  ,for
 the first of these1 secrecy1 it is     
indeed the virtue of a confessor2 and   
assuredly the secret man heareth many   
confessions2 for who will open himself  
to a blab or a babbler8 ,but if a man be
 thought secret1 it inviteth discovery1 
as the more close air sucketh in the    
more open2 and1 as in confession1 the   
revealing is not for worldly use1 but   
for the ease of a man's heart1 so secret

 men come to the knowledge of many      
things in that kind2 while men rather   
discharge their minds than impart their 
minds4 ,in few words1 mysteries are due 
to secrecy4 ,besides 7to say truth71    
nakedness is uncomely1 as well in mind  
as body2 and it addeth no small         
reverence to men's manners and actions1 
if they be not altogether open4 ,as for 
talkers and futile persons1 they are    
commonly vain and credulous withal2 for 
he that talketh what he knoweth1 will   
also talk what he knoweth not2 therefore
 set it down1 that a habit of secrecy is
 both politic and moral3 and in this    
part it is good that a man's face give  
his tongue leave to speak2 for the      
discovery of a man's self by the        
tracts#ii of his countenance1 is a great
 weakness and betraying1 by how much it 
is many times more marked and believed  
than a man's words4  ,for the second1   
which is dissimulation1 it followeth    
many times upon secrecy by a necessity2 
so that he that will be secret must be a

 dissembler in some degree2 for men are 
too cunning to suffer a man to keep an  
indifferent carriage between both1 and  
to be secret1 without swaying the       
balance on either side4 ,they will so   
beset a man with questions1 and draw him
 on1 and pick it out of him1 that       
without an absurd silence1 he must show 
an inclination one way2 or if he do not1
 they will gather as much by his silence
 as by his speech4 ,as for              
equivocations1 or oraculous speeches1   
they cannot hold out long3 so that no   
man can be secret1 except he give       
himself a little scope of dissimulation1
 which is1 as it were1 but the skirts or
 train of secrecy4  ,but for the third  
degree1 which is simulation and false   
profession1 that ,i hold more culpable1 
and less politic1 except it be in great 
and rare matters2 and1 therefore1 a     
general custom of simulation 7which is  
this last degree7 is a vice rising      
either of a natural falseness1 or       
fearfulness1 or of a mind that hath some

 main faults2 which because a man must  
needs disguise1 it maketh him practise  
simulation in other things1 lest his    
hand should be out of use4  ,the        
advantages of simulation and            
dissimulation are three3 first1 to lay  
asleep opposition1 and to surprise2 for1
 where a man's intentions are published1
 it is an alarum to call up all that are
 against them3 the second is1 to reserve
 to a man's self a fair retreat2 for if 
a man engage himself by a manifest      
declaration1 he must go through or take 
a fall3 the third is1 the better to     
discover the mind of another2 for to him
 that opens himself men will hardly show
 themselves adverse2 but will 7fair7 let
 him go on1 and turn their freedom of   
speech to freedom of thought2 and       
therefore it is a good shrewd proverb of
 the ,spaniard1 8,tell a lie1 and find a
 troth20#ajj as if there were no way of 
discovery but by simulation4 ,there be  
also three disadvantages to set it even2
 the first1 that simulation and         

dissimulation commonly carry with them a
 show of fearfulness1 which1 in any     
business1 doth spoil the feathers of    
round flying up to the mark2 the second1
 that it puzzleth and perplexeth the    
conceits of many1 that1 perhaps1 would  
otherwise coperate with him1 and makes a
 man walk almost alone to his own ends3 
the third1 and greatest1 is1 that it    
depriveth a man of one of the most      
principal instruments for action1 which 
is trust and belief4 ,the best          
composition and temperature is1 to have 
openness in fame and opinion1 secrecy in
 habit1 dissimulation in seasonable use1
 and a power to feign if there be no    
remedy4     ,,vii4--,,of ,,parents ,,and
 ,,children4   ,the joys of parents are 
secret1 and so are their griefs and     
fears2 they cannot utter the one1 nor   
they will not utter the other4 ,children
 sweeten labors1 but they make          
misfortunes more bitter2 they increase  
the cares of life1 but they mitigate the
 remembrance of death4 ,the perpetuity  

by generation is common to beasts2 but  
memory1 merit1 and noble works1 are     
proper to men3 and surely a man shall   
see the noblest works and foundations   
have proceeded from childless men1 which
 have sought to express the images of   
their minds where those of their bodies 
have failed2 so the care of posterity is
 most in them that have no posterity4   
,they that are the first raisers of     
their houses are most indulgent towards 
their children1 beholding them as the   
continuance1 not only of their kind1 but
 of their work2 and so both children and
 creatures4  ,the difference in         
affection of parents towards their      
several children is many times unequal1 
and sometimes unworthy1 especially in   
the mother2 as ,solomon saith1 8,a wise 
son rejoiceth the father1 but an        
ungracious son shames the mother40#aja  
,a man shall see1 where there is a house
 full of children1 one or two of the    
eldest respected1 and the youngest made 
wantons2#ajb but in the midst some that 

are1 as it were1 forgotten1 who many    
times1 nevertheless1 prove the best4    
,the illiberality of parents1 in        
allowance towards their children1 is a  
harmful error1 makes them base1         
acquaints them with shifts1 makes them  
sort with mean company1 and makes them  
surfeit more when they come to plenty2  
and1 therefore1 the proof#ajc is best   
when men keep their authority towards   
their children1 but not their purse4    
,men have a foolish manner 7both        
parents1 and schoolmasters1 and         
servants71 in creating and breeding an  
emulation between brothers during       
childhood1 which many times sorteth#ajd 
to discord when they are men1 and       
disturbeth families4#aje ,the ,italians 
make little difference between children 
and nephews1 or near kinsfolk2 but so   
they be of the lump1 they care not1     
though they pass not through their own  
body2 and1 to say truth1 in nature it is
 much a like matter2 insomuch that we   
see a nephew sometimes resembleth an    

uncle or a kinsman more than his own    
parent1 as the blood happens4 ,let      
parents choose betimes the vocations and
 courses they mean their children should
 take1 for then they are most flexible2 
and let them not too much apply         
themselves to the disposition of their  
children1 as thinking they will take    
best to that which they have most mind  
to4 ,it is true1 that if the affection  
or aptness of the children be           
extraordinary1 then it is good not to   
cross it2 but generally the precept is  
good1 8,optimum elige1 suave et facile  
illud faciet consuetudo40#ajf--,younger 
brothers are commonly fortunate1 but    
seldom or never where the elder are     
disinherited4     ,,viii4--,,of         
,,marriage ,,and ,,single ,,life4   ,he 
that hath wife and children hath given  
hostages to fortune2 for they are       
impediments to great enterprises1 either
 of virtue or mischief4 ,certainly the  
best works1 and of greatest merit for   
the public1 have proceeded from the     

unmarried or childless men1 which1 both 
in affection and means1 have married and
 endowed the public4 ,yet it were great 
reason that those that have children    
should have greatest care of future     
times1 unto which they know they must   
transmit their dearest pledges4 ,some   
there are who1 though they lead a single
 life1 yet their thoughts do end with   
themselves1 and account future times    
impertinences2 nay1 there are some other
 that account wife and children but as  
bills of charges2 nay more1 there are   
some foolish1 rich1 covetous men1 that  
take a pride in having no children1     
because they may be thought so much the 
richer2 for1 perhaps they have heard    
some talk1 8,such an one is a great rich
 man10 and another except to it1 8,yea1 
but he hath a great charge of children20
 as if it were an abatement to his      
riches4 ,but the most ordinary cause of 
a single life is liberty1 especially in 
certain self-pleasing and humorous      
minds1 which are so sensible of every   

restraint1 as they will go near to think
 their girdles and garters to be bonds  
and shackles4 ,unmarried men are best   
friends1 best masters1 best servants2   
but not always best subjects1 for they  
are light to run away1 and almost all   
fugitives are of that condition4 ,a     
single life doth well with churchmen1   
for charity will hardly water the ground
 where it must first fill a pool4#ajg   
,it is indifferent for judges and       
magistrates2 for if they be facile and  
corrupt1 you shall have a servant five  
times worse than a wife4 ,for soldiers1 
,i find the generals commonly1 in their 
hortatives1 put men in mind of their    
wives and children2 and ,i think the    
despising of marriage amongst the ,turks
 maketh the vulgar soldier more base4   
,certainly1 wife and children are a kind
 of discipline of humanity2 and single  
men1 though they be many times more     
charitable1 because their means are less
 exhaust1 yet1 on the other side1 they  
are more cruel and hard-hearted 7good to

 make severe inquisitors71 because their
 tenderness is not so oft called upon4  
,grave natures1 led by custom1 and      
therefore constant1 are commonly loving 
husbands1 as was said of ,ulysses1      
8,vetulam suam praetulit                
immortalitati40#ajh ,chaste women are   
often proud and froward1 as presuming   
upon the merit of their chastity4 ,it is
 one of the best bonds1 both of chastity
 and obedience1 in the wife1 if she     
think her husband wise1 which she will  
never do if she find him jealous4 ,wives
 are young men's mistresses1 companions 
for middle age1 and old men's nurses1 so
 as a man may have a quarrel#aji to     
marry when he will2 but yet he was      
reputed one of the wise men that made   
answer to the question when a man should
 marry1 8,a young man not yet1 an elder 
man not at all40#aaj ,it is often seen  
that bad husbands have very good wives2 
whether it be that it raiseth the price 
of their husbands' kindness when it     
comes1 or that the wives take a pride in

 their patience2 but this never fails1  
if the bad husbands were of their own   
choosing1 against their friends'        
consent1 for then they will be sure to  
make good their own folly4              
,,ix4--,,of ,,envy4   ,there be none of 
the affections which have been noted to 
fascinate or bewitch1 but love and envy4
 ,they both have vehement wishes2 they  
frame themselves readily into           
imaginations and suggestions1 and they  
come easily into the eye1 especially    
upon the presence of the objects which  
are the points that conduce to          
fascination1 if any such thing there be4
 ,we see1 likewise1 the ,scripture      
calleth envy an evil eye2#aaa and the   
astrologers call the evil influences of 
the stars evil aspects2 so that still   
there seemeth to be acknowledged1 in the
 act of envy1 an ejaculation1 or        
irradiation of the eye2 nay1 some have  
been so curious as to note that the     
times1 when the stroke or percussion of 
an envious eye doth most hurt1 are1 when

 the party envied is beheld in glory or 
triumph1 for that sets an edge upon     
envy2 and besides1 at such times1 the   
spirits of the person envied do come    
forth most into the outward parts1 and  
so meet the blow4  ,but1 leaving these  
curiosities 7though not unworthy to be  
thought on in fit place71 we will handle
 what persons are apt to envy others2   
what persons are most subject to be     
envied themselves2 and what is the      
difference between public and private   
envy4  ,a man that hath no virtue in    
himself1 ever envieth virtue in others2 
for men's minds will either feed upon   
their own good1 or upon others' evil2   
and who wanteth the one will prey upon  
the other2 and whoso is out of hope to  
attain to another's virtue1 will seek to
 come at even hand#aab by depressing    
another's fortune4  ,a man that is busy 
and inquisitive1 is commonly envious2   
for to know much of other men's matters 
cannot be1 because all that ado may     
concern his own estate2 therefore1 it   

must needs be that he taketh a kind of  
play-pleasure in looking upon the       
fortunes of others2 neither can he that 
mindeth but his own business find much  
matter for envy2 for envy is a gadding  
passion1 and walketh the streets1 and   
doth not keep home3 8,non est curiosus1 
quin idem sit malevolus40#aac  ,men of  
noble birth are noted to be envious     
towards new men when they rise1 for the 
distance is altered2 and it is like a   
deceit of the eye1 that when others come
 on they think themselves go back4      
,deformed persons and eunuchs1 and old  
men and bastards1 are envious2 for he   
that cannot possibly mend his own case1 
will do what he can to impair another's2
 except these defects light upon a very 
brave and heroical nature1 which        
thinketh to make his natural wants part 
of his honor2 in that it should be said1
 8,that a eunuch1 or a lame man1 did    
such great matters10 affecting the honor
 of a miracle2 as it was in ,narses#aad 
the eunuch1 and ,agesilaus and          

,tamerlane1#aae that were lame men4     
,the same is the case of men that rise  
after calamities and misfortunes2 for   
they are as men fallen out with the     
times1 and think other men's harms a    
redemption of their own sufferings4     
,they that desire to excel in too many  
matters1 out of levity and vainglory1   
are ever envious1 for they cannot want  
work2 it being impossible but many1 in  
some one of those things1 should surpass
 them2 which was the character of       
,adrian the emperor1 that mortally      
envied poets and painters1 and          
artificers in works1 wherein he had a   
vein to excel4#aaf  ,lastly1 near       
kinsfolk and fellows in office1 and     
those that have been bred together1 are 
more apt to envy their equals when they 
are raised2 for it doth upbraid unto    
them their own fortunes1 and pointeth at
 them1 and cometh oftener into their    
remembrance1 and incurreth likewise more
 into the note#aag of others2 and envy  
ever redoubleth from speech and fame4   

,cain's envy was the more vile and      
malignant towards his brother ,abel1    
because when his sacrifice was better   
accepted1 there was nobody to look on4  
,thus much for those that are apt to    
envy4  ,concerning those that are more  
or less subject to envy3 ,first1 persons
 of eminent virtue1 when they are       
advanced1 are less envied1 for their    
fortune seemeth but due unto them2 and  
no man envieth the payment of a debt1   
but rewards and liberality rather4      
,again1 envy is ever joined with the    
comparing of a man's self2 and where    
there is no comparison1 no envy2 and    
therefore kings are not envied but by   
kings4 ,nevertheless1 it is to be noted1
 that unworthy persons are most envied  
at their first coming in1 and afterwards
 overcome it better2 whereas1           
contrariwise1 persons of worth and merit
 are most envied when their fortune     
continueth long2 for by that time1      
though their virtue be the same1 yet it 
hath not the same lustre2 for fresh men 

grow up that darken it4  ,persons of    
noble blood are less envied in their    
rising2 for it seemeth but right done to
 their birth3 besides1 there seemeth not
 so much added to their fortune2 and    
envy is as the sunbeams1 that beat      
hotter upon a bank or steep rising      
ground1 than upon a flat2 and1 for the  
same reason1 those that are advanced by 
degrees are less envied than those that 
are advanced suddenly1 and per          
saltum4#aah  ,those that have joined    
with their honor great travels1 cares1  
or perils1 are less subject to envy2 for
 men think that they earn their honors  
hardly1 and pity them sometimes1 and    
pity ever healeth envy4 ,wherefore you  
shall observe1 that the more deep and   
sober sort of politic persons1 in their 
greatness1 are ever bemoaning themselves
 what a life they lead1 chanting a      
quanta patimur2#aai not that they feel  
it so1 but only to abate the edge of    
envy2 but this is to be understood of   
business that is laid upon men1 and not 

such as they call unto themselves2 for  
nothing increaseth envy more than an    
unnecessary and ambitious engrossing of 
business2 and nothing doth extinguish   
envy more than for a great person to    
preserve all other inferior officers in 
their full rights and preminences of    
their places2 for1 by that means1 there 
be so many screens between him and envy4
  ,above all1 those are most subject to 
envy1 which carry the greatness of their
 fortunes in an insolent and proud      
manner2 being never well but while they 
are showing how great they are1 either  
by outward pomp1 or by triumphing over  
all opposition or competition4 ,whereas 
wise men will rather do sacrifice to    
envy1 in suffering themselves1 sometimes
 of purpose1 to be crossed and overborne
 in things that do not much concern     
them4 ,notwithstanding1 so much is true1
 that the carriage of greatness in a    
plain and open manner 7so it be without 
arrogancy and vainglory71 doth draw less
 envy than if it be in a more crafty and

 cunning fashion2 for in that course a  
man doth but disavow fortune1 and       
seemeth to be conscious of his own want 
in worth1 and doth but teach others to  
envy him4  ,lastly1 to conclude this    
part1 as we said in the beginning that  
the act of envy had somewhat in it of   
witchcraft1 so there is no other cure of
 envy but the cure of witchcraft2 and   
that is1 to remove the lot 7as they call
 it71 and to lay it upon another2 for   
which purpose1 the wiser sort of great  
persons bring in ever upon the stage    
somebody upon whom to derive the envy   
that would come upon themselves2        
sometimes upon ministers and servants1  
sometimes upon colleagues and           
associates1 and the like2 and1 for that 
turn1 there are never wanting some      
persons of violent and undertaking      
natures1 who1 so they may have power and
 business1 will take it at any cost4    
,now1 to speak of public envy3 there is 
yet some good in public envy1 whereas in
 private there is none2 for public envy 

is as an ostracism1#abj that eclipseth  
men when they grow too great2 and       
therefore it is a bridle also to great  
ones1 to keep them within bounds4  ,this
 envy1 being in the ,latin word         
invidia1#aba goeth in the modern        
languages by the name of discontentment1
 of which we shall speak in handling    
sedition4 ,it is a disease in a state   
like to infection2 for as infection     
spreadeth upon that which is sound1 and 
tainteth it1 so1 when envy is gotten    
once into a state1 it traduceth even the
 best actions thereof1 and turneth them 
into an ill odor2 and therefore there is
 little won by intermingling of         
plausible actions2 for that doth argue  
but a weakness and fear of envy1 which  
hurteth so much the more1 as it is      
likewise usual in infections1 which1 if 
you fear them1 you call them upon you4  
,this public envy seemeth to beat       
chiefly upon principal officers or      
ministers1 rather than upon kings and   
estates themselves4 ,but this is a sure 

rule1 that if the envy upon the minister
 be great1 when the cause of it in him  
is small2 or if the envy be general in a
 manner upon all the ministers of an    
estate1 then the envy 7though hidden7 is
 truly upon the state itself4 ,and so   
much of public envy or discontentment1  
and the difference thereof from private 
envy1 which was handled in the first    
place4  ,we will add this in general1   
touching the affection of envy1 that1 of
 all other affections1 it is the most   
importune and continual2 for of other   
affections there is occasion given but  
now and then2 and therefore it was well 
said1 8,invidia festos dies non         
agit30#abb for it is ever working upon  
some or other4 ,and it is also noted1   
that love and envy do make a man pine1  
which other affections do not1 because  
they are not so continual4 ,it is also  
the vilest affection1 and the most      
depraved2 for which cause it is the     
proper attribute of the devil1 who is   
called 8,the envious man1 that soweth   

tares amongst the wheat by night20#abc  
as it always cometh to pass that envy   
worketh subtilely1 and in the dark1 and 
to the prejudice of good things1 such as
 is the wheat4     ,x4--,,of ,,love4    
,the stage is more beholding#abd to love
 than the life of man2 for as to the    
stage1 love is ever matter of comedies1 
and now and then of tragedies2 but in   
life it doth much mischief1 sometimes   
like a ,siren1 sometimes like a ,fury4  
,you may observe1 that1 amongst all the 
great and worthy persons 7whereof the   
memory remaineth1 either ancient or     
recent71 there is not one that hath been
 transported to the mad degree of love1 
which shows that great spirits and great
 business do keep out this weak passion4
 ,you must except1 nevertheless1 ,marcus
 ,antonius1 the half partner of the     
empire of ,rome1 and ,appius            
,claudius1#abe the decemvir and         
lawgiver2 whereof the former was indeed 
a voluptuous man1 and inordinate1 but   
the latter was an austere and wise man2 

and therefore it seems 7though rarely7  
that love can find entrance1 not only   
into an open heart1 but also into a     
heart well fortified1 if watch be not   
well kept4 ,it is a poor saying of      
,epicurus1 8,satis magnum alter alteri  
theatrum sumus20#abf as if man1 made for
 the contemplation of heaven and all    
noble objects1 should do nothing but    
kneel before a little idol1 and make    
himself subject1 though not of the mouth
 7as beasts are7 yet of the eye1 which  
was given him for higher purposes4 ,it  
is a strange thing to note the excess of
 this passion1 and how it braves the    
nature and value of things1 by this1    
that the speaking in a perpetual        
hyperbole is comely in nothing but in   
love1 neither is it merely in the       
phrase2 for whereas it hath been well   
said1 8,that the arch flatterer1 with   
whom all the petty flatterers have      
intelligence1 is a man's self20         
certainly1 the lover is more2 for there 
was never proud man thought so absurdly 

well of himself as the lover doth of the
 person loved2 and therefore it was well
 said1 8,that it is impossible to love  
and to be wise40#abg ,neither doth this 
weakness appear to others only1 and not 
to the party loved1 but to the loved    
most of all1 except the love be         
reciprocal2 for it is a true rule1 that 
love is ever rewarded1 either with the  
reciprocal1 or with an inward and secret
 contempt2 by how much the more men     
ought to beware of this passion1 which  
loseth not only other things1 but       
itself4 ,as for the other losses1 the   
poet's relation#abh doth well figure    
them3 8,that he that preferred ,helena1 
quitted the gifts of ,juno and ,pallas20
 for whosoever esteemeth too much of    
amorous affection1 quitteth both riches 
and wisdom4 ,this passion hath his      
floods in the very times of weakness1   
which are1 great prosperity and great   
adversity1 though this latter hath been 
less observed2 both which times kindle  
love1 and make it more fervent1 and     

therefore show it to be the child of    
folly4 ,they do best who1 if they cannot
 but admit love1 yet make it keep       
quarter1 and sever it wholly from their 
serious affairs and actions of life2 for
 if it check once with business1 it     
troubleth men's fortunes1 and maketh men
 that they can nowise be true to their  
own ends4 ,i know not how1 but martial  
men are given to love2 ,i think it is1  
but as they are given to wine1 for      
perils commonly ask to be paid in       
pleasures4 ,there is in man's nature a  
secret inclination and motion towards   
love of others1 which1 if it be not     
spent upon some one or a few1 doth      
naturally spread itself towards many1   
and maketh men become humane and        
charitable1 as it is seen sometimes in  
friars4 ,nuptial love maketh mankind1   
friendly love perfecteth it1 but wanton 
love corrupted and embaseth it4         
,,xi4--,,of ,,great ,,place4#abi   ,men 
in great place are thrice               
servants--servants of the sovereign or  

state1 servants of fame1 and servants of
 business2 so as they have no freedom1  
neither in their persons1 nor in their  
actions1 nor in their times4 ,it is a   
strange desire to seek power and to lose
 liberty2 or to seek power over others1 
and to lose power over a man's self4    
,the rising unto place is laborious1 and
 by pains men come to greater pains2 and
 it is sometimes base1 and by           
indignities men come to dignities4 ,the 
standing is slippery1 and the regress is
 either a downfall1 or at least an      
eclipse1 which is a melancholy thing3   
8,cum non sis qui fueris1 non esse cur  
velis vivere40#acj ,nay1 retire men     
cannot when they would1 neither will    
they when it were reason2 but are       
impatient of privateness even in age and
 sickness1 which require the shadow2    
like old townsmen1 that will be still   
sitting at their street door1 though    
thereby they offer age to scorn4        
,certainly1 great persons had need to   
borrow other men's opinions to think    

themselves happy2 for if they judge by  
their own feeling1 they cannot find it2 
but if they think with themselves what  
other men think of them1 and that other 
men would fain be as they are1 then they
 are happy as it were by report1 when1  
perhaps1 they find the contrary within2 
for they are the first that find their  
own griefs1 though they be the last that
 find their own faults4 ,certainly1 men 
in great fortunes are strangers to      
themselves1 and while they are in the   
puzzle of business1 they have no time to
 tend their health either of body or    
mind4    8,illi mors gravis incubat1    
,qui notus nimis omnibus1   ,ignotus    
moritur40#aca  ,in place1 there is      
license to do good and evil1 whereof the
 latter is a curse2 for in evil1 the    
best condition is not to will1 the      
second not to can4 ,but power to do good
 is the true and lawful end of aspiring2
 for good thoughts1 though ,god accept  
them1 yet towards men are little better 
than good dreams1 except they be put in 

act2 and that cannot be without power   
and place1 as the vantage and commanding
 ground4 ,merit and good works are the  
end of man's motion1 and conscience of  
the same is the accomplishment of man's 
rest2 for if a man can be partaker of   
,god's theatre1 he shall likewise be    
partaker of ,god's rest4 8,et conversus 
,deus1 ut aspiceret opera1 qu fecerunt  
manus su1 vidit quod omnia essent bona  
nimis20#acb and then the ,sabbath4  ,in 
the discharge of thy place1 set before  
thee the best examples2 for imitation is
 a globe of precepts1 and after a time  
set before thee thine own example2 and  
examine thyself strictly whether thou   
didst not best at first4 ,neglect not   
also the examples of those that have    
carried themselves ill in the same      
place2 not to set off thyself by taxing 
their memory1 but to direct thyself what
 to avoid4 ,reform1 therefore1 without  
bravery or scandal of former times and  
persons2 but yet set it down to thyself1
 as well to create good precedents as to

 follow them4 ,reduce things to the     
first institution1 and observe wherein  
and how they have degenerated2 but yet  
ask counsel of both times--of the       
ancient time what is best1 and of the   
latter time what is fittest4 ,seek to   
make thy course regular1 that men may   
know beforehand what they may expect2   
but be not too positive and peremptory1 
and express thyself well when thou      
digressest from thy rule4 ,preserve the 
right of thy place1 but stir not        
questions of jurisdiction2 and rather   
assume thy right in silence1 and de     
facto1#acc than voice it with claims and
 challenges4 ,preserve likewise the     
rights of inferior places2 and think it 
more honor to direct in chief than to be
 busy in all4 ,embrace and invite helps 
and advices touching the execution of   
thy place2 and do not drive away such as
 bring thee information1 as meddlers1   
but accept of them in good part4 ,the   
vices of authority are chiefly four3    
delays1 corruption1 roughness1 and      

facility4 ,for delays1 give easy access1
 keep times appointed1 go through with  
that which is in hand1 and interlace not
 business but of necessity4 ,for        
corruption1 do not only bind thine own  
hands or thy servant's hands from       
taking1 but bind the hands of suitors   
also from offering2 for integrity used  
doth the one1 but integrity professed1  
and with a manifest detestation of      
bribery1 doth the other2 and avoid not  
only the fault1 but the suspicion4      
,whosoever is found variable1 and       
changeth manifestly without manifest    
cause1 giveth suspicion of corruption2  
therefore1 always when thou changest    
thine opinion or course1 profess it     
plainly1 and declare it1 together with  
the reasons that move thee to change1   
and do not think to steal it4 ,a servant
 or a favorite1 if he be inward1 and no 
other apparent cause of esteem1 is      
commonly thought but a by-way to close  
corruption4 ,for roughness1 it is a     
needless cause of discontent3 severity  

breedeth fear1 but roughness breedeth   
hate4 ,even reproofs from authority     
ought to be grave1 and not taunting4 ,as
 for facility1#acd it is worse than     
bribery1 for bribes come but now and    
then2 but if importunity or idle        
respects#ace lead a man1 he shall never 
be without2 as ,solomon saith1 8,to     
respect persons is not good2 for such a 
man will transgress for a piece of      
bread40#acf  ,it is most true that was  
anciently spoken3 8,a place showeth the 
man2 and it showeth some to the better1 
and some to the worse30 8,omnium        
consensu capax imperii1 nisi            
imperasset10#acg saith ,tacitus of      
,galba2 but of ,vespasian he saith1     
8,solus imperantium1 ,vespasianus       
mutatus in melius20#ach though the one  
was meant of sufficiency1 the other of  
manners and affection4 ,it is an assured
 sign of a worthy and generous spirit1  
whom honor amends2 for honor is1 or     
should be1 the place of virtue2 and as  
in nature things move violently to their

 place1 and calmly in their place1 so   
virtue in ambition is violent1 in       
authority settled and calm4 ,all rising 
to great place is by a winding stair2   
and if there be factions1 it is good to 
side a man's self whilst he is in the   
rising1 and to balance himself when he  
is placed4 ,use the memory of thy       
predecessor fairly and tenderly2 for if 
thou dost not1 it is a debt will sure be
 paid when thou art gone4 ,if thou have 
colleagues1 respect them2 and rather    
call them when they look not for it1    
than exclude them when they have reason 
to look to be called4 ,be not too       
sensible or too remembering of thy place
 in conversation and private answers to 
suitors2 but let it rather be said1     
8,when he sits in place1 he is another  
man40     ,,xii4--,,of ,,boldness4   ,it
 is a trivial grammar-school text1 but  
yet worthy a wise man's consideration4  
,question was asked of ,demosthenes1    
what was the chief part of an orator8   
,he answered1 ,action4 ,what            

next8--,action4 ,what next              
again8--,action4#aci ,he said it that   
knew it best1 and had1 by nature1       
himself no advantage in that he         
commended4 ,a strange thing1 that that  
part of an orator which is but          
superficial1 and rather the virtue of a 
player1 should be placed so high above  
those other noble parts of invention1   
elocution1 and the rest2 nay1 almost    
alone1 as if it were all in all4 ,but   
the reason is plain4 ,there is in human 
nature generally more of the fool than  
of the wise2 and therefore1 those       
faculties by which the foolish part of  
men's minds is taken are most potent4   
,wonderful like is the case of boldness 
in civil business4 ,what                
first8--,boldness3 what second and      
third8--,boldness4 ,and yet boldness is 
a child of ignorance and baseness1 far  
inferior to other parts2 but1           
nevertheless1 it doth fascinate1 and    
bind hand and foot those that are either
 shallow in judgment or weak in courage1

 which are the greatest part1 yea1 and  
prevaileth with wise man at weak times2 
therefore1 we see it hath done wonders  
in popular states1 but with senates and 
princes less1 and more1 ever upon the   
first entrance of bold persons into     
action than soon after2 for boldness is 
an ill keeper of promise4 ,surely1 as   
there are mountebanks for the natural   
body1 so are there mountebanks for the  
politic body2 men that undertake great  
cures1 and perhaps have been lucky in   
two or three experiments1 but want the  
grounds of science1 and therefore cannot
 hold out2 nay1 you shall see a bold    
fellow many times do ,mahomet's miracle4
 ,mahomet made the people believe that  
he would call a hill to him1 and from   
the top of it offer up his prayers for  
the observers of his law4 ,the people   
assembled2 ,mahomet called the hill to  
come to him again and again2 and when   
the hill stood still1 he was never a    
whit abashed1 but said1 8,if the hill   
will not come to ,mahomet1 ,mahomet will

 go to the hill40 ,so these men1 when   
they have promised great matters and    
failed most shamefully1 yet1 if they    
have the perfection of boldness1 they   
will but slight it over1 and make a     
turn1 and no more ado4 ,certainly1 to   
men of great judgment1 bold persons are 
a sport to behold2 nay1 and to the      
vulgar also boldness hath somewhat of   
the ridiculous2 for if absurdity be the 
subject of laughter1 doubt you not but  
great boldness is seldom without some   
absurdity2 especially it is a sport to  
see when a bold fellow is out of        
countenance1 for that puts his face into
 a most shrunken and wooden posture1 as 
needs it must2 for in bashfulness the   
spirits do a little go and come1 but    
with bold men1 upon like occasion1 they 
stand at a stay2 like a stale at chess1 
where it is no mate1 but yet the game   
cannot stir2 but this last were fitter  
for a satire than for a serious         
observation4 ,this is well to be        
weighed1 that boldness is ever blind1   

for it seeth not dangers and            
inconveniences2 therefore1 it is ill in 
counsel1 good in execution2 so that the 
right use of bold persons is1 that they 
never command in chief1 but be seconds  
and under the direction of others2 for  
in counsel it is good to see dangers2   
and in execution not to see them except 
they be very great4     ,,xiii4--,,of   
,,goodness1 ,,and ,,goodness ,,of       
,,nature4   ,i take goodness in this    
sense1 the affecting of the weal of men1
 which is that the ,grecians call       
philanthropia2 and the word humanity1 as
 it is used1 is a little too light to   
express it4 ,goodness ,i call the habit1
 and goodness of nature the inclination4
 ,this1 of all virtues and dignities of 
the mind1 is the greatest1 being the    
character of the ,deity2 and without it 
man is a busy1 mischievous1 wretched    
thing1 no better than a kind of vermin4 
,goodness answers to the theological    
virtue charity1 and admits no excess but
 error4 ,the desire of power in excess  

caused the angels to fall2#adj the      
desire of knowledge in excess caused man
 to fall2 but in charity there is no    
excess1 neither can angel or man come in
 danger by it4 ,the inclination to      
goodness is imprinted deeply in the     
nature of man1 insomuch that if it issue
 not towards men1 it will take unto     
other living creatures2 as it is seen in
 the ,turks1 a cruel people1 who        
nevertheless are kind to beasts1 and    
give alms to dogs and birds2 insomuch1  
as ,busbechius#ada reporteth1 a         
,christian boy in ,constantinople had   
like to have been stoned for gagging in 
a waggishness a long-billed fowl4#adb   
,errors1 indeed1 in this virtue1 of     
goodness or charity1 may be committed4  
,the ,italians have an ungracious       
proverb3 8,tanto buon che val niente20  
8,so good1 that he is good for nothing20
 and one of the doctors of ,italy1      
,nicholas ,machiavel1#adc had the       
confidence to put in writing1 almost in 
plain terms1 8,that the ,christian faith

 had given up good men in prey to those 
that are tyrannical and unjust20#add    
which he spake1 because1 indeed1 there  
was never law1 or sect1 or opinion did  
so much magnify goodness as the         
,christian religion doth2 therefore1 to 
avoid the scandal and the danger both1  
it is good to take knowledge of the     
errors of a habit so excellent4 ,seek   
the good of other men1 but be not in    
bondage to their faces or fancies2 for  
that is but facility or softness1 which 
taketh an honest mind prisoner4 ,neither
 give thou sop's cock a gem1 who would  
be better pleased and happier if he had 
had a barley-corn4 ,the example of ,god 
teacheth the lesson truly3 8,he sendeth 
his rain1 and maketh his sun to shine   
upon the just and the unjust20#ade but  
he doth not rain wealth1 nor shine honor
 and virtues upon men equally2 common   
benefits are to be communicate with all1
 but peculiar benefits with choice4 ,and
 beware how1 in making the portraiture1 
thou breakest the pattern2 for divinity 

maketh the love of ourselves the        
pattern1 the love of our neighbors but  
the portraiture3 8,sell all thou hast1  
and give it to the poor1 and follow     
me20#adf but sell not all thou hast1    
except thou come and follow me2 that is1
 except thou have a vocation wherein    
thou mayest do as much good with little 
means as with great2 for otherwise1 in  
feeding the streams thou driest the     
fountain4 ,neither is there only a habit
 of goodness directed by right reason1  
but there is in some men1 even in       
nature1 a disposition towards it2 as1 on
 the other side1 there is a natural     
malignity1 for there be that in their   
nature do not affect the good of others4
 ,the lighter sort of malignity turneth 
but to a crossness1 or frowardness1 or  
aptness to oppose1 or difficileness1 or 
the like2 but the deeper sort to envy1  
and mere mischief4 ,such men in other   
men's calamities are1 as it were1 in    
season1 and are ever on the loading     
part2 not so good as the dogs that      

licked ,lazarus's sores1#adg but like   
flies that are still buzzing upon any   
thing that is raw2 misanthropi1 that    
make it their practice to bring men to  
the bough1 and yet have never a tree for
 the purpose in their gardens1 as       
,timon#adh had4 ,such dispositions are  
the very errors of human nature1 and yet
 they are the fittest timber to make    
great politics of2 like to knee         
timber1#adi that is good for ships that 
are ordained to be tossed1 but not for  
building houses that shall stand firm4  
,the parts and signs of goodness are    
many4 ,if a man be gracious and         
courteous to strangers1 it shows he is a
 citizen of the world1 and that his     
heart is no island cut off from other   
lands1 but a continent that joins to    
them2 if he be compassionate towards the
 afflictions of others1 it shows that   
his heart is like the noble tree that is
 wounded itself when it gives the       
balm2#aej if he easily pardons and      
remits offences1 it shows that his mind 

is planted above injuries1 so that he   
cannot be shot2 if he be thankful for   
small benefits1 it shows that he weighs 
men's minds1 and not their trash2 but1  
above all1 if he have ,st4 ,paul's      
perfection1 that he would wish to be an 
anathema#aea from ,christ for the       
salvation of his brethren1 it shows much
 of a divine nature1 and a kind of      
conformity with ,christ himself4        
,,xiv4--,,of ,,nobility4   ,we will     
speak of nobility1 first1 as a portion  
of an estate1 then as a condition of    
particular persons4 ,a monarchy1 where  
there is no nobility at all1 is ever a  
pure and absolute tyranny as that of the
 ,turks2 for nobility attempers         
sovereignty1 and draws the eyes of the  
people somewhat aside from the line     
royal3 but for democracies they need it 
not2 and they are commonly more quiet   
and less subject to sedition than where 
there are stirps of nobles2 for men's   
eyes are upon the business1 and not upon
 the persons2 or if upon the persons1 it

 is for the business sake1 as fittest1  
and not for flags and pedigree4 ,we see 
the ,switzers last well1 notwithstanding
 their diversity of religion and of     
cantons2 for utility is their bond1 and 
not respects4#aeb ,the ,united          
,provinces of the ,low ,countries#aec in
 their government excel2 for where there
 is an equality the consultations are   
more indifferent1 and the payments and  
tributes more cheerful4 ,a great and    
potent nobility addeth majesty to a     
monarch1 but diminisheth power1 and     
putteth life and spirit into the people1
 but presseth their fortune4 ,it is well
 when nobles are not too great for      
sovereignty nor for justice2 and yet    
maintained in that height1 as the       
insolency of inferiors may be broken    
upon them1 before it come on too fast   
upon the majesty of kings4 ,a numerous  
nobility causeth poverty and            
inconvenience in a state1 for it is a   
surcharge of expense2 and besides1 it   
being of necessity that many of the     

nobility fall in time to be weak in     
fortune1 it maketh a kind of            
disproportion between honor and means4  
,as for nobility in particular persons1 
it is a reverend thing to see an ancient
 castle or building not in decay1 or to 
see a fair timber-tree sound and        
perfect2 how much more to behold an     
ancient noble family1 which hath stood  
against the waves and weathers of time6 
,for new nobility is but the act of     
power1 but ancient nobility is the act  
of time4 ,those that are first raised to
 nobility are commonly more             
virtuous1#aed but less innocent than    
their descendants2 for there is rarely  
any rising but by a commixture of good  
and evil arts2 but it is reason the     
memory of their virtues remain to their 
posterity1 and their faults die with    
themselves4 ,nobility of birth commonly 
abateth industry1 and he that is not    
industrious1 envieth him that is2       
besides1 noble persons cannot go much   
higher2 and he that standeth at a stay  

when others rise1 can hardly avoid      
motions of envy4#aee ,on the other side1
 nobility extinguisheth the passive envy
 from others towards them1 because they 
are in possession of honor4 ,certainly1 
kings that have able men of their       
nobility shall find ease in employing   
them1 and a better slide into their     
business2 for people naturally bend to  
them1 as born in some sort to command4  
,,xv4--,,of ,,seditions ,,and           
,,troubles4   ,shepherds of people had  
need know the calendars of tempests in  
state1 which are commonly greatest when 
things grow to equality2 as natural     
tempests are greatest about the         
equinoctia1#aef and as there are certain
 hollow blasts of wind and secret       
swellings of seas before a tempest1 so  
are there in states3--                  
8,ille etiam ccos instare tumultus      
,spe monet1 fraudesque et operta        
tumescere bella40#aeg  ,libels and      
licentious discourses against the state1
 when they are frequent and open2 and in

 like sort false news1 often running up 
and down1 to the disadvantage of the    
state1 and hastily embraced1 are amongst
 the signs of troubles4 ,virgil1 giving 
the pedigree of ,fame1 saith she was    
sister to the giants3--    8,illam      
,terra parens1 ir irritata ,deorum1     
,extremam 7ut perhibent7 ,co            
,enceladoque sororem   ,progenuit40#aeh 
,as if fames were the relics of         
seditions past2 but they are no less    
indeed the preludes of seditions to     
come4 ,howsoever1 he noteth it right1   
that seditious tumults and seditious    
fames differ no more but as brother and 
sister1 masculine and feminine2         
especially if it come to that1 that the 
best actions of a state1 and the most   
plausible1 and which ought to give      
greatest contentment1 are taken in ill  
sense1 and traduced2 for that shows the 
envy great1 as ,tacitus saith1 8,conflat
 magn1 invidi1 seu bene1 seu male1 gesta
 premunt40#aei ,neither doth it follow1 
that because these fames are a sign of  

troubles1 that the suppressing of them  
with too much severity should be a      
remedy of troubles2 for the despising of
 them many times checks them best1 and  
the going about to stop them doth but   
make a wonder long-lived4 ,also that    
kind of obedience1 which ,tacitus       
speaketh of1 is to be held suspected3   
8,erant in officio1 sed tamen qui       
mallent imperantium mandata             
interpretari1 quam exsequi20#afj        
disputing1 excusing1 cavilling upon     
mandates and directions1 is a kind of   
shaking off the yoke1 and assay of      
disobedience2 especially if1 in those   
disputings1 they which are for the      
direction speak fearfully and tenderly1 
and those that are against it           
audaciously4  ,also1 as ,machiavel      
noteth well1 when princes1 that ought to
 be common parents1 make themselves as a
 party1 and lean to a side2 it is as a  
boat that is overthrown by uneven weight
 on the one side1 as was well seen in   
the time of ,henry the ,third of        

,france2 for first himself entered      
league#afa for the extirpation of the   
,protestants1 and presently after the   
same league was turned upon himself2 for
 when the authority of princes is made  
but an accessary to a cause1 and that   
there be other bands that tie faster    
than the band of sovereignty1 kings     
begin to be put almost out of           
possession4  ,also1 when discords1 and  
quarrels1 and factions are carried      
openly and audaciously1 it is a sign the
 reverence of government is lost2 for   
the motions of the greatest persons in a
 government ought to be as the motions  
of the planets under 8primum            
mobile10#afb according to the old       
opinion1 which is1 that every of them is
 carried swiftly by the highest motion1 
and softly in their own motion2 and     
therefore1 when great ones in their own 
particular motion move violently1 and as
 ,tacitus expresseth it well1 8liberius 
quam ut imperantium meminissent10#afc it
 is a sign the orbs are out of frame2   

for reverence is that wherewith princes 
are girt from ,god1 who threateneth the 
dissolving thereof3 8,solvam cingula    
regum40#afd  ,so when any of the four   
pillars of government are mainly shaken 
or weakened 7which are religion1        
justice1 counsel1 and treasure71 men had
 need to pray for fair weather4 ,but let
 us pass from this part of predictions  
7concerning which1 nevertheless1 more   
light may be taken from that which      
followeth71 and let us speak first of   
the materials of seditions2 then of the 
motives of them2 and thirdly of the     
remedies4  ,concerning the materials of 
seditions1 it is a thing well to be     
considered1 for the surest way to       
prevent seditions 7if the times do bear 
it71 is to take away the matter of them2
 for if there be fuel prepared1 it is   
hard to tell whence the spark shall come
 that shall set it on fire4 ,the matter 
of seditions is of two kinds1 much      
poverty and much discontentment4 ,it is 
certain1 so many overthrown estates1 so 

many votes for troubles4 ,lucan noteth  
well the state of ,rome before the civil
 war3--    8,hinc usura vorax1          
rapidumque in tempore fnus1   ,hinc     
concussa fides1 et multis utile         
bellum40#afe  ,this same 8multis utile  
bellum10#aff is an assured and          
infallible sign of a state disposed to  
seditions and troubles2 and if this     
poverty and broken estate in the better 
sort be joined with a want and necessity
 in the mean people1 the danger is      
imminent and great2 for the rebellions  
of the belly are the worst4 ,as for     
discontentments1 they are in the politic
 body like to humors in the natural1    
which are apt to gather a preternatural 
heat and to inflame2 and let no prince  
measure the danger of them by this1     
whether they be just or unjust2 for that
 were to imagine people to be too       
reasonable1 who do often spurn at their 
own good2 nor yet by this1 whether the  
griefs whereupon they rise be in fact   
great or small2 for they are the most   

dangerous discontentments where the fear
 is greater than the feeling3 8,dolendi 
modus1 timendi non item40#afg ,besides1 
in great oppressions1 the same things   
that provoke the patience1 do withal    
mate#afh the courage2 but in fears it is
 not so2 neither let any prince or state
 be secure concerning discontentments1  
because they have been often or have    
been long1 and yet no peril hath ensued2
 for as it is true that every vapor or  
fume doth not turn into a storm1 so it  
is nevertheless true that storms1 though
 they blow over divers times1 yet may   
fall at last2 and1 as the ,spanish      
proverb noteth well1 8,the cord breaketh
 at the last by the weakest pull40#afi  
,the causes and motives of seditions    
are1 innovation in religion1 taxes1     
alteration of laws and customs1 breaking
 of privileges1 general oppression1     
advancement of unworthy persons1        
strangers1 dearths1 disbanded soldiers1 
factions grown desperate1 and whatsoever
 in offending people joineth and        

knitteth them in a common cause4  ,for  
the remedies1 there may be some general 
preservatives1 whereof we will speak2 as
 for the just cure1 it must answer to   
the particular disease1 and so be left  
to counsel rather than rule4  ,the first
 remedy1 or prevention1 is to remove1 by
 all means possible1 that material cause
 of sedition whereof we spake1 which is1
 want and poverty in the estate2#agj to 
which purpose serveth the opening and   
well-balancing of trade2 the cherishing 
of manufactures2 the banishing of       
idleness2 the repressing of waste and   
excess by sumptuary laws2#aga the       
improvement and husbanding of the soil2 
the regulating of prices of things      
vendible2 the moderating of taxes and   
tributes1 and the like4 ,generally1 it  
is to be foreseen that the population of
 a kingdom 7especially if it be not mown
 down by wars7 do not exceed the stock  
of the kingdom which should maintain    
them2 neither is the population to be   
reckoned only by number2 for a smaller  

number1 that spend more and earn less1  
do wear out an estate sooner than a     
greater number that live lower and      
gather more4 ,therefore the multiplying 
of nobility and other degrees of        
quality1 in an over-proportion to the   
common people1 doth speedily bring a    
state to necessity2 and so doth likewise
 an overgrown clergy1 for they bring    
nothing to the stock2#agb and in like   
manner1 when more are bred scholars than
 preferments can take off4  ,it is      
likewise to be remembered1 that1        
forasmuch as the increase of any estate 
must be upon the foreigner#agc 7for     
whatsoever is somewhere gotten is       
somewhere lost71 there be but three     
things which one nation selleth unto    
another2 the commodity1 as nature       
yieldeth it2 the manufacture2 and the   
vecture1 or carriage2 so that1 if these 
three wheels go1 wealth will flow as in 
a spring tide4 ,and it cometh many times
 to pass1 that1 8materiam superabit     
opus10#agd that the work and carriage is

 more worth than the material1 and      
enricheth a state more2 as is notably   
seen in the ,low ,countrymen1 who have  
the best mines#age above ground in the  
world4  ,above all things1 good policy  
is to be used1 that the treasure and    
moneys in a state be not gathered into  
few hands2 for1 otherwise1 a state may  
have a great stock1 and yet starve4 ,and
 money is like muck1#agf not good except
 it be spread4 ,this is done chiefly by 
suppressing1 or1 at the least1 keeping a
 strait hand upon the devouring trades  
of usury1 engrossing#agg great          
pasturages1 and the like4  ,for removing
 discontentments1 or1 at least1 the     
danger of them1 there is in every state 
7as we know7 two portions of subjects1  
the nobles and the commonalty4 ,when one
 of these is discontent1 the danger is  
not great2 for common people are of slow
 motion1 if they be not excited by the  
greater sort2 and the greater sort are  
of small strength1 except the multitude 
be apt and ready to move of themselves2 

then is the danger1 when the greater    
sort do but wait for the troubling of   
the waters amongst the meaner1 that then
 they may declare themselves4 ,the poets
 feign that the rest of the gods would  
have bound ,jupiter1 which he hearing   
of1 by the counsel of ,pallas1 sent for 
,briareus1 with his hundred hands1 to   
come in to his aid2 an emblem1 no doubt1
 to show how safe it is for monarchs to 
make sure of the good-will of common    
people4  ,to give moderate liberty for  
griefs and discontentments to evaporate 
7so it be without too great insolency or
 bravery71 is a safe way2 for he that   
turneth the humors back1 and maketh the 
wound bleed inwards1 endangereth malign 
ulcers and pernicious imposthumations4  
,the part of ,epimetheus#agh might well 
become ,prometheus1 in the case of      
discontentments1 for there is not a     
better provision against them4          
,epimetheus1 when griefs and evils flew 
abroad1 at last shut the lid1 and kept  
,hope in the bottom of the vessel4      

,certainly1 the politic and artificial  
nourishing and entertaining of hopes1   
and carrying men from hopes to hopes1 is
 one of the best antidotes against the  
poison of discontentments2 and it is a  
certain sign of a wise government and   
proceeding1 when it can hold men's      
hearts by hopes1 when it cannot by      
satisfaction2 and when it can handle    
things in such manner as no evil shall  
appear so peremptory1 but that it hath  
some outlet of hope2 which is the less  
hard to do1 because both particular     
persons and factions are apt enough to  
flatter themselves1 or at least to brave
 that which they believe not4  ,also the
 foresight and prevention1 that there be
 no likely or fit head whereunto        
discontented persons may resort1 and    
under whom they may join1 is a known but
 an excellent point of caution4 ,i      
understand a fit head to be one that    
hath greatness and reputation1 that hath
 confidence with the discontented party1
 and upon whom they turn their eyes1 and

 that is thought discontented in his own
 particular3 which kind of persons are  
either to be won and reconciled to the  
state1 and that in a fast and true      
manner2 or to be fronted with some other
 of the same party that may oppose them1
 and so divide the reputation4          
,generally1 the dividing and breaking of
 all factions and combinations that are 
adverse to the state1 and setting them  
at distance1 or1 at least1 distrust     
amongst themselves1 is not one of the   
worst remedies2 for it is a desperate   
case1 if those that hold with the       
proceeding of the state be full of      
discord and faction1 and those that are 
against it be entire and united4  ,i    
have noted1 that some witty and sharp   
speeches1 which have fallen from        
princes1 have given fire to seditions4  
,csar did himself infinite hurt in that 
speech--8,sylla nescivit literas1 non   
potuit dictare10#agi for it did utterly 
cut off that hope which men had         
entertained1 that he would1 at one time 

or other1 give over his dictatorship4   
,galba undid himself by that speech1    
8,legi a se militem1 non emi20#ahj for  
it put the soldiers out of hope of the  
donative4 ,probus1 likewise1 by that    
speech1 8,si vixero1 non opus erit      
amplius ,romano imperio militibus20#aha 
a speech of great despair for the       
soldiers1 and many the like4 ,surely    
princes had need1 in tender matters and 
ticklish times1 to beware what they say1
 especially in these short speeches1    
which fly abroad like darts1 and are    
thought to be shot out of their secret  
intentions2 for as for large discourses1
 they are flat things1 and not so much  
noted4  ,lastly1 let princes1 against   
all events1 not be without some great   
person1 one or rather more1 of military 
valor1 near unto them1 for the          
repressing of seditions in their        
beginnings2 for without that1 there     
useth to be more trepidation in court   
upon the first breaking out of troubles 
than were fit1 and the state runneth the

 danger of that which ,tacitus saith3   
8,atque is habitus animorum fuit1 ut    
pessimum facinus auderent pauci1 plures 
vellent1 omnes paterentur30#ahb but let 
such military persons be assured1 and   
well reputed of1 rather than factious   
and popular2 holding also good          
correspondence with the other great men 
in the state1 or else the remedy is     
worse than the disease4     ,,xvi4--,,of
 ,,atheism4   ,i had rather believe all 
the fables in the legends1#ahc and the  
,talmud1#ahd and the ,alcoran1 than that
 this universal frame is without a mind2
 and1 therefore1 ,god never wrought     
miracle to convince atheism1 because his
 ordinary works convince it4 ,it is     
true1 that a little philosophy#ahe      
inclineth man's mind to atheism1 but    
depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds
 about to religion2 for while the mind  
of man looketh upon second causes       
scattered1 it may sometimes rest in     
them1 and go no further2 but when it    
beholdeth the chain of them confederate1

 and linked together1 it must needs fly 
to ,providence and ,deity4 ,nay1 even   
that school which is most accused of    
atheism1 doth most demonstrate religion3
 that is1 the school of ,leucippus1#ahf 
and ,democritus1#ahg and ,epicurus2 for 
it is a thousand times more credible    
that four mutable elements1 and one     
immutable fifth essence1#ahh duly and   
eternally placed1 need no ,god1 than    
that an army of infinite small portions1
 or seeds unplaced1 should have produced
 this order and beauty without a divine 
marshal4 ,the ,scripture saith1 8,the   
fool hath said in his heart1 there is no
 ,god20#ahi it is not said1 8,the fool  
hath thought in his heart20 so as he    
rather saith it by rote to himself1 as  
that he would have1 than that he can    
thoroughly believe it1 or be persuaded  
of it2 for none deny there is a ,god1   
but those for whom it maketh#aij that   
there were no ,god4 ,it appeareth in    
nothing more1 that atheism is rather in 
the lip than in the heart of man1 than  

by this1 that atheists will ever be     
talking of that their opinion1 as if    
they fainted in it within themselves1   
and would be glad to be strengthened by 
the consent of others2 nay more1 you    
shall have atheists strive to get       
disciples1 as it fareth with other      
sects2 and1 which is most of all1 you   
shall have of them that will suffer for 
atheism1 and not recant2 whereas1 if    
they did truly think that there were no 
such thing as ,god1 why should they     
trouble themselves8 ,epicurus is        
charged1 that he did but dissemble for  
his credit's sake1 when he affirmed     
there were blessed natures1 but such as 
enjoyed themselves without having       
respect to the government of the world4 
,wherein they say he did temporize1     
though in secret he thought there was no
 ,god2 but certainly he is traduced1 for
 his words are noble and divine3 8,non  
,deos vulgi negare profanum2 sed vulgi  
opiniones ,diis applicare profanum40#aia
 ,plato could have said no more2 and1   

although he had the confidence to deny  
the administration1 he had not the power
 to deny the nature4 ,the ,indians#aib  
of the west have names for their        
particular gods1 though they have no    
name for ,god2 as if the heathens should
 have had the names ,jupiter1 ,apollo1  
,mars1 c41 but not the word ,deus1 which
 shows that even those barbarous people 
have the notion1 though they have not   
the latitude and extent of it2 so that  
against atheists the very savages take  
part with the very subtlest             
philosophers4 ,the contemplative atheist
 is rare2 a ,diagoras1#aic a ,bion1#aid 
a ,lucian1#aie perhaps1 and some others1
 and yet they seem to be more than they 
are2 for that all that impugn a received
 religion1 or superstition1 are1 by the 
adverse part1 branded with the name of  
atheists4 ,but the great atheists indeed
 are hypocrites1 which are ever handling
 holy things1 but without feeling1 so as
 they must needs be cauterized in the   
end4 ,the causes of atheism are3        

divisions in religion1 if they be many2 
for any one main division addeth zeal to
 both sides1 but many divisions         
introduce atheism4 ,another is1 scandal 
of priests1 when it is come to that     
which ,st4 ,bernard saith3 8,non est jam
 dicere1 ut populus1 sic sacerdos2 quia 
nec sic populus1 ut sacerdos40#aif ,a   
third is1 custom of profane scoffing in 
holy matters1 which doth by little and  
little deface the reverence of religion3
 and lastly1 learned times1 specially   
with peace and prosperity2 for troubles 
and adversities do more bow men's minds 
to religion4 ,they that deny a ,god     
destroy a man's nobility1 for certainly 
man is of kin to the beasts by his body2
 and if he be not of kin to ,god by his 
spirit1 he is a base and ignoble        
creature4 ,it destroys likewise         
magnanimity1 and the raising of human   
nature2 for1 take an example of a dog1  
and mark what a generosity and courage  
he will put on when he finds himself    
maintained by a man1 who1 to him1 is    

instead of a ,god1 or 8melior           
natura20#aig which courage is manifestly
 such as that creature1 without that    
confidence of a better nature than his  
own1 could never attain4 ,so man1 when  
he resteth and assureth himself upon    
divine protection and favor1 gathereth a
 force and faith1 which human nature in 
itself could not obtain2 therefore1 as  
atheism is in all respects hateful1 so  
in this1 that it depriveth human nature 
of the means to exalt itself above human
 frailty4 ,as it is in particular       
persons1 so it is in nations3 never was 
there such a state for magnanimity as   
,rome4 ,of this state hear what ,cicero 
saith3 8,quam volumus1 licet1 ,patres   
conscripti1 nos amemus1 tamen nec numero
 ,hispanos1 nec robore ,gallos1 nec     
calliditate ,pnos1 nec artibus ,grcos1  
nec denique hoc ipso hujus gentis et    
terr domestico nativoque sensu ,italos  
ipsos et ,latinos2 sed pietate1 ac      
religione1 atque hc un sapienti1 quod   
,deorum immortalium numine omnia regi1  

gubernarique perspeximus1 omnes gentes1 
nationesque superavimus40#aih           
,,xvii4--,,of ,,superstition4   ,it were
 better to have no opinion of ,god at   
all1 than such an opinion as is unworthy
 of him2 for the one is unbelief1 the   
other is contumely1#aii and certainly   
superstition is the reproach of the     
,deity4 ,plutarch saith well to that    
purpose3 8,surely10 saith he1 8,i had   
rather a great deal men should say there
 was no such man at all as ,plutarch1   
than that they should say that there was
 one ,plutarch that would eat his       
children#bjj as soon as they were born10
 as the poets speak of ,saturn2 and1 as 
the contumely is greater towards ,god1  
so the danger is greater towards men4   
,atheism leaves a man to sense1 to      
philosophy1 to natural piety1 to laws1  
to reputation1 all which may be guides  
to an outward moral virtue1 though      
religion were not2 but superstition     
dismounts all these1 and erecteth an    
absolute monarchy in the minds of men4  

,therefore atheism did never perturb    
states2 for it makes men wary of        
themselves1 as looking no further1 and  
we see the times inclined to atheism 7as
 the time of ,augustus ,csar7 were civil
 times2 but superstition hath been the  
confusion of many states1 and bringeth  
in a new primum mobile1#bja that        
ravisheth all the spheres of government4
 ,the master of superstition is the     
people1 and in all superstition wise men
 follow fools2 and arguments are fitted 
to practice in a reversed order4 ,it was
 gravely said by some of the prelates in
 the ,council of ,trent1#bjb where the  
doctrine of the schoolmen bare great    
sway1 that the schoolmen were like      
astronomers1 which did feign            
eccentrics#bjc and epicycles1#bjd and   
such engines of orbs to save#bje the    
phenomena1 though they knew there were  
no such things2 and1 in like manner1    
that the schoolmen had framed a number  
of subtle and intricate axioms and      
theorems1 to save the practice of the   

,church4 ,the causes of superstition    
are1 pleasing and sensual rites and     
ceremonies2 excess of outward and       
pharisaical holiness2 over-great        
reverence of traditions1 which cannot   
but load the ,church2 the stratagems of 
prelates for their own ambition and     
lucre2 the favoring too much of good    
intentions1 which openeth the gate to   
conceits and novelties2 the taking an   
aim at divine matters by human1 which   
cannot but breed mixture of             
imaginations2 and1 lastly1 barbarous    
times1 especially joined with calamities
 and disasters4 ,superstition1 without a
 veil1 is a deformed thing2 for1 as it  
addeth deformity to an ape to be so like
 a man1 so the similitude of            
superstition to religion makes it the   
more deformed2 and as wholesome meat    
corrupteth to little worms1 so good     
forms and orders corrupt into a number  
of petty observances4 ,there is a       
superstition in avoiding superstition1  
when men think to do best if they go    

furthest from the superstition formerly 
received2 therefore care would be had   
that 7as it fareth in ill purgings7 the 
good be not taken away with the bad1    
which commonly is done when the people  
is the reformer4     ,,xviii4--,,of     
,,travel4   ,travel1 in the younger     
sort1 is a part of education2 in the    
elder1 a part of experience4 ,he that   
travelleth into a country before he hath
 some entrance into the language1 goeth 
to school1 and not to travel4 ,that     
young men travel under some tutor or    
grave servant1 ,i allow well1 so that he
 be such a one that hath the language1  
and hath been in the country before2    
whereby he may be able to tell them what
 things are worthy to be seen in the    
country where they go1 what             
acquaintances they are to seek1 what    
exercises or discipline the place       
yieldeth2 for else young men shall go   
hooded1 and look abroad little4 ,it is a
 strange thing that1 in sea voyages1    
where there is nothing to be seen but   

sky and sea1 men should make diaries2   
but in land travel1 wherein so much is  
to be observed1 for the most part they  
omit it1 as if chance were fitter to be 
registered than observation4 ,let       
diaries1 therefore1 be brought in use4  
,the things to be seen and observed are1
 the courts of princes1 especially when 
they give audience to ambassadors2 the  
courts of justice1 while they sit and   
hear causes2 and so of consistories#bjf 
ecclesiastic2 the churches and          
monasteries1 with the monuments which   
are therein extant2 the walls and       
fortifications of cities and towns2 and 
so the havens and harbors1 antiquities  
and ruins1 libraries1 colleges1         
disputations1 and lectures1 where any   
are2 shipping and navies2 houses and    
gardens of state and pleasure1 near     
great cities2 armories1 arsenals1       
magazines1 exchanges1 burses1           
warehouses1 exercises of horsemanship1  
fencing1 training of soldiers1 and the  
like2 comedies1 such whereunto the      

better sort of persons do resort2       
treasuries of jewels and robes2 cabinets
 and rarities2 and1 to conclude1        
whatsoever is memorable in the places   
where they go1 after all which the      
tutors or servants ought to make        
diligent inquiry4 ,as for triumphs1     
masks1 feasts1 weddings1 funerals1      
capital executions1 and such shows1 men 
need not to be put in mind of them2 yet 
they are not to be neglected4 ,if you   
will have a young man to put his travel 
into a little room1 and in short time to
 gather much1 this you must do3 first1  
as was said1 he must have some entrance 
into the language before he goeth2 then 
he must have such a servant1 or tutor1  
as knoweth the country1 as was likewise 
said2 let him carry with him also some  
card or book1 describing the country    
where he travelleth1 which will be a    
good key to his inquiry2 let him keep   
also a diary2 let him not stay long in  
one city or town1 more or less1 as the  
place deserveth1 but not long2 nay1 when

 he stayeth in one city or town1 let him
 change his lodging from one end and    
part of the town to another1 which is a 
great adamant of acquaintance2 let him  
sequester himself from the company of   
his countrymen1 and diet in such places 
where there is good company of the      
nation where he travelleth2 let him1    
upon his removes from one place to      
another1 procure recommendation to some 
person of quality residing in the place 
whither he removeth1 that he may use his
 favor in those things he desireth to   
see or know3 thus he may abridge his    
travel with much profit4 ,as for the    
acquaintance which is to be sought in   
travel1 that which is most of all       
profitable1 is acquaintance with the    
secretaries and employed men#bjg of     
ambassadors1 for so in travelling in one
 country he shall suck the experience of
 many2 let him also see and visit       
eminent persons in all kinds which are  
of great name abroad1 that he may be    
able to tell how the life agreeth with  

the fame4 ,for quarrels1 they are with  
care and discretion to be avoided2 they 
are commonly for mistresses1            
healths1#bjh place1 and words2 and let a
 man beware how he keepeth company with 
choleric and quarrelsome persons1 for   
they will engage him into their own     
quarrels4 ,when a traveller returneth   
home1 let him not leave the countries   
where he hath travelled altogether      
behind him1 but maintain a              
correspondence by letters with those of 
his acquaintance which are of most      
worth2 and let his travel appear rather 
in his discourse than in his apparel or 
gesture1 and in his discourse let him be
 rather advised in his answers1 than    
forward to tell stories2 and let it     
appear that he doth not change his      
country manners for those of foreign    
parts1 but only prick in some flowers of
 that he hath learned abroad into the   
customs of his own country4             
,,xix4--,,of ,,empire4   ,it is a       
miserable state of mind to have few     

things to desire1 and many things to    
fear2 and yet that commonly is the case 
of kings1 who1 being1 at the highest1   
want matter of desire1#bji which makes  
their minds more languishing2 and have  
many representations of perils and      
shadows1 which makes their minds the    
less clear2 and this is one reason1     
also1 of that effect which the          
,scripture speaketh of1 8that the king's
 heart is inscrutable20#baj for         
multitude of jealousies1 and lack of    
some predominant desire1 that should    
marshal and put in order all the rest1  
maketh any man's heart hard to find or  
sound4 ,hence it comes1 likewise1 that  
princes many times make themselves      
desires1 and set their hearts upon toys3
 sometimes upon a building2 sometimes   
upon erecting of an order2 sometimes    
upon the advancing of a person2         
sometimes upon obtaining excellency in  
some art or feat of the hand1--as ,nero 
for playing on the harp2 ,domitian for  
certainty of the hand with the arrow2   

,commodus for playing at fence2#baa     
,caracalla for driving chariots1 and the
 like4 ,this seemeth incredible unto    
those that know not the principle1 that 
the mind of man is more cheered and     
refreshed by profiting in small things  
than by standing at a stay#bab in great4
 ,we see1 also1 that kings that have    
been fortunate conquerors in their first
 years1 it being not possible for them  
to go forward infinitely1 but that they 
must have some check or arrest in their 
fortunes1 turn in their latter years to 
be superstitious and melancholy2 as did 
,alexander the ,great1 ,diocletian1#bac 
and1 in our memory1 ,charles the        
,fifth1#bad and others2 for he that is  
used to go forward1 and findeth a stop1 
falleth out of his own favor1 and is not
 the thing he was4  ,to speak now of the
 true temper of empire1 it is a thing   
rare and hard to keep1 for both temper  
and distemper consist of contraries2 but
 it is one thing to mingle contraries1  
another to interchange them4 ,the answer

 of ,apollonius to ,vespasian is full of
 excellent instruction4 ,vespasian asked
 him1 8,what was ,nero's overthrow80 ,he
 answered1 8,nero could touch and tune  
the harp well2 but in government        
sometimes he used to wind the pins too  
high1 sometimes to let them down too    
low40#bae ,and certain it is1 that      
nothing destroyeth authority so much as 
the unequal and untimely interchange of 
power pressed too far1 and relaxed too  
much4  ,this is true1 that the wisdom of
 all these latter times in princes'     
affairs is rather fine deliveries1 and  
shiftings of dangers and mischiefs1 when
 they are near1 than solid and grounded 
courses to keep them aloof2 but this is 
but to try masteries with fortune1 and  
let men beware how they neglect and     
suffer matter of trouble to be prepared4
 ,for no man can forbid the spark1 nor  
tell whence it may come4 ,the           
difficulties in princes' business are   
many and great2 but the greatest        
difficulty is often in their own mind4  

,for it is common with princes 7saith   
,tacitus7 to will contradictories3      
8,sunt plerumque regum voluntates       
vehementes1 et inter se contrari20#baf  
for it is the solecism of power to think
 to command the end1 and yet not to     
endure the mean4  ,kings have to deal   
with their neighbors1 their wives1 their
 children1 their prelates or clergy1    
their nobles1 their second nobles or    
gentlemen1 their merchants1 their       
commons1 and their men of war2 and from 
all these arise dangers1 if care and    
circumspection be not used4  ,first1 for
 their neighbors1 there can no general  
rule be given 7the occasions are so     
variable71 save one which ever holdeth2 
which is1 that princes do keep due      
sentinel1 that none of their neighbors  
do overgrow so 7by increase of          
territory1 by embracing of trade1 by    
approaches1 or the like71 as they become
 more able to annoy them than they were2
 and this is generally the work of      
standing counsels to foresee and to     

hinder it4 ,during that triumvirate of  
kings1 ,king ,henry the ,eighth of      
,england1 ,francis the ,first1 ,king of 
,france1#bag and ,charles the ,fifth1   
,emperor1 there was such a watch kept   
that none of the three could win a palm 
of ground1 but the other two would      
straightways balance it1 either by      
confederation1 or1 if need were1 by a   
war2 and would not1 in any wise1 take up
 peace at interest2 and the like was    
done by that league 7which              
,guicciardini#bah saith was the security
 of ,italy7 made between ,ferdinando1   
,king of ,naples1 ,lorenzius ,medicis1  
and ,ludovicus ,sforza1 potentates1 the 
one of ,florence1 the other of ,milan4  
,neither is the opinion of some of the  
schoolmen to be received1 that a war    
cannot justly be made1 but upon a       
precedent injury or provocation2 for    
there is no question1 but a just fear of
 an imminent danger1 though there be no 
blow given1 is a lawful cause of a war4 
,for their wives1 there are cruel       

examples of them4 ,livia is infamed#bai 
for the poisoning of her husband2       
,roxolana1 ,solyman's wife1#bbj was the 
destruction of that renowned prince1    
,sultan ,mustapha1 and otherwise        
troubled his house and succession2      
,edward the ,second of ,england's       
,queen#bba had the principal hand in the
 deposing and murder of her husband4    
,this kind of danger is then to be      
feared chiefly when the wives have plots
 for the raising of their own children1 
or else that they be advoutresses4#bbb  
,for their children1 the tragedies      
likewise of dangers from them have been 
many2 and generally the entering of     
fathers into suspicion of their children
 hath been ever unfortunate4 ,the       
destruction of ,mustapha 7that we named 
before7 was so fatal to ,solyman's line1
 as the succession of the ,turks from   
,solyman until this day is suspected to 
be untrue1 and of strange blood2 for    
that ,selymus the ,second was thought to
 be supposititious4#bbc ,the destruction

 of ,crispus1 a young prince of rare    
towardness1 by ,constantinus the ,great1
 his father1 was in like manner fatal to
 his house2 for both ,constantinus and  
,constance1 his sons1 died violent      
deaths2 and ,constantius1 his other son1
 did little better1 who died indeed of  
sickness1 but after that ,julianus had  
taken arms against him4 ,the destruction
 of ,demetrius1#bbd son to ,philip the  
,second of ,macedon1 turned upon the    
father1 who died of repentance4 ,and    
many like examples there are2 but few or
 none where the fathers had good by such
 distrust1 except it were where the sons
 were up in open arms against them2 as  
was ,selymus the ,first against         
,bajazet1 and the three sons of ,henry  
the ,second1 ,king of ,england4  ,for   
their prelates1 when they are proud and 
great1 there is also danger from them2  
as it was in the times of ,anselmus#bbe 
and ,thomas ,becket1 ,archbishops of    
,canterbury1 who1 with their crosiers1  
did almost try it with the king's sword2

 and yet they had to deal with stout and
 haughty kings2 ,william ,rufus1 ,henry 
the ,first1 and ,henry the ,second4 ,the
 danger is not from that state1 but     
where it hath a dependence of foreign   
authority2 or where the churchmen come  
in and are elected1 not by the collation
 of the ,king1 or particular patrons1   
but by the people4  ,for their nobles1  
to keep them at a distance it is not    
amiss2 but to depress them may make a   
king more absolute1 but less safe1 and  
less able to perform anything that he   
desires4 ,i have noted it in my ,history
 of ,king ,henry the ,seventh of        
,england1 who depressed his nobility1   
whereupon it came to pass that his times
 were full of difficulties and troubles2
 for the nobility1 though they continued
 loyal unto him1 yet did they not       
coperate with him in his business2 so   
that1 in effect1 he was fain to do all  
things himself4  ,for their second      
nobles1 there is not much danger from   
them1 being a body dispersed4 ,they may 

sometimes discourse high1 but that doth 
little hurt2 besides1 they are a        
counterpoise to the higher nobility1    
that they grow not too potent2 and1     
lastly1 being the most immediate in     
authority with the common people1 they  
do best temper popular commotions4  ,for
 their merchants1 they are 8vena        
porta30#bbf and if they flourish not1 a 
kingdom may have good limbs1 but will   
have empty veins1 and nourish little4   
,taxes and imposts upon them do seldom  
good to the king's revenue1 for that    
which he wins#bbg in the hundred#bbh he 
loseth in the shire2 the particular     
rates being increased1 but the total    
bulk of trading rather decreased4  ,for 
their commons1 there is little danger   
from them1 except it be where they have 
great and potent heads2 or where you    
meddle with the point of religion1 or   
their customs1 or means of life4  ,for  
their men of war1 it is a dangerous     
state where they live and remain in a   
body1 and are used to donatives2 whereof

 we see examples in the ,janizaries#bbi 
and ,prtorian bands of ,rome2 but       
trainings of men1 and arming them in    
several places1 and under several       
commanders1 and without donatives1 are  
things of defence and no danger4        
,princes are like to heavenly bodies1   
which cause good or evil times2 and     
which have much veneration1 but no rest4
 ,all precepts concerning kings are in  
effect comprehended in those two        
remembrances1 8,memento quod es         
homo20#bcj and 8,memento quod es        
,deus10#bca or 8vice ,dei20#bcb the one 
bridleth their power and the other their
 will4     ,,xx4--,,of ,,counsel4   ,the
 greatest trust between man and man is  
the trust of giving counsel2 for in     
other confidences men commit the parts  
of life1 their lands1 their goods1 their
 children1 their credit1 some particular
 affair2 but to such as they make their 
counsellors they commit the whole2 by   
how much the more they are obliged to   
all faith and integrity4 ,the wisest    

princes need not think it any diminution
 to their greatness1 or derogation to   
their sufficiency to rely upon counsel4 
,god himself is not without1 but hath   
made it one of the great names of his   
blessed ,son1 8,the ,counsellor40#bcc   
,solomon hath pronounced that1 8in      
counsel is stability40#bcd ,things will 
have their first or second agitation3 if
 they be not tossed upon the arguments  
of counsel1 they will be tossed upon the
 waves of fortune1 and be full of       
inconstancy1 doing and undoing1 like the
 reeling of a drunken man4 ,solomon's   
son#bce found the force of counsel1 as  
his father saw the necessity of it2 for 
the beloved kingdom of ,god was first   
rent and broken by ill counsel2 upon    
which counsel there are set for our     
instruction the two marks whereby bad   
counsel is forever best discerned1 that 
it was young counsel for the persons1   
and violent counsel for the matter4     
,the ancient times do set forth in      
figure both the incorporation and       

inseparable conjunction of counsel with 
kings1 and the wise and politic use of  
counsel by kings2 the one1 in that they 
say ,jupiter did marry ,metis1 which    
signifieth counsel2 whereby they intend 
that sovereignty is married to counsel2 
the other in that which followeth1 which
 was thus3 they say1 after ,jupiter was 
married to ,metis1 she conceived by him 
and was with child2 but ,jupiter        
suffered her not to stay till she       
brought forth1 but eat her up2 whereby  
he became himself with child1 and was   
delivered of ,pallas armed1 out of his  
head4#bcf ,which monstrous fable        
containeth a secret of empire1 how kings
 are to make use of their council of    
state2 that first1 they ought to refer  
matters unto them1 which is the first   
begetting or impregnation2 but when they
 are elaborate1 moulded1 and shaped in  
the womb of their counsel1 and grow ripe
 and ready to be brought forth1 that    
then they suffer not their council to go
 through with the resolution and        

direction1 as if it depended on them2   
but take the matter back into their own 
hands1 and make it appear to the world1 
that the decrees and final directions   
7which1 because they come forth with    
prudence and power1 are resembled to    
,pallas armed71 proceeded from          
themselves2 and not only from their     
authority1 but 7the more to add         
reputation to themselves7 from their    
head and device4  ,let us now speak of  
the inconveniences of counsel1 and of   
the remedies4 ,the inconveniences that  
have been noted in calling and using    
counsel are three3 first1 the revealing 
of affairs1 whereby they become less    
secret2 secondly1 the weakening of the  
authority of princes1 as if they were   
less of themselves2 thirdly1 the danger 
of being unfaithfully counselled1 and   
more for the good of them that counsel  
than of him that is counselled2 for     
which inconveniences1 the doctrine of   
,italy1 and practice of ,france1 in some
 kings' times1 hath introduced cabinet  

councils2 a remedy worse than the       
disease4#bcg  ,as to secrecy1 princes   
are not bound to communicate all matters
 with all counsellors1 but may extract  
and select2 neither is it necessary that
 he that consulteth what he should do1  
should declare what he will do2 but let 
princes beware that the unsecreting of  
their affairs comes not from themselves2
 and1 as for cabinet councils1 it may be
 their motto1 8,plenus rimarum sum30#bch
 one futile person1 that maketh it his  
glory to tell1 will do more hurt than   
many that know it their duty to conceal4
 ,it is true1 there be some affairs     
which require extreme secrecy1 which    
will hardly go beyond one or two persons
 besides the king4 ,neither are those   
counsels unprosperous2 for1 besides the 
secrecy1 they commonly go on constantly 
in one spirit of direction without      
distraction2 but then it must be a      
prudent king1 such as is able to grind  
with a hand-mill2#bci and those inward  
counsellors had need also to be wise    

men1 and especially true and trusty to  
the king's ends2 as it was with ,king   
,henry the ,seventh of ,england1 who1 in
 his greatest business1 imparted himself
 to none1 except it were to ,morton#bdj 
and ,fox4#bda  ,for weakening of        
authority1 the fable#bdb showeth the    
remedy2 nay1 the majesty of kings is    
rather exalted than diminished when they
 are in the chair of council2 neither   
was there ever prince bereaved of his   
dependencies by his council1 except     
where there hath been either an         
over-greatness in one counsellor1 or an 
over-strict combination in divers1 which
 are things soon found and holpen4#bdc  
,for the last inconvenience1 that men   
will counsel with an eye to themselves2 
certainly1 8non inveniet fidem super    
terram10#bdd is meant of the nature of  
times1#bde and not of all particular    
persons4 ,there be that are in nature   
faithful and sincere1 and plain and     
direct1 not crafty and involved3 let    
princes1 above all1 draw to themselves  

such natures4 ,besides1 counsellors are 
not commonly so united1 but that one    
counsellor keepeth sentinel over        
another2 so that if any do counsel out  
of faction or private ends1 it commonly 
comes to the king's ear2 but the best   
remedy is1 if princes know their        
counsellors1 as well as their           
counsellors know them3--    8,principis 
est virtus maxima nosse suos40#bdf  ,and
 on the other side1 counsellors should  
not be too speculative into their       
sovereign's person4 ,the true           
composition of a counsellor is1 rather  
to be skilful in their master's business
 than in his nature2#bdg for then he is 
like to advise him1 and not to feed his 
humor4 ,it is of singular use to        
princes1 if they take the opinions of   
their council both separately and       
together2 for private opinion is more   
free1 but opinion before others is more 
reverend4 ,in private1 men are more bold
 in their own humors2 and in consort1   
men are more obnoxious#bdh to others'   

humors2 therefore it is good to take    
both2 and of the inferior sort rather in
 private1 to preserve freedom2 of the   
greater1 rather in consort1 to preserve 
respect4 ,it is in vain for princes to  
take counsel concerning matters1 if they
 take no counsel likewise concerning    
persons2 for all matters are as dead    
images2 and the life of the execution of
 affairs resteth in the good choice of  
persons4 ,neither is it enough to       
consult concerning persons1 8secundum   
genera10#bdi as in an idea or           
mathematical description1 what the kind 
and character of the person should be2  
for the greatest errors are committed1  
and the most judgment is shown1 in the  
choice of individuals4 ,it was truly    
said1 8,optimi consiliarii mortui30#bej 
8books will speak plain when counsellors
 blanch20#bea therefore it is good to be
 conversant in them1 specially the books
 of such as themselves have been actors 
upon the stage4  ,the councils at this  
day in most places are but familiar     

meetings1 where matters are rather      
talked on than debated2 and they run too
 swift to the order or act of council4  
,it were better that in causes of       
weight1 the matter were propounded one  
day and not spoken to till the next day2
 8,in nocte consilium20#beb so was it   
done in the commission of union#bec     
between ,england and ,scotland1 which   
was a grave and orderly assembly4 ,i    
commend set days for petitions2 for both
 it gives the suitors more certainty for
 their attendance1 and it frees the     
meetings for matters of estate1 that    
they may 8hoc agere40#bed ,in choice of 
committees for ripening business for the
 council1 it is better to choose        
indifferent persons1 than to make an    
indifferency by putting in those that   
are strong on both sides4 ,i commend1   
also1 standing commissions2 as for      
trade1 for treasure1 for war1 for suits1
 for some provinces2 for where there be 
divers particular councils1 and but one 
council of estate 7as it is in ,spain71 

they are in effect no more than standing
 commissions1 save that they have       
greater authority4 ,let such as are to  
inform councils out of their particular 
professions 7as lawyers1 seamen1        
mintmen1 and the like7 be first heard   
before committees2 and then1 as occasion
 serves1 before the council2 and let    
them not come in multitudes1 or in a    
tribunitious#bee manner2 for that is to 
clamor councils1 not to inform them4 ,a 
long table and a square table1 or seats 
about the walls1 seem things of form1   
but are things of substance2 for at a   
long table a few at the upper end1 in   
effect1 sway all the business2 but in   
the other form there is more use of the 
counsellors' opinions that sit lower4 ,a
 king1 when he presides in council1 let 
him beware how he opens his own         
inclination too much in that which he   
propoundeth2 for else counsellors will  
but take the wind of him1 and1 instead  
of giving free counsel1 will sing him a 
song of 8placebo40#bef     ,,xxi4--,,of 

,,delays4   ,fortune is like the market1
 where1 many times1 if you can stay a   
little1 the price will fall2 and again1 
it is sometimes like ,sibylla's         
offer1#beg which at first offereth the  
commodity at full1 then consumeth part  
and part1 and still holdeth up the      
price2 for occasion 7as it is in the    
common verse7 8turneth a bald           
noddle1#beh after she hath presented her
 locks in front1 and no hold taken20 or1
 at least1 turneth the handle of the    
bottle first to be received1 and after  
the belly1 which is hard to clasp4#bei  
,there is surely no greater wisdom than 
well to time the beginnings and onsets  
of things4 ,dangers are no more light1  
if they once seem light2 and more       
dangers have deceived men than forced   
them2 nay1 it were better to meet some  
dangers half-way1 though they come      
nothing near1 than to keep too long a   
watch upon their approaches2 for if a   
man watch too long1 it is odds he will  
fall asleep4 ,on the other side1 to be  

deceived with too long shadows 7as some 
have been when the moon was low1 and    
shone on their enemies' back71 and so to
 shoot off before the time2 or to teach 
dangers to come on by over early        
buckling towards them1 is another       
extreme4 ,the ripeness or unripeness of 
the occasion 7as we said7 must ever be  
well weighed2 and generally it is good  
to commit the beginnings of all great   
actions to ,argus with his hundred eyes1
 and the ends to ,briareus with his     
hundred hands1 first to watch and then  
to speed2 for the helmet of ,pluto1#bfj 
which maketh the politic man go         
invisible1 is secrecy in the council1   
and celerity in the execution2 for when 
things are once come to the execution1  
there is no secrecy comparable to       
celerity2 like the motion of a bullet in
 the air1 which flieth so swift as it   
outruns the eye4     ,,xxii4--,,of      
,,cunning4   ,we take cunning for a     
sinister1 or crooked wisdom2 and1       
certainly1 there is great difference    

between a cunning man and a wise man1   
not only in point of honesty1 but in    
point of ability4 ,there be that can    
pack the cards1#bfa and yet cannot play 
well2 so there are some that are good in
 canvasses and factions1 that are       
otherwise weak men4 ,again1 it is one   
thing to understand persons1 and another
 thing to understand matters2 for many  
are perfect in men's humors that are not
 greatly capable of the real part of    
business1 which is the constitution of  
one that hath studied men more than     
books4 ,such men are fitter for practice
 than for counsel1 and they are good but
 in their own alley4 ,turn them to new  
men1 and they have lost their aim2 so as
 the old rule1 to know a fool from a    
wise man1 8,mitte ambos nudos ad        
ignotos1 et videbis10#bfb doth scarce   
hold for them2 and1 because these       
cunning men are like haberdashers#bfc of
 small wares1 it is not amiss to set    
forth their shop4  ,it is a point of    
cunning to wait upon#bfd him with whom  

you speak with your eye1 as the ,jesuits
 give it in precept2 for there be many  
wise men that have secret hearts and    
transparent countenances2 yet this would
 be done with a demure abasing of your  
eye sometimes1 as the ,jesuits also do  
use4  ,another is1 that when you have   
any thing to obtain of present dispatch1
 you entertain and amuse the party with 
whom you deal with some other discourse1
 that he be not too much awake to make  
objections4 ,i knew a counsellor and    
secretary that never came to ,queen     
,elizabeth of ,england1 with bills to   
sign1 but he would always first put her 
into some discourse of estate1#bfe that 
she might the less mind the bills4  ,the
 like surprise may be made by moving    
things#bff when the party is in haste1  
and cannot stay to consider advisedly of
 that is moved4  ,if a man would cross a
 business that he doubts some other     
would handsomely and effectually move1  
let him pretend to wish it well1 and    
move it himself1 in such sort as may    

foil it4  ,the breaking off in the midst
 of that one was about to say1 as if he 
took himself up1 breeds a greater       
appetite in him with whom you confer to 
know more4  ,and because it works better
 when any thing seemeth to be gotten    
from you by question than if you offer  
it of yourself1 you may lay a bait for a
 question1 by showing another visage and
 countenance than you are wont2 to the  
end1 to give occasion for the party to  
ask what the matter is of the change1 as
 ,nehemiah#bfg did3 8,and ,i had not1   
before that time1 been sad before the   
king40  ,in things that are tender and  
unpleasing1 it is good to break the ice 
by some whose words are of less weight1 
and to reserve the more weighty voice to
 come in as by chance1 so that he may be
 asked the question upon the other's    
speech2 as ,narcissus did1 in relating  
to ,claudius the marriage#bfh of        
,messalina and ,silius4  ,in things that
 a man would not be seen in himself1 it 
is a point of cunning to borrow the name

 of the world2 as to say1 8,the world   
says10 or 8,there is a speech abroad40  
,i knew one1 that when he wrote a       
letter1 he would put that which was most
 material in a postscript1 as if it had 
been a by-matter4  ,i knew another1 that
 when he came to have speech1#bfi he    
would pass over that that he intended   
most2 and go forth and come back again1 
and speak of it as a thing that he had  
almost forgot4  ,some procure themselves
 to be surprised at such times as it is 
like the party that they work upon will 
suddenly come upon them1 and to be found
 with a letter in their hand1 or doing  
somewhat which they are not accustomed1 
to the end they may be apposed of#bgj   
those things which of themselves they   
are desirous to utter4  ,it is a point  
of cunning to let fall those words in a 
man's own name1 which he would have     
another man learn and use1 and thereupon
 take advantage4 ,i knew two that were  
competitors for the secretary's place in
 ,queen ,elizabeth's time1 and yet kept 

good quarter#bga between themselves1 and
 would confer one with another upon the 
business2 and the one of them said1 that
 to be a secretary in the declination of
 a monarchy was a ticklish thing1 and   
that he did not affect it2#bgb the other
 straight caught up those words1 and    
discoursed with divers of his friends1  
that he had no reason to desire to be   
secretary in the declination of a       
monarchy4 ,the first man took hold of   
it1 and found means it was told the     
queen1 who1 hearing of a declination of 
a monarchy1 took it so ill1 as she would
 never after hear of the other's suit4  
,there is a cunning1 which we in        
,england call 8the turning of the cat in
 the pan20 which is1 when that which a  
man says to another1 he lays it as if   
another had said it to him2 and1 to say 
truth1 it is not easy1 when such a      
matter passed between two1 to make it   
appear from which of them it first moved
 and began4  ,it is a way that some men 
have1 to glance and dart at others by   

justifying themselves by negatives2 as  
to say1 8,this ,i do not20 as           
,tigellinus did towards ,burrhus3 8,se  
non diversas spes1 sed incolumitatem    
imperatoris simpliciter spectare40#bgc  
,some have in readiness so many tales   
and stories1 as there is nothing they   
would insinuate1 but they can wrap it   
into a tale2#bgd which serveth both to  
keep themselves more in guard1 and to   
make others carry it with more pleasure4
  ,it is a good point of cunning for a  
man to shape the answer he would have in
 his own words and propositions2 for it 
makes the other party stick the less4   
,it is strange how long some men will   
lie in wait to speak somewhat they      
desire to say2 and how far about they   
will fetch1#bge and how many other      
matters they will beat over to come near
 it4 ,it is a thing of great patience1  
but yet of much use4  ,a sudden1 bold1  
and unexpected question doth many times 
surprise a man1 and lay him open4 ,like 
to him1 that1 having changed his name1  

and walking in ,paul's1#bgf another     
suddenly came behind him and called him 
by his true name1 whereat straightways  
he looked back4  ,but these small wares 
and petty points of cunning are         
infinite1 and it were a good deed to    
make a list of them2 for that nothing   
doth more hurt in a state than that     
cunning men pass for wise4  ,but        
certainly1 some there are that know the 
resorts#bgg and falls#bgh of business   
that cannot sink into the main of       
it2#bgi like a house that hath          
convenient stairs and entries1 but never
 a fair room4 ,therefore you shall see  
them find out pretty looses#bhj in the  
conclusion1 but are noways able to      
examine or debate matters2 and yet      
commonly they take advantage of their   
inability1 and would be thought wits of 
direction4 ,some build rather upon the  
abusing of others1 and 7as we now say7  
putting tricks upon them1 than upon     
soundness of their own proceedings2 but 
,solomon saith3 8,prudens advertit ad   

gressus suos2 stultus divertit ad       
dolos40#bha     ,,xxiii4--,,of ,,wisdom 
,,for ,a ,,man',s ,,self4   ,an ant is a
 wise creature for itself1 but it is a  
shrewd#bhb thing in an orchard or       
garden2 and certainly1 men that are     
great lovers of themselves waste the    
public4 ,divide with reason between     
self-love and society2 and be so true to
 thyself as thou be not false to others1
 specially to thy king and country4 ,it 
is a poor centre of a man's actions1    
himself4 ,it is right earth2 for that   
only stands fast upon his own           
centre2#bhc whereas all things that have
 affinity with the heavens1 move upon   
the centre of another1 which they       
benefit4 ,the referring of all to a     
man's self is more tolerable in a       
sovereign prince1 because themselves are
 not only themselves1 but their good and
 evil is at the peril of the public     
fortune2 but it is a desperate evil in a
 servant to a prince1 or a citizen in a 
republic2 for whatsoever affairs pass   

such a man's hands1 he crooketh them to 
his own ends1 which must needs be often 
eccentric to the ends of his master or  
state4 ,therefore1 let princes or states
 choose such servants as have not this  
mark2 except they mean their service    
should be made but the accessary4 ,that 
which maketh the effect more pernicious 
is1 that all proportion is lost4 ,it    
were disproportion enough for the       
servant's good to be preferred before   
the master's2 but yet it is a greater   
extreme1 when a little good of the      
servant shall carry things against a    
great good of the master4 ,and yet that 
is the case of bad officers1 treasurers1
 ambassadors1 generals1 and other false 
and corrupt servants2 which set a bias  
upon their bowl1 of their own petty ends
 and envies1 to the overthrow of their  
master's great and important affairs2   
and1 for the most part1 the good such   
servants receive is after the model of  
their own fortune2 but the hurt they    
sell for that good is after the model of

 their master's fortune4 ,and certainly1
 it is the nature of extreme            
self-lovers1 as they will set a house on
 fire1 an it were but to roast their    
eggs2 and yet these men many times hold 
credit with their masters1 because their
 study is but to please them1 and profit
 themselves2 and for either respect they
 will abandon the good of their affairs4
  ,wisdom for a man's self is1 in many  
branches thereof1 a depraved thing4 ,it 
is the wisdom of rats1 that will be sure
 to leave a house somewhat before it    
fall2 it is the wisdom of the fox1 that 
thrusts out the badger who digged and   
made room for him2 it is the wisdom of  
crocodiles1 that shed tears when they   
would devour4 ,but that which is        
specially to be noted is1 that those    
which 7as ,cicero says of ,pompey7 are  
8sui amantes1 sine rivali10#bhd are many
 times unfortunate2 and whereas they    
have all their times sacrificed to      
themselves1 they become in the end      
themselves sacrifices to the inconstancy

 of fortune1 whose wings they thought by
 their self-wisdom to have pinioned4    
,,xxiv4--,,of ,,innovations4   ,as the  
births of living creatures at first are 
ill-shapen1 so are all innovations1     
which are the births of time2 yet1      
notwithstanding1 as those that first    
bring honor into their family are       
commonly more worthy than most that     
succeed1 so the first precedent 7if it  
be good7 is seldom attained by          
imitation2 for ill to man's nature as it
 stands perverted1 hath a natural motion
 strongest in continuance1 but good1 as 
a forced motion1 strongest at first4    
,surely1 every medicine#bhe is an       
innovation1 and he that will not apply  
new remedies must expect new evils1 for 
time is the greatest innovator2 and if  
time1 of course1 alter things to the    
worse1 and wisdom and counsel shall not 
alter them to the better1 what shall be 
the end8 ,it is true1 that what is      
settled by custom1 though it be not     
good1 yet1 at least1 it is fit2 and     

those things which have long gone       
together1 are1 as it were1 confederate  
within themselves2#bhf whereas new      
things piece not so well2 but1 though   
they help by their utility1 yet they    
trouble by their inconformity2 besides1 
they are like strangers1 more admired   
and less favored4 ,all this is true1 if 
time stood still1 which1 contrariwise1  
moveth so round1 that a froward         
retention of custom is as turbulent a   
thing as an innovation2 and they that   
reverence too much old times are but a  
scorn to the new4 ,it were good1        
therefore1 that men in their innovations
 would follow the example of time       
itself1 which indeed innovateth greatly1
 but quietly1 and by degrees scarce to  
be perceived2 for1 otherwise1 whatsoever
 is new is unlooked for1 and ever it    
mends some and pairs#bhg other2 and he  
that is holpen1 takes it for a fortune1 
and thanks the time2 and he that is     
hurt1 for a wrong1 and imputeth it to   
the author4 ,it is good1 also1 not to   

try experiments in states1 except the   
necessity be urgent1 or the utility     
evident2 and well to beware that it be  
the reformation that draweth on the     
change1 and not the desire of change    
that pretendeth the reformation2 and    
lastly1 that the novelty1 though it be  
not rejected1 yet be held for a         
suspect1#bhh and1 as the ,scripture     
saith1 8,that we make a stand upon the  
ancient way1 and then look about us1 and
 discover what is the straight and right
 way1 and so to walk in it40#bhi        
,,xxv4--,,of ,,dispatch4   ,affected    
dispatch is one of the most dangerous   
things to business that can be2 it is   
like that which the physicians call     
predigestion1 or hasty digestion1 which 
is sure to fill the body full of        
crudities1 and secret seeds of diseases4
 ,therefore1 measure not dispatch by the
 times of sitting1 but by the           
advancement of the business2 and as in  
races1 it is not the large stride1 or   
high lift1 that makes the speed1 so in  

business1 the keeping close to the      
matter1 and not taking of it too much at
 once1 procureth dispatch4 ,it is the   
care of some1 only to come off speedily 
for the time1 or to contrive some false 
periods of business1 because they may   
seem men of dispatch2 but it is one     
thing to abbreviate by contracting1#bij 
another by cutting off2 and business so 
handled at several sittings1 or         
meetings1 goeth commonly backward and   
forward in an unsteady manner4 ,i knew a
 wise man#bia that had it for a byword1 
when he saw men hasten to a conclusion1 
8,stay a little1 that we may make an end
 the sooner40  ,on the other side1 true 
dispatch is a rich thing2 for time is   
the measure of business1 as money is of 
wares2 and business is bought at a dear 
hand where there is small dispatch4 ,the
 ,spartans and ,spaniards have been     
noted to be of small dispatch3 8,mi     
venga la muerte de ,spagna20 8,let my   
death come from ,spain20 for then it    
will be sure to be long in coming4      

,give good hearing to those that give   
the first information in business1 and  
rather direct them in the beginning1    
than interrupt them in the continuance  
of their speeches2 for he that is put   
out of his own order will go forward and
 backward1 and be more tedious while he 
waits upon his memory1 than he could    
have been if he had gone on in his own  
course2 but sometimes it is seen that   
the moderator is more troublesome than  
the actor4  ,iterations are commonly    
loss of time2 but there is no such gain 
of time as to iterate often the state of
 the question2 for it chaseth away many 
a frivolous speech as it is coming      
forth4 ,long and curious speeches are as
 fit for dispatch as a robe1 or mantle1 
with a long train1 is for a race4       
,prefaces1 and passages1#bib and        
excusations1#bic and other speeches of  
reference to the person1 are great      
wastes of time2 and though they seem to 
proceed of modesty1 they are            
bravery4#bid ,yet beware of being too   

material when there is any impediment1  
or obstruction in men's wills2 for      
preoccupation of mind#bie ever requireth
 preface of speech1 like a fomentation  
to make the unguent enter4  ,above all  
things1 order and distribution1 and     
singling out of parts1 is the life of   
dispatch1 so as the distribution be not 
too subtile2 for he that doth not divide
 will never enter well into business2   
and he that divideth too much will never
 come out of it clearly4 ,to choose time
 is to save time2 and an unseasonable   
motion is but beating the air4 ,there be
 three parts of business1--the          
preparation2 the debate1 or examination2
 and the perfection4 ,whereof1 if you   
look for dispatch1 let the middle only  
be the work of many1 and the first and  
last the work of few4 ,the proceeding1  
upon somewhat conceived in writing1 doth
 for the most part facilitate dispatch2 
for though it should be wholly rejected1
 yet that negative is more pregnant of  
direction than an indefinite1 as ashes  

are more generative than dust4          
,,xxvi4--,,of ,,seeming ,,wise4   ,it   
hath been an opinion1 that the ,french  
are wiser than they seem1 and the       
,spaniards seem wiser than they are2 but
 howsoever it be between nations1       
certainly it is so between man and man2 
for1 as the apostle saith of godliness1 
8,having a show of godliness1 but       
denying the power thereof10#bif so      
certainly there are1 in points of wisdom
 and sufficiency1 that do nothing1 or   
little very solemnly1--8magno conatu    
nugas40#big ,it is a ridiculous thing1  
and fit for a satire to persons of      
judgment1 to see what shifts these      
formalists have1 and what prospectives  
to make superficies to seem body1 that  
hath depth and bulk4 ,some are so close 
and reserved1 as they will not show     
their wares but by a dark light1 and    
seem always to keep back somewhat2 and  
when they know within themselves they   
speak of that they do not well know1    
would nevertheless seem to others to    

know of that which they may not well    
speak4 ,some help themselves with       
countenance and gesture1 and are wise by
 signs2 as ,cicero saith of ,piso1 that 
when he answered him1 he fetched one of 
his brows up to his forehead1 and bent  
the other down to his chin3 8,respondes1
 altero ad frontem sublato1 altero ad   
mentum depresso supercilio2 crudelitatem
 tibi non placere40#bih ,some think to  
bear it by speaking a great word1 and   
being peremptory2 and go on1 and take by
 admittance that which they cannot make 
good4 ,some1 whatsoever is beyond their 
reach1 will seem to despise or make     
light of it as impertinent or curious1  
and so would have their ignorance seem  
judgment4 ,some are never without a     
difference1 and commonly by amusing men 
with a subtilty1 blanch the matter2 of  
whom ,a4 ,gellius saith1 8,hominem      
delirum1 qui verborum minutiis rerum    
frangit pondera40#bii ,of which kind    
also ,plato1 in his ,protagoras1        
bringeth in ,prodicus in scorn1 and     

maketh him make a speech that consisteth
 of distinctions from the beginning to  
the end4#cjj ,generally such men1 in all
 deliberations1 find ease to be#cja of  
the negative side1 and affect a credit  
to object and foretell difficulties2 for
 when propositions are denied1 there is 
an end of them1 but if they be allowed1 
it requireth a new work2 which false    
point of wisdom is the bane of business4
 ,to conclude1 there is no decaying     
merchant1 or inward beggar1#cjb hath so 
many tricks to uphold the credit of     
their wealth1 as these empty persons    
have to maintain the credit of their    
sufficiency4 ,seeming wise men may make 
shift to get opinion1 but let no man    
choose them for employment2 for         
certainly1 you were better take for     
business a man somewhat absurd than     
over-formal4     ,,xxvii4--,,of         
,,friendship4   ,it had been hard for   
him that spake it1 to have put more     
truth and untruth together in few words 
than in that speech3 8,whosoever is     

delighted in solitude1 is either a wild 
beast or a god30#cjc for it is most     
true1 that a natural and secret hatred  
and aversion towards society in any man 
hath somewhat of the savage beast2 but  
it is most untrue1 that it should have  
any character at all of the divine      
nature1 except it proceed1 not out of a 
pleasure in solitude1 but out of a love 
and desire to sequester a man's self for
 a higher conversation2 such as is found
 to have been falsely and feignedly in  
some of the heathen2 as ,epimenides1#cjd
 the ,candian2 ,numa1 the ,roman2       
,empedocles1 the ,sicilian2 and         
,apollonius1 of ,tyana2 and truly and   
really in divers of the ancient hermits 
and holy fathers of the church4 ,but    
little do men perceive what solitude is1
 and how far it extendeth2 for a crowd  
is not company1 and faces are but a     
gallery of pictures1 and talk but a     
tinkling cymbal1 where there is no love4
 ,the ,latin adage meeteth with it a    
little3 8,magna civitas1 magna          

solitudo30#cje because in a great town  
friends are scattered1 so that there is 
not that fellowship1 for the most part1 
which is in less neighborhoods3 but we  
may go further1 and affirm most truly1  
that it is a mere and miserable solitude
 to want true friends1 without which the
 world is but a wilderness2 and even in 
this sense also of solitude1 whosoever  
in the frame of his nature and          
affections is unfit for friendship1 he  
taketh it of the beasts1 and not from   
humanity4  ,a principal fruit of        
friendship is the ease and discharge of 
the fulness and swellings of the heart1 
which passions of all kinds do cause and
 induce4 ,we know diseases of stoppings 
and suffocations are the most dangerous 
in the body1 and it is not much         
otherwise in the mind4 ,you may take    
sarza#cjf to open the liver1 steel to   
open the spleen1 flower of sulphur for  
the lungs1 castoreum#cjg for the brain1 
but no receipt openeth the heart but a  
true friend1 to whom you may impart     

griefs1 joys1 fears1 hopes1 suspicions1 
counsels1 and whatsoever lieth upon the 
heart to oppress it1 in a kind of civil 
shrift or confession4  ,it is a strange 
thing to observe how high a rate great  
kings and monarchs do set upon this     
fruit of friendship whereof we speak2 so
 great1 as they purchase it many times  
at the hazard of their own safety and   
greatness2 for princes1 in regard of the
 distance of their fortune from that of 
their subjects and servants1 cannot     
gather this fruit1 except 7to make      
themselves capable thereof7 they raise  
some persons to be as it were           
companions1 and almost equals to        
themselves1 which many times sorteth to 
inconvenience4 ,the modern languages    
give unto such persons the name of      
favorites1 or privadoes1 as if it were  
matter of grace or conversation2 but the
 ,roman name attaineth the true use and 
cause thereof1 naming them 8participes  
curarum20#cjh for it is that which tieth
 the knot4 ,and we see plainly that this

 hath been done1 not by weak and        
passionate princes only1 but by the     
wisest and most politic that ever       
reigned1 who have oftentimes joined to  
themselves some of their servants1 whom 
both themselves have called friends1 and
 allowed others likewise to call them in
 the same manner1 using the word which  
is received between private men4  ,l4   
,sylla1 when he commanded ,rome1 raised 
,pompey 7after surnamed the ,great7 to  
that height1 that ,pompey vaunted       
himself for ,sylla's overmatch2 for when
 he had carried the consulship for a    
friend of his1 against the pursuit of   
,sylla1 and that ,sylla did a little    
resent thereat1 and began to speak      
great1 ,pompey turned upon him again1   
and1 in effect1 bade him be quiet2 for  
that more men adored the sun rising than
 the sun setting4#cji ,with ,julius     
,csar1 ,decimus ,brutus had obtained    
that interest1 as he set him down in his
 testament for heir in remainder after  
his nephew2 and this was the man that   

had power with him to draw him forth to 
his death2 for when ,csar would have    
discharged the senate1 in regard of some
 ill presages1 and specially a dream of 
,calphurnia1 this man lifted him gently 
by the arm out of his chair1 telling him
 he hoped he would not dismiss the      
senate till his wife had dreamt a better
 dream2#caj and it seemeth his favor was
 so great1 as ,antonius1 in a letter    
which is recited verbatim in one of     
,cicero's ,philippics1 calleth him      
venefica1 8witch10 as if he had         
enchanted ,csar4#caa ,augustus raised   
,agrippa 7though of mean birth7 to that 
height1 as1 when he consulted with      
,mcenas about the marriage of his       
daughter ,julia1 ,mcenas took the       
liberty to tell him1 that he must either
 marry his daughter to ,agrippa1 or take
 away his life2 there was no third way1 
he had made him so great4 ,with         
,tiberius ,csar1 ,sejanus had ascended  
to that height1 as they two were termed 
and reckoned as a pair of friends4      

,tiberius1 in a letter to him1 saith1   
8,hc pro amiciti nostr non              
occultavi20#cab and the whole senate    
dedicated an altar to ,friendship1 as to
 a goddess1 in respect of the great     
dearness of friendship between them two4
 ,the like1 or more1 was between        
,septimius ,severus and ,plautianus2 for
 he forced his eldest son to marry the  
daughter of ,plautianus1 and would often
 maintain ,plautianus in doing affronts 
to his son2 and did write1 also1 in a   
letter to the senate1 by these words3   
8,i love the man so well1 as ,i wish he 
may over-live me40#cac ,now1 if these   
princes had been as a ,trajan1 or a     
,marcus ,aurelius1 a man might have     
thought that this had proceeded of an   
abundant goodness of nature2 but being  
men so wise1#cad of such strength and   
severity of mind1 and so extreme lovers 
of themselves1 as all these were1 it    
proveth most plainly that they found    
their own felicity 7though as great as  
ever happened to mortal men7 but as an  

half-piece1 except they might have a    
friend to make it entire2 and yet1 which
 is more1 they were princes that had    
wives1 sons1 nephews2 and yet all these 
could not supply the comfort of         
friendship4  ,it is not to be forgotten 
what ,comineus#cae observeth of his     
first master1 ,duke ,charles the        
,hardy1#caf namely1 that he would       
communicate his secrets with none1 and1 
least of all1 those secrets which       
troubled him most4 ,whereupon he goeth  
on1 and saith1 that towards his latter  
time1 that closeness did impair and a   
little perish his understanding4        
,surely1 ,comineus might have made the  
same judgment1 also1 if it had pleased  
him1 of his second master1 ,louis the   
,eleventh1 whose closeness was indeed   
his tormentor4 ,the parable of          
,pythagoras is dark1 but true3 8,cor ne 
edito10 8eat not the heart40#cag        
,certainly1 if a man would give it a    
hard phrase1 those that want friends to 
open themselves unto are cannibals of   

their own hearts2 but one thing is most 
admirable 7wherewith ,i will conclude   
this first fruit of friendship71 which  
is1 that this communicating of a man's  
self to his friend works two contrary   
effects1 for it redoubleth joys1 and    
cutteth griefs in halves2 for there is  
no man that imparteth his joys to his   
friend1 but he joyeth the more2 and no  
man that imparteth his griefs to his    
friend1 but he grieveth the less4 ,so   
that it is1 in truth1 of operation upon 
a man's mind of like virtue as the      
alchemists used to attribute to their   
stone for man's body1 that it worketh   
all contrary effects1 but still to the  
good and benefit of nature4 ,but yet1   
without praying in aid of alchemists1   
there is a manifest image of this in the
 ordinary course of nature2 for1 in     
bodies1 union strengtheneth and         
cherisheth any natural action2 and1 on  
the other side1 weakeneth and dulleth   
any violent impression2 and even so it  
is of minds4  ,the second fruit of      

friendship is healthful and sovereign   
for the understanding1 as the first is  
for the affections2 for friendship      
maketh indeed a fair day in the         
affections from storm and tempests1 but 
it maketh daylight in the understanding1
 out of darkness and confusion of       
thoughts4 ,neither is this to be        
understood only of faithful counsel1    
which a man receiveth from his friend2  
but before you come to that1 certain it 
is1 that whosoever hath his mind fraught
 with many thoughts1 his wits and       
understanding do clarify and break up in
 the communicating and discoursing with 
another2 he tosseth his thoughts more   
easily2 he marshalleth them more        
orderly2 he seeth how they look when    
they are turned into words2 finally1 he 
waxeth wiser than himself2 and that more
 by an hour's discourse than by a day's 
meditation4 ,it was well said by        
,themistocles to the king of ,persia3   
8,that speech was like cloth of         
,arras1#cah opened and put abroad1      

whereby the imagery doth appear in      
figure2 whereas in thoughts they lie but
 as in packs40#cai ,neither is this     
second fruit of friendship1 in opening  
the understanding1 restrained only to   
such friends as are able to give a man  
counsel 7they indeed are best71 but even
 without that a man learneth of himself1
 and bringeth his own thoughts to light1
 and whetteth his wits as against a     
stone1 which itself cuts not4 ,in a     
word1 a man were better relate himself  
to a statue or picture1 than to suffer  
his thoughts to pass in smother4  ,add  
now1 to make this second fruit of       
friendship complete1 that other point   
which lieth more open1 and falleth      
within vulgar observation2 which is     
faithful counsel from a friend4         
,heraclitus saith well1 in one of his   
enigmas1 8,dry light is ever the        
best20#cbj and certain it is1 that the  
light that a man receiveth by counsel   
from another1 is drier and purer than   
that which cometh from his own          

understanding and judgment1 which is    
ever infused and drenched in his        
affections and customs4 ,so1 as there is
 as much difference between the counsel 
that a friend giveth1 and that a man    
giveth himself1 as there is between the 
counsel of a friend and of a flatterer2 
for there is no such flatterer as is a  
man's self1 and there is no such remedy 
against flattery of a man's self1 as the
 liberty of a friend4 ,counsel is of two
 sorts1--the one concerning manners1 the
 other concerning business2 for the     
first1 the best preservative to keep the
 mind in health1 is the faithful        
admonition of a friend4 ,the calling of 
a man's self to a strict account is a   
medicine sometimes too piercing and     
corrosive2 reading good books of        
morality is a little flat and dead2     
observing our faults in others is       
sometimes improper for our case2 but the
 best receipt 7best1 ,i say1 to work1   
and best to take71 is the admonition of 
a friend4 ,it is a strange thing to     

behold what gross errors and extreme    
absurdities many 7especially of the     
greater sort7 do commit for want of a   
friend to tell them of them1 to the     
great damage both of their fame and     
fortune2 for1 as ,st4 ,james saith1 they
 are as men 8that look sometimes into a 
glass1 and presently forget their own   
shape and favor40#cba ,as for business1 
a man may think1 if he will1 that two   
eyes see no more than one2 or1 that a   
gamester seeth always more than a       
looker-on2 or1 that a man in anger is as
 wise as he that has said over the four 
and twenty letters2#cbb or1 that a      
musket may be shot off as well upon the 
arm as upon a rest2#cbc and such other  
fond and high imaginations1 to think    
himself all in all2 but when all is     
done1 the help of good counsel is that  
which setteth business straight4 ,and if
 any man think that he will take        
counsel1 but it shall be by pieces1     
asking counsel in one business of one   
man1 and in another business of another 

man2 it is well 7that is to say1 better1
 perhaps1 than if he asked none at all72
 but he runneth two dangers1--one1 that 
he shall not be faithfully counselled2  
for it is a rare thing1 except it be    
from a perfect and entire friend1 to    
have counsel given1 but such as shall be
 bowed and crooked to some ends which he
 hath that giveth it2 the other1 that he
 shall have counsel given1 hurtful and  
unsafe 7though with good meaning71 and  
mixed partly of mischief1 and partly of 
remedy2 even as if you would call a     
physician1 that is thought good for the 
cure of the disease you complain of1 but
 is unacquainted with your body2 and1   
therefore1 may put you in a way for a   
present cure1 but overthroweth your     
health in some other kind1 and so cure  
the disease and kill the patient4 ,but a
 friend1 that is wholly acquainted with 
a man's estate1 will beware1 by         
furthering any present business1 how he 
dasheth upon other inconvenience2 and1  
therefore1 rest not upon scattered      

counsels2 they will rather distract and 
mislead1 than settle and direct4  ,after
 these two noble fruits of friendship   
7peace in the affections1 and support of
 the judgment71 followeth the last      
fruit1 which is like the pomegranate1   
full of many kernels2 ,i mean aid1 and  
bearing a part in all actions and       
occasions4 ,here the best way to        
represent to life the manifold use of   
friendship1 is to cast and see how many 
things there are which a man cannot do  
himself2 and then it will appear that it
 was a sparing speech of the ancients to
 say1 8that a friend is another         
himself10 for that a friend is far more 
than himself4 ,men have their time1 and 
die many times in desire of some things 
which they principally take to heart2   
the bestowing of a child1 the finishing 
of a work1 or the like4 ,if a man have a
 true friend1 he may rest almost secure 
that the care of those things will      
continue after him2 so that a man hath1 
as it were1 two lives in his desires4 ,a

 man hath a body1 and that body is      
confined to a place2 but where          
friendship is1 all offices of life are1 
as it were1 granted to him and his      
deputy1 for he may exercise them by his 
friend4 ,how many things are there1     
which a man cannot1 with any face or    
comeliness1 say or do himself8 ,a man   
can scarce allege his own merits with   
modesty1 much less extol them2 a man    
cannot sometimes brook to supplicate1 or
 beg1 and a number of the like2 but all 
these things are graceful in a friend's 
mouth1 which are blushing in a man's    
own4 ,so1 again1 a man's person hath    
many proper relations which he cannot   
put off4 ,a man cannot speak to his son 
but as a father2 to his wife but as a   
husband2 to his enemy but upon terms2   
whereas1 a friend may speak as the case 
requires1 and not as it sorteth with the
 person4 ,but to enumerate these things 
were endless2 ,i have given the rule1   
where a man cannot fitly play his own   
part4 ,if he have not a friend1 he may  

quit the stage4     ,,xxviii4--,,of     
,,expense4   ,riches are for spending1  
and spending for honor and good actions2
 therefore1 extraordinary expense must  
be limited by the worth of the occasion2
 for voluntary undoing may be as well   
for a man's country as for the kingdom  
of heaven2 but ordinary expense ought to
 be limited by a man's estate1 and      
governed with such regard1 as it be     
within his compass1 and not subject to  
deceit and abuse of servants1 and       
ordered to the best show1 that the bills
 may be less than the estimation abroad4
 ,certainly1 if a man will keep but of  
even hand1 his ordinary expenses ought  
to be but to the half of his receipts2  
and1 if he think to wax rich1 but to the
 third part4 ,it is no baseness for the 
greatest to descend and look into their 
own estate4 ,some forbear it1 not upon  
negligence alone1 but doubting to bring 
themselves into melancholy1 in respect  
they shall find it broken2 but wounds   
cannot be cured without searching4 ,he  

that cannot look into his own estate at 
all1 had need both choose well those    
whom he employeth1 and change them      
often2 for new are more timorous1 and   
less subtle4 ,he that can look into his 
estate but seldom1 it behooveth him to  
turn all to certainties4 ,a man had     
need1 if he be plentiful in some kind of
 expense1 to be as saving again in some 
other3 as1 if he be plentiful in diet1  
to be saving in apparel2 if he be       
plentiful in the hall1 to be saving in  
the stable2 and the like4 ,for he that  
is plentiful in expenses of all kinds1  
will hardly be preserved from decay4 ,in
 clearing#cbd of a man's estate1 he may 
as well hurt himself in being too       
sudden1 as in letting it run on too     
long2 for hasty selling is commonly as  
disadvantageable as interest4 ,besides1 
he that clears at once will relapse2    
for1 finding himself out of straits1 he 
will revert to his customs2 but he that 
cleareth by degrees induceth a habit of 
frugality1 and gaineth as well upon his 

mind as upon his estate4 ,certainly1 who
 hath a state to repair1 may not despise
 small things2 and1 commonly1 it is less
 dishonorable to abridge petty charges1 
than to stoop to petty gettings4 ,a man 
ought warily to begin charges1 which    
once begun will continue2 but in matters
 that return not1 he may be more        
magnificent4     ,,xxix4--,,of ,,the    
,,true ,,greatness ,,of ,,kingdoms ,,and
 ,,estates4   ,the speech of            
,themistocles1 the ,athenian1 which was 
haughty and arrogant1 in taking so much 
to himself1 had been a grave and wise   
observation and censure1 applied at     
large to others4 ,desired at a feast to 
touch a lute1 he said1 8,he could not   
fiddle1 but yet he could make a small   
town a great city40#cbe ,these words    
7holpen a little with a metaphor7 may   
express two different abilities in those
 that deal in business of estate2 for if
 a true survey be taken of counsellors  
and statesmen1 there may be found       
7though rarely7 those which can make a  

small state great1 and yet cannot       
fiddle3 as1 on the other side there will
 be found a great many that can fiddle  
very cunningly1 but yet are so far from 
being able to make a small state great1 
as their gift lieth the other way1--to  
bring a great and flourishing estate to 
ruin and decay4 ,and certainly1 those   
degenerate arts and shifts1 whereby many
 counsellors and governors gain both    
favor with their masters and estimation 
with the vulgar1 deserve no better name 
than fiddling2 being things rather      
pleasing for the time1 and graceful to  
themselves only1 than tending to the    
weal and advancement of the state which 
they serve4 ,there are also 7no doubt7  
counsellors and governors which may be  
held sufficient1 8negotiis pares10#cbf  
able to manage affairs1 and to keep them
 from precipices and manifest           
inconveniences2 which1 nevertheless1 are
 far from the ability to raise and      
amplify an estate in power1 means1 and  
fortune4 ,but be the workmen what they  

may be1 let us speak of the work2 that  
is1 the true greatness of kingdoms and  
estates1 and the means thereof4 ,an     
argument fit for great and mighty       
princes to have in their hand2 to the   
end1 that neither by overmeasuring their
 forces1 they lose themselves in vain   
enterprises3 nor1 on the other side1 by 
undervaluing them1 they descend to      
fearful and pusillanimous counsels4     
,the greatness of an estate1 in bulk and
 territory1 doth fall under measure2 and
 the greatness of finances and revenue  
doth fall under computation4 ,the       
population may appear by musters1 and   
the number and greatness of cities and  
towns by cards and maps2 but yet there  
is not anything amongst civil affairs   
more subject to error than the right    
valuation and true judgment concerning  
the power and forces of an estate4 ,the 
kingdom of heaven is compared1 not to   
any great kernel1 or nut1 but to a grain
 of mustard-seed2#cbg which is one of   
the least grains1 but hath in it a      

property and spirit hastily to get up   
and spread4 ,so are there states great  
in territory1 and yet not apt to enlarge
 or command2 and some that have but a   
small dimension of stem1 and yet apt to 
be the foundations of great monarchies4 
,walled towns1 stored arsenals and      
armories1 goodly races of horse1        
chariots of war1 elephants1 ordnance1   
artillery1 and the like2 all this is but
 a sheep in a lion's skin1 except the   
breed and disposition of the people be  
stout and warlike4 ,nay1 number itself  
in armies importeth not much1 where the 
people is of weak courage2 for1 as      
,virgil saith1 8,it never troubles a    
wolf how many the sheep be40#cbh ,the   
army of the ,persians in the plains of  
,arbela was such a vast sea of people1  
as it did somewhat astonish the         
commanders in ,alexander's army1 who    
came to him1 therefore1 and wished him  
to set upon them by night2 but he       
answered1 8,he would not pilfer the     
victory20 and the defeat was            

easy4#cbi--,when ,tigranes1#ccj the     
,armenian1 being encamped upon a hill   
with four hundred thousand men1         
discovered the army of the ,romans1     
being not above fourteen thousand1      
marching towards him1 he made himself   
merry with it1 and said1 8,yonder men   
are too many for an ambassage1 and too  
few for a fight20 but before the sun    
set1 he found them enow to give him the 
chase with infinite slaughter4 ,many are
 the examples of the great odds between 
number and courage2 so that a man may   
truly make a judgment1 that the         
principal point of greatness in any     
state is to have a race of military men4
 ,neither is money the sinews of war 7as
 it is trivially said71 where the sinews
 of men's arms1 in base and effeminate  
people1 are failing3 for ,solon said    
well to ,crsus 7when in ostentation he  
showed him his gold71 8,sir1 if any     
other come that hath better iron than   
you1 he will be master of all this      
gold40 ,therefore1 let any prince or    

state1 think soberly of his forces1     
except his militia of natives be of good
 and valiant soldiers2 and let princes1 
on the other side1 that have subjects of
 martial disposition1 know their own    
strength1 unless they be otherwise      
wanting unto themselves4 ,as for        
mercenary forces 7which is the help in  
this case71 all examples show that1     
whatsoever estate or prince doth rest   
upon them1 he may spread his feathers   
for a time1 but he will mew them soon   
after4  ,the blessing of ,judah and     
,issachar#cca will never meet2 that the 
same people1 or nation1 should be both  
the lion's whelp and the ass between    
burdens2 neither will it be1 that a     
people overlaid with taxes should ever  
become valiant and martial4 ,it is true 
that taxes1 levied by consent of the    
estate1 do abate men's courage less2 as 
it hath been seen notably in the excises
 of the ,low ,countries1 and1 in some   
degree1 in the subsidies#ccb of         
,england2 for1 you must note1 that we   

speak now of the heart1 and not of the  
purse2 so that1 although the same       
tribute and tax1 laid by consent or by  
imposing1 be all one to the purse1 yet  
it works diversely upon the courage4 ,so
 that you may conclude1 that no people  
overcharged with tribute is fit for     
empire4  ,let states that aim at        
greatness take heed how their nobility  
and gentlemen do multiply too fast2 for 
that maketh the common subject grow to  
be a peasant and base swain1 driven out 
of heart1 and1 in effect1 but the       
gentleman's laborer4 ,even as you may   
see in coppice woods2 if you leave your 
staddles#ccc too thick1 you shall never 
have clean underwood1 but shrubs and    
bushes4 ,so in countries1 if the        
gentlemen be too many1 the commons will 
be base2 and you will bring it to that1 
that not the hundred poll will be fit   
for a helmet1 especially as to the      
infantry1 which is the nerve of an army2
 and so there will be great population  
and little strength4 ,this which ,i     

speak of1 hath been nowhere better seen 
than by comparing of ,england and       
,france2 whereof ,england1 though far   
less in territory and population1 hath  
been1 nevertheless1 an overmatch2 in    
regard1 the middle people of ,england   
make good soldiers1 which the peasants  
of ,france do not4 ,and herein the      
device of ,king ,henry the ,seventh     
7whereof ,i have spoken largely in the  
history of his life7 was profound and   
admirable2 in making farms and houses of
 husbandry of a standard1 that is1      
maintained with such a proportion of    
land unto them as may breed a subject to
 live in convenient plenty1 and no      
servile condition1 and to keep the      
plough in the hands of the owners1 and  
not mere hirelings2 and thus1 indeed1   
you shall attain to ,virgil's character1
 which he gives to ancient ,italy3--    
8,terra potens armis atque ubere        
gleb40#ccd  ,neither is that state      
7which1 for anything ,i know1 is almost 
peculiar to ,england1 and hardly to be  

found anywhere else1 except it be1      
perhaps1 in ,poland71 to be passed over2
 ,i mean the state of free servants and 
attendants upon noblemen and gentlemen1 
which are noways inferior unto the      
yeomanry for arms2 and1 therefore1 out  
of all question1 the splendor and       
magnificence1 and great retinues1 and   
hospitality of noblemen and gentlemen   
received into custom1 do much conduce   
unto martial greatness2 whereas1        
contrariwise1 the close and reserved    
living of noblemen and gentlemen causeth
 a penury of military forces4  ,by all  
means1 it is to be procured that the    
trunk of ,nebuchadnezzar's tree of      
monarchy#cce be great enough to bear the
 branches and the boughs2 that is1 that 
the natural subjects of the crown1 or   
state1 bear a sufficient proportion to  
the stranger subjects that they govern4 
,therefore1 all states that are liberal 
of naturalization towards strangers are 
fit for empire2 for to think that a     
handful of people can1 with the greatest

 courage and policy in the world1       
embrace too large extent of dominion1 it
 may hold for a time1 but it will fail  
suddenly4 ,the ,spartans were a nice    
people in point of naturalization2      
whereby1 while they kept their compass1 
they stood firm2 but when they did      
spread1 and their boughs were becoming  
too great for their stem1 they became a 
windfall upon the sudden4 ,never any    
state was1 in this point1 so open to    
receive strangers into their body as    
were the ,romans2 therefore1 it sorted  
with them accordingly1 for they grew to 
the greatest monarchy4 ,their manner was
 to grant naturalization 7which they    
called 8jus civitatis071#ccf and to     
grant it in the highest degree1 that is1
 not only 8jus commercii10#ccg 8jus     
connubii10#cch 8jus hreditatis20#cci    
but1 also1 8jus suffragii10#cdj and 8jus
 honorum20#cda and this not to singular 
persons alone1 but likewise to whole    
families2 yea1 to cities and sometimes  
to nations4 ,add to this their custom of

 plantation of colonies1 whereby the    
,roman plant was removed into the soil  
of other nations1 and1 putting both     
constitutions together1 you will say1   
that it was not the ,romans that spread 
upon the world1 but it was the world    
that spread upon the ,romans2 and that  
was the sure way of greatness4 ,i have  
marvelled sometimes at ,spain1 how they 
clasp and contain so large dominions    
with so few natural ,spaniards2#cdb but 
sure the whole compass of ,spain is a   
very great body of a tree1 far above    
,rome and ,sparta at the first2 and1    
besides1 though they have not had that  
usage to naturalize liberally1 yet they 
have that which is next to it2 that is1 
to employ1 almost indifferently1 all    
nations in their militia of ordinary    
soldiers2 yea1 and sometimes in their   
highest commands2 nay1 it seemeth at    
this instant they are sensible of this  
want of natives1 as by the pragmatical  
sanction1#cdc now published1 appeareth4 
,it is certain that sedentary and       

within-door arts1 and delicate          
manufactures 7that require rather the   
finger than the arm71 have in their     
nature a contrariety to a military      
disposition2 and1 generally1 all warlike
 people are a little idle1 and love     
danger better than travail2 neither must
 they be too much broken of it1 if they 
shall be preserved in vigor4 ,therefore1
 it was great advantage in the ancient  
states of ,sparta1 ,athens1 ,rome1 and  
others1 that they had the use of slaves1
 which commonly did rid those           
manufactures2 but that is abolished1 in 
greatest part1 by the ,christian law4   
,that which cometh nearest to it is1 to 
leave those arts chiefly to strangers   
7which1 for that purpose1 are the more  
easily to be received71 and to contain  
the principal bulk of the vulgar natives
 within those three kinds1 tillers of   
the ground1 free servants1 and          
handicraftsmen of strong and manly arts2
 as smiths1 masons1 carpenters1 c41 not 
reckoning professed soldiers4  ,but1    

above all1 for empire and greatness1 it 
importeth most1 that a nation do profess
 arms as their principal honor1 study1  
and occupation2 for the things which we 
formerly have spoken of are but         
habilitations#cdd towards arms2 and what
 is habilitation without intention and  
act8 ,romulus1 after his death 7as they 
report or feign71 sent a present to the 
,romans1 that1 above all1 they should   
intend#cde arms1 and then they should   
prove the greatest empire of the world4 
,the fabric of the state of ,sparta was 
wholly 7though not wisely7 framed and   
composed to that scope and end2 the     
,persians and ,macedonians had it for a 
flash2#cdf the ,gauls1 ,germans1 ,goths1
 ,saxons1 ,normans1 and others1 had it  
for a time2 the ,turks have it at this  
day1 though in great declination4 ,of   
,christian ,europe1 they that have it   
are in effect only the ,spaniards2 but  
it is so plain1 that every man profiteth
 in that he most intendeth1 that it     
needeth not to be stood upon4 ,it is    

enough to point at it1 that no nation   
which doth not directly profess arms1   
may look to have greatness fall into    
their mouths2 and1 on the other side1 it
 is a most certain oracle of time1 that 
those states that continue long in that 
profession 7as the ,romans and ,turks   
principally have done71 do wonders2 and 
those that have professed arms but for  
an age have1 notwithstanding1 commonly  
attained that greatness in that age     
which maintained them long after1 when  
their profession and exercise of arms   
had grown to decay4  ,incident to this  
point is1 for a state to have those laws
 or customs which may reach forth unto  
them just occasions 7as may be          
pretended7 of war2 for there is that    
justice imprinted in the nature of men1 
that they enter not upon wars 7whereof  
so many calamities do ensue71 but upon  
some1 at the least specious grounds and 
quarrels4 ,the ,turk hath at hand1 for  
cause of war1 the propagation of his law
 or sect1 a quarrel that he may always  

command4 ,the ,romans1 though they      
esteemed the extending the limits of    
their empire to be great honor to their 
generals when it was done1 yet they     
never rested upon that alone to begin a 
war4 ,first1 therefore1 let nations that
 pretend to greatness have this1 that   
they be sensible of wrongs1 either upon 
borderers1 merchants1 or politic        
ministers2 and that they sit not too    
long upon a provocation3 secondly1 let  
them be pressed1#cdg and ready to give  
aids and succors to their confederates1 
as it ever was with the ,romans2        
insomuch1 as if the confederate had     
leagues defensive with divers other     
states1 and1 upon invasion offered1 did 
implore their aids severally1 yet the   
,romans would ever be the foremost1 and 
leave it to none other to have the      
honor4 ,as for the wars1 which were     
anciently made on the behalf of a kind  
of party1 or tacit conformity of estate1
 ,i do not see how they may be well     
justified3 as when the ,romans made a   

war for the liberty of ,grcia2 or1 when 
the ,lacedmonians and ,athenians made   
wars to set up or pull down democracies 
and oligarchies2 or when wars were made 
by foreigners1 under the pretence of    
justice or protection1 to deliver the   
subjects of others from tyranny and     
oppression1 and the like4 ,let it       
suffice1 that no estate expect to be    
great1 that is not awake upon any just  
occasion of arming4  ,nobody can be     
healthful without exercise1 neither     
natural body nor politic2 and1          
certainly1 to a kingdom1 or estate1 a   
just and honorable war is the true      
exercise4 ,a civil war1 indeed1 is like 
the heat of a fever2 but a foreign war  
is like the heat of exercise1 and       
serveth to keep the body in health2 for1
 in a slothful peace1 both courages will
 effeminate and manners corrupt4 ,but1  
howsoever it be for happiness1 without  
all question for greatness1 it maketh to
 be still1 for the most part1 in arms2  
and the strength of a veteran army      

7though it be a chargeable business7    
always on foot1 is that which commonly  
giveth the law1 or1 at least1 the       
reputation amongst all neighbor states1 
as may well be seen in ,spain1#cdh which
 hath had1 in one part or other1 a      
veteran army1 almost continually1 now by
 the space of sixscore years4  ,to be   
master of the sea is an abridgment of a 
monarchy4 ,cicero1 writing to ,atticus1 
of ,pompey's preparation against ,csar1 
saith1 8,consilium ,pompeii plane       
,themistocleum est2 putat enim1 qui mari
 potitur1 eum rerum potiri2#cdi and1    
without doubt1 ,pompey had tired out    
,csar1 if upon vain confidence he had   
not left that way4 ,we see the great    
effects of battles by sea4 ,the battle  
of ,actium decided the empire of the    
world3 the battle of ,lepanto arrested  
the greatness of the ,turk4 ,there be   
many examples where sea-fights have been
 final to the war2 but this is when     
princes1 or states1 have set up their   
rest upon the battles4 ,but thus much is

 certain1 that he that commands the sea 
is at great liberty1 and may take as    
much and as little of the war as he     
will2 whereas1 those that be strongest  
by land are many times1 nevertheless1 in
 great straits4 ,surely1 at this day1   
with us of ,europe1 the vantage of      
strength at sea 7which is one of the    
principal dowries of this kingdom of    
,great ,britain7 is great2 both because 
most of the kingdoms of ,europe are not 
merely inland1 but girt with the sea    
most part of their compass2 and because 
the wealth of both ,indies seems1 in    
great part1 but an accessary to the     
command of the seas4  ,the wars of      
latter ages seem to be made in the dark1
 in respect of the glory and honor which
 reflected upon men from the wars in    
ancient time4 ,there be now1 for martial
 encouragement1 some degrees and orders 
of chivalry1 which1 nevertheless1 are   
conferred promiscuously upon soldiers   
and no soldiers2 and some remembrance1  
perhaps1 upon the escutcheon1 and some  

hospitals for maimed soldiers1 and such 
like things2 but in ancient times1 the  
trophies erected upon the place of the  
victory2 the funeral laudatives1#cej and
 monuments for those that died in the   
wars2 the crowns and garlands personal2 
the style of emperor which the great    
kings of the world after borrowed2 the  
triumphs of the generals upon their     
return2 the great donatives and         
largesses upon the disbanding of the    
armies2 were things able to inflame all 
men's courages4 ,but1 above all1 that of
 the triumph amongst the ,romans was not
 pageants or gaudery1 but one of the    
wisest and noblest institutions that    
ever was2 for it contained three things3
 honor to the general1 riches to the    
treasury out of the spoils1 and         
donatives to the army4 ,but that honor1 
perhaps1 were not fit for monarchies1   
except it be in the person of the       
monarch himself1 or his sons2 as it came
 to pass in the times of the ,roman     
emperors1 who did impropriate the actual

 triumphs to themselves and their sons1 
for such wars as they did achieve in    
person1 and left only for wars achieved 
by subjects1 some triumphal garments and
 ensigns to the general4  ,to conclude4 
,no man can by care-taking 7as the      
,scripture saith7 8add a cubit to his   
stature10#cea in this little model of a 
man's body2 but in the great frame of   
kingdoms and commonwealths1 it is in the
 power of princes1 or estates1 to add   
amplitude and greatness to their        
kingdom2 for1 by introducing such       
ordinances1 constitutions1 and customs1 
as we have now touched1 they may sow    
greatness to their posterity and        
succession3 but these things are        
commonly not observed1 but left to take 
their chance4     ,,xxx4--,,of ,,regimen
 ,,of ,,health4   ,there is a wisdom in 
this beyond the rules of physic4 ,a     
man's own observation1 what he finds    
good of1 and what he finds hurt of1 is  
the best physic to preserve health2 but 
it is a safer conclusion to say1 8,this 

agreeth not well with me1 therefore ,i  
will not continue it20 than this1 8,i   
find no offence of this1 therefore ,i   
may use it20 for strength of nature in  
youth passeth over many excesses which  
are owing#ceb a man till his age4       
,discern of the coming on of years1 and 
think not to do the same things still2  
for age will not be defied4 ,beware of  
sudden change in any great point of     
diet1 and1 if necessity enforce it1 fit 
the rest to it2 for it is a secret both 
in nature and state1 that it is safer to
 change many things than one4 ,examine  
thy customs of diet1 sleep1 exercise1   
apparel1 and the like2 and try1 in any  
thing thou shalt judge hurtful1 to      
discontinue it by little and little2 but
 so1 as if thou dost find any           
inconvenience by the change1 thou come  
back to it again2 for it is hard to     
distinguish that which is generally held
 good and wholesome1 from that which is 
good particularly1#cec and fit for thine
 own body4 ,to be free-minded and       

cheerfully disposed at hours of meat1   
and of sleep1 and of exercise1 is one of
 the best precepts of long lasting4 ,as 
for the passions and studies of the     
mind1 avoid envy1 anxious fears1 anger  
fretting inwards1 subtle and knotty     
inquisitions1 joys1 and exhilarations in
 excess1 sadness not communicated4      
,entertain hopes1 mirth rather than joy1
 variety of delights1 rather than       
surfeit of them2 wonder and admiration1 
and therefore novelties2 studies that   
fill the mind with splendid and         
illustrious objects1 as histories1      
fables1 and contemplations of nature4   
,if you fly physic in health altogether1
 it will be too strange for your body   
when you shall need it2 if you make it  
too familiar1 it will work no           
extraordinary effect when sickness      
cometh4 ,i commend rather some diet1 for
 certain seasons1 than frequent use of  
physic1 except it be grown into a       
custom2 for those diets alter the body  
more1 and trouble it less4 ,despise no  

new accident#ced in your body1 but ask  
opinion#cee of it4 ,in sickness1 respect
 health principally2 and in health1     
action2 for those that put their bodies 
to endure in health1 may1 in most       
sicknesses which are not very sharp1 be 
cured only with diet and tendering4     
,celsus could never have spoken it as a 
physician1 had he not been a wise man   
withal1 when he giveth it for one of the
 great precepts of health and lasting1  
that a man do vary and interchange      
contraries1 but with an inclination to  
the more benign extreme4 ,use fasting   
and full eating1 but rather full        
eating2#cef watching and sleep1 but     
rather sleep2 sitting and exercise1 but 
rather exercise1 and the like2 so shall 
nature be cherished1 and yet taught     
masteries4#ceg ,physicians are some of  
them so pleasing and conformable to the 
humor of the patient1 as they press not 
the true cure of the disease2 and some  
other are so regular in proceeding      
according to art for the disease1 as    

they respect not sufficiently the       
condition of the patient4 ,take one of a
 middle temper2 or1 if it may not be    
found in one man1 combine two of either 
sort2 and forget not to call as well the
 best acquainted with your body1 as the 
best reputed of for his faculty4        
,,xxxi4--,,of ,,suspicion4   ,suspicions
 amongst thoughts are like bats amongst 
birds1 they ever fly by twilight4       
,certainly they are to be repressed1 or 
at the least well guarded2 for they     
cloud the mind1 they lose friends1 and  
they check with business1 whereby       
business cannot go on currently and     
constantly4 ,they dispose kings to      
tyranny1 husbands to jealousy1 wise men 
to irresolution and melancholy4 ,they   
are defects1 not in the heart but in the
 brain2 for they take place in the      
stoutest natures1 as in the example of  
,henry the ,seventh of ,england4 ,there 
was not a more suspicious man1 nor a    
more stout1 and in such a composition   
they do small hurt2 for commonly they   

are not admitted1 but with examination1 
whether they be likely or no2 but in    
fearful natures they gain ground too    
fast4 ,there is nothing makes a man     
suspect much1 more than to know little2 
and1 therefore1 men should remedy       
suspicion by procuring to know more1 and
 not to keep their suspicions in        
smother4 ,what would men have8 ,do they 
think those they employ and deal with   
are saints8 ,do they not think they will
 have their own ends1 and be truer to   
themselves than to them8 ,therefore1    
there is no better way to moderate      
suspicions1 than to account upon such   
suspicions as true1 and yet to bridle   
them as false3#ceh for so far a man     
ought to make use of suspicions as to   
provide1 as if that should be true that 
he suspects1 yet it may do him no hurt4 
,suspicions that the mind of itself     
gathers are but buzzes2 but suspicions  
that are artificially nourished1 and put
 into men's heads by the tales and      
whisperings of others1 have stings4     

,certainly1 the best mean1 to clear the 
way in this same wood of suspicions1 is 
frankly to communicate them with the    
party that he suspects3 for thereby he  
shall be sure to know more of the truth 
of them than he did before2 and1 withal1
 shall make that party more circumspect1
 not to give further cause of suspicion4
 ,but this would not be done to men of  
base natures2 for they1 if they find    
themselves once suspected1 will never be
 true4 ,the ,italian says1 8,sospetto   
licentia fede20#cei as if suspicion did 
give a passport to faith2 but it ought  
rather to kindle it to discharge itself4
     ,,xxxii4--,,of ,,discourse4   ,some
 in their discourse desire rather       
commendation of wit1 in being able to   
hold all arguments1#cfj than of         
judgment1 in discerning what is true2 as
 if it were a praise to know what might 
be said and not what should be thought4 
,some have certain commonplaces and     
themes1 wherein they are good1 and want 
variety2 which kind of poverty is for   

the most part tedious1 and1 when it is  
once perceived1 ridiculous4 ,the        
honorablest part of talk is to give the 
occasion1#cfa and again to moderate and 
pass to somewhat else2 for then a man   
leads the dance4 ,it is good in         
discourse1 and speech of conversation1  
to vary and intermingle speech of the   
present occasion with arguments1 tales  
with reasons1 asking of questions with  
telling of opinions1 and jest with      
earnest2 for it is a dull thing to tire1
 and1 as we say now1 to jade any thing  
too far4 ,as for jest1 there be certain 
things which ought to be privileged from
 it2 namely1 religion1 matters of state1
 great persons1 any man's present       
business of importance1 and any case    
that deserveth pity2 yet there be some  
that think their wits have been asleep1 
except they dart out somewhat that is   
piquant1 and to the quick2 that is a    
vein which would be bridled3#cfb--      
8,parce1 puer1 stimulis1 et fortius     
utere loris40#cfc  ,and1 generally1 men 

ought to find the difference between    
saltness and bitterness4 ,certainly1 he 
that hath a satirical vein1 as he maketh
 others afraid of his wit1 so he had    
need be afraid of others' memory4 ,he   
that questioneth much1 shall learn much1
 and content much1 but especially if he 
apply his questions to the skill of the 
persons whom he asketh3 for he shall    
give them occasion to please themselves 
in speaking1 and himself shall          
continually gather knowledge2 but let   
his questions not be troublesome1 for   
that is fit for a poser4#cfd ,and let   
him be sure to leave other men their    
turns to speak2 nay1 if there be any    
that would reign and take up all the    
time1 let him find means to take them   
off1 and to bring others on1 as         
musicians used to do with those that    
dance too long galliards4#cfe ,if you   
dissemble sometimes your knowledge of   
that you are thought to know1 you shall 
be thought1 another time1 to know that  
you know not4 ,speech of a man's self   

ought to be seldom1 and well chosen4 ,i 
knew one was wont to say in scorn1 8,he 
must needs be a wise man1 he speaks so  
much of himself20 and there is but one  
case wherein a man may commend himself  
with good grace1 and that is in         
commending virtue in another1 especially
 if it be such a virtue whereunto       
himself pretendeth4 ,speech of touch#cff
 towards others should be sparingly     
used2 for discourse ought to be as a    
field1 without coming home to any man4  
,i knew two noblemen1 of the west part  
of ,england1 whereof the one was given  
to scoff1 but kept ever royal cheer in  
his house2 the other would ask of those 
that had been at the other's table1     
8,tell truly1 was there never a         
flout#cfg or dry blow#cfh given80 ,to   
which the guest would answer1 8,such and
 such a thing passed40 ,the lord would  
say1 8,i thought he would mar a good    
dinner40 ,discretion of speech is more  
than eloquence2 and to speak agreeably  
to him with whom we deal1 is more than  

to speak in good words1 or in good      
order4 ,a good continued speech1 without
 a good speech of interlocution1 shows  
slowness2 and a good reply1 or second   
speech1 without a good settled speech1  
showeth shallowness and weakness4 ,as we
 see in beasts1 that those that are     
weakest in the course1 are yet nimblest 
in the turn2 as it is betwixt the       
greyhound and the hare4 ,to use too many
 circumstances1 ere one come to the     
matter1 is wearisome2 to use none at    
all1 is blunt4     ,,xxxiii4--,,of      
,,plantations4#cfi   ,plantations are   
amongst ancient1 primitive1 and heroical
 works4 ,when the world was young1 it   
begat more children2 but now it is old1 
it begets fewer2 for ,i may justly      
account new plantations to be the       
children of former kingdoms4 ,i like a  
plantation in a pure soil2 that is1     
where people are not displanted1#cgj to 
the end to plant in others2 for else it 
is rather an extirpation than a         
plantation4 ,planting of countries is   

like planting of woods2 for you must    
make account to lose almost twenty      
years' profit1 and expect your          
recompense in the end2 for the principal
 thing that hath been the destruction of
 most plantations1 hath been the base   
and hasty drawing of profit in the first
 years4 ,it is true1 speedy profit is   
not to be neglected1 as far as may stand
 with the good of the plantation1 but no
 further4 ,it is a shameful and         
unblessed thing#cga to take the scum of 
people and wicked condemned men1 to be  
the people with whom you plant2 and not 
only so1 but it spoileth the plantation2
 for they will ever live like rogues1   
and not fall to work2 but be lazy1 and  
do mischief1 and spend victuals1 and be 
quickly weary1 and then certify over to 
their country to the discredit of the   
plantation4 ,the people wherewith you   
plant ought to be gardeners1 ploughmen1 
laborers1 smiths1 carpenters1 joiners1  
fishermen1 fowlers1 with some few       
apothecaries1 surgeons1 cooks1 and      

bakers4 ,in a country of plantations1   
first look about what kind of victual   
the country yields of itself to hand2 as
 chestnuts1 walnuts1 pine-apples1       
olives1 dates1 plums1 cherries1 wild    
honey1 and the like1 and make use of    
them4 ,then consider what victual1 or   
esculent things there are1 which grow   
speedily1 and within the year2 as       
parsnips1 carrots1 turnips1 onions1     
radish1 artichokes of ,jerusalem1 maize1
 and the like4 ,for wheat1 barley1 and  
oats1 they ask too much labor2 but with 
pease and beans you may begin1 both     
because they ask less labor1 and because
 they serve for meat as well as for     
bread2 and of rice1 likewise1 cometh a  
great increase1 and it is a kind of     
meat4 ,above all1 there ought to be     
brought store of biscuit1 oatmeal1      
flour1 meal1 and the like1 in the       
beginning1 till bread may be had4 ,for  
beasts1 or birds1 take chiefly such as  
are least subject to diseases1 and      
multiply fastest2 as swine1 goats1      

cocks1 hens1 turkeys1 geese1            
house-doves1 and the like4 ,the victual 
in plantations ought to be expended     
almost as in a besieged town1 that is1  
with certain allowance2 and let the main
 part of the ground employed to gardens 
or corn1 be to a common stock2 and to be
 laid in1 and stored up1 and then       
delivered out in proportion2 besides    
some spots of ground that any particular
 person will manure for his own private 
use4 ,consider1 likewise1 what          
commodities the soil where the          
plantation is doth naturally yield1 that
 they may some way help to defray the   
charge of the plantation2 so it be not1 
as was said1 to the untimely prejudice  
of the main business1 as it hath fared  
with tobacco in ,virginia4#cgb ,wood    
commonly aboundeth but too much2 and    
therefore timber is fit to be one4 ,if  
there be iron ore1 and streams whereupon
 to set the mills1 iron is a brave      
commodity where wood aboundeth4 ,making 
of bay-salt1 if the climate be proper   

for it1 would be put in experience2     
growing silk1 likewise1 if any be1 is a 
likely commodity2 pitch and tar1 where  
store of firs and pines are1 will not   
fail2 so drugs and sweet woods1 where   
they are1 cannot but yield great profit2
 soap-ashes1 likewise1 and other things 
that may be thought of2 but moil#cgc not
 too much under ground1 for the hope of 
mines is very uncertain1 and useth to   
make the planters lazy in other things4 
,for government1 let it be in the hands 
of one1 assisted with some counsel2 and 
let them have commission to exercise    
martial laws1 with some limitation2 and1
 above all1 let men make that profit of 
being in the wilderness1 as they have   
,god always1 and his service1 before    
their eyes4 ,let not the government of  
the plantation depend upon too many     
counsellors and undertakers in the      
country that planteth1 but upon a       
temperate number2 and let those be      
rather noblemen and gentlemen1 than     
merchants1 for they look ever to the    

present gain4 ,let there be freedoms    
from custom1 till the plantation be of  
strength2 and not only freedom from     
custom1 but freedom to carry their      
commodities where they may make their   
best of them1 except there be some      
special cause of caution4 ,cram not in  
people1 by sending too fast company     
after company2 but rather hearken how   
they waste1 and send supplies           
proportionably2 but so as the number may
 live well in the plantation1 and not by
 surcharge be in penury4 ,it hath been a
 great endangering to the health of some
 plantations1 that they have built along
 the sea and rivers1 in marish#cgd and  
unwholesome grounds2 therefore1 though  
you begin there1 to avoid carriage and  
other like discommodities1 yet build    
still rather upwards from the streams   
than along4 ,it concerneth1 likewise1   
the health of the plantation1 that they 
have good store of salt with them1 that 
they may use it in their victuals when  
it shall be necessary4 ,if you plant    

where savages are1 do not only entertain
 them with trifles and gingles1#cge but 
use them justly and graciously1 with    
sufficient guard1 nevertheless2 and do  
not win their favor by helping them to  
invade their enemies1 but for their     
defence it is not amiss2 and send oft of
 them over to the country that plants1  
that they may see a better condition    
than their own1 and commend it when they
 return4 ,when the plantation grows to  
strength1 then it is time to plant with 
women as well as with men2 that the     
plantation may spread into generations1 
and not be ever pieced from without4 ,it
 is the sinfullest thing in the world1  
to forsake or destitute a plantation    
once in forwardness2 for1 besides the   
dishonor1 it is the guiltiness of blood 
of many commiserable persons4           
,,xxxiv4--,,of ,,riches4   ,i cannot    
call riches better than the baggage of  
virtue2 the ,roman word is better1      
8impedimenta20 for as the baggage is to 
an army1 so is riches to virtue2 it     

cannot be spared nor left behind1 but it
 hindereth the march2 yea1 and the care 
of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the
 victory4 ,of great riches there is no  
real use1 except it be in the           
distribution2 the rest is but conceit4  
,so saith ,solomon3 8,where much is1    
there are many to consume it2 and what  
hath the owner1 but the sight of it with
 his eyes80#cgf ,the personal fruition  
in any man cannot reach to feel great   
riches3 there is a custody of them1 or a
 power of dole and donative of them1 or 
a fame of them1 but no solid use to the 
owner4 ,do you not see what feigned     
prices are set upon little stones and   
rarities8 and what works of ostentation 
are undertaken1 because there might seem
 to be some use of great riches8 ,but   
then you will say1 they may be of use to
 buy men out of dangers or troubles2 as 
,solomon saith3 8,riches are as a       
strong-hold in the imagination of the   
rich man20#cgg but this is excellently  
expressed1 that it is in imagination1   

and not always in fact2 for1 certainly1 
great riches have sold more men than    
they have bought out4 ,seek not proud   
riches1 but such as thou mayest get     
justly1 use soberly1 distribute         
cheerfully1 and leave contentedly2 yet  
have no abstract nor friarly contempt of
 them1 but distinguish1 as ,cicero saith
 well of ,rabirius ,posthumus3 8,in     
studio rei amplificand apparebat1 non   
avariti prdam1 sed instrumentum bonitati
 quri40#cgh ,hearken also to ,solomon1  
and beware of hasty gathering of riches3
 8,qui festinat ad divitias1 non erit   
insons40#cgi ,the poets feign1 that when
 ,plutus 7which is riches7 is sent from 
,jupiter1 he limps1 and goes slowly2 but
 when he is sent from ,pluto1 he runs1  
and is swift of foot2 meaning1 that     
riches gotten by good means and just    
labor pace slowly2 but when they come by
 the death of others#chj 7as by the     
course of inheritance1 testaments1 and  
the like71 they come tumbling upon a    
man4 ,but it might be applied likewise  

to ,pluto1 taking him for the devil2 for
 when riches come from the devil 7as by 
fraud and oppression1 and unjust means71
 they come upon speed4 ,the ways to     
enrich are many1 and most of them foul3 
parsimony is one of the best1 and yet is
 not innocent2 for it withholdeth men   
from works of liberality and charity4   
,the improvement of the ground is the   
most natural obtaining of riches2 for it
 is our great mother's blessing1 the    
earth's1 but it is slow2 and yet1 where 
men of great wealth do stoop to         
husbandry1 it multiplieth riches        
exceedingly4 ,i knew a nobleman1 in     
,england1 that had the greatest         
audits#cha of any man in my time1 a     
great grazier1 a great sheep-master1 a  
great timber-man1 a great collier1 a    
great corn-master1 a great lead-man1 and
 so of iron1 and a number of the like   
points of husbandry2 so as the earth    
seemed a sea to him in respect of the   
perpetual importation4 ,it was truly    
observed by one1 8,that himself came    

very hardly to a little riches1 and very
 easily to great riches20 for when a    
man's stock is come to that1 that he can
 expect the prime of markets1#chb and   
overcome those bargains1 which for their
 greatness are few men's money1 and be  
partner in the industries of younger    
men1 he cannot but increase mainly4 ,the
 gains of ordinary trades and vocations 
are honest1 and furthered by two things1
 chiefly3 by diligence1 and by a good   
name for good and fair dealing2 but the 
gains of bargains are of a more doubtful
 nature1 when men shall wait upon       
others' necessity3 broke by servants and
 instruments to draw them on2 put off   
others cunningly that would be better   
chapmen2 and the like practices1 which  
are crafty and naught4 ,as for the      
chopping of bargains1 when a man buys   
not to hold1 but to sell over again1    
that commonly grindeth double1 both upon
 the seller and upon the buyer4         
,sharings do greatly enrich1 if the     
hands be well chosen that are trusted4  

,usury is the certainest means of gain1 
though one of the worst2 as that whereby
 a man doth eat his bread1 8in sudore   
vults alieni20#chc and1 besides1 doth   
plough upon ,sundays2 but yet certain   
though it be1 it hath flaws1 for that   
the scriveners and brokers do value     
unsound men to serve their own turn4    
,the fortune1 in being the first in an  
invention1 or in a privilege1 doth cause
 sometimes a wonderful overgrowth in    
riches1 as it was with the first        
sugar-man#chd in the ,canaries2         
therefore1 if a man can play the true   
logician1 to have as well judgment as   
invention1 he may do great matters1     
especially if the times be fit4 ,he that
 resteth upon gains certain1 shall      
hardly grow to great riches2 and he that
 puts all upon adventures1 doth         
oftentimes break and come to poverty2 it
 is good1 therefore1 to guard adventures
 with certainties that may uphold       
losses4 ,monopolies1 and coemption of   
wares for resale1 where they are not    

restrained1 are great means to enrich2  
especially if the party have            
intelligence what things are like to    
come into request1 and so store himself 
beforehand4 ,riches gotten by service1  
though it be of the best rise1 yet when 
they are gotten by flattery1 feeding    
humors1 and other servile conditions1   
they may be placed amongst the worst4   
,as for fishing for testaments and      
executorships 7as ,tacitus saith of     
,seneca1 8,testamenta et orbos tanquam  
indagine capi071#che it is yet worse1 by
 how much men submit themselves to      
meaner persons than in service4 ,believe
 not much them that seem to despise     
riches1 for they despise them that      
despair of them2 and none worse when    
they come to them4 ,be not penny-wise2  
riches have wings1 and sometimes they   
fly away of themselves1 sometimes they  
must be set flying to bring in more4    
,men leave their riches either to their 
kindred1 or to the public2 and moderate 
portions prosper best in both4 ,a great 

state left to an heir1 is as a lure to  
all the birds of prey round about to    
seize on him1 if he be not the better   
stablished in years and judgment2       
likewise1 glorious gifts and foundations
 are like sacrifices without salt1 and  
but the painted sepulchres of alms1     
which soon will putrefy and corrupt     
inwardly4 ,therefore1 measure not thine 
advancements by quantity1 but frame them
 by measure1 and defer not charities    
till death2 for1 certainly1 if a man    
weigh it rightly1 he that doth so is    
rather liberal of another man's than of 
his own4     ,,xxxv4--,,of ,,prophecies4
   ,i mean not to speak of divine       
prophecies1 nor of heathen oracles1 nor 
of natural predictions2 but only of     
prophecies that have been of certain    
memory1 and from hidden causes4 ,saith  
the ,pythonissa#chf to ,saul1           
8,to-morrow thou and thy sons shall be  
with me40 ,virgil hath these verses from
 ,homer3--    8,hic domus ne cunctis    
dominabitur oris1   ,et nati natorum1 et

 qui nascentur ab illis40#chg  ,a       
prophecy1 as it seems1 of the ,roman    
empire4 ,seneca the tragedian hath these
 verses3--    8,venient annis   ,scula  
seris1 quibus ,oceanus   ,vincula rerum 
laxet1 et ingens   ,pateat ,tellus1     
,tiphysque novos   ,detegat orbes2 nec  
sit terris   ,ultima ,thule40#chh  ,a   
prophecy of the discovery of ,america4  
,the daughter of ,polycrates#chi dreamed
 that ,jupiter bathed her father1 and   
,apollo anointed him2 and it came to    
pass that he was crucified in an open   
place1 where the sun made his body run  
with sweat1 and the rain washed it4     
,philip of ,macedon dreamed he sealed up
 his wife's belly1 whereby he did       
expound it1 that his wife should be     
barren2 but ,aristander the soothsayer  
told him his wife was with child1       
because men do not use to seal vessels  
that are empty4#cij ,a phantasm that    
appeared to ,m4 ,brutus in his tent1    
said to him1 8,philippis iterum me      
videbis40#cia ,tiberius said to ,galba1 

8,tu quoque1 ,galba1 degustabis         
imperium40#cib ,in ,vespasian's time1   
there went a prophecy in the ,east1 that
 those that should come forth of ,judea1
 should reign over the world2 which1    
though it may be was meant of our       
,saviour1 yet ,tacitus expounds it of   
,vespasian4#cic ,domitian dreamed1 the  
night before he was slain1 that a golden
 head was growing out of the nape of his
 neck2#cid and1 indeed1 the succession  
that followed him1 for many years1 made 
golden times4 ,henry the ,sixth of      
,england said of ,henry the ,seventh1   
when he was a lad1 and gave him water1  
8,this is the lad that shall enjoy the  
crown for which we strive40 ,when ,i was
 in ,france1 ,i heard from one ,dr4     
,pena1 that the queen mother1#cie who   
was given to curious arts1 caused the   
king her husband's nativity to be       
calculated under a false name2 and the  
astrologer gave a judgment1 that he     
should be killed in a duel2 at which the
 queen laughed1 thinking her husband to 

be above challenges and duels2 but he   
was slain upon a course at tilt1 the    
splinters of the staff of ,montgomery   
going in at his beaver4 ,the trivial    
prophecy which ,i heard when ,i was a   
child1 and ,queen ,elizabeth was in the 
flower of her years1 was1    8,when     
hempe is spunne1   ,england's done20    
whereby it was generally conceived1 that
 after the princes had reigned which had
 the principal letters of that word     
hempe 7which were ,henry1 ,edward1      
,mary1 ,philip1 and ,elizabeth71        
,england should come to utter confusion2
 which1 thanks be to ,god1 is verified  
only in the change of the name2 for that
 the king's style is now no more of     
,england1 but of ,britain4#cif ,there   
was also another prophecy before the    
year of eighty-eight1 which ,i do not   
well understand4    8,there shall be    
seen upon a day1   ,between the ,baugh  
and the ,may1   ,the black fleet of     
,norway4   ,when that that is come and  
gone1   ,england build houses of lime   

and stone1   ,for after wars you shall  
have none40  ,it was generally conceived
 to be meant of the ,spanish fleet that 
came in eighty-eight2 for that the king 
of ,spain's surname1 as they say1 is    
,norway4 ,the prediction of             
,regiomontanus1    8,octogesimus octavus
 mirabilis annus10#cig  was thought     
likewise accomplished in the sending of 
that great fleet1 being the greatest in 
strength1 though not in number1 of all  
that ever swam upon the sea4 ,as for    
,cleon's dream1#cih ,i think it was a   
jest2 it was1 that he was devoured of a 
long dragon2 and it was expounded of a  
maker of sausages1 that troubled him    
exceedingly4 ,there are numbers of the  
like kind1 especially if you include    
dreams1 and predictions of astrology2   
but ,i have set down these few only of  
certain credit1 for example4 ,my        
judgment is1 that they ought all to be  
despised1 and ought to serve but for    
winter talk by the fireside2 though1    
when ,i say despised1 ,i mean it as for 

belief2 for otherwise1 the spreading or 
publishing of them is in no sort to be  
despised1 for they have done much       
mischief2 and ,i see many severe laws   
made to suppress them4 ,that that hath  
given them grace1 and some credit1      
consisteth in three things4 ,first1 that
 men mark when they hit1 and never mark 
when they miss2#cii as they do1         
generally1 also of dreams4 ,the second  
is1 that probable conjectures1 or       
obscure traditions1 many times turn     
themselves into prophecies2 while the   
nature of man1 which coveteth           
divination1 thinks it no peril to       
foretell that which indeed they do but  
collect1 as that of ,seneca's verse2 for
 so much was then subject to            
demonstration1 that the globe of the    
earth had great parts beyond the        
,atlantic1 which might be probably      
conceived not to be all sea2 and adding 
thereto the tradition in ,plato's       
,timus1 and his ,atlanticus1#djj it     
might encourage one to turn it to a     

prediction4 ,the third and last 7which  
is the great one71 is1 that almost all  
of them1 being infinite in number1 have 
been impostures1 and1 by idle and crafty
 brains1 merely contrived and feigned1  
after the event past4     ,,xxxvi4--,,of
 ,,ambition4   ,ambition is like choler1
 which is a humor that maketh men       
active1 earnest1 full of alacrity1 and  
stirring1 if it be not stopped2 but if  
it be stopped1 and cannot have its way1 
it becometh adust1#dja and thereby      
malign and venomous4 ,so ambitious men1 
if they find the way open for their     
rising1 and still get forward1 they are 
rather busy than dangerous2 but if they 
be checked in their desires1 they become
 secretly discontent1 and look upon men 
and matters with an evil eye1 and are   
best pleased when things go backward2   
which is the worst property in a servant
 of a prince or state4 ,therefore1 it is
 good for princes1 if they use ambitious
 men1 to handle it so1 as they be still 
progressive1 and not retrograde2 which1 

because it cannot be without            
inconvenience1 it is good not to use    
such natures at all2 for if they rise   
not with their service1 they will take  
order to make their service fall with   
them4 ,but since we have said1 it were  
good not to use men of ambitious        
natures1 except it be upon necessity1 it
 is fit we speak in what cases they are 
of necessity4 ,good commanders in the   
wars must be taken1 be they never so    
ambitious2 for the use of their service 
dispenseth with the rest2 and to take a 
soldier without ambition1 is to pull off
 his spurs4 ,there is also great use of 
ambitious men in being screens to       
princes in matters of danger and envy2  
for no man will take that part1 except  
he be like a seeled#djb dove1 that      
mounts and mounts1 because he cannot see
 about him4 ,there is use1 also1 of     
ambitious men1 in pulling down the      
greatness of any subject that overtops2 
as ,tiberius used ,macro#djc in the     
pulling down of ,sejanus4 ,since1       

therefore1 they must be used in such    
cases1 there resteth to speak how they  
are to be bridled1 that they may be less
 dangerous4 ,there is less danger of    
them if they be of mean birth1 than if  
they be noble2 and if they be rather    
harsh of nature1 than gracious and      
popular2 and if they be rather new      
raised1 than grown cunning and fortified
 in their greatness4 ,it is counted by  
some a weakness in princes to have      
favorites2 but it is1 of all others1 the
 best remedy against ambitious great    
ones2 for when the way of pleasuring and
 displeasuring lieth by the favorite1 it
 is impossible any other should be      
over-great4 ,another means to curb them1
 is1 to balance them by others as proud 
as they2 but then there must be some    
middle counsellors1 to keep things      
steady1 for without that ballast1 the   
ship will roll too much4 ,at the least1 
a prince may animate and inure some     
meaner persons to be1 as it were1       
scourges to ambitious men4 ,as for the  

having of them obnoxious to#djd ruin1 if
 they be of fearful natures1 it may do  
well2 but if they be stout and daring1  
it may precipitate their designs1 and   
prove dangerous4 ,as for the pulling of 
them down1 if the affairs require it1   
and that it may not be done with safety 
suddenly1 the only way is1 the          
interchange continually of favors and   
disgraces1 whereby they may not know    
what to expect1 and be1 as it were1 in a
 wood4 ,of ambitions1 it is less harmful
 the ambition to prevail in great       
things1 than that other to appear in    
every thing2 for that breeds confusion1 
and mars business2 but yet1 it is less  
danger to have an ambitious man stirring
 in business1 than great in             
dependencies4 ,he that seeketh to be    
eminent amongst able men1 hath a great  
task1 but that is ever good for the     
public2 but he that plots to be the only
 figure amongst ciphers1 is the decay of
 a whole age4 ,honor hath three things  
in it3 the vantage-ground to do good2   

the approach to kings and principal     
persons2 and the raising of a man's own 
fortunes4 ,he that hath the best of     
these intentions1 when he aspireth1 is  
an honest man2 and that prince that can 
discern of these intentions in another  
that aspireth1 is a wise prince4        
,generally1 let princes and states      
choose such ministers as are more       
sensible of duty than of rising1 and    
such as love business rather upon       
conscience than upon bravery2 and let   
them discern a busy nature from a       
willing mind4     ,,xxxvii4--,,of       
,,masques ,,and ,,triumphs4   ,these    
things are but toys to come amongst such
 serious observations2 but yet1 since   
princes will have such things1 it is    
better they should be graced with       
elegancy1 than daubed with cost4        
,dancing to song is a thing of great    
state and pleasure4 ,i understand it    
that the song be in choir1 placed aloft1
 and accompanied with some broken music1
 and the ditty fitted to the device4    

,acting in song1 especially in          
dialogues1 hath an extreme good grace2  
,i say acting1 not dancing 7for that is 
a mean and vulgar thing72 and the voices
 of the dialogue would be strong and    
manly 7a base and a tenor1 no treble71  
and the ditty high and tragical1 not    
nice or dainty4 ,several choirs1 placed 
one over against another1 and taking the
 voices by catches anthem-wise1 give    
great pleasure4 ,turning dances into    
figure is a childish curiosity2 and1    
generally1 let it be noted1 that those  
things which ,i here set down are such  
as do naturally take the sense1 and not 
respect petty wonderments4 ,it is true1 
the alterations of scenes1 so it be     
quietly and without noise1 are things of
 great beauty and pleasure3 for they    
feed and relieve the eye before it be   
full of the same object4 ,let the scenes
 abound with light1 specially colored   
and varied2 and let the masquers1 or any
 other that are to come down from the   
scene1 have some motions upon the scene 

itself before their coming down2 for it 
draws the eye strangely1 and makes it   
with great pleasure to desire to see    
that it cannot perfectly discern4 ,let  
the songs be loud and cheerful1 and not 
chirpings or pulings2#dje let the music1
 likewise1 be sharp and loud1 and well  
placed4 ,the colors that show best by   
candlelight1 are white1 carnation1 and a
 kind of sea-water green2 and           
ouches1#djf or spangs1#djg as they are  
of no great cost1 so they are of most   
glory4 ,as for rich embroidery1 it is   
lost and not discerned4 ,let the suits  
of the masquers be graceful1 and such as
 become the person when the vizors are  
off2 not after examples of known        
attires1 ,turks1 soldiers1 mariners1 and
 the like4 ,let anti-masques#djh not be 
long2 they have been commonly of fools1 
satyrs1 baboons1 wild men1 antics1      
beasts1 sprites1 witches1 ,ethiopes1    
pigmies1 turquets1#dji nymphs1 rustics1 
,cupids1 statues moving1 and the like4  
,as for angels1 it is not comical enough

 to put them in anti-masques2 and any   
thing that is hideous1 as devils1       
giants1 is1 on the other side1 as unfit2
 but1 chiefly1 let the music of them be 
recreative1 and with some strange       
changes4 ,some sweet odors suddenly     
coming forth1 without any drops falling1
 are1 in such a company as there is     
steam and heat1 things of great pleasure
 and refreshment4 ,double masques1 one  
of men1 another of ladies1 addeth state 
and variety2 but all is nothing1 except 
the room be kept clear and neat4  ,for  
justs1 and tourneys1 and barriers1 the  
glories of them are chiefly in the      
chariots1 wherein the challengers make  
their entry2 especially if they be drawn
 with strange beasts1 as lions1 bears1  
camels1 and the like2 or in the devices 
of their entrance1 or in the bravery of 
their liveries1 or in the goodly        
furniture of their horses and armor4    
,but enough of these toys4              
,,xxxviii4--,,of ,,nature ,,in ,,men4   
,nature is often hidden1 sometimes      

overcome1 seldom extinguished4 ,force   
maketh nature more violent in the       
return2 doctrine and discourse maketh   
nature less importune1 but custom only  
doth alter and subdue nature4 ,he that  
seeketh victory over his nature1 let him
 not set himself too great nor too small
 tasks2 for the first will make him     
dejected by often failings1 and the     
second will make him a small proceeder1 
though by often prevailings4 ,and at the
 first1 let him practise with helps1 as 
swimmers do with bladders1 or rushes2   
but1 after a time1 let him practise with
 disadvantages1 as dancers do with thick
 shoes2 for it breeds great perfection1 
if the practice be harder than the use4 
,where nature is mighty1 and therefore  
the victory hard1 the degrees had need  
be1 first1 to stay and arrest nature in 
time2 like to him that would say over   
the four and twenty letters when he was 
angry2 then to go less in quantity3 as  
if one should1 in forbearing wine1 come 
from drinking healths to a draught at a 

meal2 and1 lastly1 to discontinue       
altogether2 but if a man have the       
fortitude and resolution to enfranchise 
himself at once1 that is the best3--    
8,optimus ille animi vindex ldentia     
pectus   ,vincula qui rupit1 dedoluitque
 semel40#daj  ,neither is the ancient   
rule amiss1 to bend nature as a wand to 
a contrary extreme1 whereby to set it   
right2 understanding it where the       
contrary extreme is no vice4 ,let not a 
man force a habit upon himself with a   
perpetual continuance1 but with some    
intermission1 for both the pause        
reinforceth the new onset2 and if a man 
that is not perfect be ever in practice1
 he shall as well practise his errors as
 his abilities1 and induce one habit of 
both2 and there is no means to help this
 but by seasonable intermissions4 ,but  
let not a man trust his victory over his
 nature too far2 for nature will lie    
buried a great time1 and yet revive upon
 the occasion or temptation2 like as it 
was with sop's damsel1 turned from a cat

 to a woman1 who sat very demurely at   
the board's end till a mouse ran before 
her4 ,therefore1 let a man either avoid 
the occasion altogether1 or put himself 
often to it1 that he may be little moved
 with it4 ,a man's nature is best       
perceived in privateness1 for there is  
no affectation2 in passion1 for that    
putteth a man out of his precepts2 and  
in a new case or experiment1 for there  
custom leaveth him4 ,they are happy men 
whose natures sort with their vocations2
 otherwise they may say1 8,multum incola
 fuit anima mea10#daa when they converse
 in those things they do not affect4 ,in
 studies1 whatsoever a man commandeth   
upon himself1 let him set hours for it3 
but whatsoever is agreeable to his      
nature1 let him take no care for any set
 times2 for his thoughts will fly to it 
of themselves1 so as the spaces of other
 business or studies will suffice4 ,a   
man's nature runs either to herbs or    
weeds2 therefore1 let him seasonably    
water the one1 and destroy the other4   

,,xxxix4--,,of ,,custom ,,and           
,,education4   ,men's thoughts are much 
according to their inclination2#dab     
their discourse and speeches according  
to their learning and infused opinions2 
but their deeds are1 after1 as they have
 been accustomed2 and1 therefore1 as    
,machiavel well noteth 7though in an    
evil-favored instance71 there is no     
trusting to the force of nature1 nor to 
the bravery of words1 except it be      
corroborate by custom4#dac ,his instance
 is1 that1 for the achieving of a       
desperate conspiracy1 a man should not  
rest upon the fierceness of any man's   
nature1 or his resolute undertakings1   
but take such a one as hath had his     
hands formerly in blood2 but ,machiavel 
knew not of a ,friar ,clement1#dad nor a
 ,ravaillac1#dae nor a ,jaureguy1#daf   
nor a ,baltazar ,gerard2#dag yet his    
rule holdeth still1 that nature1 nor the
 engagement of words1 are not so        
forcible as custom4 ,only superstition  
is now so well advanced1 that men of the

 first blood are as firm as butchers by 
occupation2 and votary#dah resolution is
 made equipollent to custom1 even in    
matter of blood4 ,in other things1 the  
predominancy of custom is everywhere    
visible1 insomuch as a man would wonder 
to hear men profess1 protest1 engage1   
give great words1 and then do just as   
they have done before1 as if they were  
dead images and engines1 moved only by  
the wheels of custom4 ,we see1 also1 the
 reign or tyranny of custom1 what it is4
  ,the ,indians#dai 7,i mean the sect of
 their wise men7 lay themselves quietly 
upon a stack of wood1 and so sacrifice  
themselves by fire2 nay1 the wives      
strive to be burned with the corpses of 
their husbands4 ,the lads of ,sparta1 of
 ancient time1 were wont to be scourged 
upon the altar of ,diana1 without so    
much as quecking4#dbj ,i remember1 in   
the beginning of ,queen ,elizabeth's    
time of ,england1 an ,irish rebel       
condemned1 put up a petition to the     
deputy that he might be hanged in a     

withe1 and not in a halter1 because it  
had been so used with former rebels4    
,there be monks in ,russia for penance1 
that will sit a whole night in a vessel 
of water1 till they be engaged with hard
 ice4 ,many examples may be put of the  
force of custom1 both upon mind and     
body2 therefore1 since custom is the    
principal magistrate of man's life1 let 
men1 by all means1 endeavor to obtain   
good customs4 ,certainly1 custom is most
 perfect when it beginneth in young     
years3 this we call education1 which is1
 in effect1 but an early custom4 ,so we 
see1 in languages1 the tongue is more   
pliant to all expressions and sounds1   
the joints are more supple to all feats 
of activity and motions in youth1 than  
afterwards2 for it is true1 that late   
learners cannot so well take the ply1   
except it be in some minds that have not
 suffered themselves to fix1 but have   
kept themselves open and prepared to    
receive continual amendment1 which is   
exceeding rare4 ,but if the force of    

custom1 simple and separate1 be great1  
the force of custom1 copulate and       
conjoined and collegiate1 is far        
greater2 for there example teacheth1    
company comforteth1 emulation           
quickeneth1 glory raiseth2 so as in such
 places the force of custom is in his   
exaltation4 ,certainly1 the great       
multiplication of virtues upon human    
nature resteth upon societies well      
ordained and disciplined2 for           
commonwealths and good governments do   
nourish virtue grown1 but do not much   
mend the seeds2 but the misery is1 that 
the most effectual means are now applied
 to the ends least to be desired4       
,,xl4--,,of ,,fortune4   ,it cannot be  
denied1 but outward accidents conduce   
much to fortune2 favor1 opportunity1    
death of others1 occasion fitting       
virtue2 but1 chiefly1 the mould of a    
man's fortune is in his own hands3      
8,faber quisque fortun su10#dba saith   
the poet2 and the most frequent of      
external causes1 is that the folly of   

one man is the fortune of another2 for  
no man prospers so suddenly as by       
others' errors4 8,serpens nisi serpentem
 comederit non fit draco40#dbb ,overt   
and apparent virtues bring forth praise3
 but there be secret and hidden virtues 
that bring forth fortune2 certain       
deliveries of a man's self1 which have  
no name4 ,the ,spanish name1            
8disemboltura10#dbc partly expresseth   
them1 when there be not stonds#dbd nor  
restiveness in a man's nature1 but that 
the wheels of his mind keep way with the
 wheels of his fortune2 for so ,livy    
7after he had described ,cato ,major in 
these words1 8,in illo viro1 tantum     
robur corporis et animi fuit1 ut        
quocunque loco natus esset1 fortunam    
sibi facturus videretur107#dbe falleth  
upon that1 that he had 8versatile       
ingenium30#dbf therefore1 if a man look 
sharply and attentively1 he shall see   
,fortune2 for though she be blind1 yet  
she is not invisible4 ,the way of       
,fortune is like the milky way in the   

sky2 which is a meeting1 or knot1 of a  
number of small stars1 not seen asunder1
 but giving light together2 so are there
 a number of little and scarce discerned
 virtues1 or rather faculties and       
customs1 that make men fortunate4 ,the  
,italians note some of them1 such as a  
man would little think4 ,when they speak
 of one that cannot do amiss1 they will 
throw in into his other conditions1 that
 he hath 8,poco di matto20#dbg and1     
certainly1 there be not two more        
fortunate properties1 than to have a    
little of the fool1 and not too much of 
the honest2 therefore1 extreme lovers of
 their country1 or masters1 were never  
fortunate2 neither can they be1 for when
 a man placeth his thoughts without     
himself1 he goeth not his own way4 ,a   
hasty fortune maketh an enterpriser and 
remover 7the ,french hath it better1    
8entreprenant10 or 8remuant072 but the  
exercised fortune maketh the able man4  
,fortune is to be honored and respected1
 and it be but for her daughters1       

,confidence and ,reputation2 for those  
two ,felicity breedeth2 the first within
 a man's self1 the latter in others     
towards him4 ,all wise men1 to decline  
the envy of their own virtues1 use to   
ascribe them to ,providence and         
,fortune2 for so they may the better    
assume them2 and1 besides1 it is        
greatness in a man to be the care of the
 higher powers4 ,so ,csar said to the   
pilot in the tempest1 8,csarem portas1  
et fortunam ejus40#dbh ,so ,sylla chose 
the name of 8,felix10#dbi and not of    
8,magnus20#dcj and it hath been noted1  
that those who ascribe openly too much  
to their own wisdom and policy1 end     
unfortunate4 ,it is written1 that       
,timotheus#dca the ,athenian1 after he  
had1 in the account he gave to the state
 of his government1 often interlaced his
 speech1 8and in this ,fortune had no   
part10 never prospered in any thing he  
undertook afterwards4 ,certainly there  
be1 whose fortunes are like ,homer's    
verses1 that have a slide#dcb and       

easiness more than the verses of other  
poets2 as ,plutarch saith of ,timoleon's
 fortune in respect of that of          
,agesilaus or ,epaminondas2 and that    
this should be1 no doubt it is much in a
 man's self4     ,,xli4--,,of           
,,usury4#dcc   ,many have made witty    
invectives against usury4 ,they say that
 it is pity the devil should have ,god's
 part1 which is the tithe2 that the     
usurer is the greatest ,sabbath-breaker1
 because his plough goeth every ,sunday2
 that the usurer is the drone that      
,virgil speaketh of3--    8,ignavum     
fucos pecus a prsepibus arcent20#dcd    
that the usurer breaketh the first law  
that was made for mankind after the     
fall1 which was1 8in sudore vults tui   
comedes panem tuum20#dce not1 8in sudore
 vults alieni20#dcf that usurers should 
have orange-tawny#dcg bonnets1 because  
they do ,judaize2 that it is against    
nature for money to beget money1 and the
 like4 ,i say this only1 that usury is a
 8concessum propter duritiem            

cordis20#dch for1 since there must be   
borrowing and lending1 and men are so   
hard of heart as they will not lend     
freely1 usury must be permitted4 ,some  
others have made suspicious and cunning 
propositions of banks1 discovery of     
men's estates1 and other inventions2 but
 few have spoken of usury usefully4 ,it 
is good to set before us the            
incommodities and commodities of usury1 
that the good may be either weighed out1
 or culled out2 and warily to provide1  
that1 while we make forth to that which 
is better1 we meet not with that which  
is worse4  ,the discommodities of usury 
are1 first1 that it makes fewer         
merchants2 for were it not for this lazy
 trade of usury1 money would not lie    
still1 but would1 in great part1 be     
employed upon merchandising1 which is   
the 8vena porta0#dci of wealth in a     
state4 ,the second1 that it makes poor  
merchants2 for as a farmer cannot       
husband his ground so well if he sit at 
a great rent1 so the merchant cannot    

drive his trade so well if he sit#ddj at
 great usury4 ,the third is incident to 
the other two2 and that is1 the decay of
 customs of kings1 or states1 which ebb 
or flow with merchandising4 ,the fourth1
 that it bringeth the treasure of a     
realm or state into a few hands2 for the
 usurer being at certainties1 and others
 at uncertainties1 at the end of the    
game most of the money will be in the   
box2 and ever a state flourisheth when  
wealth is more equally spread4 ,the     
fifth1 that it beats down the price of  
land2 for the employment of money is    
chiefly either merchandising or         
purchasing1 and usury waylays both4 ,the
 sixth1 that it doth dull and damp all  
industries1 improvements1 and new       
inventions1 wherein money would be      
stirring1 if it were not for this slug4 
,the last1 that it is the canker and    
ruin of many men's estates1 which1 in   
process of time1 breeds a public        
poverty4  ,on the other side1 the       
commodities of usury are1 first1 that1  

howsoever usury in some respect         
hindereth merchandising1 yet in some    
other it advanceth it2 for it is certain
 that the greatest part of trade is     
driven by young merchants upon borrowing
 at interest2 so as if the usurer either
 call in1 or keep back his money1 there 
will ensue presently a great stand of   
trade4 ,the second is1 that1 were it not
 for this easy borrowing upon interest1 
men's necessities would draw upon them a
 most sudden undoing1 in that they would
 be forced to sell their means 7be it   
lands or goods71 far under foot2 and so1
 whereas usury doth but gnaw upon them1 
bad markets would swallow them quite up4
 ,as for mortgaging or pawning1 it will 
little mend the matter2 for either men  
will not take pawns without use1 or1 if 
they do1 they will look precisely for   
the forfeiture4 ,i remember a cruel     
moneyed man in the country1 that would  
say1 8,the devil take this usury1 it    
keeps us from forfeitures of mortgages  
and bonds40 ,the third and last is1 that

 it is a vanity to conceive that there  
would be ordinary borrowing without     
profit2 and it is impossible to conceive
 the number of inconveniences that will 
ensue1 if borrowing be cramped4         
,therefore1 to speak of the abolishing  
of usury is idle2 all states have ever  
had it in one kind or rate1 or other2 so
 as that opinion must be sent to        
,utopia4#dda  ,to speak now of the      
reformation and reglement#ddb of usury1 
how the discommodities of it may be best
 avoided1 and the commodities retained4 
,it appears1 by the balance of          
commodities and discommodities of usury1
 two things are to be reconciled2 the   
one1 that the tooth of usury be grinded1
 that it bite not too much2 the other1  
that there be left open a means to      
invite moneyed men to lend to the       
merchants1 for the continuing and       
quickening of trade4 ,this cannot be    
done1 except you introduce two several  
sorts of usury1 a less and a greater2   
for if you reduce usury to one low rate1

 it will ease the common borrower1 but  
the merchant will be to seek for money2 
and it is to be noted that the trade of 
merchandise being the most lucrative1   
may bear usury at a good rate2 other    
contracts not so4  ,to serve both       
intentions1 the way would be briefly    
thus3 that there be two rates of usury2 
the one free and general for all2 the   
other under license only to certain     
persons1 and in certain places of       
merchandising4 ,first1 therefore1 let   
usury in general be reduced to five in  
the hundred1 and let that rate be       
proclaimed to be free and current2 and  
let the state shut itself out to take   
any penalty for the same4 ,this will    
preserve borrowing from any general stop
 or dryness2 this will ease infinite    
borrowers in the country2 this will1 in 
good part1 raise the price of land1     
because land purchased at sixteen years'
 purchase will yield six in the hundred1
 and somewhat more1 whereas this rate of
 interest yields but five4 ,this1 by    

like reason1 will encourage and edge    
industrious and profitable improvements1
 because many will rather venture in    
that kind1 than take five in the        
hundred1 especially having been used to 
greater profit4 ,secondly1 let there be 
certain persons licensed to lend to     
known merchants upon usury1 at a higher 
rate1 and let it be with the cautions   
following3 ,let the rate be1 even with  
the merchant himself1 somewhat more easy
 than that he used formerly to pay2 for1
 by that means1 all borrowers shall have
 some ease by this reformation1 be he   
merchant1 or whosoever2 let it be no    
bank or common stock1 but every man be  
master of his own money2 not that ,i    
altogether mislike banks1 but they will 
hardly be brooked1 in regard of certain 
suspicions4 ,let the state be           
answered#ddc some small matter for the  
license1 and the rest left to the       
lender2 for if the abatement be but     
small1 it will no whit discourage the   
lender2 for he1 for example1 that took  

before ten or nine in the hundred1 will 
sooner descend to eight in the hundred1 
than give over his trade of usury1 and  
go from certain gains to gains of       
hazard4 ,let these licensed lenders be  
in number indefinite1 but restrained to 
certain principal cities and towns of   
merchandising2 for then they will be    
hardly able to color other men's moneys 
in the country1 so as the license of    
nine will not suck away the current rate
 of five2 for no man will send his      
moneys far off1 nor put them into       
unknown hands4  ,if it be objected1 that
 this doth in a sort authorize usury1   
which before was in some places but     
permissive2 the answer is1 that it is   
better to mitigate usury by declaration1
 than to suffer it to rage by           
connivance4#ddd     ,,xlii4--,,of       
,,youth ,,and ,,age4   ,a man that is   
young in years may be old in hours1 if  
he have lost no time2 but that happeneth
 rarely4 ,generally1 youth is like the  
first cogitations1 not so wise as the   

second2 for there is a youth in thoughts
 as well as in ages2 and yet the        
invention of young men is more lively   
than that of old1 and imaginations      
stream into their minds better1 and1 as 
it were1 more divinely4 ,natures that   
have much heat1 and great and violent   
desires and perturbations1 are not ripe 
for action till they have passed the    
meridian of their years3 as it was with 
,julius ,csar and ,septimius ,severus2  
of the latter of whom it is said1       
8,juventutem egit erroribus1 imo        
furoribus plenam20#dde and yet he was   
the ablest emperor1 almost1 of all the  
list2 but reposed natures may do well in
 youth1 as it is seen in ,augustus      
,csar1 ,cosmus ,duke of ,florence1      
,gaston de ,foix1#ddf and others4 ,on   
the other side1 heat and vivacity in age
 is an excellent composition for        
business4 ,young men are fitter to      
invent than to judge1 fitter for        
execution than for counsel1 and fitter  
for new projects than for settled       

business2 for the experience of age1 in 
things that fall within the compass of  
it1 directeth them2 but in new things   
abuseth them4 ,the errors of young men  
are the ruin of business2 but the errors
 of aged men amount but to this1 that   
more might have been done1 or sooner4   
,young men1 in the conduct and manage of
 actions1 embrace more than they can    
hold1 stir more than they can quiet2 fly
 to the end1 without consideration of   
the means and degrees2 pursue some few  
principles which they have chanced upon 
absurdly2 care not to innovate1 which   
draws unknown inconveniences2 use       
extreme remedies at first2 and that1    
which doubleth all errors1 will not     
acknowledge or retract them1 like an    
unready horse1 that will neither stop   
nor turn4 ,men of age object too much1  
consult too long1 adventure too little1 
repent too soon1 and seldom drive       
business home to the full period1 but   
content themselves with a mediocrity of 
success4 ,certainly1 it is good to      

compound employments of both2 for that  
will be good for the present1 because   
the virtues of either age may correct   
the defects of both2 and good for       
succession1 that young men may be       
learners1 while men in age are actors2  
and1 lastly1 good for externe accidents1
 because authority followeth old men1   
and favor and popularity youth2 but1 for
 the moral part1 perhaps1 youth will    
have the preminence1 as age hath for the
 politic4 ,a certain rabbin1 upon the   
text1 8,your young men shall see        
visions1 and your old men shall dream   
dreams10#ddg inferreth that young men   
are admitted nearer to ,god than old1   
because vision is a clearer revelation  
than a dream2 and1 certainly1 the more a
 man drinketh of the world1 the more it 
intoxicateth2 and age doth profit rather
 in the powers of understanding1 than in
 the virtues of the will and affections4
 ,there be some have an over-early      
ripeness in their years1 which fadeth   
betimes2 these are1 first1 such as have 

brittle wits1 the edge whereof is soon  
turned2 such as was ,hermogenes#ddh the 
rhetorician1 whose books are exceedingly
 subtle2 who afterwards waxed stupid4 ,a
 second sort is of those that have some 
natural dispositions1 which have better 
grace in youth than in age2 such as is a
 fluent and luxuriant speech1 which     
becomes youth well1 but not age2 so     
,tully saith of ,hortensius3 8,idem     
manebat1 neque idem decebat40#ddi ,the  
third is of such as take too high a     
strain at the first1 and are magnanimous
 more than tract of years can uphold2 as
 was ,scipio ,africanus1 of whom ,livy  
saith1 in effect1 8,ultima primis       
cedebant40#dej     ,,xliii4--,,of       
,,beauty4   ,virtue is like a rich      
stone1 best plain set2 and surely virtue
 is best in a body that is comely1      
though not of delicate features1 and    
that hath rather dignity of presence    
than beauty of aspect2 neither is it    
always most seen1 that very beautiful   
persons are otherwise of great virtue2  

as if nature were rather busy not to    
err1 than in labor to produce           
excellency2 and therefore they prove    
accomplished1 but not of great spirit1  
and study rather behavior than virtue4  
,but this holds not always2 for         
,augustus ,csar1 ,titus ,vespasianus1   
,philip le ,bel of ,france1 ,edward the 
,fourth of ,england1#dea ,alcibiades of 
,athens1 ,ismael the ,sophy of ,persia1 
were all high and great spirits1 and yet
 the most beautiful men of their times4 
,in beauty1 that of favor is more than  
that of color2 and that of decent and   
gracious motion1 more than that of      
favor4#deb ,that is the best part of    
beauty1 which a picture cannot express2 
no1 nor the first sight of the life4    
,there is no excellent beauty that hath 
not some strangeness in the proportion4 
,a man cannot tell whether ,apelles1 or 
,albert ,durer1 were the more trifler2  
whereof the one would make a personage  
by geometrical proportions2 the other1  
by taking the best parts out of divers  

faces to make one excellent4 ,such      
personages1 ,i think1 would please      
nobody but the painter that made them3  
not but ,i think a painter may make a   
better face than ever was2 but he must  
do it by a kind of felicity 7as a       
musician that maketh an excellent air in
 music71 and not by rule4 ,a man shall  
see faces1 that1 if you examine them    
part by part1 you shall find never a    
good1 and yet altogether do well4 ,if it
 be true that the principal part of     
beauty is in decent motion1 certainly it
 is no marvel1 though persons in years  
seem many times more amiable2           
8,pulchrorum autumnus pulcher20#dec for 
no youth can be comely but by           
pardon1#ded and considering the youth as
 to make up the comeliness4 ,beauty is  
as summer fruits1 which are easy to     
corrupt1 and cannot last2 and1 for the  
most part1 it makes a dissolute youth1  
and an age a little out of countenance2 
but yet certainly again1 if it light    
well1 it maketh virtues shine1 and vices

 blush4     ,,xliv4--,,of ,,deformity4  
,deformed persons are commonly even with
 nature2 for1 as nature hath done ill by
 them1 so do they by nature1 being for  
the most part 7as the ,scripture saith7 
8void of natural affection20#dee and so 
they have their revenge of nature4      
,certainly1 there is a consent between  
the body and the mind1 and where nature 
erreth in the one1 she ventureth in the 
other3 8,ubi peccat in uno1 periclitatur
 in altero40#def ,but because there is  
in man an election1 touching the frame  
of his mind1 and a necessity in the     
frame of his body1 the stars of natural 
inclination are sometimes obscured by   
the sun of discipline and virtue2       
therefore1 it is good to consider of    
deformity1 not as a sign which is more  
deceivable1 but as a cause which seldom 
faileth of the effect4 ,whosoever hath  
any thing fixed in his person that doth 
induce contempt1 hath also a perpetual  
spur in himself to rescue and deliver   
himself from scorn2 therefore1 all      

deformed persons are extreme bold2      
first1 as in their own defence1 as being
 exposed to scorn1 but1 in process of   
time1 by a general habit4 ,also1 it     
stirreth in them industry1 and          
especially of this kind1 to watch and   
observe the weakness of others1 that    
they may have somewhat to repay4 ,again1
 in their superiors1 it quencheth       
jealousy towards them1 as persons that  
they think they may at pleasure despise2
 and it layeth their competitors and    
emulators asleep1 as never believing    
they should be in possibility of        
advancement till they see them in       
possession2 so that upon the matter1 in 
a great wit1 deformity is an advantage  
to rising4 ,kings in ancient times 7and 
at this present in some countries7 were 
wont to put great trust in eunuchs1     
because they that are envious towards   
all are more obnoxious and officious    
towards one2 but yet their trust towards
 them hath rather been as to good       
spials1#deg and good whisperers1 than   

good magistrates and officers2 and much 
like is the reason of deformed persons4 
,still the ground is1 they will1 if they
 be of spirit1 seek to free themselves  
from scorn1 which must be either by     
virtue or malice2 and1 therefore1 let it
 not be marvelled1 if sometimes they    
prove excellent persons2 as was         
,agesilas1 ,zanger1 the son of          
,solyman1#deh sop1 ,gasca president of  
,peru2 and ,socrates may go likewise    
amongst them1 with others4              
,,xlv4--,,of ,,building4   ,houses are  
built to live in1 and not to look on1   
therefore1 let use be preferred before  
uniformity1 except where both may be    
had4 ,leave the goodly fabrics of       
houses1 for beauty only1 to the         
enchanted palaces of the poets1 who     
build them with small cost4 ,he that    
builds a fair house upon an ill         
seat1#dei committeth himself to prison2 
neither do ,i reckon it an ill seat only
 where the air is unwholesome1 but      
likewise where the air is unequal4 ,as  

you shall see many fine seats set upon a
 knap#dfj of ground environed with      
higher hills round about it1 whereby the
 heat of the sun is pent in1 and the    
wind gathereth as in troughs2 so as you 
shall have1 and that suddenly1 as great 
diversity of heat and cold as if you    
dwelt in several places4 ,neither is it 
ill air only that maketh an ill seat2   
but ill ways1 ill markets1 and1 if you  
will consult with ,momus1#dfa ill       
neighbors4 ,i speak not of many more3   
want of water1 want of wood1 shade1 and 
shelter1 want of fruitfulness1 and      
mixture of grounds of several natures2  
want of prospect1 want of level grounds1
 want of places at some near distance   
for sports of hunting1 hawking1 and     
races2 too near the sea1 too remote2    
having the commodity of navigable       
rivers1 or the discommodity of their    
overflowing2 too far off from great     
cities1 which may hinder business2 or   
too near them1 which lurcheth#dfb all   
provisions1 and maketh every thing dear2

 where a man hath a great living laid   
together1 and where he is scanted2 all  
which1 as it is impossible perhaps to   
find together1 so it is good to know    
them1 and think of them1 that a man may 
take as many as he can2 and if he have  
several dwellings1 that he sort them so1
 that what he wanteth in the one he may 
find in the other4 ,lucullus answered   
,pompey well1 who1 when he saw his      
stately galleries and rooms so large and
 lightsome1 in one of his houses1 said1 
8,surely1 an excellent place for summer1
 but how do you do in winter80 ,lucullus
 answered1 8,why1 do you not think me as
 wise as some fowls are1 that ever      
change their abode towards the          
winter80#dfc  ,to pass from the seat to 
the house itself1 we will do as ,cicero 
doth in the orator's art1 who writes    
books ,de ,oratore1 and a book he       
entitles ,orator2 whereof the former    
delivers the precepts of the art1 and   
the latter the perfection4 ,we will     
therefore describe a princely palace1   

making a brief model thereof2 for it is 
strange to see1 now in ,europe1 such    
huge buildings as the ,vatican and      
,escurial1#dfd and some others be1 and  
yet scarce a very fair room in them4    
,first1 therefore1 ,i say1 you cannot   
have a perfect palace1 except you have  
two several sides2 a side for the       
banquet1 as is spoken of in the book of 
,esther1#dfe and a side for the         
household2 the one for feasts and       
triumphs1 and the other for dwelling4 ,i
 understand both these sides to be not  
only returns1 but parts of the front1   
and to be uniform without1 though       
severally partitioned within2 and to be 
on both sides of a great and stately    
tower in the midst of the front1 that1  
as it were1 joineth them together on    
either hand4 ,i would have1 on the side 
of the banquet in front1 one only goodly
 room above stairs1 of some forty foot  
high2 and under it a room for a dressing
 or preparing place1 at times of        
triumphs4 ,on the other side1 which is  

the household side1 ,i wish it divided  
at the first into a hall and a chapel1  
7with a partition between71 both of good
 state and bigness2 and those not to go 
all the length1 but to have at the      
further end a winter and a summer       
parlor1 both fair2 and under these rooms
 a fair and large cellar sunk under     
ground2 and likewise some privy         
kitchens1 with butteries1 and pantries1 
and the like4 ,as for the tower1 ,i     
would have it two stories1 of eighteen  
foot high apiece above the two wings2   
and a goodly leads upon the top1 railed1
 with statues interposed2 and the same  
tower to be divided into rooms1 as shall
 be thought fit4 ,the stairs likewise to
 the upper rooms1 let them be upon a    
fair open newel1#dff and finely railed  
in with images of wood cast into a brass
 color1 and a very fair landing-place at
 the top4 ,but this to be1 if you do not
 point any of the lower rooms for a     
dining-place of servants2 for1          
otherwise1 you shall have the servants' 

dinner after your own2 for the steam of 
it will come up as in a tunnel4#dfg ,and
 so much for the front2 only ,i         
understand the height of the first      
stairs to be sixteen foot1 which is the 
height of the lower room4  ,beyond this 
front is there to be a fair court1 but  
three sides of it of a far lower        
building than the front2 and in all the 
four corners of that court fair         
staircases1 cast into turrets on the    
outside1 and not within the row of      
buildings themselves2 but those towers  
are not to be of the height of the      
front1 but rather proportionable to the 
lower building4 ,let the court not be   
paved1 for that striketh up a great heat
 in summer1 and much cold in winter2 but
 only some side alleys with a cross1 and
 the quarters to graze1 being kept      
shorn1 but not too near shorn4 ,the row 
of return on the banquet side1 let it be
 all stately galleries2 in which        
galleries let there be three or five    
fine cupolas in the length of it1 placed

 at equal distance1 and fine colored    
windows of several works2 on the        
household side1 chambers of presence and
 ordinary entertainments1 with some     
bedchambers2 and let all three sides be 
a double house1 without thorough lights 
on the sides1 that you may have rooms   
from the sun1 both for forenoon and     
afternoon4 ,cast it1 also1 that you may 
have rooms both for summer and winter2  
shady for summer1 and warm for winter4  
,you shall have sometimes fair houses so
 full of glass1 that one cannot tell    
where to become#dfh to be out of the sun
 or cold4 ,for imbowed#dfi windows1 ,i  
hold them of good use2 7in cities1      
indeed1 upright#dgj do better1 in       
respect of the uniformity towards the   
street27 for they be pretty retiring    
places for conference2 and1 besides1    
they keep both the wind and sun off2 for
 that which would strike almost through 
the room doth scarce pass the window3   
but let them be but few1 four in the    
court1 on the sides only4  ,beyond this 

court1 let there be an inward court1 of 
the same square and height1 which is to 
be environed with the garden on all     
sides2 and in the inside1 cloistered on 
all sides upon decent and beautiful     
arches1 as high as the first story2 on  
the under story towards the garden1 let 
it be turned to grotto1 or place of     
shade1 or estivation2 and only have     
opening and windows towards the garden1 
and be level upon the floor1 no whit    
sunk under ground to avoid all          
dampishness2 and let there be a         
fountain1 or some fair work of statues  
in the midst of this court1 and to be   
paved as the other court was4 ,these    
buildings to be for privy lodgings on   
both sides1 and the end for privy       
galleries2 whereof you must foresee that
 one of them be for an infirmary1 if the
 prince or any special person should be 
sick1 with chambers1 bedchamber1        
8anticamera10#dga and 8recamera10#dgb   
joining to it2 this upon the second     
story4 ,upon the ground story1 a fair   

gallery1 open1 upon pillars2 and upon   
the third story1 likewise1 an open      
gallery upon pillars1 to take the       
prospect and freshness of the garden4   
,at both corners of the further side1 by
 way of return1 let there be two        
delicate or rich cabinets1 daintily     
paved1 richly hanged1 glazed with       
crystalline glass1 and a rich cupola in 
the midst1 and all other elegancy that  
can be thought upon4 ,in the upper      
gallery1 too1 ,i wish that there may be1
 if the place will yield it1 some       
fountains running in divers places from 
the wall1 with some fine avoidances4#dgc
 ,and thus much for the model of the    
palace1 save that you must have1 before 
you come to the front1 three courts3 a  
green court plain1 with a wall about it2
 a second court of the same1 but more   
garnished with little turrets1 or rather
 embellishments1 upon the wall2 and a   
third court1 to make a square with the  
front1 but not to be built1 nor yet     
inclosed with a naked wall1 but inclosed

 with terraces leaded aloft1 and fairly 
garnished on the three sides1 and       
cloistered on the inside with pillars1  
and not with arches below4 ,as for      
offices1 let them stand at distance1    
with some low galleries to pass from    
them to the palace itself4              
,,xlvi4--,,of ,,gardens4   ,god         
,almighty first planted a garden2 and1  
indeed1 it is the purest of human       
pleasures2 it is the greatest           
refreshment to the spirits of man2      
without which buildings and palaces are 
but gross handyworks2 and a man shall   
ever see1 that1 when ages grow to       
civility and elegancy1 men come to build
 stately1 sooner than to garden finely2 
as if gardening were the greater        
perfection4 ,i do hold it1 in the royal 
ordering of gardens1 there ought to be  
gardens for all the months in the year1 
in which1 severally1 things of beauty   
may be then in season4 ,for ,december1  
and ,january1 and the latter part of    
,november1 you must take such things as 

are green all winter3 holly1 ivy1 bays1 
juniper1 cypress-trees1 yew1            
pineapple-trees2#dgd fir-trees1         
rosemary1 lavender2 periwinkle1 the     
white1 the purple1 and the blue2        
germander1 flags1 orange-trees1         
lemon-trees1 and myrtles1 if they be    
stoved2#dge and sweet marjoram1 warm    
set4 ,there followeth1 for the latter   
part of ,january and ,february1 the     
mezereon-tree1 which then blossoms2     
crocus vernus1 both the yellow and the  
gray2 primroses1 anemones1 the early    
tulip1 the hyacinthus orientalis1       
chamaris fritellaria4 ,for ,march1 there
 come violets1 especially the single    
blue1 which are the earliest2 the yellow
 daffodil1 the daisy1 the almond-tree in
 blossom1 the peach-tree in blossom1 the
 cornelian-tree in blossom1 sweet-brier4
 ,in ,april1 follow the double white    
violet1 the wall-flower1 the            
stock-gillyflower1 the cowslip1         
flower-de-luces1 and lilies of all      
natures2 rosemary flowers1 the tulip1   

the double peony1 the pale daffodil1 the
 ,french honeysuckle1 the cherry-tree in
 blossom1 the damascene#dgf and         
plum-trees in blossom1 the white thorn  
in leaf1 the lilac-tree4 ,in ,may and   
,june come pinks of all sorts1          
especially the blush-pink2 roses of all 
kinds1 except the musk1 which comes     
later2 honeysuckles1 strawberries1      
bugloss1 columbine1 the ,french         
marigold1 flos ,africanus1 cherry-tree  
in fruit1 ribes1#dgg figs in fruit1     
rasps1 vine-flowers1 lavender in        
flowers1 the sweet satyrian1 with the   
white flower2 herba muscaria1 lilium    
convallium1 the apple-tree in blossom4  
,in ,july come gillyflowers of all      
varieties1 musk-roses1 the lime-tree in 
blossom1 early pears1 and plums in      
fruit1 genitings1#dgh codlins4 ,in      
,august come plums of all sorts in      
fruit1 pears1 apricots1 barberries1     
filberts1 musk-melons1 monks-hoods1 of  
all colors4 ,in ,september come grapes1 
apples1 poppies of all colors1 peaches1 

melocotones1#dgi nectarines1            
cornelians1#dhj wardens1#dha quinces4   
,in ,october1 and the beginning of      
,november1 come services1 medlars1      
bullaces1 roses cut or removed to come  
late1 hollyoaks1 and such like4 ,these  
particulars are for the climate of      
,london2 but my meaning is perceived1   
that you may have 8ver perpetuum10#dhb  
as the place affords4  ,and because the 
breath of flowers is far sweeter in the 
air 7where it comes and goes1 like the  
warbling of music71 than in the hand1   
therefore nothing is more fit for that  
delight1 than to know what be the       
flowers and plants that do best perfume 
the air4 ,roses1 damask and red1 are    
fast flowers#dhc of their smell1 so that
 you may walk by a whole row of them1   
and find nothing of their sweetness2    
yea1 though it be in a morning's dew4   
,bays1 likewise1 yield no smell as they 
grow1 rosemary little1 nor sweet        
marjoram2 that which1 above all others1 
yields the sweetest smell in the air1 is

 the violet1 especially the white double
 violet1 which comes twice a year1 about
 the middle of ,april1 and about        
,bartholomew-tide4 ,next to that is the 
musk-rose2 then the strawberry leaves   
dying1 with a most excellent cordial    
smell2 then the flower of the vines1 it 
is a little dust like the dust of a     
bent1#dhd which grows upon the cluster  
in the first coming forth2 then         
sweet-brier1 then wall-flowers1 which   
are very delightful to be set under a   
parlor or lower chamber window2 then    
pinks and gillyflowers1 specially the   
matted pink and clove gillyflower2 then 
the flowers of the lime-tree2 then the  
honeysuckles1 so they be somewhat afar  
off4 ,of bean-flowers#dhe ,i speak not1 
because they are field-flowers2 but     
those which perfume the air most        
delightfully1 not passed by as the rest1
 but being trodden upon and crushed1 are
 three2 that is1 burnet1 wild thyme1 and
 water-mints2 therefore you are to set  
whole alleys of them1 to have the       

pleasure when you walk or tread4  ,for  
gardens 7speaking of those which are    
indeed prince-like1 as we have done of  
buildings71 the contents ought not well 
to be under thirty acres of ground1 and 
to be divided into three parts2 a green 
in the entrance1 a heath1 or desert1 in 
the going forth1 and the main garden in 
the midst1 besides alleys on both sides2
 and ,i like well that four acres of    
ground be assigned to the green1 six to 
the heath1 four and four to either side1
 and twelve to the main garden4 ,the    
green hath two pleasures3 the one1      
because nothing is more pleasant to the 
eye than green grass kept finely shorn2 
the other1 because it will give you a   
fair alley in the midst1 by which you   
may go in front upon a stately hedge1   
which is to inclose the garden4 ,but    
because the alley will be long1 and in  
great heat of the year1 or day1 you     
ought not to buy the shade in the garden
 by going in the sun through the green2 
therefore you are1 of either side the   

green1 to plant a covert alley1 upon    
carpenter's work1 about twelve foot in  
height1 by which you may go in shade    
into the garden4 ,as for the making of  
knots or figures1 with divers colored   
earths1 that they may lie under the     
windows of the house on that side which 
the garden stands1 they be but toys2 you
 may see as good sights many times in   
tarts4 ,the garden is best to be square1
 encompassed on all the four sides with 
a stately arched hedge3 the arches to be
 upon pillars of carpenter's work1 of   
some ten foot high1 and six foot broad1 
and the spaces between of the same      
dimension with the breadth of the arch4 
,over the arches let there be an entire 
hedge of some four foot high1 framed    
also upon carpenter's work2 and upon the
 upper hedge1 over every arch a little  
turret1 with a belly enough to receive a
 cage of birds2 and over every space    
between the arches some other little    
figure1 with broad plates of round      
colored glass gilt1 for the sun to play 

upon2 but this hedge ,i intend to be    
raised upon a bank1 not steep1 but      
gently slope1 of some six foot1 set all 
with flowers4 ,also1 ,i understand that 
this square of the garden should not be 
the whole breadth of the ground1 but to 
leave on either side ground enough for  
diversity of side alleys1 unto which the
 two covert alleys of the green may     
deliver you2#dhf but there must be no   
alleys with hedges at either end of this
 great inclosure2 not at the hither end1
 for letting#dhg your prospect upon this
 fair hedge from the green2 nor at the  
further end for letting your prospect   
from the hedge through the arches upon  
the heath4  ,for the ordering of the    
ground within the great hedge1 ,i leave 
it to variety of device2 advising1      
nevertheless1 that whatsoever form you  
cast it into first1 it be not too bushy1
 or full of work2 wherein ,i1 for my    
part1 do not like images cut out in     
juniper or other garden stuff2 they be  
for children4 ,little low hedges1 round 

like welts1 with some pretty pyramids1  
,i like well2 and in some places fair   
columns1 upon frames of carpenter's     
work4 ,i would also have the alleys     
spacious and fair4 ,you may have closer 
alleys upon the side grounds1 but none  
in the main garden4 ,i wish1 also1 in   
the very middle1 a fair mount1 with     
three ascents and alleys1 enough for    
four to walk abreast2 which ,i would    
have to be perfect circles1 without any 
bulwarks or embossments2 and the whole  
mount to be thirty foot high1 and some  
fine banqueting-house1 with some        
chimneys neatly cast1 and without too   
much glass4  ,for fountains1 they are a 
great beauty and refreshment2 but pools 
mar all1 and make the garden            
unwholesome1 and full of flies and      
frogs4 ,fountains ,i intend to be of two
 natures2 the one that sprinkleth or    
spouteth water2 the other1 a fair       
receipt of water1 of some thirty or     
forty foot square1 but without fish1 or 
slime1 or mud4 ,for the first1 the      

ornaments of images1 gilt or of marble1 
which are in use1 do well2 but the main 
matter is so to convey the water1 as it 
never stay1 either in the bowls or in   
the cistern2 that the water be never by 
rest discolored1 green1 or red1 or the  
like1 or gather any mossiness or        
putrefaction2 besides that1 it is to be 
cleansed every day by the hand2 also1   
some steps up to it1 and some fine      
pavement about it1 doth well4 ,as for   
the other kind of fountain1 which we may
 call a bathing-pool1 it may admit much 
curiosity and beauty1 wherewith we will 
not trouble ourselves3 as1 that the     
bottom be finely paved1 and with images2
 the sides likewise2 and1 withal1       
embellished with colored glass1 and such
 things of lustre2 encompassed1 also1   
with fine rails of low statues4 ,but the
 main point is the same that we         
mentioned in the former kind of         
fountain2 which is1 that the water be in
 perpetual motion1 fed by a water higher
 than the pool1 and delivered into it by

 fair spouts1 and then discharged away  
under ground1 by some equality of bores1
 that it stay little2 and for fine      
devices1 of arching water#dhh without   
spilling1 and making it rise in several 
forms 7of feathers1 drinking-glasses1   
canopies1 and the like71 they be pretty 
things to look on1 but nothing to health
 and sweetness4  ,for the heath1 which  
was the third part of our plot1 ,i wish 
it to be framed as much as may be to a  
natural wildness4 ,trees ,i would have  
none in it1 but some thickets made only 
of sweet-brier and honeysuckle1 and some
 wild vine amongst2 and the ground set  
with violets1 strawberries1 and         
primroses2 for these are sweet1 and     
prosper in the shade1 and these to be in
 the heath here and there1 not in any   
order4 ,i like also little heaps1 in the
 nature of molehills 7such as are in    
wild heaths71 to be set1 some with wild 
thyme1 some with pinks1 some with       
germander1 that gives a good flower to  
the eye2 some with periwinkle1 some with

 violets1 some with strawberries1 some  
with cowslips1 some with daisies1 some  
with red roses1 some with lilium        
convallium1#dhi some with sweet-williams
 red1 some with bear's-foot1 and the    
like low flowers1 being withal sweet and
 sightly2 part of which heaps to be with
 standards of little bushes pricked upon
 their top1 and part without2 the       
standards to be roses1 juniper1 holly1  
barberries 7but here and there1 because 
of the smell of their blossom71 red     
currants1 gooseberries1 rosemary1 bays1 
sweetbrier1 and such like2 but these    
standards to be kept with cutting1 that 
they grow not out of course4  ,for the  
side grounds1 you are to fill them with 
variety of alleys1 private1 to give a   
full shade2 some of them wheresoever the
 sun be4 ,you are to frame some of them 
likewise for shelter1 that when the wind
 blows sharp1 you may walk as in a      
gallery3 and those alleys must be       
likewise hedged at both ends1 to keep   
out the wind2 and these closer alleys   

must be ever finely gravelled1 and no   
grass1 because of going wet4 ,in many of
 these alleys1 likewise1 you are to set 
fruit-trees of all sorts1 as well upon  
the walls as in ranges2#dij and this    
should be generally observed1 that the  
borders wherein you plant your          
fruit-trees be fair1 and large1 and low1
 and not steep2 and set with fine       
flowers1 but thin and sparingly1 lest   
they deceive#dia the trees4 ,at the end 
of both the side grounds ,i would have a
 mount of some pretty height1 leaving   
the wall of the inclosure breast high1  
to look abroad into the fields4  ,for   
the main garden1 ,i do not deny but     
there should be some fair alleys ranged 
on both sides with fruit-trees1 and some
 pretty tufts of fruit-trees and arbors 
with seats1 set in some decent order2   
but these to be by no means set too     
thick1 but to leave the main garden so  
as it be not close1 but the air open and
 free4 ,for as for shade1 ,i would have 
you rest upon the alleys of the side    

grounds1 there to walk1 if you be       
disposed1 in the heat of the year or    
day2 but to make account#dib that the   
main garden is for the more temperate   
parts of the year1 and in the heat of   
summer for the morning and the evening  
or overcast days4  ,for aviaries1 ,i    
like them not1 except they be of that   
largeness as they may be turfed1 and    
have living plants and bushes set in    
them2 that the birds may have more scope
 and natural nestling1 and that no      
foulness appear in the floor of the     
aviary4 ,so ,i have made a platform of a
 princely garden1 partly by precept1    
partly by drawing2 not a model1 but some
 general lines of it2 and in this ,i    
have spared for no cost4 ,but it is     
nothing for great princes1 that1 for the
 most part1 taking advice with workmen1 
with no less cost set their things      
together1 and sometimes add statues and 
such things for state and magnificence1 
but nothing to the true pleasure of a   
garden4     ,,xlvii4--,,of              

,,negotiating4   ,it is generally better
 to deal by speech than by letter2 and  
by the mediation of a third1 than by a  
man's self4 ,letters are good1 when a   
man would draw an answer by letter back 
again2 or when it may serve for a man's 
justification afterwards to produce his 
own letter1 or where it may be danger to
 be interrupted or heard by pieces4 ,to 
deal in person is good1 when a man's    
face breedeth regard1 as commonly with  
inferiors2 or in tender cases1 where a  
man's eye upon the countenance of him   
with whom he speaketh1 may give him a   
direction how far to go2 and1 generally1
 where a man will reserve to himself    
liberty1 either to disavow or to        
expound4 ,in choice of instruments1 it  
is better to choose men of a plainer    
sort1 that are like to do that that is  
committed to them1 and to report back   
again faithfully the success1 than those
 that are cunning to contrive out of    
other men's business somewhat to grace  
themselves1 and will help the matter in 

report1 for satisfaction sake4 ,use also
 such persons as affect#dic the business
 wherein they are employed1 for that    
quickeneth much2 and such as are fit for
 the matter1 as bold men for            
expostulation1 fairspoken men for       
persuasion1 crafty men for inquiry and  
observation1 froward and absurd men for 
business that doth not well bear out    
itself4 ,use also such as have been     
lucky and prevailed before in things    
wherein you have employed them2 for that
 breeds confidence1 and they will strive
 to maintain their prescription4 ,it is 
better to sound a person with whom one  
deals afar off1 than to fall upon the   
point at first1 except you mean to      
surprise him by some short question4 ,it
 is better dealing with men in          
appetite1#did than with those that are  
where they would be4 ,if a man deal with
 another upon conditions1 the start of  
first performance is all2 which a man   
cannot reasonably demand1 except either 
the nature of the thing be such1 which  

must go before2 or else a man can       
persuade the other party1 that he shall 
still need him in some other thing2 or  
else that he be counted the honester    
man4 ,all practice is to discover1 or to
 work4 ,men discover themselves in      
trust1 in passion1 at unawares2 and1 of 
necessity1 when they would have somewhat
 done1 and cannot find an apt pretext4  
,if you would work any man1 you must    
either know his nature and fashions1 and
 so lead him2 or his ends1 and so       
persuade him2 or his weakness and       
disadvantages1 and so awe him2 or those 
that have interest in him1 and so govern
 him4 ,in dealing with cunning persons1 
we must ever consider their ends1 to    
interpret their speeches2 and it is good
 to say little to them1 and that which  
they least look for4 ,in all            
negotiations of difficulty1 a man may   
not look to sow and reap at once2 but   
must prepare business1 and so ripen it  
by degrees4     ,,xlviii4--,,of         
,,followers ,,and ,,friends4   ,costly  

followers are not to be liked1 lest1    
while a man maketh his train longer1 he 
make his wings shorter4 ,i reckon to be 
costly1 not them alone which charge the 
purse1 but which are wearisome and      
importune in suits4 ,ordinary followers 
ought to challenge no higher conditions 
than countenance1 recommendation1 and   
protection from wrongs4 ,factious       
followers are worse to be liked1 which  
follow not upon affection to him with   
whom they range themselves1 but upon    
discontentment conceived against some   
other2 whereupon commonly ensueth that  
ill intelligence1 that we many times see
 between great personages4 ,likewise    
glorious#die followers1 who make        
themselves as trumpets of the           
commendations of those they follow1 are 
full of inconvenience1 for they taint   
business through want of secrecy2 and   
they export honor from a man1 and make  
him a return in envy4 ,there is a kind  
of followers1 likewise1 which are       
dangerous1 being indeed espials2 which  

inquire the secrets of the house1 and   
bear tales of them to others2 yet such  
men1 many times1 are in great favor1 for
 they are officious1 and commonly       
exchange tales4 ,the following1 by      
certain estates#dif of men1 answerable  
to that which a great person himself    
professeth 7as of soldiers to him that  
hath been employed in the wars1 and the 
like71 hath ever been a thing civil and 
well taken even in monarchies1 so it be 
without too much pomp or popularity4    
,but the most honorable kind of         
following1 is to be followed as one that
 apprehendeth to advance virtue and     
desert in all sorts of persons2 and yet1
 where there is no eminent odds in      
sufficiency1 it is better to take with  
the more passable1 than with the more   
able2 and1 besides1 to speak truth in   
base times1 active men are of more use  
than virtuous4 ,it is true1 that1 in    
government1 it is good to use men of one
 rank equally2 for to countenance some  
extraordinarily1 is to make them        

insolent1 and the rest discontent1      
because they may claim a due3 but1      
contrariwise1 in favor1 to use men with 
much difference and election is good3   
for it maketh the persons preferred more
 thankful1 and the rest more officious1 
because all is of favor4 ,it is good    
discretion not to make too much of any  
man at the first1 because one cannot    
hold out that proportion4 ,to be        
governed1 as we call it1 by one1 is not 
safe1 for it shows softness1#dig and    
gives a freedom to scandal and          
disreputation2 for those that would not 
censure1 or speak ill of a man          
immediately1 will talk more boldly of   
those that are so great with them1 and  
thereby wound their honor2 yet to be    
distracted with many is worse1 for it   
makes men to be of the last impression1 
and full of change4 ,to take advice of  
some few friends is ever honorable2 for 
lookers-on many times see more than     
gamesters1 and the vale best discovereth
 the hill4 ,there is little friendship  

in the world1 and least of all between  
equals1 which was wont#dih to be        
magnified4 ,that that is1 is between    
superior and inferior1#dii whose        
fortunes may comprehend the one the     
other4     ,,xlix4--,,of ,,suitors4     
,many ill matters and projects are      
undertaken2 and private suits do putrefy
 the public good4 ,many good matters are
 undertaken with bad minds2 ,i mean not 
only corrupt minds1 but crafty minds1   
that intend not performance4 ,some      
embrace suits1 which never mean to deal 
effectually in them2 but if they see    
there may be life in the matter1 by some
 other mean they will be content to win 
a thank1 or take a second reward1 or1 at
 least1 to make use1 in the mean time1  
of the suitor's hopes4 ,some take hold  
of suits only for an occasion to cross  
some other1 or to make an information1  
whereof they could not otherwise have   
apt pretext1 without care what become of
 the suit when that turn is served2 or1 
generally1 to make other men's business 

a kind of entertainment to bring in     
their own3 nay1 some undertake suits    
with a full purpose to let them fall1 to
 the end to gratify the adverse party1  
or competitor4 ,surely1 there is in some
 sort a right in every suit2 either a   
right of equity1 if it be a suit of     
controversy1 or a right of desert1 if it
 be a suit of petition4 ,if affection   
lead a man to favor the wrong side in   
justice1 let him rather use his         
countenance to compound the matter than 
to carry it4 ,if affection lead a man to
 favor the less worthy in desert1 let   
him do it without depraving#ejj or      
disabling the better deserver4 ,in suits
 which a man doth not well understand1  
it is good to refer them to some friend 
of trust and judgment1 that may report  
whether he may deal in them with honor2 
but let him choose well his             
referendaries1#eja for else he may be   
led by the nose4 ,suitors are so        
distasted#ejb with delays and abuses1   
that plain dealing in denying to deal in

 suits at first1 and reporting the      
success barely1#ejc and in challenging  
no more thanks than one hath deserved1  
is grown not only honorable1 but also   
gracious4 ,in suits of favor1 the first 
coming ought to take little place2#ejd  
so far forth#eje consideration may be   
had of his trust1 that if intelligence  
of the matter could not otherwise have  
been had but by him1 advantage be not   
taken of the note1#ejf but the party    
left to his other means1 and in some    
sort recompensed for his discovery4 ,to 
be ignorant of the value of a suit is   
simplicity2 as well as to be ignorant of
 the right thereof1 is want of          
conscience4 ,secrecy in suits is a great
 mean of obtaining2 for voicing them to 
be in forwardness may discourage some   
kind of suitors1 but doth quicken and   
awake others4 ,but timing of the suit is
 the principal2 timing1 ,i say1 not only
 in respect of the person that should   
grant it1 but in respect of those which 
are like to cross it4 ,let a man1 in the

 choice of his mean1 rather choose the  
fittest mean1 than the greatest mean2   
and rather them that deal in certain    
things1 than those that are general4    
,the reparation of a denial is sometimes
 equal to the first grant1 if a man show
 himself neither dejected nor           
discontented4 8,iniquum petas1 ut quum  
feras10#ejg is a good rule1 where a man 
hath strength of favor2 but otherwise a 
man were better rise in his suit2 for he
 that would have ventured at first to   
have lost the suitor1 will not1 in the  
conclusion1 lose both the suitor and his
 own former favor4 ,nothing is thought  
so easy a request to a great person as  
his letter3 and yet if it be not in a   
good cause1 it is so much out of his    
reputation4 ,there are no worse         
instruments than these general          
contrivers of suits2 for they are but a 
kind of poison and infection to public  
proceedings4     ,l4--,,of              
,,studies4#ejh   ,studies serve for     
delight1 for ornament1 and for ability4 

,their chief use for delight1 is in     
privateness and retiring2 for ornament1 
is in discourse2 and for ability1 is in 
the judgment and disposition of         
business2 for expert men can execute1   
and perhaps judge of particulars one by 
one2 but the general counsels1 and the  
plots and marshalling of affairs1 come  
best from those that are learned4 ,to   
spend too much time in studies1 is      
sloth2 to use them too much for         
ornament1 is affectation2 to make       
judgment wholly by their rules1 is the  
humor of a scholar4 ,they perfect       
nature1 and are perfected by experience2
 for natural abilities are like natural 
plants1 that need pruning by study2 and 
studies themselves do give forth        
directions too much at large1 except    
they be bounded in by experience4       
,crafty men contemn studies1 simple men 
admire them1 and wise men use them2 for 
they teach not their own use2 but that  
is a wisdom without them and above them1
 won by observation4 ,read not to       

contradict and confute1 nor to believe  
and take for granted1 nor to find talk  
and discourse1 but to weigh and         
consider4 ,some books are to be tasted1 
others to be swallowed1 and some few to 
be chewed and digested2 that is1 some   
books are to be read only in parts2     
others to be read1 but not              
curiously2#eji and some few to be read  
wholly1 and with diligence and          
attention4 ,some books also may be read 
by deputy1 and extracts made of them by 
others2 but that would be only in the   
less important arguments and the meaner 
sort of books2 else distilled books are1
 like common distilled waters1          
flashy#eaj things4 ,reading maketh a    
full man2 conference a ready man2 and   
writing an exact man2 and1 therefore1 if
 a man write little1 he had need have a 
great memory2 if he confer little1 he   
had need have a present wit2 and if he  
read little1 he had need have much      
cunning1 to seem to know that he doth   
not4 ,histories make men wise2 poets1   

witty2 the mathematics1 subtile2 natural
 philosophy1 deep2 moral1 grave2 logic  
and rhetoric1 able to contend3 8,abeunt 
studia in mores20#eaa nay1 there is no  
stand or impediment in the wit1 but may 
be wrought out by fit studies4 ,like as 
diseases of the body may have           
appropriate exercises1 bowling is good  
for the stone and reins1 shooting for   
the lungs and breast1 gentle walking for
 the stomach1 riding for the head and   
the like2 so1 if a man's wit be         
wandering1 let him study the            
mathematics2 for in demonstrations1 if  
his wit be called away never so little1 
he must begin again2 if his wit be not  
apt to distinguish or find difference1  
let him study the schoolmen1 for they   
are 8,cymini sectores40#eab ,if he be   
not apt to beat over matters1 and to    
call up one thing to prove and          
illustrate another1 let him study the   
lawyers' cases2 so every defect of the  
mind may have a special receipt4        
,,li4--,,of ,,faction4   ,many have an  

opinion not wise1 that for a prince to  
govern his estate1 or for a great person
 to govern his proceedings1 according to
 the respect of factions1 is a principal
 part of policy2 whereas1 contrariwise1 
the chiefest wisdom is1 either in       
ordering those things which are general1
 and wherein men of several factions do 
nevertheless agree1 or in dealing with  
correspondence to particular persons1   
one by one2 but ,i say not1 that the    
consideration of factions is to be      
neglected4 ,mean men in their rising    
must adhere2 but great men1 that have   
strength in themselves1 were better to  
maintain themselves indifferent and     
neutral2 yet1 even in beginners1 to     
adhere so moderately1 as he be a man of 
the one faction1 which is most passable 
with the other1 commonly giveth best    
way4 ,the lower and weaker faction is   
the firmer in conjunction2 and it is    
often seen1 that a few that are stiff1  
do tire out a great number that are more
 moderate4 ,when one of the factions is 

extinguished1 the remaining subdivideth2
 as the faction between ,lucullus and   
the rest of the nobles of the senate    
7which they called 8optimates071 held   
out a while against the faction of      
,pompey and ,csar2 but when the senate's
 authority was pulled down1 ,csar and   
,pompey soon after brake4 ,the faction  
or party of ,antonius and ,octavianus   
,csar1 against ,brutus and ,cassius1    
held out likewise for a time2 but when  
,brutus and ,cassius were overthrown1   
then soon after ,antonius and           
,octavianus brake and subdivided4 ,these
 examples are of wars1 but the same     
holdeth in private factions2 and1       
therefore1 those that are seconds in    
factions do many times1 when the faction
 subdivideth1 prove principals2 but many
 times also they prove ciphers1 and     
cashiered1 for many a man's strength is 
in opposition2 and when that faileth1 he
 groweth out of use4 ,it is commonly    
seen1 that men once placed1 take in with
 the contrary faction to that by which  

they enter2 thinking1 belike1 that they 
have the first sure1 and now are ready  
for a new purchase4 ,the traitor in     
faction lightly goeth away with it2 for 
when matters have stuck long in         
balancing1 the winning of some one man  
casteth them1#eac and he getteth all the
 thanks4 ,the even carriage between two 
factions proceedeth not always of       
moderation1 but of a trueness to a man's
 self1 with end to make use of both4    
,certainly1 in ,italy1 they hold it a   
little suspect in popes1 when they have 
often in their mouth1 8,padre           
commune20#ead and take it to be a sign  
of one that meaneth to refer all to the 
greatness of his own house4 ,kings had  
need beware how they side themselves1   
and make themselves as of a faction or  
party2 for leagues within the state are 
ever pernicious to monarchies2 for they 
raise an obligation paramount to        
obligation of sovereignty1 and make the 
king 8tanquam unus ex nobis10#eae as was
 to be seen in the ,league of ,france4  

,when factions are carried too high and 
too violently1 it is a sign of weakness 
in princes1 and much to the prejudice   
both of their authority and business4   
,the motions of factions under kings1   
ought to be like the motions 7as the    
astronomers speak7 of the inferior orbs1
 which may have their proper motions1   
but yet still are quietly carried by the
 higher motion of 8primum mobile40#eaf  
,,lii4--,,of ,,ceremonies ,,and         
,,respects4   ,he that is only real1 had
 need have exceeding great parts of     
virtue2 as the stone had need to be rich
 that is set without foil2 but if a man 
mark it well1 it is in praise and       
commendation of men1 as it is in        
gettings and gains2 for the proverb is  
true1 that 8,light gains make heavy     
purses20 for light gains come thick1    
whereas great come but now and then4 ,so
 it is true1 that small matters win     
great commendation1 because they are    
continually in use and in note2 whereas 
the occasion of any great virtue cometh 

but on festivals2 therefore it doth much
 add to a man's reputation1 and is 7as  
,queen ,isabella#eag said7 like         
perpetual letters commendatory1 to have 
good forms4 ,to attain them1 it almost  
sufficeth not to despise them2 for so   
shall a man observe them in others2 and 
let him trust himself with the rest2 for
 if he labor too much to express them1  
he shall lose their grace1 which is to  
be natural and unaffected4 ,some men's  
behavior is like a verse1 wherein every 
syllable is measured2 how can a man     
comprehend great matters1 that breaketh 
his mind too much to small observations8
 ,not to use ceremonies at all1 is to   
teach others not to use them again1 and 
so diminisheth respect to himself2      
especially they be not to be omitted to 
strangers and formal natures2 but the   
dwelling upon them1 and exalting them   
above the moon1 is not only tedious1 but
 doth diminish the faith and credit of  
him that speaks2 and1 certainly1 there  
is a kind of conveying of effectual and 

imprinting passages amongst compliments1
 which is of singular use1 if a man can 
hit upon it4 ,amongst a man's peers1 a  
man shall be sure of familiarity1 and1  
therefore1 it is good a little to keep  
state2 amongst a man's inferiors1 one   
shall be sure of reverence1 and         
therefore it is good a little to be     
familiar4 ,he that is too much in any   
thing1 so that he giveth another        
occasion of satiety1 maketh himself     
cheap4 ,to apply one's self to others1  
is good1 so it be with demonstration    
that a man doth it upon regard1 and not 
upon facility4 ,it is a good precept1   
generally in seconding another1 yet to  
add somewhat of one's own2 as1 if you   
will grant his opinion1 let it be with  
some distinction2 if you will follow his
 motion1 let it be with condition2 if   
you allow his counsel1 let it be with   
alleging further reason4 ,men had need  
beware how they be too perfect in       
compliments2 for be they never so       
sufficient otherwise1 their enviers will

 be sure to give them that attribute to 
the disadvantage of their greater       
virtues4 ,it is loss1 also1 in business1
 to be too full of respects1 or to be   
too curious in observing times and      
opportunities4 ,solomon saith1 8,he that
 considereth the wind shall not sow1 and
 he that looketh to the clouds shall not
 reap40#eah ,a wise man will make more  
opportunities than he finds4 ,men's     
behavior should be like their apparel1  
not too strait or point device1#eai but 
free for exercise or motion4            
,,liii4--,,of ,,praise4   ,praise is the
 reflection of virtue2 but it is glass1 
or body1 which giveth the reflection4   
,if it be from the common people1 it is 
commonly false and naught1 and rather   
followeth vain persons than virtuous2   
for the common people understand not    
many excellent virtues4 ,the lowest     
virtues draw praise from them1 the      
middle virtues work in them astonishment
 or admiration1 but of the highest      
virtues they have no sense or perceiving

 at all2 but shows and 8species         
virtutibus similes10#ebj serve best with
 them4 ,certainly1 fame is like a river1
 that beareth up things light and       
swollen1 and drowns things weighty and  
solid2 but if persons of quality and    
judgment concur1 then it is 7as the     
,scripture saith71 8,nomen bonum instar 
unguenti fragrantis30#eba it filleth all
 round about1 and will not easily away2 
for the odors of ointments are more     
durable than those of flowers4 ,there be
 so many false points of praise1 that a 
man may justly hold it a suspect4 ,some 
praises proceed merely of flattery2 and 
if he be an ordinary flatterer1 he will 
have certain common attributes1 which   
may serve every man2 if he be a cunning 
flatterer1 he will follow the           
arch-flatterer1 which is a man's self1  
and wherein a man thinketh best of      
himself1 therein the flatterer will     
uphold him most4 ,but if he be an       
impudent flatterer1 look wherein a man  
is conscious to himself that he is most 

defective1 and is most out of           
countenance in himself1 that will the   
flatterer entitle him to1 perforce1     
8spret conscienti40#ebb ,some praises   
come of good wishes and respects1 which 
is a form due in civility to kings and  
great persons1 8laudando prcipere20#ebc 
when1 by telling men what they are1 they
 represent to them what they should be2 
some men are praised maliciously to     
their hurt1 thereby to stir envy and    
jealousy towards them3 8,pessimum genus 
inimicorum laudantium20#ebd insomuch as 
it was a proverb amongst the ,grecians1 
that 8he that was praised to his hurt1  
should have a push#ebe rise upon his    
nose20 as we say that a blister will    
rise upon one's tongue that tells a lie2
 certainly1 moderate praise1 used with  
opportunity1 and not vulgar1 is that    
which doth the good4 ,solomon saith3    
8,he that praiseth his friend aloud1    
rising early1 it shall be to him no     
better than a curse40#ebf ,too much     
magnifying of man or matter doth        

irritate contradiction1 and procure envy
 and scorn4 ,to praise a man's self     
cannot be decent1 except it be in rare  
cases2 but to praise a man's office#ebg 
or profession1 he may do it with good   
grace1 and with a kind of magnanimity4  
,the cardinals of ,rome1 which are      
theologues1#ebh and friars1 and         
schoolmen1 have a phrase of notable     
contempt and scorn towards civil        
business2 for they call all temporal    
business of wars1 embassages1           
judicature1 and other employments1      
sbirrerie1 which is under-sheriffries1  
as if they were but matters for         
under-sheriffs and catchpoles2 though   
many times those under-sheriffries do   
more good than their high speculations4 
,st4 ,paul1 when he boasts of himself1  
he doth oft interlace1 8,i speak like a 
fool30#ebi but speaking of his calling1 
he saith1 8,magnificabo apostolatum     
meum40#ecj     ,,liv4--,,of ,,vainglory4
   ,it was prettily devised of sop1 the 
fly sat upon the axle-tree of the       

chariot-wheel1 and said1 8,what a dust  
do ,i raise60 ,so are there some vain   
persons1 that1 whatsoever goeth alone1  
or moveth upon greater means1 if they   
have never so little hand in it1 they   
think it is they that carry it4 ,they   
that are glorious1 must needs be        
factious2 for all bravery#eca stands    
upon comparisons4 ,they must needs be   
violent1 to make good their own vaunts2 
neither can they be secret1 and         
therefore not effectual2 but1 according 
to the ,french proverb1 8,beaucoup de   
bruit1 peu de fruit20--8much bruit1#ecb 
little fruit40 ,yet1 certainly1 there is
 use of this quality in civil affairs3  
where there is an opinion#ecc and fame  
to be created1 either of virtue or      
greatness1 these men are good           
trumpeters4 ,again1 as ,titus ,livius   
noteth1 in the case of ,antiochus and   
the tolians1#ecd there are sometimes    
great effects of cross lies2 as if a man
 that negotiates between two princes1 to
 draw them to join in a war against the 

third1 doth extol the forces of either  
of them above measure1 the one to the   
other2 and sometimes he that deals      
between man and man1 raiseth his own    
credit with both1 by pretending greater 
interest than he hath in either2 and in 
these1 and the like kinds1 it often     
falls out1 that somewhat is produced of 
nothing2 for lies are sufficient to     
breed opinion1 and opinion brings on    
substance4 ,in military commanders and  
soldiers1 vainglory is an essential     
point2 for as iron sharpens iron1 so by 
glory one courage sharpeneth another4   
,in cases of great enterprise upon      
charge#ece and adventure1 a composition 
of glorious natures doth put life into  
business2 and those that are of solid   
and sober natures1 have more of the     
ballast than of the sail4 ,in fame of   
learning1 the flight will be slow       
without some feathers of ostentation3   
8,qui de contemnend glori libros        
scribunt1 nomen suum inscribunt40#ecf   
,socrates1 ,aristotle1 ,galen1 were men 

full of ostentation3 certainly1         
vainglory helpeth to perpetuate a man's 
memory2 and virtue was never so beholden
 to human nature1 as it received its due
 at the second hand4 ,neither had the   
fame of ,cicero1 ,seneca1 ,plinius      
,secundus1#ecg borne her age so well if 
it had not been joined with some vanity 
in themselves2 like unto varnish1 that  
makes ceilings not only shine1 but last4
 ,but all this while1 when ,i speak of  
vainglory1 ,i mean not of that property 
that ,tacitus doth attribute to         
,mucianus1 8,omnium1 qu dixerat         
feceratque1 arte qudam ostentator20#ech 
for that#eci proceeds not of vanity1 but
 of natural magnanimity and discretion2 
and1 in some persons1 is not only       
comely1 but gracious2 for               
excusations1#edj cessions1#eda modesty  
itself1 well governed1 are but arts of  
ostentation2 and amongst those arts     
there is none better than that which    
,plinius ,secundus speaketh of1 which is
 to be liberal of praise and            

commendation to others1 in that wherein 
a man's self hath any perfection4 ,for1 
saith ,pliny1 very wittily1 8,in        
commending another1 you do yourself     
right2#edb for he that you commend is   
either superior to you in that you      
commend1 or inferior3 if he be inferior1
 if he be to be commended1 you much     
more2 if he be superior1 if he be not to
 be commended1 you much less40          
,glorious#edc men are the scorn of wise 
men1 the admiration of fools1 the idols 
of parasites1 and the slaves of their   
own vaunts4     ,,lv4--,,of ,,honor     
,,and ,,reputation4   ,the winning of   
honor is but the revealing of a man's   
virtue and worth without disadvantage2  
for some in their actions do woo and    
affect honor and reputation2 which sort 
of men are commonly much talked of1 but 
inwardly little admired2 and some1      
contrariwise1 darken their virtue in the
 show of it1 so as they be undervalued  
in opinion4 ,if a man perform that which
 hath not been attempted before1 or     

attempted and given over1 or hath been  
achieved1 but not with so good          
circumstance1 he shall purchase more    
honor than by affecting a matter of     
greater difficulty or virtue1 wherein he
 is but a follower4 ,if a man so temper 
his actions1 as in some one of them he  
doth content every faction or           
combination of people1 the music will be
 the fuller4 ,a man is an ill husband of
 his honor that entereth into any       
action1 the failing wherein may disgrace
 him more than the carrying of it       
through can honor him4 ,honor that is   
gained and broken upon another hath the 
quickest reflection1 like diamonds cut  
with facets2 and therefore let a man    
contend to excel any competitors of his 
in honor1 in outshooting them1 if he    
can1 in their own bow4 ,discreet        
followers and servants help much to     
reputation3 8,omnis fama a domesticis   
emanat40#edd ,envy1 which is the canker 
of honor1 is best extinguished by       
declaring a man's self in his ends1     

rather to seek merit than fame2 and by  
attributing a man's successes rather to 
,divine providence and felicity1 than to
 his own virtue or policy4 ,the true    
marshalling of the degrees of sovereign 
honor are these4 ,in the first place are
 8conditores imperiorum10#ede founders  
of states and commonwealths2 such as    
were ,romulus1 ,cyrus1 ,csar1           
,ottoman1#edf ,ismael3 in the second    
place are 8legislatores10 lawgivers1    
which are also called second founders1  
or 8perpetui principes10#edg because    
they govern by their ordinances after   
they are gone2 such were ,lycurgus1     
,solon1 ,justinian1 ,edgar1#edh         
,alphonsus of ,castile1 the ,wise1 that 
made the 8,siete ,partidas30#edi in the 
third place are 8liberatores10 or       
8salvatores10#eej such as compound the  
long miseries of civil wars1 or deliver 
their countries from servitude of       
strangers or tyrants1 as ,augustus      
,csar1 ,vespasianus1 ,aurelianus1       
,theodoricus1 ,king ,henry the ,seventh 

of ,england1 ,king ,henry the ,fourth of
 ,france3 in the fourth place are       
8propagatores10 or 8propugnatores       
imperii10#eea such as in honorable wars 
enlarge their territories1 or make noble
 defence against invaders3 and1 in the  
last place are 8patres patri10#eeb which
 reign justly1 and make the times good  
wherein they live2 both which last kinds
 need no examples1 they are in such     
number4 ,degrees of honor in subjects   
are1 first1 8participes curarum10#eec   
those upon whom princes do discharge the
 greatest weight of their affairs1 their
 right hands1 as we call them2 the next 
are 8duces belli10#eed great leaders1   
such as are princes' lieutenants1 and do
 them notable services in the wars2 the 
third are 8gratiosi10 favorites1 such as
 exceed not this scantling1#eee to be   
solace to the sovereign1 and harmless to
 the people2 and the fourth1 8negotiis  
pares10#eef such as have great places   
under princes1 and execute their places 
with sufficiency4 ,there is an honor1   

likewise1 which may be ranked amongst   
the greatest1 which happeneth rarely2   
that is1 of such as sacrifice themselves
 to death or danger for the good of     
their country2 as was ,m4 ,regulus1 and 
the two ,decii4     ,,lvi4--,,of        
,,judicature4   ,judges ought to        
remember that their office is 8jus      
dicere10#eeg and not 8jus dare20#eeh to 
interpret law1 and not to make law1 or  
give law2 else will it be like the      
authority claimed by the ,church of     
,rome1 which1 under pretext of          
exposition of ,scripture1 doth not stick
 to add and alter1 and to pronounce that
 which they do not find1 and1 by show of
 antiquity1 to introduce novelty4       
,judges ought to be more learned than   
witty1 more reverend than plausible1 and
 more advised than confident4 ,above all
 things1 integrity is their portion and 
proper virtue4 8,cursed 7saith the      
law7#eei is he that removeth the        
landmark40 ,the mislayer of a mere stone
 is to blame2 but it is the unjust judge

 that is the capital remover of         
landmarks1 when he defineth amiss of    
lands and property4 ,one foul sentence  
doth more hurt than many foul examples2 
for these do but corrupt the stream1 the
 other corrupteth the fountain3 so saith
 ,solomon1 8,fons turbatus et vena      
corrupta est justus cadens in caus su   
coram adversario40#efj ,the office of   
judges may have reference unto the      
parties that sue1 unto the advocates    
that plead1 unto the clerks and         
ministers of justice underneath them1   
and to the sovereign or state above     
them4  ,first1 for the causes or parties
 that sue4 8,there be 7saith the        
,scripture7 that turn judgment into     
wormwood20#efa and surely there be1     
also1 that turn it into vinegar2 for    
injustice maketh it bitter1 and delays  
make it sour4 ,the principal duty of a  
judge is to suppress force and fraud2   
whereof force is the more pernicious    
when it is open1 and fraud when it is   
close and disguised4 ,add thereto       

contentious suits1 which ought to be    
spewed out1 as the surfeit of courts4 ,a
 judge ought to prepare his way to a    
just sentence1 as ,god useth to prepare 
his way1 by raising valleys and taking  
down hills2 so when there appeareth on  
either side a high hand1 violent        
prosecution1 cunning advantages taken1  
combination1 power1 great counsel1 then 
is the virtue of a judge seen to make   
inequality equal1 that he may plant his 
judgment as upon an even ground4 8,qui  
fortiter emungit1 elicit sanguinem20#efb
 and where the wine-press is hard       
wrought1 it yields a harsh wine1 that   
tastes of the grape-stone4 ,judges must 
beware of hard constructions and        
strained inferences2 for there is no    
worse torture than the torture of laws4 
,especially in case of laws penal1 they 
ought to have care that that which was  
meant for terror be not turned into     
rigor2 and that they bring not upon the 
people that shower whereof the          
,scripture speaketh1 8,pluet super eos  

laqueos20#efc for penal laws            
pressed1#efd are a shower of snares upon
 the people4 ,therefore let penal laws1 
if they have been sleepers of long1 or  
if they be grown unfit for the present  
time1 be by wise judges confined in the 
execution3 8,judicis officium est1 ut   
res1 ita tempora rerum10 c4#efe ,in     
causes of life and death1 judges ought  
7as far as the law permitteth7 in       
justice to remember mercy1 and to cast a
 severe eye upon the example1 but a     
merciful eye upon the person4           
,secondly1 for the advocates and counsel
 that plead4 ,patience#eff and gravity  
of hearing is an essential part of      
justice1 and an overspeaking judge is no
 well-tuned cymbal4 ,it is no grace to a
 judge first to find that which he might
 have heard in due time from the bar2 or
 to show quickness of conceit in cutting
 off evidence or counsel too short1 or  
to prevent information by questions1    
though pertinent4 ,the parts of a judge 
in hearing are four3 to direct the      

evidence2 to moderate length1           
repetition1 of impertinency of speech2  
to recapitulate1 select1 and collate the
 material points of that which hath been
 said2 and to give the rule or sentence4
 ,whatsoever is above these is too much1
 and proceedeth either of glory1 and    
willingness to speak1 or of impatience  
to hear1 or of shortness of memory1 or  
of want of a staid and equal attention4 
,it is a strange thing to see that the  
boldness of advocates should prevail    
with judges2 whereas1 they should       
imitate ,god in whose seat they sit1 who
 represseth the presumptuous1 and giveth
 grace to the modest2 but it is more    
strange1 that judges should have noted  
favorites1 which cannot but cause       
multiplication of fees1 and suspicion of
 by-ways4 ,there is due from the judge  
to the advocate some commendation and   
gracing1 where causes are well handled  
and fair pleaded1 especially towards the
 side which obtaineth not2#efg for that 
upholds in the client the reputation of 

his counsel1 and beats down in him the  
conceit#efh of his cause4 ,there is     
likewise due to the public a civil      
reprehension of advocates1 where there  
appeareth cunning counsel1 gross        
neglect1 slight information1 indiscreet 
pressing1 or an over-bold defence2 and  
let not the counsel at the bar chop#efi 
with the judge1 nor wind himself into   
the handling of the cause anew after the
 judge hath declared his sentence2 but1 
on the other side1 let not the judge    
meet the cause half-way1 nor give       
occasion to the party to say1 his       
counsel or proofs were not heard4       
,thirdly1 for that that concerns clerks 
and ministers4 ,the place of justice is 
a hallowed place2 and1 therefore1 not   
only the bench1 but the foot-pace and   
precincts1 and purprise thereof1 ought  
to be preserved without scandal and     
corruption2 for1 certainly1 8,grapes 7as
 the ,scripture saith7 will not be      
gathered of thorns or thistles20#egj    
neither can justice yield her fruit with

 sweetness amongst the briers and       
brambles of catching and polling#ega    
clerks and ministers4 ,the attendance of
 courts is subject to four bad          
instruments3 first1 certain persons that
 are sowers of suits1 which make the    
court swell1 and the country pine3 the  
second sort is of those that engage     
courts in quarrels of jurisdiction1 and 
are not truly 8amici curi10#egb but     
8parasiti curi10#egc in puffing a court 
up beyond her bounds for their own      
scraps and advantage3 the third sort is 
of those that may be accounted the left 
hands of courts2 persons that are full  
of nimble and sinister tricks and       
shifts1 whereby they pervert the plain  
and direct courses of courts1 and bring 
justice into oblique lines and          
labyrinths3 and the fourth is the poller
 and exacter of fees2 which justifies   
the common resemblance of the courts of 
justice to the bush1 whereunto while the
 sheep flies for defence in weather1 he 
is sure to lose part of his fleece4 ,on 

the other side1 an ancient clerk1       
skilful in precedents1 wary in          
proceeding1 and understanding in the    
business of the court1 is an excellent  
finger of a court1 and doth many times  
point the way to the judge himself4     
,fourthly1 for that which may concern   
the sovereign and estate4 ,judges ought1
 above all1 to remember the conclusion  
of the ,roman ,twelve ,tables1#egd      
8,salus populi suprema lex20#ege and to 
know that laws1 except they be in order 
to that end1 are but things captious1   
and oracles not well inspired2 therefore
 it is a happy thing in a state1 when   
kings and states do often consult with  
judges2 and again1 when judges do often 
consult with the king and state3 the    
one1 when there is matter of law        
intervenient in business of state2 the  
other1 when there is some consideration 
of state intervenient in matter of law2 
for many times the things deduced to    
judgment may be 8meum0#egf and          
8tuum10#egg when the reason and         

consequence thereof may trench to point 
of estate4 ,i call matter of estate1 not
 only the parts of sovereignty1 but     
whatsoever introduceth any great        
alteration1 or dangerous precedent1 or  
concerneth manifestly any great portion 
of people2 and let no man weakly        
conceive1 that just laws and true policy
 have any antipathy1 for they are like  
the spirits and sinews1 that one moves  
with the other4 ,let judges also        
remember1 that ,solomon's throne was    
supported by lions#egh on both sides2   
let them be lions1 but yet lions under  
the throne1 being circumspect that they 
do not check or oppose any points of    
sovereignty4 ,let not judges also be so 
ignorant of their own right1 as to think
 there is not left to them1 as a        
principal part of their office1 a wise  
use and application of laws2 for they   
may remember what the apostle saith of a
 greater law than theirs3 8,nos scimus  
quia lex bona est1 modo quis e utatur   
legitime40#egi     ,,lvii4--,,of        

,,anger4   ,to seek to extinguish anger 
utterly is but a bravery#ehj of the     
,stoics4 ,we have better oracles3 8,be  
angry1 but sin not2 let not the sun go  
down upon your anger40#eha ,anger must  
be limited and confined1 both in race   
and in time4 ,we will first speak how   
the natural inclination and habit1 8to  
be angry10 may be attempered and calmed2
 secondly1 how the particular motions of
 anger may be repressed1 or1 at least1  
refrained from doing mischief2 thirdly1 
how to raise anger1 or appease anger in 
another4  ,for the first1 there is no   
other way but to meditate and ruminate  
well upon the effects of anger1 how it  
troubles man's life2 and the best time  
to do this is1 to look back upon anger  
when the fit is thoroughly over4 ,seneca
 saith well1 8that anger is like ruin1  
which breaks itself upon that it        
falls40#ehb ,the ,scripture exhorteth us
 8to possess our souls in patience20#ehc
 whosoever is out of patience1 is out of
 possession of his soul4 ,men must not  

turn bees3--    8animasque in vulnere   
ponunt40#ehd  ,anger is certainly a kind
 of baseness2 as it appears well in the 
weakness of those subjects in whom it   
reigns1 children1 women1 old folks1 sick
 folks4 ,only men must beware that they 
carry their anger rather with scorn than
 with fear2 so that they may seem rather
 to be above the injury than below it2  
which is a thing easily done1 if a man  
will give law to himself in it4  ,for   
the second point1 the causes and motives
 of anger are chiefly three4 ,first1 to 
be too sensible of hurt1 for no man is  
angry that feels not himself hurt2 and  
therefore tender and delicate persons   
must needs be oft angry1 they have so   
many things to trouble them1 which more 
robust natures have little sense of3 the
 next is1 the apprehension and          
construction of the injury offered1 to  
be1 in the circumstances thereof1 full  
of contempt2 for contempt is that which 
putteth an edge upon anger1 as much1 or 
more1 than the hurt itself2 and         

therefore1 when men are ingenious in    
picking out circumstances of contempt1  
they do kindle their anger much3 lastly1
 opinion of the touch#ehe of a man's    
reputation doth multiply and sharpen    
anger2 wherein the remedy is1 that a man
 should have1 as ,gonsalvo was wont to  
say1 8,telam honoris crassiorem40#ehf   
,but in all refrainings of anger1 it is 
the best remedy to win time1 and to make
 a man's self believe that the          
opportunity of his revenge is not yet   
come2 but that he foresees a time for   
it1 and so to still himself in the mean 
time1 and reserve it4  ,to contain anger
 from mischief1 though it take hold of a
 man1 there be two things whereof you   
must have special caution3 the one1 of  
extreme bitterness of words1 especially 
if they be aculeate and proper1#ehg for 
8communia maledicta0#ehh are nothing so 
much2 and1 again1 that in anger a man   
reveal no secrets1 for that makes him   
not fit for society3 the other1 that you
 do not peremptorily break off in any   

business in a fit of anger2 but1        
howsoever you show bitterness1 do not   
act any thing that is not revocable4    
,for raising and appeasing anger in     
another1 it is done chiefly by choosing 
of times when men are frowardest and    
worst disposed to incense them2 again1  
by gathering 7as was touched before7 all
 that you can find out to aggravate the 
contempt3 and the two remedies are by   
the contraries2 the former to take good 
times1 when first to relate to a man an 
angry business1 for the first impression
 is much2 and the other is1 to sever1 as
 much as may be1 the construction of the
 injury from the point of contempt2     
imputing it to misunderstanding1 fear1  
passion1 or what you will4              
,,lviii4--,,of ,,vicissitude ,,of       
,,things4   ,solomon saith1 8,there is  
no new thing upon the earth20#ehi so    
that as ,plato#eij had an imagination   
that all knowledge was but remembrance1 
so ,solomon giveth his sentence1 8,that 
all novelty is but oblivion20#eia       

whereby you may see1 that the river of  
,lethe runneth as well above ground as  
below4 ,there is an abstruse astrologer 
that saith1 if it were not for two      
things that are constant 7the one is1   
that the fixed stars ever stand at like 
distance one from another1 and never    
come nearer together1 nor go further    
asunder2 the other1 that the diurnal    
motion perpetually keepeth time71 no    
individual would last one moment2       
certain it is1 that the matter is in a  
perpetual flux1 and never at a stay4    
,the great winding-sheets that bury all 
things in oblivion1 are two1--deluges   
and earthquakes4 ,as for conflagrations 
and great droughts1 they do not merely  
dispeople1 but destroy4 ,phaeton's car  
went but a day2 and the three years'    
drought in the time of ,elias1#eib was  
but particular1#eic and left people     
alive4 ,as for the great burnings by    
lightnings1 which are often in the ,west
 ,indies1#eid they are but narrow2#eie  
but in the other two destructions1 by   

deluge and earthquake1 it is further to 
be noted1 that the remnant of people    
which happen to be reserved1 are        
commonly ignorant and mountainous       
people1 that can give no account of the 
time past2 so that the oblivion is all  
one1 as if none had been left4 ,if you  
consider well of the people of the ,west
 ,indies1 it is very probable that they 
are a newer1 or a younger people than   
the people of the old world2 and it is  
much more likely that the destruction   
that hath heretofore been there1 was not
 by earthquakes1 7as the ,egyptian      
priest told ,solon1 concerning the      
,island of ,atlantis1#eif that it was   
swallowed by an earthquake71 but rather 
that it was desolated by a particular   
deluge1 for earthquakes are seldom in   
those parts2 but1 on the other side1    
they have such pouring rivers1 as the   
rivers of ,asia1 and ,africa1 and       
,europe1 are but brooks to them4 ,their 
,andes1 likewise1 or mountains1 are far 
higher than those with us2 whereby it   

seems1 that the remnants of generations 
of men were in such a particular deluge 
saved4 ,as for the observation that     
,machiavel hath1 that the jealousy of   
sects doth much extinguish the memory of
 things1#eig traducing ,gregory the     
,great1 that he did what in him lay to  
extinguish all heathen antiquities1 ,i  
do not find that those zeals do any     
great effects1 nor last long2 as it     
appeared in the succession of           
,sabinian1#eih who did revive the former
 antiquities4  ,the vicissitude1 or     
mutations1 in the superior globe1 are no
 fit matter for this present argument4  
,it may be1 ,plato's great year1#eii if 
the world should last so long1 would    
have some effect1 not in renewing the   
state of like individuals 7for that is  
the fume#fjj of those that conceive the 
celestial bodies have more accurate     
influences upon these things below1 than
 indeed they have71 but in gross4       
,comets1 out of question1 have likewise 
power and effect over the gross and mass

 of things2 but they are rather gazed1  
and waited upon#fja in their journey1   
than wisely observed in their effects1  
especially in their respective effects2 
that is1 what kind of comet for         
magnitude1 color1 version of the beams1 
placing in the region of heaven1 or     
lasting1 produceth what kind of effects4
  ,there is a toy1#fjb which ,i have    
heard1 and ,i would not have it given   
over1 but waited upon a little4 ,they   
say it is observed in the ,low          
,countries 7,i know not in what part71  
that every five and thirty years the    
same kind and suit of years and weather 
comes about again2 as great frosts1     
great wet1 great droughts1 warm winters1
 summers with little heat1 and the like2
 and they call it the prime4 ,it is a   
thing ,i do the rather mention1 because1
 computing backwards1 ,i have found some
 concurrence4  ,but to leave these      
points of nature1 and to come to men4   
,the greatest vicissitude of things     
amongst men1 is the vicissitude of sects

 and religions2 for those orbs rule in  
men's minds most4 ,the true religion is 
built upon the rock2 the rest are tossed
 upon the waves of time4 ,to speak1     
therefore1 of the causes of new sects1  
and to give some counsel concerning     
them1 as far as the weakness of human   
judgment can give stay to so great      
revolutions4  ,when the religion        
formerly received is rent by discords1  
and when the holiness of the professors 
of religion is decayed and full of      
scandal1 and1 withal1 the times be      
stupid1 ignorant1 and barbarous1 you may
 doubt the springing up of a new sect2  
if then1 also1 there should arise any   
extravagant and strange spirit to make  
himself author thereof2 all which points
 held when ,mahomet published his law4  
,if a new sect have not two properties1 
fear it not1 for it will not spread4    
,the one is the supplanting or the      
opposing of authority established1 for  
nothing is more popular than that2 the  
other is1 the giving license to         

pleasures and a voluptuous life2 for as 
for speculative heresies 7such as were  
in ancient times the ,arians1 and now   
the ,arminians71#fjc though they work   
mightily upon men's wits1 yet they do   
not produce any great alterations in    
states1 except it be by the help of     
civil occasions4 ,there be three manner 
of plantations of new sects3 by the     
power of signs and miracles2 by the     
eloquence and wisdom of speech and      
persuasion2 and by the sword4 ,for      
martyrdoms1 ,i reckon them amongst      
miracles1 because they seem to exceed   
the strength of human nature2 and ,i may
 do the like of superlative and         
admirable holiness of life4 ,surely1    
there is no better way to stop the      
rising of new sects and schisms1 than to
 reform abuses2 to compound the smaller 
differences2 to proceed mildly1 and not 
with sanguinary persecutions2 and rather
 to take off the principal authors1 by  
winning and advancing them1 than to     
enrage them by violence and bitterness4 

,the changes and vicissitude in wars are
 many1 but chiefly in three things3 in  
the seats or stages of the war1 in the  
weapons1 and in the manner of the       
conduct4 ,wars1 in ancient time1 seemed 
more to move from east to west2 for the 
,persians1 ,assyrians1 ,arabians1       
,tartars 7which were the invaders71 were
 all eastern people4 ,it is true the    
,gauls were western2 but we read but of 
two incursions of theirs1 the one to    
,gallo-,grcia1 the other to ,rome3 but  
east and west have no certain points of 
heaven2 and no more have the wars1      
either from the east or west1 any       
certainty of observation2 but north and 
south are fixed2 and it hath seldom or  
never been seen that the far southern   
people have invaded the northern1 but   
contrariwise3 whereby it is manifest    
that the northern tract of the world is 
in nature the more martial region1 be it
 in respect of the stars of that        
hemisphere1#fjd or of the great         
continents that are upon the north2     

whereas1 the south part1 for aught that 
is known1 is almost all sea2 or 7which  
is most apparent7 of the cold of the    
northern parts1 which is that which1    
without aid of discipline1 doth make the
 bodies hardest1 and the courage        
warmest4  ,upon the breaking and        
shivering of a great state and empire1  
you may be sure to have wars2 for great 
empires1 while they stand1 do enervate  
and destroy the forces of the natives   
which they have subdued1 resting upon   
their own protecting forces2 and then1  
when they fail also1 all goes to ruin1  
and they become a prey4 ,so was it in   
the decay of the ,roman empire1 and     
likewise in the empire of ,almaigne1#fje
 after ,charles the ,great1#fjf every   
bird taking a feather1 and were not     
unlike to befall to ,spain1 if it should
 break4 ,the great accessions and unions
 of kingdoms do likewise stir up wars2  
for when a state grows to an over-power1
 it is like a great flood1 that will be 
sure to overflow1 as it hath been seen  

in the states of ,rome1 ,turkey1 ,spain1
 and others4 ,look when the world hath  
fewest barbarous people1 but such as    
commonly will not marry or generate1    
except they know means to live 7as it is
 almost everywhere at this day1 except  
,tartary71 there is no danger of        
inundations of people2 but when there be
 great shoals of people1 which go on to 
populate1 without foreseeing means of   
life and sustenation1 it is of necessity
 that once in an age or two they        
discharge a portion of their people upon
 other nations1 which the ancient       
northern people were wont to do by lot2 
casting lots what part should stay at   
home1 and what should seek their        
fortunes4 ,when a warlike state grows   
soft and effeminate1 they may be sure of
 a war1 for commonly such states are    
grown rich in the time of their         
degenerating2 and so the prey inviteth1 
and their decay in valor encourageth a  
war4  ,as for the weapons1 it hardly    
falleth under rule and observation1 yet 

we see even they have returns and       
vicissitudes2 for certain it is that    
ordnance was known in the city of the   
,oxidraces1 in ,india1 and was that     
which the ,macedonians#fjg called       
thunder and lightning1 and magic2 and it
 is well known that the use of ordnance 
hath been in ,china above two thousand  
years4 ,the conditions of weapons1 and  
their improvements are1 first1 the      
fetching#fjh afar off1 for that outruns 
the danger1 as it is seen in ordnance   
and muskets2 secondly1 the strength of  
the percussion1 wherein1 likewise1      
ordnance do exceed all arietations1#fji 
and ancient inventions2 the third is1   
the commodious use of them1 as that they
 may serve in all weathers1 that the    
carriage may be light and manageable1   
and the like4  ,for the conduct of the  
war3 at the first1 men rested extremely 
upon number2 they did put the wars      
likewise upon main force and valor1     
pointing days for pitched fields1 and so
 trying it out upon an even match2 and  

they were more ignorant in ranging and  
arraying their battles4 ,after they grew
 to rest upon number1 rather competent  
than vast1 they grew to advantages of   
place1 cunning diversions1 and the like1
 and they grew more skilful in the      
ordering of their battles4  ,in the     
youth of a state1 arms do flourish2 in  
the middle age of a state1 learning2 and
 then both of them together for a time2 
in the declining age of a state1        
mechanical arts and merchandise4        
,learning hath its infancy when it is   
but beginning1 and almost childish2 then
 its youth1 when it is luxuriant and    
juvenile2 then its strength of years1   
when it is solid and reduced2 and1      
lastly1 its old age1 when it waxeth dry 
and exhaust4 ,but it is not good to look
 too long upon these turning wheels of  
vicissitude1 lest we become giddy2 as   
for the philology of them1 that is but a
 circle of tales1 and therefore not fit 
for this writing4     ,,appendix ,,to   
,,essays4     ,i4--,a ,,fragment ,,of   

,,an ,,essay ,,of ,,fame4#faj   ,the    
poets make fame a monster2 they describe
 her in part finely and elegantly1 and  
in part gravely and sententiously2 they 
say1 ,look1 how many feathers she hath1 
so many eyes she hath underneath1 so    
many tongues1 so many voices1 she pricks
 up so many ears6  ,this is a flourish3 
there follow excellent parables2 as that
 she gathereth strength in going2 that  
she goeth upon the ground1 and yet      
hideth her head in the clouds2 that in  
the daytime she sitteth in a            
watch-tower1 and flieth most by night2  
that she mingleth things done with      
things not done2 and that she is a      
terror to great cities2 but that which  
passeth all the rest is1 they do recount
 that the ,earth1 mother of the giants  
that made war against ,jupiter1 and were
 by him destroyed1 thereupon in anger   
brought forth ,fame2 for certain it is1 
that rebels1 figured by the giants1 and 
seditious fames and libels1 are but     
brothers and sisters1 masculine and     

feminine4 ,but now1 if a man can tame   
this monster1 and bring her to feed at  
the hand and govern her1 and with her   
fly other ravening fowl1 and kill them1 
it is somewhat worth2 but we are        
infected with the style of the poets4   
,to speak now in a sad and serious      
manner1 there is not in all the politics
 a place less handled1 and more worthy  
to be handled1 than this of fame4 ,we   
will1 therefore1 speak of these points4 
,what are false fames1 and what are true
 fames1 and how they may be best        
discerned2 how fames may be sown and    
raised2 how they may be spread and      
multiplied2 and how they may be checked 
and lay dead2 and other things          
concerning the nature of fame4 ,fame is 
of that force1 as there is scarcely any 
great action wherein it hath not a great
 part1 especially in the war4 ,mucianus 
undid ,vitellius by a fame that he      
scattered1 that ,vitellius had in       
purpose to remove the legions of ,syria 
into ,germany1 and the legions of       

,germany into ,syria2 whereupon the     
legions of ,syria were infinitely       
inflamed4#faa ,julius ,csar took ,pompey
 unprovided1 and laid asleep his        
industry and preparations by a fame that
 he cunningly gave out1 how ,csar's own 
soldiers loved him not2 and being       
wearied with the wars1 and laden with   
the spoils of ,gaul1 would forsake him  
as soon as he came into ,italy4#fab     
,livia settled all things for the       
succession of her son ,tiberius1 by     
continually giving out that her husband 
,augustus was upon recovery and         
amendment2#fac and it is a usual thing  
with the bashaws to conceal the death of
 the ,grand ,turk from the janizaries   
and men of war1 to save the sacking of  
,constantinople1 and other towns1 as    
their manner is4 ,themistocles made     
,xerxes1 king of ,persia1 post apace out
 of ,grcia1 by giving out that the      
,grecians had a purpose to break his    
bridge of ships which he had made       
athwart ,hellespont4#fad ,there be a    

thousand such like examples1 and the    
more they are1 the less they need to be 
repeated1 because a man meeteth with    
them everywhere2 therefore1 let all wise
 governors have as great a watch and    
care over fames1 as they have of the    
actions and designs themselves4         
,,ii4--,,of ,a ,,king4   #a4 ,a king is 
a mortal ,god on earth1 unto whom the   
living ,god hath lent his own name as a 
great honor2 but withal told him1 he    
should die like a man1 lest he should be
 proud and flatter himself1 that ,god   
hath1 with his name1 imparted unto him  
his nature also4  #b4 ,of all kind of   
men1 ,god is the least beholden unto    
them2 for he doth most for them1 and    
they do1 ordinarily1 least for him4  #c4
 ,a king that would not feel his crown  
too heavy for him1 must wear it every   
day2 but if he think it too light1 he   
knoweth not of what metal it is made4   
#d4 ,he must make religion the rule of  
government1 and not to balance the      
scale2 for he that casteth in religion  

only to make the scales even1 his own   
weight is contained in those characters3
 8,mene1 mene1 tekel1 upharsin3 ,he is  
found too light1 his kingdom shall be   
taken from him40  #e4 ,and that king    
that holds not religion the best reason 
of state1 is void of all piety and      
justice1 the supporters of a king4  #f4 
,he must be able to give counsel        
himself1 but not rely thereupon2 for    
though happy events justify their       
counsels1 yet it is better that the evil
 event of good advice be rather imputed 
to a subject than a sovereign4  #g4 ,he 
is a fountain of honor1 which should not
 run with a waste-pipe1 lest the        
courtiers sell the water1 and then1 as  
,papists say of their holy wells1 it    
loses the virtue4  #h4 ,he is the life  
of the law1 not only as he is ,lex      
loquens himself1 but because he         
animateth the dead letter1 making it    
active towards all his subjects prmio et
 pna4  #i4 ,a wise king must do less in 
altering his laws than he may2 for new  

government is ever dangerous4 ,it being 
true in the body politic1 as in the     
corporal1 that omnis subita immutatio   
est periculosa2 and though it be for the
 better1 yet it is not without a fearful
 apprehension2 for he that changeth the 
fundamental laws of a kingdom1 thinketh 
there is no good title to a crown1 but  
by conquest4  #aj4 ,a king that setteth 
to sale seats of justice1 oppresseth the
 people2 for he teacheth his judges to  
sell justice2 and pretio parata pretio  
venditur justitia4  #aa4 ,bounty and    
magnificence are virtues very regal1 but
 a prodigal king is nearer a tyrant than
 a parsimonious2 for store at home      
draweth not his contemplations abroad1  
but want supplieth itself of what is    
next1 and many times the next way4 ,a   
king therein must be wise1 and know what
 he may justly do4  #ab4 ,that king     
which is not feared1 is not loved2 and  
he that is well seen in his craft1 must 
as well study to be feared as loved2 yet
 not loved for fear1 but feared for     

love4  #ac4 ,therefore1 as he must      
always resemble ,him whose great name he
 beareth1 and that as in manifesting the
 sweet influence of his mercy on the    
severe stroke of his justice sometimes1 
so in this not to suffer a man of death 
to live2 for1 besides that the land doth
 mourn1 the restraint of justice towards
 sin doth more retard the affection of  
love1 than the extent of mercy doth     
inflame it2 and sure1 where love is ill 
bestowed1 fear is quite lost4  #ad4 ,his
 greatest enemies are his flatterers2   
for though they ever speak on his side1 
yet their words still make against him4 
#ae4 ,the love which a king oweth to a  
weal public should not be overstrained  
to any one particular2 yet that his more
 especial favor do reflect upon some    
worthy ones1 is somewhat necessary1     
because there are few of that capacity4 
#af4 ,he must have a special care of    
five things1 if he would not have his   
crown to be but to him infelix          
felicitas4  ,first1 that simulata       

sanctitas be not in the church2 for that
 is duplex iniquitas4  ,secondly1 that  
inutilis quitas sit not in the chancery2
 for that is inepta misericordia4       
,thirdly1 that utilis iniquitas keep not
 the exchequer2 for that is crudele     
latrocinium4  ,fourthly1 that fidelis   
temeritas be not his general2 for that  
will bring but seram pnitentiam4        
,fifthly1 that infidelis prudentia be   
not his secretary2 for that is anguis   
sub viridi herb4  ,to conclude3 as he is
 of the greatest power1 so he is subject
 to the greatest cares1 made the servant
 of his people1 or else he were without 
a calling at all4  ,he1 then1 that      
honoreth him not is next an atheist1    
wanting the fear of ,god in his heart4  
,,iii4--,,on ,,death4   #a4 ,i have     
often thought upon death1 and ,i find it
 the least of all evils4 ,all that which
 is past is as a dream2 and he that     
hopes or depends upon time coming1      
dreams waking4 ,so much of our life as  
we have discovered is already dead2 and 

all those hours which we share1 even    
from the breasts of our mothers1 until  
we return to our grandmother the earth1 
are part of our dying days1 whereof even
 this is one1 and those that succeed are
 of the same nature1 for we die daily2  
and1 as others have given place to us1  
so we must1 in the end1 give way to     
others4  #b4 ,physicians1 in the name of
 death1 include all sorrow1 anguish1    
disease1 calamity1 or whatsoever can    
fall in the life of man1 either grievous
 or unwelcome4 ,but these things are    
familiar unto us1 and we suffer them    
every hour2 therefore we die daily1 and 
,i am older since ,i affirmed it4  #c4  
,i know many wise men that fear to die1 
for the change is bitter1 and flesh     
would refuse to prove it2 besides1 the  
expectation brings terror1 and that     
exceeds the evil4 ,but ,i do not believe
 that any man fears to be dead1 but only
 the stroke of death2 and such are my   
hopes1 that if ,heaven be pleased1 and  
nature renew but my lease for twenty-one

 years more without asking longer days1 
,i shall be strong enough to acknowledge
 without mourning1 that ,i was begotten 
mortal4 ,virtue walks not in the        
highway1 though she go per alta2 this is
 strength and the blood to virtue1 to   
contemn things that be desired1 and to  
neglect that which is feared4  #d4 ,why 
should man be in love with his fetters1 
though of gold8 ,art thou drowned in    
security8 ,then ,i say thou art         
perfectly dead4 ,for though thou movest1
 yet thy soul is buried within thee1 and
 thy good angel either forsakes his     
guard1 or sleeps4 ,there is nothing     
under heaven1 saving a true friend 7who 
cannot be counted within the number of  
movables71 unto which my heart doth     
lean4 ,and this dear freedom hath       
begotten me this peace1 that ,i mourn   
not for that end which must be1 nor     
spend one wish to have one minute added1
 to the uncertain date of my years4 ,it 
was no mean apprehension of ,lucian1 who
 says of ,menippus1 that in his travels 

through hell1 he knew not the kings of  
the earth from other men but only by    
their louder cryings and tears1 which   
were fostered in them through the       
remorseful memory of the good days they 
had seen1 and the fruitful havings which
 they so unwillingly left behind them4  
,he that was well seated1 looked back at
 his portion1 and was loath to forsake  
his farm2 and others1 either minding    
marriages1 pleasures1 profit1 or        
preferment1 desired to be excused from  
death's banquet4 ,they had made an      
appointment with earth1 looking at the  
blessings1 not the hand that enlarged   
them1 forgetting how unclothedly they   
came hither1 or with what naked         
ornaments they were arrayed4  #e4 ,but  
were we servants of the precept given1  
and observers of the heathens' rule1    
,memento mori1 and not become benighted 
with this seeming felicity1 we should   
enjoy it as men prepared to lose1 and   
not wind up our thoughts upon so        
perishing a fortune4 ,he that is not    

slackly strong 7as the servants of      
pleasure71 how can he be found unready  
to quit the vail and false visage of his
 perfection8 ,the soul having shaken off
 her flesh1 doth then set up for        
herself1 and contemning things that are 
under1 shows what finger hath enforced  
her2 for the souls of idiots are of the 
same piece with those of statesmen1 but 
now and then nature is at a fault1 and  
this good guest of ours takes soil in an
 imperfect body1 and so is slackened    
from showing her wonders1 like an       
excellent musician1 which cannot utter  
himself upon a defective instrument4    
#f4 ,but see how ,i am swerved1 and lose
 my course1 touching at the soul that   
doth least hold action with death1 who  
hath the surest property in this frail  
act2 his style is the end of all flesh1 
and the beginning of incorruption4      
,this ruler of monuments leads men1 for 
the most part1 out of this world with   
their heels forward1 in token that he is
 contrary to life1 which being obtained1

 sends men headlong into this wretched  
theatre1 where1 being arrived1 their    
first language is that of mourning4     
,nor1 in my own thoughts1 can ,i compare
 men more fitly to any thing than to the
 ,indian fig-tree1 which1 being ripened 
to his full height1 is said to decline  
his branches down to the earth1 whereof 
she conceives again1 and they become    
roots in their own stock4  ,so man1     
having derived his being from the earth1
 first lives the life of a tree1 drawing
 his nourishment as a plant1 and made   
ripe for death1 he tends downwards1 and 
is sown again in his mother the earth1  
where he perisheth not1 but expects a   
quickening4  #g4 ,so we see death       
exempts not a man from being1 but only  
presents an alteration2 yet there are   
some men 7,i think7 that stand otherwise
 persuaded4 ,death finds not a worse    
friend than an alderman1 to whose door  
,i never knew him welcome2 but he is an 
importunate guest1 and will not be said 
nay4  ,and though they themselves shall 

affirm that they are not within1 yet the
 answer will not be taken2 and that     
which heightens their fear is1 that they
 know they are in danger to forfeit     
their flesh1 but are not wise of the    
payment-day1 which sickly uncertainty is
 the occasion that 7for the most part7  
they step out of this world unfurnished 
for their general account1 and1 being   
all unprovided1 desire yet to hold their
 gravity1 preparing their souls to      
answer in scarlet4  ,thus ,i gather1    
that death is unagreeable to most       
citizens1 because they commonly die     
intestate2 this being a rule1 that when 
their will is made1 they think          
themselves nearer a grave than before4  
,now they1 out of the wisdom of         
thousands1 think to scare destiny1 from 
which there is no appeal1 by not making 
a will1 or to live longer by            
protestation of their unwillingness to  
die4 ,they are1 for the most part1 well 
made in this world 7accounting their    
treasure by legions1 as men do devils74 

,their fortune looks towards them1 and  
they are willing to anchor at it1 and   
desire 7if it be possible7 to put the   
evil day far off from them1 and to      
adjourn their ungrateful and killing    
period4  ,no1 these are not the men     
which have bespoken death1 or whose     
looks are assured to entertain a thought
 of him4  #h4 ,death arrives gracious   
only to such as sit in darkness1 or lie 
heavy burdened with grief and irons2 to 
the poor ,christian1 that sits bound in 
the galley2 to despairful widows1       
pensive prisoners1 and deposed kings2 to
 them whose fortune runs back1 and whose
 spirits mutiny3 unto such1 death is a  
redeemer1 and the grave a place for     
retiredness and rest4  ,these wait upon 
the shore of death1 and waft unto him to
 draw near1 wishing above all others to 
see his star1 that they might be led to 
his place2 wooing the remorseless       
sisters to wind down the watch of their 
life1 and to break them off before the  
hour4  #i4 ,but death is a doleful      

messenger to a usurer1 and fate untimely
 cuts their thread2 for it is never     
mentioned by him1 but when rumors of war
 and civil tumults put him in mind      
thereof4  ,and when many hands are      
armed1 and the peace of a city in       
disorder1 and the foot of the common    
soldiers sounds an alarm on his stairs1 
then perhaps such a one 7broken in      
thoughts of his moneys abroad1 and      
cursing the monuments of coin which are 
in his house7 can be content to think of
 death1 and 7being hasty of perdition7  
will perhaps hang himself1 lest his     
throat should be cut2 provided that he  
may do it in his study1 surrounded with 
wealth1 to which his eye sends a faint  
and languishing salute1 even upon the   
turning off2 remembering always1 that he
 have time and liberty1 by writing1 to  
depute himself as his own heir4  ,for   
that is a great peace to his end1 and   
reconciles him wonderfully upon the     
point4  #aj4 ,herein we all dally with  
ourselves1 and are without proof of     

necessity4 ,i am not of those1 that dare
 promise to pine away myself in         
vainglory1 and ,i hold such to be but   
feat boldness1 and them that dare commit
 it1 to be vain4 ,yet1 for my part1 ,i  
think nature should do me great wrong1  
if ,i should be so long in dying1 as ,i 
was in being born4  ,to speak truth1 no 
man knows the lists of his own patience1
 nor can divine how able he shall be in 
his sufferings1 till the storm come 7the
 perfectest virtue being tried in       
action72 but ,i would 7out of a care to 
do the best business well7 ever keep a  
guard1 and stand upon keeping faith and 
a good conscience4  #aa4 ,and if wishes 
might find place1 ,i would die together1
 and not my mind often1 and my body     
once2 that is1 ,i would prepare for the 
messengers of death1 sickness1 and      
affliction1 and not wait long1 or be    
attempted by the violence of pain4      
,herein ,i do not profess myself a      
,stoic1 to hold grief no evil1 but      
opinion1 and a thing indifferent4  ,but 

,i consent with ,csar1 that the         
suddenest passage is easiest1 and there 
is nothing more awakens our resolve and 
readiness to die than the quieted       
conscience1 strengthened with opinion   
that we shall be well spoken of upon    
earth by those that are just1 and of the
 family of virtue2 the opposite whereof 
is a fury to man1 and makes even life   
unsweet4  ,therefore1 what is more heavy
 than evil fame deserved8 ,or1 likewise1
 who can see worse days1 than he that1  
yet living1 doth follow at the funerals 
of his own reputation8  ,i have laid up 
many hopes1 that ,i am privileged from  
that kind of mourning1 and could wish   
the like peace to all those with whom ,i
 wage love4  #ab4 ,i might say much of  
the commodities that death can sell a   
man2 but1 briefly1 death is a friend of 
ours1 and he that is not ready to       
entertain him1 is not at home4 ,whilst  
,i am1 my ambition is not to foreflow   
the tide2 ,i have but so to make my     
interest of it as ,i may account for it2

 ,i would wish nothing but what might   
better my days1 nor desire any greater  
place than the front of good opinion4 ,i
 make not love to the continuance of    
days1 but to the goodness of them2 nor  
wish to die1 but refer myself to my     
hour1 which the great ,dispenser of all 
things hath appointed me2 yet1 as ,i am 
frail1 and suffered for the first fault1
 were it given me to choose1 ,i should  
not be earnest to see the evening of my 
age2 that extremity1 of itself1 being a 
disease1 and a mere return into infancy2
 so that1 if perpetuity of life might be
 given me1 ,i should think what the     
,greek poet said2 8,such an age is a    
mortal evil40 ,and since ,i must needs  
be dead1 ,i require it may not be done  
before mine enemies1 that ,i be not     
stript before ,i be cold2 but before my 
friends4 ,the night is even now3 but    
that name is lost2 it is not now late1  
but early4 ,mine eyes begin to discharge
 their watch1 and compound with this    
fleshly weakness for a time of perpetual

 rest2 and ,i shall presently be as     
happy for a few hours1 as ,i had died   
the first hour ,i was born4     ,,the   
,,wisdom ,,of ,,the ,,ancients4         
,,preface4   ,the earliest antiquity    
lies buried in silence and oblivion1    
excepting the remains we have of it in  
sacred writ4 ,this silence was succeeded
 by poetical fables1 and these1 at      
length1 by the writings we now enjoy2 so
 that the concealed and secret learning 
of the ancients seems separated from the
 history and knowledge of the following 
ages by a veil1 or partition-wall of    
fables1 interposing between the things  
that are lost and those that remain4#fae
  ,many may imagine that ,i am here     
entering upon a work of fancy1 or       
amusement1 and design to use a poetical 
liberty1 in explaining poetical fables4 
,it is true1 fables1 in general1 are    
composed of ductile matter1 that may be 
drawn into great variety by a witty     
talent or an inventive genius1 and be   
delivered of plausible meanings which   

they never contained4 ,but this         
procedure has already been carried to   
excess2 and great numbers1 to procure   
the sanction of antiquity to their own  
notions and inventions1 have miserably  
wrested and abused the fables of the    
ancients4  ,nor is this only a late or  
unfrequent practice1 but of ancient date
 and common even to this day4 ,thus     
,chrysippus1 like an interpreter of     
dreams1 attributed the opinions of the  
,stoics to the poets of old2 and the    
chemists1 at present1 more childishly   
apply the poetical transformations to   
their experiments of the furnace4 ,and  
though ,i have well weighed and         
considered all this1 and thoroughly seen
 into the levity which the mind indulges
 for allegories and allusions1 yet ,i   
cannot but retain a high value for the  
ancient mythology4 ,and1 certainly1 it  
were very injudicious to suffer the     
fondness and licentiousness of a few to 
detract from the honor of all ego and   
parable in general4 ,this would be rash1

 and almost profane2 for1 since religion
 delights in such shadows and disguises1
 to abolish them were1 in a manner1 to  
prohibit all intercourse betwixt things 
divine and human4  ,upon deliberate     
consideration1 my judgment is1 that a   
concealed instruction and allegory was  
originally intended in many of the      
ancient fables4 ,this opinion may1 in   
some respect1 be owing to the veneration
 ,i have for antiquity1 but more to     
observing that some fables discover a   
great and evident similitude1 relation1 
and connection with the thing they      
signify1 as well in the structure of the
 fable as in the propriety of the names 
whereby the persons or actors are       
characterized2 insomuch1 that no one    
could positively deny a sense and       
meaning to be from the first intended1  
and purposely shadowed out in them4 ,for
 who can hear that ,fame1 after the     
giants were destroyed1 sprung up as     
their posthumous sister1 and not apply  
it to the clamor of parties and the     

seditious rumors which commonly fly     
about for a time upon the quelling of   
insurrections8 ,or who can read how the 
giant ,typhon cut out and carried away  
,jupiter's sinews--which ,mercury       
afterwards stole1 and again restored to 
,jupiter--and not presently observe that
 this allegory denotes strong and       
powerful rebellions1 which cut away from
 kings their sinews1 both of money and  
authority2 and that the way to have them
 restored is by lenity1 affability1 and 
prudent edicts1 which soon reconcile1   
and1 as it were1 steal upon the         
affections of the subject8 ,or who1 upon
 hearing that memorable expedition of   
the gods against the giants1 when the   
braying of ,silenus's ass greatly       
contributed in putting the giants to    
flight1 does not clearly conceive that  
this directly points at the monstrous   
enterprises of rebellious subjects1     
which are frequently frustrated and     
disappointed by vain fears and empty    
rumors8  ,again1 the conformity and     

purport of the names is frequently      
manifest and self-evident4 ,thus ,metis1
 the wife of ,jupiter1 plainly signifies
 counsel2 ,typhon1 swelling2 ,pan1      
universality2 ,nemesis1 revenge1 c4 ,nor
 is it a wonder1 if sometimes a piece of
 history or other things are introduced1
 by way of ornament2 or1 if the times of
 the action are confounded2 or1 if part 
of one fable be tacked to another2 or1  
if the allegory be new turned2 for all  
this must necessarily happen1 as the    
fables were the inventions of men who   
lived in different ages1 and had        
different views2 some of them being     
ancient1 others more modern2 some having
 an eye to natural philosophy1 and      
others to morality or civil policy4  ,it
 may pass for a further indication of a 
concealed and secret meaning1 that some 
of these fables are so absurd and idle  
in their narration1 as to show and      
proclaim an allegory1 even afar off4 ,a 
fable that carries probability with it  
may be supposed invented for pleasure1  

or in imitation of history2 but those   
that could never be conceived or related
 in this way must surely have a         
different use4 ,for example1 what a     
monstrous fiction is this1 that ,jupiter
 should take ,metis to wife1 and as soon
 as he found her pregnant eat her up1   
whereby he also conceived1 and out of   
his head brought forth ,pallas armed4   
,certainly no mortal could1 but for the 
sake of the moral it couches1 invent    
such an absurd dream as this1 so much   
out of the road of thought6  ,but the   
argument of most weight with me is this1
 that many of these fables by no means  
appear to have been invented by the     
persons who relate and divulge them1    
whether ,homer1 ,hesiod1 or others2 for 
if ,i were assured they first flowed    
from those later times and authors that 
transmit them to us1 ,i should never    
expect any thing singularly great or    
noble from such an origin4 ,but whoever 
attentively considers the thing1 will   
find that these fables are delivered    

down and related by those writers1 not  
as matters then first invented and      
proposed1 but as things received and    
embraced in earlier ages4 ,besides1 as  
they are differently related by writers 
nearly of the same ages1 it is easily   
perceived that the relators drew from   
the common stock of ancient tradition1  
and varied but in point of              
embellishment1 which is their own4 ,and 
this principally raises my esteem of    
these fables1 which ,i receive1 not as  
the product of the age1 or invention of 
the poets1 but as sacred relics1 gentle 
whispers1 and the breath of better      
times1 that from the traditions of more 
ancient nations came1 at length1 into   
the flutes and trumpets of the ,greeks4 
,but if any one shall1 notwithstanding  
this1 contend that allegories are always
 adventitious1 or imposed upon the      
ancient fables1 and no way native or    
genuinely contained in them1 we might   
here leave him undisturbed in that      
gravity of judgment he affects 7though  

we cannot help accounting it somewhat   
dull and phlegmatic71 and1 if it were   
worth the trouble1 proceed to another   
kind of argument4  ,men have proposed to
 answer two different and contrary ends 
by the use of parable2 for parables     
serve as well to instruct or illustrate 
as to wrap up and envelop2 so that      
though1 for the present1 we drop the    
concealed use1 and suppose the ancient  
fables to be vague1 undeterminate       
things1 formed for amusement1 still1 the
 other use must remain1 and can never be
 given up4 ,and every man1 of any       
learning1 must readily allow that this  
method of instructing is grave1 sober1  
or exceedingly useful1 and sometimes    
necessary in the sciences1 as it opens  
an easy and familiar passage to the     
human understanding1 in all new         
discoveries that are abstruse and out of
 the road of vulgar opinions4 ,hence1 in
 the first ages1 when such inventions   
and conclusions of the human reason as  
are now trite and common were new and   

little known1 all things abounded with  
fables1 parables1 similes1 comparisons1 
and allusions1 which were not intended  
to conceal1 but to inform and teach1    
whilst the minds of men continued rude  
and unpractised in matters of subtilty  
and speculation1 or even impatient1 and 
in a manner incapable of receiving such 
things as did not fall directly under   
and strike the senses4 ,for as          
hieroglyphics were in use before        
writing1 so were parables in use before 
arguments4 ,and even to this day1 if any
 man would let new light in upon the    
human understanding1 and conquer        
prejudice1 without raising contests1    
animosities1 opposition1 or disturbance1
 he must still go in the same path1 and 
have recourse to the like method of     
allegory1 metaphor1 and allusion4  ,to  
conclude1 the knowledge of the early    
ages was either great or happy2 great1  
if they by design made this use of trope
 and figure2 happy1 if1 whilst they had 
other views1 they afforded matter and   

occasion to such noble contemplations4  
,let either be the case1 our pains1     
perhaps1 will not be misemployed1       
whether we illustrate antiquity or      
things themselves4  ,the like1 indeed1  
has been attempted by others2 but1 to   
speak ingenuously1 their great and      
voluminous labors have almost destroyed 
the energy1 the efficacy1 and grace of  
the thing2 whilst1 being unskilled in   
nature1 and their learning no more than 
that of commonplace1 they have applied  
the sense of the parables to certain    
general and vulgar matters1 without     
reaching to their real purport1 genuine 
interpretation1 and full depth4 ,for    
myself1 therefore1 ,i expect to appear  
new in these common things1 because1    
leaving untouched such as are           
sufficiently plain and open1 ,i shall   
drive only at those that are either deep
 or rich4     ,,the ,,wisdom ,,of ,,the 
,,ancients4  ,a ,,series ,,of           
,,mythological ,,fables4#faf            
,i4--,,cassandra1 ,,or ,,divination4    

,,explained ,,of ,,too ,,free ,,and     
,,unseasonable ,,advice4   ,the poets   
relate1 that ,apollo1 falling in love   
with ,cassandra1 was still deluded and  
put off by her1 yet fed with hopes1 till
 she had got from him the gift of       
prophesy2 and1 having now obtained her  
end1 she flatly rejected his suit4      
,apollo1 unable to recall his rash gift1
 yet enraged to be outwitted by a girl1 
annexed this penalty to it1 that though 
she should always prophesy true1 she    
should never be believed2 whence her    
divinations were always slighted1 even  
when she again and again predicted the  
ruin of her country4                    
,,explanation4--,this fable seems       
invented to express the insignificance  
of unseasonable advice4 ,for they who   
are conceited1 stubborn1 or intractable1
 and listen not to the instructions of  
,apollo1 the god of harmony1 so as to   
learn and observe the modulations and   
measures of affairs1 the sharps and     
flats of discourse1 the difference      

between judicious and vulgar ears1 and  
the proper times of speech and silence1 
let them be ever so intelligent1 and    
ever so frank of their advice1 or their 
counsels ever so good and just1 yet all 
their endeavors1 either of persuasion or
 force1 are of little significance1 and 
rather hasten the ruin of those they    
advise4 ,but1 at last1 when the         
calamitous event has made the sufferers 
feel the effect of their neglect1 they  
too late reverence their advisers1 as   
deep1 foreseeing1 and faithful prophets4
  ,of this1 we have a remarkable        
instance in ,cato of ,utica1 who        
discovered afar off1 and long foretold1 
the approaching ruin of his country1    
both in the first conspiracy1 and as it 
was prosecuted in the civil war between 
,csar and ,pompey1 yet did no good the  
while1 but rather hurt the commonwealth1
 and hurried on its destruction1 which  
,cicero wisely observed in these words3 
8,cato1 indeed1 judges excellently1 but 
prejudices the state2 for he speaks as  

in the commonwealth of ,plato1 and not  
as in the dregs of ,romulus40           
,,ii4--,,typhon1 ,,or ,a ,,rebel4       
,,explained ,,of ,,rebellion4   ,the    
fable runs1 that ,juno1 enraged at      
,jupiter's bringing forth ,pallas       
without her assistance1 incessantly     
solicited all the gods and goddesses1   
that she might produce without ,jupiter2
 and having by violence and importunity 
obtained the grant1 she struck the      
earth1 and thence immediately sprung up 
,typhon1 a huge and dreadful monster1   
whom she committed to the nursing of a  
serpent4 ,as soon as he was grown up1   
this monster waged war on ,jupiter1 and 
taking him prisoner in the battle1      
carried him away on his shoulders1 into 
a remote and obscure quarter2 and there1
 cutting out the sinews of his hands and
 feet1 he bore them off1 leaving        
,jupiter behind miserably maimed and    
mangled4  ,but ,mercury afterwards stole
 these sinews from ,typhon1 and restored
 them to ,jupiter4 ,hence1 recovering   

his strength1 ,jupiter again pursues the
 monster2 first wounds him with a stroke
 of his thunder1 when serpents arose    
from the blood of the wound2 and now the
 monster being dismayed1 and taking to  
flight1 ,jupiter next darted ,mount tna 
upon him1 and crushed him with the      
weight4   ,,explanation4--,this fable   
seems designed to express the various   
fates of kings1 and the turns that      
rebellions sometimes take1 in kingdoms4 
,for princes may be justly esteemed     
married to their states1 as ,jupiter to 
,juno2 but it sometimes happens1 that1  
being depraved by long wielding of the  
sceptre1 and growing tyrannical1 they   
would engross all to themselves1 and1   
slighting the counsel of their senators 
and nobles1 conceive by themselves2 that
 is1 govern according to their own      
arbitrary will and pleasure4 ,this      
inflames the people1 and makes them     
endeavor to create and set up some head 
of their own4 ,such designs are         
generally set on foot by the secret     

motion and instigation of the peers and 
nobles1 under whose connivance the      
common sort are prepared for rising2    
whence proceeds a swell in the state1   
which is appositely denoted by the      
nursing of ,typhon4 ,this growing       
posture of affairs is fed by the natural
 depravity and malignant dispositions of
 the vulgar1 which to kings is an       
envenomed serpent4 ,and now the         
disaffected1 uniting their force1 at    
length break out into open rebellion1   
which1 producing infinite mischiefs1    
both to prince and people1 is           
represented by the horrid and multiplied
 deformity of ,typhon1 with his hundred 
heads1 denoting the divided powers2 his 
flaming mouths1 denoting fire and       
devastation2 his girdles of snakes1     
denoting sieges and destruction2 his    
iron hands1 slaughter and cruelty2 his  
eagle's talons1 rapine and plunder2 his 
plumed body1 perpetual rumors1          
contradictory accounts1 c4 ,and         
sometimes these rebellions grow so high1

 that kings are obliged1 as if carried  
on the backs of the rebels1 to quit the 
throne1 and retire to some remote and   
obscure part of their dominions1 with   
the loss of their sinews1 both of money 
and majesty4  ,but if now they prudently
 bear this reverse of fortune1 they may1
 in a short time1 by the assistance of  
,mercury1 recover their sinews again2   
that is1 by becoming moderate and       
affable2 reconciling the minds and      
affections of the people to them1 by    
gracious speeches and prudent           
proclamations1 which will win over the  
subject cheerfully to afford new aids   
and supplies1 and add fresh vigor to    
authority4 ,but prudent and wary princes
 here seldom incline to try fortune by a
 war1 yet do their utmost1 by some grand
 exploit1 to crush the reputation of the
 rebels2 and if the attempt succeeds1   
the rebels1 conscious of the wound      
received1 and distrustful of their      
cause1 first betake themselves to broken
 and empty threats1 like the hissings of

 serpents2 and next1 when matters are   
grown desperate1 to flight4 ,and now1   
when they thus begin to shrink1 it is   
safe and seasonable for kings to pursue 
them with their forces1 and the whole   
strength of the kingdom2 thus           
effectually quashing and suppressing    
them1 as it were by the weight of a     
mountain4     ,,iii4--,,the ,,cyclops1  
,,or ,,the ,,ministers ,,of ,,terror4   
,,explained ,,of ,,base ,,court         
,,officers4   ,it is related that the   
,cyclops1 for their savageness and      
cruelty1 were by ,jupiter first thrown  
into ,tartarus1 and there condemned to  
perpetual imprisonment2 but that        
afterwards ,tellus persuaded ,jupiter it
 would be for his service to release    
them1 and employ them in forging        
thunderbolts4 ,this he accordingly did2 
and they1 with unwearied pains and      
diligence1 hammered out his bolts1 and  
other instruments of terror1 with a     
frightful and continual din of the      
anvil4  ,it happened1 long after1 that  

,jupiter was displeased with sculapius1 
the son of ,apollo1 for having1 by the  
art of medicine1 restored a dead man to 
life2 but concealing his indignation1   
because the action in itself was pious  
and illustrious1 he secretly incensed   
the ,cyclops against him1 who1 without  
remorse1 presently slew him with their  
thunderbolts3 in revenge whereof1       
,apollo1 with ,jupiter's connivance1    
shot them all dead with his arrows4     
,,explanation4--,this fable seems to    
point at the behavior of princes1 who1  
having cruel1 bloody1 and oppressive    
ministers1 first punish and displace    
them2 but afterwards1 by the advice of  
,tellus1 that is1 some earthly-minded   
and ignoble person1 employ them again1  
to serve a turn1 when there is occasion 
for cruelty in execution1 or severity in
 exaction2 but these ministers being    
base in their nature1 whet by their     
former disgrace1 and well aware of what 
is expected from them1 use double       
diligence in their office2 till1        

proceeding unwarily1 and over-eager to  
gain favor1 they sometimes1 from the    
private nods1 and ambiguous orders of   
their prince1 perform some odious or    
execrable action3 when princes1 to      
decline the envy themselves1 and knowing
 they shall never want such tools at    
their back1 drop them1 and give them up 
to the friends and followers of the     
injured person2 thus exposing them1 as  
sacrifices to revenge and popular odium3
 whence1 with great applause1           
acclamations1 and good wishes to the    
prince1 these miscreants at last meet   
with their desert4                      
,,iv4--,,narcissus1 ,,or ,,self-,,love4 
,narcissus is said to have been         
extremely beautiful and comely1 but     
intolerably proud and disdainful2 so    
that1 pleased with himself1 and scorning
 the world1 he led a solitary life in   
the woods2 hunting only with a few      
followers1 who were his professed       
admirers1 amongst whom the nymph ,echo  
was his constant attendant4 ,in this    

method of life1 it was once his fate to 
approach a clear fountain1 where he laid
 himself down to rest1 in the noonday   
heat2 when1 beholding his image in the  
water1 he fell into such a rapture and  
admiration of himself1 that he could by 
no means be got away1 but remained      
continually fixed and gazing1 till at   
length he was turned into a flower1 of  
his own name1 which appears early in the
 spring1 and is consecrated to the      
infernal deities1 ,pluto1 ,proserpine1  
and the ,furies4   ,,explanation4--,this
 fable seems to paint the behavior and  
fortune of those1 who1 for their beauty1
 or other endowments1 wherewith nature  
7without any industry of their own7 has 
graced and adorned them1 are            
extravagantly fond of themselves3 for   
men of such a disposition generally     
affect retirement1 and absence from     
public affairs2 as a life of business   
must necessarily subject them to many   
neglects and contempts1 which might     
disturb and ruffle their minds3 whence  

such persons commonly lead a solitary1  
private1 and shadowy life3 see little   
company1 and those only such as highly  
admire and reverence them2 or1 like an  
echo1 assent to all they say4  ,and they
 who are depraved1 and rendered still   
fonder of themselves by this custom1    
grow strangely indolent1 inactive1 and  
perfectly stupid4 ,the ,narcissus1 a    
spring flower1 is an elegant emblem of  
this temper1 which at first flourishes1 
and is talked of1 but1 when ripe1       
frustrates the expectation conceived of 
it4  ,and that this flower should be    
sacred to the infernal powers1 carries  
out the allusion still further2 because 
men of this humor are perfectly useless 
in all respects3 for whatever yields no 
fruit1 but passes1 and is no more1 like 
the way of a ship in the sea1 was by the
 ancients consecrated to the infernal   
shades and powers4     ,v4--,,the       
,,river ,,styx1 ,,or ,,leagues4         
,,explained ,,of ,,necessity1 ,,in ,,the
 ,,oaths ,,or ,,solemn ,,leagues ,,of   

,,princes4   ,the only solemn oath1 by  
which the gods irrevocably obliged      
themselves1 is a well known thing1 and  
makes a part of many ancient fables4 ,to
 this oath they did not invoke any      
celestial divinity1 or divine attribute1
 but only called to witness the ,river  
,styx1 which1 with many meanders1       
surrounds the infernal court of ,dis4   
,for this form alone1 and none but this1
 was held inviolable and obligatory2 and
 the punishment of falsifying it1 was   
that dreaded one of being excluded1 for 
a certain number of years1 the table of 
the gods4   ,,explanation4--,this fable 
seems invented to show the nature of the
 compacts and confederacies of princes2 
which1 though ever so solemnly and      
religiously sworn to1 prove but little  
the more binding for it3 so that oaths1 
in this case1 seem used rather for      
decorum1 reputation1 and ceremony1 than 
for fidelity1 security1 and             
effectuating4 ,and though these oaths   
were strengthened with the bonds of     

affinity1 which are the links and ties  
of nature1 and again1 by mutual services
 and good offices1 yet we see all this  
will generally give way to ambition1    
convenience1 and the thirst of power3   
the rather1 because it is easy for      
princes1 under various specious         
pretences1 to defend1 disguise1 and     
conceal their ambitious desires and     
insincerity1 having no judge to call    
them to account4 ,there is1 however1 one
 true and proper confirmation of their  
faith1 though no celestial divinity1 but
 that great divinity of princes1        
,necessity2 or1 the danger of the state2
 and the securing of advantage4  ,this  
necessity is elegantly represented by   
,styx1 the fatal river that can never be
 crossed back4 ,and this deity it was1  
which ,iphicrates the ,athenian invoked 
in making a league2 and because he      
roundly and openly avows what most      
others studiously conceal1 it may be    
proper to give his own words4 ,observing
 that the ,lacedmonians were inventing  

and proposing a variety of securities1  
sanctions1 and bonds of alliance1 he    
interrupted them thus3 8,there may1     
indeed1 my friends1 be one bond and     
means of security between us2 and that  
is1 for you to demonstrate you have     
delivered into our hands1 such things as
 that1 if you had the greatest desire to
 hurt us1 you could not be able40       
,therefore1 if the power of offending be
 taken away1 or if1 by a breach of      
compact1 there be danger of destruction 
or diminution to the state or tribute1  
then it is that covenants will be       
ratified1 and confirmed1 as it were by  
the ,stygian oath1 whilst there remains 
an impending danger of being prohibited 
and excluded the banquet of the gods2 by
 which expression the ancients denoted  
the rights and prerogatives1 the        
affluence and the felicities1 of empire 
and dominion4     ,,vi4--,,pan1 ,,or    
,,nature4#fag  ,,explained ,,of         
,,natural ,,philosophy4   ,the ancients 
have1 with great exactness1 delineated  

universal nature under the person of    
,pan4 ,they leave his origin doubtful2  
some asserting him the son of ,mercury1 
and others the common offspring of all  
,penelope's suitors4 ,the latter        
supposition doubtless occasioned some   
later rivals to entitle this ancient    
fable ,penelope2 a thing frequently     
practised when the earlier relations are
 applied to more modern characters and  
persons1 though sometimes with great    
absurdity and ignorance1 as in the      
present case2 for ,pan was one of the   
ancientest gods1 and long before the    
time of ,ulysses2 besides1 ,penelope was
 venerated by antiquity for her matronal
 chastity4 ,a third sort will have him  
the issue of ,jupiter and ,hybris1 that 
is1 ,reproach4 ,but whatever his origin 
was1 the ,destinies are allowed his     
sisters4  ,he is described by antiquity1
 with pyramidal horns reaching up to    
heaven1 a rough and shaggy body1 a very 
long beard1 of a biform figure1 human   
above1 half brute below1 ending in      

goat's feet4 ,his arms1 or ensigns of   
power1 are1 a pipe in his left hand1    
composed of seven reeds2 in his right a 
crook2 and he wore for his mantle a     
leopard's skin4  ,his attributes and    
titles were the god of hunters1         
shepherds1 and all the rural            
inhabitants2 president of the mountains2
 and1 after ,mercury1 the next messenger
 of the gods4 ,he was also held the     
leader and ruler of the ,nymphs1 who    
continually danced and frisked about    
him1 attended with the ,satyrs and their
 elders1 the ,sileni4 ,he had also the  
power of striking terrors1 especially   
such as were vain and superstitious2    
whence they came to be called panic     
terrors4#fah  ,few actions are recorded 
of him2 only a principal one is1 that he
 challenged ,cupid at wrestling1 and was
 worsted4 ,he also catched the giant    
,typhon in a net1 and held him fast4    
,they relate further of him1 that when  
,ceres1 growing disconsolate for the    
rape of ,proserpine1 hid herself1 and   

all the gods took the utmost pains to   
find her1 by going out different ways   
for that purpose1 ,pan only had the good
 fortune to meet her1 as he was hunting1
 and discovered her to the rest4 ,he    
likewise had the assurance to rival     
,apollo in music1 and in the judgment of
 ,midas was preferred2 but the judge    
had1 though with great privacy and      
secrecy1 a pair of ass's ears fastened  
on him for his sentence4#fai  ,there is 
very little said of his amours2 which   
may seem strange among such a multitude 
of gods1 so profusely amorous4 ,he is   
only reported to have been very fond of 
,echo1 who was also esteemed his wife2  
and one nymph more1 called ,syrinx1 with
 the love of whom ,cupid inflamed him   
for his insolent challenge2 so he is    
reported once to have solicited the moon
 to accompany him apart into the deep   
woods4  ,lastly1 ,pan had no descendant1
 which also is a wonder1 when the male  
gods were so extremely prolific2 only he
 was the reputed father of a            

servant-girl called ,iambe1 who used to 
divert strangers with her ridiculous    
prattling stories4  ,this fable is      
perhaps the noblest of all antiquity1   
and pregnant with the mysteries and     
secrets of nature4 ,pan1 as the name    
imports1 represents the universe1 about 
whose origin there are two opinions1    
viz3 that it either sprung from         
,mercury1 that is1 the divine word1     
according to the ,scriptures and        
philosophical divines1 or from the      
confused seeds of things4 ,for they who 
allow only one beginning of all things1 
either ascribe it to ,god1 or1 if they  
suppose a material beginning1           
acknowledge it to be various in its     
powers2 so that the whole dispute comes 
to these points1 viz3 either that nature
 proceeds from ,mercury1 or from        
,penelope and all her suitors4#fbj  ,the
 third origin of ,pan seems borrowed by 
the ,greeks from the ,hebrew mysteries1 
either by means of the ,egyptians1 or   
otherwise2 for it relates to the state  

of the world1 not in its first creation1
 but as made subject to death and       
corruption after the fall2 and in this  
state it was and remains1 the offspring 
of ,god and ,sin1 or ,jupiter and       
,reproach4 ,and therefore these three   
several accounts of ,pan's birth may    
seem true1 if duly distinguished in     
respect of things and times4 ,for this  
,pan1 or the universal nature of things1
 which we view and contemplate1 had its 
origin from the divine word and confused
 matter1 first created by ,god himself1 
with the subsequent introduction of sin1
 and1 consequently1 corruption4  ,the   
,destinies1 or the natures and fates of 
things1 are justly made ,pan's sisters1 
as the chain of natural causes links    
together the rise1 duration1 and        
corruption2 the exaltation1             
degeneration1 and workings2 the         
processes1 the effects1 and changes1 of 
all that can any way happen to things4  
,horns are given him1 broad at the      
roots1 but narrow and sharp at the top1 

because the nature of all things seems  
pyramidal2 for individuals are infinite1
 but being collected into a variety of  
species1 they rise up into kinds1 and   
these again ascend1 and are contracted  
into generals1 till at length nature may
 seem collected to a point4 ,and no     
wonder if ,pan's horns reach to the     
heavens1 since the sublimities of       
nature1 or abstract ideas1 reach in a   
manner to things divine2 for there is a 
short and ready passage from metaphysics
 to natural theology4  ,pan's body1 or  
the body of nature1 is1 with great      
propriety and elegance1 painted shaggy  
and hairy1 as representing the rays of  
things2 for rays are as the hair or     
fleece of nature1 and more or less worn 
by all bodies4 ,this evidently appears  
in vision1 and in all effects and       
operations at a distance2 for whatever  
operates thus1 may be properly said to  
emit rays4#fba ,but particularly the    
beard of ,pan is exceeding long1 because
 the rays of the celestial bodies       

penetrate1 and act to a prodigious      
distance1 and have descended into the   
interior of the earth1 so far as to     
change its surface2 and the sun himself1
 when clouded on its upper part1 appears
 to the eye bearded4  ,again1 the body  
of nature is justly described biform1   
because of the difference between its   
superior and inferior parts1 as the     
former1 for their beauty1 regularity of 
motion1 and influence over the earth1   
may be properly represented by the human
 figure1 and the latter1 because of     
their disorder1 irregularity1 and       
subjection to the celestial bodies1 are 
by the brutal4 ,this biform figure also 
represents the participation of one     
species with another2 for there appear  
to be no simple natures1 but all        
participate or consist of two3 thus1 man
 has somewhat of the brute1 the brute   
somewhat of the plant1 the plant        
somewhat of the mineral2 so that all    
natural bodies have really two faces1 or
 consist of a superior and an inferior  

species4  ,there lies a curious allegory
 in the making of ,pan goat-footed1 on  
account of the motion of ascent which   
the terrestrial bodies have towards the 
air and heavens2 for the goat is a      
clambering creature1 that delights in   
climbing up rocks and precipices2 and in
 the same manner the matters destined to
 this lower globe strongly affect to    
rise upwards1 as appears from the clouds
 and meteors4  ,pan's arms1 or the      
ensigns he bears in his hands1 are of   
two kinds--the one an emblem of harmony1
 the other of empire4 ,his pipe1        
composed of seven reeds1 plainly denotes
 the consent and harmony1 or the        
concords and discords of things1        
produced by the motion of the seven     
planets4 ,his crook1 also1 contains a   
fine representation of the ways of      
nature1 which are partly straight and   
partly crooked2 thus the staff1 having  
an extraordinary bend towards the top1  
denotes that the works of ,divine       
,providence are generally brought about 

by remote means1 or in a circuit1 as if 
somewhat else were intended rather than 
the effect produced1 as in the sending  
of ,joseph into ,egypt1 c4 ,so likewise 
in human government1 they who sit at the
 helm1 manage and wind the people more  
successfully by pretext and oblique     
courses1 than they could by such as are 
direct and straight2 so that1 in effect1
 all sceptres are crooked at the top4   
,pan's mantle1 or clothing1 is with     
great ingenuity made of a leopard's     
skin1 because of the spots it has2 for  
in like manner the heavens are sprinkled
 with stars1 the sea with islands1 the  
earth with flowers1 and almost each     
particular thing is variegated1 or wears
 a mottled coat4  ,the office of ,pan   
could not be more livelily expressed    
than by making him the god of hunters2  
for every natural action1 every motion  
and process1 is no other than a chase4  
,thus arts and sciences hunt out their  
works1 and human schemes and counsels   
their several ends2 and all living      

creatures either hunt out their aliment1
 pursue their prey1 or seek their       
pleasures1 and this in a skilful and    
sagacious manner4#fbb ,he is also styled
 the god of the rural inhabitants1      
because men in this situation live more 
according to nature than they do in     
cities and courts1 where nature is so   
corrupted with effeminate arts1 that the
 saying of the poet may be verified3--  
--pars minima est ipsa puella sui4#fbc  
,he is likewise particularly styled     
,president of the ,mountains1 because in
 mountains and lofty places the nature  
of things lies more open and exposed to 
the eye and the understanding4  ,in his 
being called the messenger of the gods1 
next after ,mercury1 lies a divine      
allegory1 as next after the ,word of    
,god1 the image of the world is the     
herald of the ,divine power and wisdom1 
according to the expression of the      
,psalmist3 8,the heavens declare the    
glory of ,god1 and the firmament showeth
 his handiwork40#fbd  ,pan is delighted 

with the company of the ,nymphs1 that   
is1 the souls of all living creatures   
are the delight of the world2 and he is 
properly called their governor1 because 
each of them follows its own nature1 as 
a leader1 and all dance about their own 
respective rings1 with infinite variety 
and never-ceasing motion4 ,and with     
these continually join the ,satyrs and  
,sileni1 that is1 youth and age2 for all
 things have a kind of young1 cheerful1 
and dancing time2 and again their time  
of slowness1 tottering1 and creeping4   
,and whoever1 in a true light1 considers
 the motions and endeavors of both these
 ages1 like another ,democritus1 will   
perhaps find them as odd and strange as 
the gesticulations and antic motions of 
the ,satyrs and ,sileni4  ,the power he 
had of striking terrors contains a very 
sensible doctrine2 for nature has       
implanted fear in all living creatures1 
as well to keep them from risking their 
lives1 as to guard against injuries and 
violence2 and yet this nature or passion

 keeps not its bounds1 but with just and
 profitable fears always mixes such as  
are vain and senseless2 so that all     
things1 if we could see their insides1  
would appear full of panic terrors4     
,thus mankind1 particularly the vulgar1 
labor under a high degree of            
superstition1 which is nothing more than
 a panic-dread1 that principally reigns 
in unsettled and troublesome times4     
,the presumption of ,pan in challenging 
,cupid to the conflict denotes that     
matter has an appetite and tendency to a
 dissolution of the world1 and falling  
back to its first chaos again1 unless   
this depravity and inclination were     
restrained and subdued by a more        
powerful concord and agreement of       
things1 properly expressed by ,love1 or 
,cupid3 it is therefore well for        
mankind1 and the state of all things1   
that ,pan was thrown and conquered in   
the struggle4  ,his catching and        
detaining ,typhon in the net receives a 
similar explanation2 for whatever vast  

and unusual swells1 which the word      
typhon signifies1 may sometimes be      
raised in nature1 as in the sea1 the    
clouds1 the earth1 or the like1 yet     
nature catches1 entangles1 and holds all
 such outrages and insurrections in her 
inextricable net1 wove1 as it were1 of  
adamant4  ,that part of the fable which 
attributes the discovery of lost ,ceres 
to ,pan whilst he was hunting--a        
happiness denied the other gods1 though 
they diligently and expressly sought    
her--contains an exceeding just and     
prudent admonition2 viz3 that we are not
 to expect the discovery of things      
useful in common life1 as that of corn1 
denoted by ,ceres1 from abstract        
philosophies1 as if these were the gods 
of the first order1--no1 not though we  
used our utmost endeavors this way1--but
 only from ,pan2 that is1 a sagacious   
experience and general knowledge of     
nature1 which is often found1 even by   
accident1 to stumble upon such          
discoveries whilst the pursuit was      

directed another way4  ,the event of his
 contending with ,apollo in music       
affords us a useful instruction1 that   
may help to humble the human reason and 
judgment1 which is too apt to boast and 
glory in itself4 ,there seem to be two  
kinds of harmony1--the one of ,divine   
providence1 the other of human reason2  
but the government of the world1 the    
administration of its affairs1 and the  
more secret ,divine judgments1 sound    
harsh and dissonant to human ears or    
human judgment2 and though this         
ignorance be justly rewarded with asses'
 ears1 yet they are put on and worn1 not
 openly1 but with great secrecy2 nor is 
the deformity of the thing seen or      
observed by the vulgar4  ,we must not   
find it strange if no amours are related
 of ,pan besides his marriage with      
,echo2 for nature enjoys itself1 and in 
itself all other things4 ,he that loves1
 desires enjoyment1 but in profusion    
there is no room for desire2 and        
therefore ,pan1 remaining content with  

himself1 has no passion unless it be for
 discourse1 which is well shadowed out  
by ,echo1 or talk1 or1 when it is more  
accurate1 by ,syrinx1 or writing4#fbe   
,but ,echo makes a most excellent wife  
for ,pan1 as being no other than genuine
 philosophy1 which faithfully repeats   
his words1 or only transcribes exactly  
as nature dictates2 thus representing   
the true image and reflection of the    
world without adding a tittle4  ,it     
tends1 also1 to the support and         
perfection of ,pan1 or nature1 to be    
without offspring2 for the world        
generates in its parts1 and not in the  
way of a whole1 as wanting a body       
external to itself wherewith to         
generate4  ,lastly1 for the supposed or 
spurious prattling daughter of ,pan1 it 
is an excellent addition to the fable1  
and aptly represents the talkative      
philosophies that have at all times been
 stirring1 and filled the world with    
idle tales2 being ever barren1 empty1   
and servile1 though sometimes indeed    

diverting and entertaining1 and         
sometimes again troublesome and         
importunate4     ,,vii4--,,perseus1#fbf 
,,or ,,war4  ,,explained ,,of ,,the     
,,preparation ,,and ,,conduct           
,,necessary ,,to ,,war4   8,the fable   
relates1 that ,perseus was dispatched   
from the east1 by ,pallas1 to cut off   
,medusa's head1 who had committed great 
ravage upon the people of the west2 for 
this ,medusa was so dire a monster1 as  
to turn into stone all those who but    
looked upon her4 ,she was a ,gorgon1 and
 the only mortal one of the three1 the  
other two being invulnerable4 ,perseus1 
therefore1 preparing himself for this   
grand enterprise1 had presents made him 
from three of the gods3 ,mercury gave   
him wings for his heels2 ,pluto1 a      
helmet2 and ,pallas1 a shield and a     
mirror4 ,but1 though he was now so well 
equipped1 he posted not directly to     
,medusa1 but first turned aside to the  
,gre1 who were half-sisters to the      
,gorgons4 ,these ,gre were grayheaded1  

and like old women1 from their birth1   
having among them all three but one eye1
 and one tooth1 which1 as they had      
occasion to go out1 they each wore by   
turns1 and laid them down again upon    
coming back4 ,this eye and this tooth   
they lent to ,perseus1 who now judging  
himself sufficiently furnished1 he1     
without further stop1 flies swiftly away
 to ,medusa1 and finds her asleep4 ,but 
not venturing his eyes1 for fear she    
should wake1 he turned his head aside1  
and viewed her in ,pallas's mirror1 and 
thus directing his stroke1 cut off her  
head2 when immediately1 from the gushing
 blood1 there darted ,pegasus winged4   
,perseus now inserted ,medusa's head    
into ,pallas's shield1 which thence     
retained the faculty of astonishing and 
benumbing all who looked on it40  ,this 
fable seems invented to show the prudent
 method of choosing1 undertaking1 and   
conducting a war2 and1 accordingly1 lays
 down three useful precepts about it1 as
 if they were the precepts of ,pallas4  

,the first is1 that no prince should be 
over-solicitous to subdue a neighboring 
nation2 for the method of enlarging an  
empire is very different from that of   
increasing an estate4 ,regard is justly 
had to contiguity1 or adjacency1 in     
private lands and possessions2 but in   
the extending of empire1 the occasion1  
the facility1 and advantage of a war1   
are to be regarded instead of vicinity4 
,it is certain that the ,romans1 at the 
time they stretched but little beyond   
,liguria to the west1 had by their arms 
subdued the provinces as far as ,mount  
,taurus to the east4 ,and thus ,perseus 
readily undertook a very long           
expedition1 even from the east to the   
extremities of the west4  ,the second   
precept is1 that the cause of the war be
 just and honorable2 for this adds      
alacrity both to the soldiers1 and the  
people who find the supplies2 procures  
aids1 alliances1 and numerous other     
conveniences4 ,now there is no cause of 
war more just and laudable than the     

suppressing of tyranny2 by which a      
people are dispirited1 benumbed1 or left
 without life and vigor1 as at the sight
 of ,medusa4  ,lastly1 it is prudently  
added1 that1 as there were three of the 
,gorgons1 who represent war1 ,perseus   
singled her out for this expedition that
 was mortal2 which affords this precept1
 that such kind of wars should be chose 
as may be brought to a conclusion       
without pursuing vast and infinite      
hopes4  ,again1 ,perseus's setting-out  
is extremely well adapted to his        
undertaking1 and in a manner commands   
success2 he received dispatch from      
,mercury1 secrecy from ,pluto1 and      
foresight from ,pallas4 ,it also        
contains an excellent allegory1 that the
 wings given him by ,mercury were for   
his heels1 not for his shoulders2       
because expedition is not so much       
required in the first preparations for  
war1 as in the subsequent matters1 that 
administer to the first2 for there is no
 error more frequent in war1 than1 after

 brisk preparations1 to halt for        
subsidiary forces and effective         
supplies4  ,the allegory of ,pluto's    
helmet1 rendering men invisible and     
secret1 is sufficiently evident of      
itself2 but the mystery of the shield   
and the mirror lies deeper2 and denotes1
 that not only a prudent caution must be
 had to defend1 like the shield1 but    
also such an address and penetration as 
may discover the strength1 the motions1 
the counsels1 and designs of the enemy2 
like the mirror of ,pallas4  ,but though
 ,perseus may now seem extremely well   
prepared1 there still remains the most  
important thing of all2 before he enters
 upon the war1 he must of necessity     
consult the ,gre4 ,these ,gre are       
treasons2 half1 but degenerate sisters  
of the ,gorgons2 who are representatives
 of wars2 for wars are generous and     
noble2 but treasons base and vile4 ,the 
,gre are elegantly described as         
hoary-headed1 and like old women from   
their birth2 on account of the perpetual

 cares1 fears1 and trepidations         
attending traitors4 ,their force1 also1 
before it breaks out into open revolt1  
consists either in an eye or a tooth2   
for all faction1 alienated from a state1
 is both watchful and biting2 and this  
eye and tooth are1 as it were1 common to
 all the disaffected2 because whatever  
they learn and know is transmitted from 
one to another1 as by the hands of      
faction4 ,and for the tooth1 they all   
bite with the same3 and clamor with one 
throat2 so that each of them singly     
expresses the multitude4  ,these ,gre1  
therefore1 must be prevailed upon by    
,perseus to lend him their eye and their
 tooth2 the eye to give him indications1
 and make discoveries2 the tooth for    
sowing rumors1 raising envy1 and        
stirring up the minds of the people4    
,and when all these things are thus     
disposed and prepared1 then follows the 
action of the war4  ,he finds ,medusa   
asleep2 for whoever undertakes a war    
with prudence1 generally falls upon the 

enemy unprepared1 and nearly in a state 
of security2 and here is the occasion   
for ,pallas's mirror3 for it is common  
enough1 before the danger presents      
itself1 to see exactly into the state   
and posture of the enemy2 but the       
principal use of the glass is1 in the   
very instant of danger1 to discover the 
manner thereof1 and prevent             
consternation2 which is the thing       
intended by ,perseus's turning his head 
aside1 and viewing the enemy in the     
glass4#fbg  ,two effects here follow the
 conquest3 #a4 ,the darting forth of    
,pegasus2 which evidently denotes fame1 
that flies abroad1 proclaiming the      
victory far and near4 #b4 ,the bearing  
of ,medusa's head in the shield1 which  
is the greatest possible defence and    
safeguard2 for one grand and memorable  
enterprise1 happily accomplished1       
bridles all the motions and attempts of 
the enemy1 stupefies disaffection1 and  
quells commotions4                      
,,viii4--,,endymion1 ,,or ,a ,,favorite4

  ,,explained ,,of ,,court ,,favorites4 
,the goddess ,luna is said to have      
fallen in love with the shepherd        
,endymion1 and to have carried on her   
amours with him in a new and singular   
manner2 it being her custom1 whilst he  
lay reposing in his native cave1 under  
,mount ,latmus1 to descend frequently   
from her sphere1 enjoy his company      
whilst he slept1 and then go up to      
heaven again4 ,and all this while1      
,endymion's fortune was no way          
prejudiced by his unactive and sleepy   
life1 the goddess causing his flocks to 
thrive1 and grow so exceeding numerous1 
that none of the other shepherds could  
compare with him4                       
,,explanation4--,this fable seems to    
describe the tempers and dispositions of
 princes1 who1 being thoughtful and     
suspicious1 do not easily admit to their
 privacies such men as are prying1      
curious1 and vigilant1 or1 as it were1  
sleepless2 but rather such as are of an 
easy1 obliging nature1 and indulge them 

in their pleasures1 without seeking     
anything further2 but seeming ignorant1 
insensible1 or1 as it were1 lulled      
asleep before them4#fbh ,princes usually
 treat such persons familiarly2 and     
quitting their throne1 like ,luna1 think
 they may1 with safety1 unbosom to them4
 ,this temper was very remarkable in    
,tiberius1 a prince exceedingly         
difficult to please1 and who had no     
favorites but those that perfectly      
understood his way1 and1 at the same    
time1 obstinately dissembled their      
knowledge1 almost to a degree of        
stupidity4  ,the cave is not improperly 
mentioned in the fable2 it being a      
common thing for the favorites of a     
prince to have their pleasant retreats1 
whither to invite him1 by way of        
relaxation1 though without prejudice to 
their own fortunes2 these favorites     
usually making a good provision for     
themselves4  ,for though their prince   
should not1 perhaps1 promote them to    
dignities1 yet1 out of real affection1  

and not only for convenience1 they      
generally feel the enriching influence  
of his bounty4     ,,ix4--,,the ,,sister
 ,,of ,,the ,,giants1 ,,or ,,fame4      
,,explained ,,of ,,public ,,detraction4 
,the poets relate1 that the giants1     
produced from the earth1 made war upon  
,jupiter1 and the other gods1 but were  
repulsed and conquered by thunder2      
whereat the earth1 provoked1 brought    
forth ,fame1 the youngest sister of the 
giants1 in revenge for the death of her 
sons4   ,,explanation4--,the meaning of 
the fable seems to be this3 the earth   
denotes the nature of the vulgar1 who   
are always swelling1 and rising against 
their rulers1 and endeavoring at        
changes4 ,this disposition1 getting a   
fit opportunity1 breeds rebels and      
traitors1 who1 with impetuous rage1     
threaten and contrive the overthrow and 
destruction of princes4  ,and when      
brought under and subdued1 the same vile
 and restless nature of the people1     
impatient of peace1 produces rumors1    

detractions1 slanders1 libels1 c41 to   
blacken those in authority2 so that     
rebellious actions and seditious rumors1
 differ not in origin and stock1 but    
only1 as it were1 in sex2 treasons and  
rebellions being the brothers1 and      
scandal or detraction the sister4       
,x4--,,acteon ,,and ,,pentheus1 ,,or ,a 
,,curious ,,man4  ,,explained ,,of      
,,curiosity1 ,,or ,,prying ,,into ,,the 
,,secrets ,,of ,,princes ,,and ,,divine 
,,mysteries4   ,the ancients afford us  
two examples for suppressing the        
impertinent curiosity of mankind1 in    
diving into secrets1 and imprudently    
longing and endeavoring to discover     
them4 ,the one of these is in the person
 of ,acteon1 and the other in that of   
,pentheus4 ,acteon1 undesignedly        
chancing to see ,diana naked1 was turned
 into a stag1 and torn to pieces by his 
own hounds4 ,and ,pentheus1 desiring to 
pry into the hidden mysteries of        
,bacchus's sacrifice1 and climbing a    
tree for that purpose1 was struck with a

 frenzy4 ,this frenzy of ,pentheus      
caused him to see things double1        
particularly the sun1 and his own city1 
,thebes1 so that running homewards1 and 
immediately espying another ,thebes1 he 
runs towards that2 and thus continues   
incessantly1 tending first to the one1  
and then to the other1 without coming at
 either4   ,,explanation4--,the first of
 these fables may relate to the secrets 
of princes1 and the second to divine    
mysteries4 ,for they who are not        
intimate with a prince1 yet1 against his
 will1 have a knowledge of his secrets1 
inevitably incur his displeasure2 and   
therefore1 being aware that they are    
singled out1 and all opportunities      
watched against them1 they lead the life
 of a stag1 full of fears and           
suspicions4 ,it likewise frequently     
happens that their servants and         
domestics accuse them1 and plot their   
overthrow1 in order to procure favor    
with the prince2 for whenever the king  
manifests his displeasure1 the person it

 falls upon must expect his servants to 
betray him1 and worry him down1 as      
,acteon was worried by his own dogs4    
,the punishment of ,pentheus is of      
another kind2 for they who1 unmindful of
 their mortal state1 rashly aspire to   
divine mysteries1 by climbing the       
heights of nature and philosophy1 here  
represented by climbing a tree1--their  
fate is perpetual inconstancy1          
perplexity1 and instability of judgment4
 ,for as there is one light of nature1  
and another light that is divine1 they  
see1 as it were1 two suns4 ,and as the  
actions of life1 and the determinations 
of the will1 depend upon the            
understanding1 they are distracted as   
much in opinion as in will2 and         
therefore judge very inconsistently1 or 
contradictorily2 and see1 as it were1   
,thebes double2 for ,thebes being the   
refuge and habitation of ,pentheus1 here
 denotes the ends of actions2 whence    
they know not what course to take1 but  
remaining undetermined and unresolved in

 their views and designs1 they are      
merely driven about by every sudden gust
 and impulse of the mind4               
,,xi4--,,orpheus1 ,,or ,,philosophy4    
,,explained ,,of ,,natural ,,and ,,moral
 ,,philosophy4   ,,introduction4--,the  
fable of ,orpheus1 though trite and     
common1 has never been well interpreted1
 and seems to hold out a picture of     
universal philosophy2 for to this sense 
may be easily transferred what is said  
of his being a wonderful and perfectly  
divine person1 skilled in all kinds of  
harmony1 subduing and drawing all things
 after him by sweet and gentle methods  
and modulations4 ,for the labors of     
,orpheus exceed the labors of ,hercules1
 both in power and dignity1 as the works
 of knowledge exceed the works of       
strength4   ,,fable4--,orpheus having   
his beloved wife snatched from him by   
sudden death1 resolved upon descending  
to the infernal regions1 to try if1 by  
the power of his harp1 he could reobtain
 her4 ,and1 in effect1 he so appeased   

and soothed the infernal powers by the  
melody and sweetness of his harp and    
voice1 that they indulged him the       
liberty of taking her back1 on condition
 that she should follow him behind1 and 
he not turn to look upon her till they  
came into open day2 but he1 through the 
impatience of his care and affection1   
and thinking himself almost past danger1
 at length looked behind him1 whereby   
the condition was violated1 and she     
again precipitated to ,pluto's regions4 
,from this time ,orpheus grew pensive   
and sad1 a hater of the sex1 and went   
into solitude1 where1 by the same       
sweetness of his harp and voice1 he     
first drew the wild beasts of all sorts 
about him2 so that1 forgetting their    
natures1 they were neither actuated by  
revenge1 cruelty1 lust1 hunger1 or the  
desire of prey1 but stood gazing about  
him1 in a tame and gentle manner1       
listening attentively to his music4     
,nay1 so great was the power and        
efficacy of his harmony1 that it even   

caused the trees and stones to remove1  
and place themselves in a regular manner
 about him4 ,when he had for a time1 and
 with great admiration1 continued to do 
this1 at length the ,thracian women1    
raised by the instigation of ,bacchus1  
first blew a deep and hoarse-sounding   
horn1 in such an outrageous manner1 that
 it quite drowned the music of ,orpheus4
 ,and thus the power which1 as the link 
of their society1 held all things in    
order1 being dissolved1 disturbance     
reigned anew2 each creature returned to 
its own nature1 and pursued and preyed  
upon its fellow1 as before4 ,the rocks  
and woods also started back to their    
former places2 and even ,orpheus himself
 was at last torn to pieces by these    
female furies1 and his limbs scattered  
all over the desert4 ,but1 in sorrow and
 revenge for his death1 the ,river      
,helicon1 sacred to the ,muses1 hid its 
waters under ground1 and rose again in  
other places4   ,,explanation4--,the    
fable receives this explanation4 ,the   

music of ,orpheus is of two kinds2 one  
that appeases the infernal powers1 and  
the other that draws together the wild  
beasts and trees4 ,the former properly  
relates to natural1 and the latter to   
moral philosophy1 or civil society4 ,the
 reinstatement and restoration of       
corruptible things is the noblest work  
of natural philosophy2 and1 in a less   
degree1 the preservation of bodies in   
their own state1 or a prevention of     
their dissolution and corruption4 ,and  
if this be possible1 it can certainly be
 effected no other way than by proper   
and exquisite attemperations of nature2 
as it were by the harmony and fine      
touching of the harp4 ,but as this is a 
thing of exceeding great difficulty1 the
 end is seldom obtained2 and that1      
probably1 for no reason more than a     
curious and unseasonable impatience and 
solicitude4  ,and1 therefore1           
philosophy1 being almost unequal to the 
task1 has cause to grow sad1 and hence  
betakes itself to human affairs1        

insinuating into men's minds the love of
 virtue1 equity1 and peace1 by means of 
eloquence and persuasion2 thus forming  
men into societies2 bringing them under 
laws and regulations2 and making them   
forget their unbridled passions and     
affections1 so long as they hearken to  
precepts and submit to discipline4 ,and 
thus they soon after build themselves   
habitations1 form cities1 cultivate     
lands1 plant orchards1 gardens1 c4 ,so  
that they may not improperly be said to 
remove and call the trees and stones    
together4  ,and this regard to civil    
affairs is justly and regularly placed  
after diligent trial made for restoring 
the mortal body2 the attempt being      
frustrated in the end--because the      
unavoidable necessity of death1 thus    
evidently laid before mankind1 animates 
them to seek a kind of eternity by works
 of perpetuity1 character1 and fame4    
,it is also prudently added1 that       
,orpheus was afterwards averse to women 
and wedlock1 because the indulgence of  

the married state1 and the natural      
affections which men have for their     
children1 often prevent them from       
entering upon any grand1 noble1 or      
meritorious enterprise for the public   
good2 as thinking it sufficient to      
obtain immortality by their descendants1
 without endeavoring at great actions4  
,and even the works of knowledge1 though
 the most excellent among human things1 
have their periods2 for after kingdoms  
and commonwealths have flourished for a 
time1 disturbances1 seditions1 and wars1
 often arise1 in the din whereof1 first 
the laws are silent1 and not heard2 and 
then men return to their own depraved   
natures--whence cultivated lands and    
cities soon become desolate and waste4  
,and if this disorder continues1        
learning and philosophy is infallibly   
torn to pieces2 so that only some       
scattered fragments thereof can         
afterwards be found up and down1 in a   
few places1 like planks after a         
shipwreck4 ,and barbarous times         

succeeding1 the ,river ,helicon dips    
under-ground2 that is1 letters are      
buried1 till things having undergone    
their due course of changes1 learning   
rises again1 and shows its head1 though 
seldom in the same place1 but in some   
other nation4#fbi     ,,xii4--,c,,lum1  
,,or ,,beginnings4  ,,explained ,,of    
,,the ,,creation1 ,,or ,,origin ,,of    
,,all ,,things4   ,the poets relate1    
that ,clum was the most ancient of all  
the gods2 that his parts of generation  
were cut off by his son ,saturn2 that   
,saturn had a numerous offspring1 but   
devoured all his sons1 as soon as they  
were born2 that ,jupiter at length      
escaped the common fate2 and when grown 
up1 drove his father ,saturn into       
,tartarus2 usurped the kingdom2 cut off 
his father's genitals1 with the same    
knife wherewith ,saturn had dismembered 
,clum1 and throwing them into the sea1  
thence sprung ,venus4  ,before ,jupiter 
was well established in his empire1 two 
memorable wars were made upon him2 the  

first by the ,titans1 in subduing of    
whom1 ,sol1 the only one of the ,titans 
who favored ,jupiter1 performed him     
singular service2 the second by the     
giants1 who being destroyed and subdued 
by the thunder and arms of ,jupiter1 he 
now reigned secure4                     
,,explanation4--,this fable appears to  
be an enigmatical account of the origin 
of all things1 not greatly differing    
from the philosophy afterwards embraced 
by ,democritus1 who expressly asserts   
the eternity of matter1 but denies the  
eternity of the world2 thereby          
approaching to the truth of sacred writ1
 which makes chaos1 or uninformed       
matter1 to exist before the six days'   
works4  ,the meaning of the fable seems 
to be this3 ,clum denotes the concave   
space1 or vaulted roof that incloses all
 matter1 and ,saturn the matter itself1 
which cuts off all power of generation  
from his father2 as one and the same    
quantity of matter remains invariable in
 nature1 without addition or diminution4

 ,but the agitations and struggling     
motions of matter1 first produced       
certain imperfect and ill-joined        
compositions of things1 as it were so   
many first rudiments1 or essays of      
worlds2 till1 in process of time1 there 
arose a fabric capable of preserving its
 form and structure4 ,whence the first  
age was shadowed out by the reign of    
,saturn2 who1 on account of the frequent
 dissolutions1 and short durations of   
things1 was said to devour his children4
 ,and the second age was denoted by the 
reign of ,jupiter2 who thrust1 or drove 
those frequent and transitory changes   
into ,tartarus--a place expressive of   
disorder4 ,this place seems to be the   
middle space1 between the lower heavens 
and the internal parts of the earth1    
wherein disorder1 imperfection1         
mutation1 mortality1 destruction1 and   
corruption1 are principally found4      
,venus was not born during the former   
generation of things1 under the reign of
 ,saturn2 for whilst discord and jar had

 the upper hand of concord and          
uniformity in the matter of the         
universe1 a change of the entire        
structure was necessary4 ,and in this   
manner things were generated and        
destroyed1 before ,saturn was           
dismembered4 ,but when this manner of   
generation ceased1 there immediately    
followed another1 brought about by      
,venus1 or a perfect and established    
harmony of things2 whereby changes were 
wrought in the parts1 whilst the        
universal fabric remained entire and    
undisturbed4 ,saturn1 however1 is said  
to be thrust out and dethroned1 not     
killed1 and become extinct2 because1    
agreeably to the opinion of ,democritus1
 the world might relapse into its old   
confusion and disorder1 which ,lucretius
 hoped would not happen in his time4#fcj
  ,but now1 when the world was compact1 
and held together by its own bulk and   
energy1 yet there was no rest from the  
beginning2 for first1 there followed    
considerable motions and disturbances in

 the celestial regions1 though so       
regulated and moderated by the power of 
the ,sun1 prevailing over the heavenly  
bodies1 as to continue the world in its 
state4 ,afterwards there followed the   
like in the lower parts1 by inundations1
 storms1 winds1 general earthquakes1 c41
 which1 however1 being subdued and kept 
under1 there ensued a more peaceable and
 lasting harmony1 and consent of things4
  ,it may be said of this fable1 that it
 includes philosophy2 and again1 that   
philosophy includes the fable2 for we   
know1 by faith1 that all these things   
are but the oracle of sense1 long since 
ceased and decayed2 but the matter and  
fabric of the world being justly        
attributed to a creator4                
,,xiii4--,,proteus1 ,,or ,,matter4      
,,explained ,,of ,,matter ,,and ,,its   
,,changes4   ,proteus1 according to the 
poets1 was ,neptune's herdsman2 an old  
man1 and a most extraordinary prophet1  
who understood things past and present1 
as well as future2 so that besides the  

business of divination1 he was the      
revealer and interpreter of all         
antiquity1 and secrets of every kind4   
,he lived in a vast cave1 where his     
custom was to tell over his herd of     
sea-calves at noon1 and then to sleep4  
,whoever consulted him1 had no other way
 of obtaining an answer1 but by binding 
him with manacles and fetters2 when he1 
endeavoring to free himself1 would      
change into all kinds of shapes and     
miraculous forms2 as of fire1 water1    
wild beasts1 c42 till at length he      
resumed his own shape again4            
,,explanation4--,this fable seems to    
point at the secrets of nature1 and the 
states of matter4 ,for the person of    
,proteus denotes matter1 the oldest of  
all things1 after ,god himself2#fca that
 resides1 as in a cave1 under the vast  
concavity of the heavens4 ,he is        
represented as the servant of ,neptune1 
because the various operations and      
modifications of matter are principally 
wrought in a fluid state4 ,the herd1 or 

flock of ,proteus1 seems to be no other 
than the several kinds of animals1      
plants1 and minerals1 in which matter   
appears to diffuse and spend itself2 so 
that after having formed these several  
species1 and as it were finished its    
task1 it seems to sleep and repose1     
without otherwise attempting to produce 
any new ones4 ,and this is the moral of 
,proteus's counting his herd1 then going
 to sleep4  ,this is said to be done at 
noon1 not in the morning or evening2 by 
which is meant the time best fitted and 
disposed for the production of species1 
from a matter duly prepared1 and made   
ready beforehand1 and now lying in a    
middle state1 between its first         
rudiments and decline2 which1 we learn  
from sacred history1 was the case at the
 time of the creation2 when1 by the     
efficacy of the divine command1 matter  
directly came together1 without any     
transformation or intermediate changes1 
which it affects2 instantly obeyed the  
order1 and appeared in the form of      

creatures4  ,and thus far the fable     
reaches of ,proteus1 and his flock1 at  
liberty and unrestrained4 ,for the      
universe1 with the common structures1   
and fabrics of the creatures1 is the    
face of matter1 not under constraint1 or
 as the flock wrought upon and tortured 
by human means4 ,but if any skilful     
minister of nature shall apply force to 
matter1 and by design torture and vex   
it1 in order to its annihilation1 it1 on
 the contrary1 being brought under this 
necessity1 changes and transforms itself
 into a strange variety of shapes and   
appearances2 for nothing but the power  
of the ,creator can annihilate1 or truly
 destroy it2 so that at length1 running 
through the whole circle of             
transformations1 and completing its     
period1 it in some degree restores      
itself1 if the force be continued4 ,and 
that method of binding1 torturing1 or   
detaining1 will prove the most effectual
 and expeditious1 which makes use of    
manacles and fetters2 that is1 lays hold

 and works upon matter in the extremest 
degrees4  ,the addition in the fable    
that makes ,proteus a prophet1 who had  
the knowledge of things past1 present1  
and future1 excellently agrees with the 
nature of matter2 as he who knows the   
properties1 the changes1 and the        
processes of matter1 must1 of necessity1
 understand the effects and sum of what 
it does1 has done1 or can do1 though his
 knowledge extends not to all the parts 
and particulars thereof4                
,,xiv4--,,memnon1 ,,or ,a ,,youth ,,too 
,,forward4  ,,explained ,,of ,,the      
,,fatal ,,precipitancy ,,of ,,youth4    
,the poets made ,memnon the son of      
,aurora1 and bring him to the ,trojan   
war in beautiful armor1 and flushed with
 popular praise2 where1 thirsting after 
further glory1 and rashly hurrying on to
 the greatest enterprises1 he engages   
the bravest warrior of all the ,greeks1 
,achilles1 and falls by his hand in     
single combat4 ,jupiter1 in             
commiseration of his death1 sent birds  

to grace his funeral1 that perpetually  
chanted certain mournful and bewailing  
dirges4 ,it is also reported1 that the  
rays of the rising sun1 striking his    
statue1 used to give a lamenting sound4 
,,explanation4--,this fable regards the 
unfortunate end of those promising      
youths1 who1 like sons of the morning1  
elate with empty hopes and glittering   
outsides1 attempt things beyond their   
strength2 challenge the bravest heroes2 
provoke them to the combat2 and1 proving
 unequal1 die in their high attempts4   
,the death of such youths seldom fails  
to meet with infinite pity2 as no mortal
 calamity is more moving and afflicting1
 than to see the flower of virtue       
cropped before its time4 ,nay1 the prime
 of life enjoyed to the full1 or even to
 a degree of envy1 does not assuage or  
moderate the grief occasioned by the    
untimely death of such hopeful youths2  
but lamentations and bewailings fly1    
like mournful birds1 about their tombs1 
for a long while after2 especially upon 

all fresh occasions1 new commotions1 and
 the beginning of great actions1 the    
passionate desire of them is renewed1 as
 by the sun's morning rays4             
,,xv4--,,tythonus1 ,,or ,,satiety4      
,,explained ,,of ,,predominant          
,,passions4   ,it is elegantly fabled by
 ,tythonus1 that being exceedingly      
beloved by ,aurora1 she petitioned      
,jupiter that he might prove immortal1  
thereby to secure herself the           
everlasting enjoyment of his company2   
but through female inadvertence she     
forgot to add1 that he might never grow 
old2 so that1 though he proved immortal1
 he became miserably worn and consumed  
with age1 insomuch that ,jupiter1 out of
 pity1 at length transformed him to a   
grasshopper4   ,,explanation4--,this    
fable seems to contain an ingenious     
description of pleasure2 which at first1
 as it were in the morning of the day1  
is so welcome1 that men pray to have it 
everlasting1 but forget that satiety and
 weariness of it will1 like old age1    

overtake them1 though they think not of 
it2 so that at length1 when their       
appetite for pleasurable actions is     
gone1 their desires and affections often
 continue2 whence we commonly find that 
aged persons delight themselves with the
 discourse and remembrance of the things
 agreeable to them in their better days4
 ,this is very remarkable in men of a   
loose1 and men of a military life2 the  
former whereof are always talking over  
their amours1 and the latter the        
exploits of their youth2 like           
grasshoppers1 that show their vigor only
 by their chirping4                     
,,xvi4--,,juno',s ,,suitor1 ,,or        
,,baseness4  ,,explained ,,of           
,,submission ,,and ,,abjection4   ,the  
poets tell us1 that ,jupiter1 to carry  
on his love-intrigues1 assumed many     
different shapes2 as of a bull1 an      
eagle1 a swan1 a golden shower1 c42 but 
when he attempted ,juno1 he turned      
himself into the most ignoble and       
ridiculous creature1--even that of a    

wretched1 wet1 weather-beaten1          
affrighted1 trembling and half-starved  
cuckoo4   ,,explanation4--,this is a    
wise fable1 and drawn from the very     
entrails of morality4 ,the moral is1    
that men should not be conceited of     
themselves1 and imagine that a discovery
 of their excellences will always render
 them acceptable2 for this can only     
succeed according to the nature and     
manners of the person they court1 or    
solicit2 who1 if he be a man not of the 
same gifts and endowments1 but          
altogether of a haughty and contemptuous
 behavior1 here represented by the      
person of ,juno1 they must entirely drop
 the character that carries the least   
show of worth or gracefulness2 if they  
proceed upon any other footing1 it is   
downright folly2 nor is it sufficient to
 act the deformity of obsequiousness1   
unless they really change themselves1   
and become abject and contemptible in   
their persons4     ,,xvii4--,,cupid1    
,,or ,,an ,,atom4  ,,explained ,,of     

,,the ,,corpuscular ,,philosophy4   ,the
 particulars related by the poets of    
,cupid1 or ,love1 do not properly agree 
to the same person1 yet they differ only
 so far1 that if the confusion of       
persons be rejected1 the correspondence 
may hold4 ,they say1 that ,love was the 
most ancient of all the gods1 and       
existed before every thing else1 except 
,chaos1 which is held coeval therewith4 
,but for ,chaos1 the ancients never paid
 divine honors1 nor gave the title of a 
god thereto4 ,love is represented       
absolutely without progenitor1 excepting
 only that he is said to have proceeded 
from the egg of ,nox2 but that himself  
begot the gods1 and all things else1 on 
,chaos4 ,his attributes are four2 viz3  
#a1 perpetual infancy2 #b1 blindness2   
#c1 nakedness2 and #d1 archery4  ,there 
was also another ,cupid1 or ,love1 the  
youngest son of the gods1 born of       
,venus2 and upon him the attributes of  
the elder are transferred1 with some    
degree of correspondence4               

,,explanation4--,this fable points at1  
and enters1 the cradle of nature4 ,love 
seems to be the appetite1 or incentive1 
of the primitive matter2 or1 to speak   
more distinctly1 the natural motion1 or 
moving principle1 of the original       
corpuscles1 or atoms2 this being the    
most ancient and only power that made   
and wrought all things out of matter4   
,it is absolutely without parent1 that  
is1 without cause2 for causes are as    
parents to effects2 but this power or   
efficacy could have no natural cause2   
for1 excepting ,god1 nothing was before 
it2 and therefore it could have no      
efficient in nature4 ,and as nothing is 
more inward with nature1 it can neither 
be a genus nor a form2 and therefore1   
whatever it is1 it must be somewhat     
positive1 though inexpressible4 ,and if 
it were possible to conceive its modus  
and process1 yet it could not be known  
from its cause1 as being1 next to ,god1 
the cause of causes1 and itself without 
a cause4 ,and1 perhaps1 we are not to   

hope that the modus of it should fall1  
or be comprehended1 under human inquiry4
 ,whence it is properly feigned to be   
the egg of ,nox1 or laid in the dark4   
,the divine philosopher declares1 that  
8,god has made every thing beautiful in 
its season2 and has given over the world
 to our disputes and inquiries2 but that
 man cannot find out the work which ,god
 has wrought1 from its beginning up to  
its end40 ,thus the summary or          
collective law of nature1 or the        
principle of love1 impressed by ,god    
upon the original particles of all      
things1 so as to make them attack each  
other and come together1 by the         
repetition and multiplication whereof   
all the variety in the universe is      
produced1 can scarce possibly find full 
admittance into the thoughts of men1    
though some faint notion may be had     
thereof4 ,the ,greek philosophy is      
subtile1 and busied in discovering the  
material principles of things1 but      
negligent and languid in discovering the

 principles of motion1 in which the     
energy and efficacy of every operation  
consists4 ,and here the ,greek          
philosophers seem perfectly blind and   
childish2 for the opinion of the        
,peripatetics1 as to the stimulus of    
matter1 by privation1 is little more    
than words1 or rather sound than        
signification4 ,and they who refer it to
 ,god1 though they do well therein1 yet 
they do it by a start1 and not by proper
 degrees of assent2 for doubtless there 
is one summary1 or capital law1 in which
 nature meets1 subordinate to ,god1 viz3
 the law mentioned in the passage above 
quoted from ,solomon2 or the work which 
,god has wrought from its beginning to  
its end4  ,democritus1 who further      
considered this subject1 having first   
supposed an atom1 or corpuscle1 of some 
dimension or figure1 attributed thereto 
an appetite1 desire1 or first motion    
simply1 and another comparatively1      
imagining that all things properly      
tended to the centre of the world2 those

 containing more matter falling faster  
to the centre1 and thereby removing1 and
 in the shock driving away1 such as held
 less4 ,but this is a slender conceit1  
and regards too few particulars2 for    
neither the revolutions of the celestial
 bodies1 nor the contractions and       
expansions of things1 can be reduced to 
this principle4 ,and for the opinion of 
,epicurus1 as to the declination and    
fortuitous agitation of atoms1 this only
 brings the matter back again to a      
trifle1 and wraps it up in ignorance and
 night4  ,cupid is elegantly drawn a    
perpetual child2 for compounds are      
larger things1 and have their periods of
 age2 but the first seeds or atoms of   
bodies are small1 and remain in a       
perpetual infant state4  ,he is again   
justly represented naked2 as all        
compounds may properly be said to be    
dressed and clothed1 or to assume a     
personage2 whence nothing remains truly 
naked1 but the original particles of    
things4  ,the blindness of ,cupid       

contains a deep allegory2 for this same 
,cupid1 ,love1 or appetite of the world1
 seems to have very little foresight1   
but directs his steps and motions       
conformably to what he finds next him1  
as blind men do when they feel out their
 way2 which renders the divine and      
overruling ,providence and foresight the
 more surprising2 as by a certain steady
 law1 it brings such a beautiful order  
and regularity of things out of what    
seems extremely casual1 void of design1 
and1 as it were1 really blind4  ,the    
last attribute of ,cupid is archery1    
viz3 a virtue or power operating at a   
distance2 for every thing that operates 
at a distance may seem1 as it were1 to  
dart1 or shoot with arrows4 ,and whoever
 allows of atoms and vacuity1           
necessarily supposes that the virtue of 
atoms operates at a distance2 for       
without this operation1 no motion could 
be excited1 on account of the vacuum    
interposing1 but all things would remain
 sluggish and unmoved4  ,as to the other

 ,cupid1 he is properly said to be the  
youngest son of the gods1 as his power  
could not take place before the         
formation of species1 or particular     
bodies4 ,the description given us of him
 transfers the allegory to morality1    
though he still retains some resemblance
 with the ancient ,cupid2 for as ,venus 
universally excites the affection of    
association1 and the desire of          
procreation1 her son ,cupid applies the 
affection to individuals2 so that the   
general disposition proceeds from       
,venus1 but the more close sympathy from
 ,cupid4 ,the former depends upon a near
 approximation of causes1 but the latter
 upon deeper1 more necessitating and    
uncontrollable principles1 as if they   
proceeded from the ancient ,cupid1 on   
whom all exquisite sympathies depend4   
,,xviii4--,,diomed1 ,,or ,,zeal4        
,,explained ,,of ,,persecution1 ,,or    
,,zeal ,,for ,,religion4   ,diomed      
acquired great glory and honor at the   
,trojan war1 and was highly favored by  

,pallas1 who encouraged and excited him 
by no means to spare ,venus1 if he      
should casually meet her in fight4 ,he  
followed the advice with too much       
eagerness and intrepidity1 and          
accordingly wounded that goddess in her 
hand4 ,this presumptuous action remained
 unpunished for a time1 and when the war
 was ended he returned with great glory 
and renown to his own country1 where1   
finding himself embroiled with domestic 
affairs1 he retired into ,italy4 ,here  
also at first he was well received and  
nobly entertained by ,king ,daunus1 who1
 besides other gifts and honors1 erected
 statues for him over all his dominions4
 ,but upon the first calamity that      
afflicted the people after the          
stranger's arrival1 ,daunus immediately 
reflected that he entertained a devoted 
person in his palace1 an enemy to the   
gods1 and one who had sacrilegiously    
wounded a goddess with his sword1 whom  
it was impious but to touch4 ,to        
expiate1 therefore1 his country's guilt1

 he1 without regard to the laws of      
hospitality1 which were less regarded by
 him than the laws of religion1 directly
 slew his guest1 and commanded his      
statues and all his honors to be razed  
and abolished4 ,nor was it safe for     
others to commiserate or bewail so cruel
 a destiny2 but even his companions in  
arms1 whilst they lamented the death of 
their leader1 and filled all places with
 their complaints1 were turned into a   
kind of swans1 which are said1 at the   
approach of their own death1 to chant   
sweet melancholy dirges4                
,,explanation4--,this fable intimates an
 extraordinary and almost singular      
thing1 for no hero besides ,diomed is   
recorded to have wounded any of the     
gods4 ,doubtless we have here described 
the nature and fate of a man who        
professedly makes any divine worship or 
sect of religion1 though1 in itself vain
 and light1 the only scope of his       
actions1 and resolves to propagate it by
 fire and sword4 ,for although the      

bloody dissensions and differences about
 religion were unknown to the ancients1 
yet so copious and diffusive was their  
knowledge1 that what they knew not by   
experience they comprehended in thought 
and representation4 ,those1 therefore1  
who endeavor to reform or establish any 
sect of religion1 though vain1 corrupt1 
and infamous 7which is here denoted     
under the person of ,venus71 not by the 
force of reason1 learning1 sanctity of  
manners1 the weight of arguments1 and   
examples1 but would spread or extirpate 
it by persecution1 pains1 penalties1    
tortures1 fire1 and sword1 may1 perhaps1
 be instigated hereto by ,pallas1 that  
is1 by a certain rigid1 prudential      
consideration1 and a severity of        
judgment1 by the vigor and efficacy     
whereof they see thoroughly into the    
fallacies and fictions of the delusions 
of this kind2 and through aversion to   
depravity and a well-meant zeal1 these  
men usually for a time acquire great    
fame and glory1 and are by the vulgar1  

to whom no moderate measures can be     
acceptable1 extolled and almost adored1 
as the only patrons and protectors of   
truth and religion1 men of any other    
disposition seeming1 in comparison with 
these1 to be lukewarm1 mean-spirited1   
and cowardly4 ,this fame and felicity1  
however1 seldom endures to the end2 but 
all violence1 unless it escapes the     
reverses and changes of things by       
untimely death1 is commonly unprosperous
 in the issue2 and if a change of       
affairs happens1 and that sect of       
religion which was persecuted and       
oppressed gains strength and rises      
again1 then the zeal and warm endeavors 
of this sort of men are condemned1 their
 very name becomes odious1 and all their
 honors terminate in disgrace4  ,as to  
the point that ,diomed should be slain  
by his hospitable entertainer1 this     
denotes that religious dissensions may  
cause treachery1 bloody animosities1 and
 deceit1 even between the nearest       
friends4  ,that complaining or bewailing

 should not1 in so enormous a case1 be  
permitted to friends affected by the    
catastrophe without punishment1 includes
 this prudent admonition1 that almost in
 all kinds of wickedness and depravity  
men have still room left for            
commiseration1 so that they who hate the
 crime may yet pity the person and      
bewail his calamity1 from a principle of
 humanity and good-nature2 and to forbid
 the overflowings and intercourses of   
pity upon such occasions were the       
extremest of evils2 yet in the cause of 
religion and impiety the very           
commiserations of men are noted and     
suspected4 ,on the other hand1 the      
lamentations and complainings of the    
followers and attendants of ,diomed1    
that is1 of men of the same sect or     
persuasion1 are usually very sweet1     
agreeable1 and moving1 like the dying   
notes of swans1 or the birds of ,diomed4
 ,this also is a noble and remarkable   
part of the allegory1 denoting that the 
last words of those who suffer for the  

sake of religion strongly affect and    
sway men's minds1 and leave a lasting   
impression upon the sense and memory4   
,,xix4--,d,,dalus1 ,,or ,,mechanical    
,,skill4  ,,explained ,,of ,,arts ,,and 
,,artists ,,in ,,kingdoms ,,and         
,,states4   ,the ancients have left us a
 description of mechanical skill1       
industry1 and curious arts converted to 
ill uses1 in the person of ,ddalus1 a   
most ingenious but execrable artist4    
,this ,ddalus was banished for the      
murder of his brother artist and rival1 
yet found a kind reception in his       
banishment from the kings and states    
where he came4 ,he raised many          
incomparable edifices to the honor of   
the gods1 and invented many new         
contrivances for the beautifying and    
ennobling of cities and public places1  
but still he was most famous for wicked 
inventions4 ,among the rest1 by his     
abominable industry and destructive     
genius1 he assisted in the fatal and    
infamous production of the monster      

,minotaur1 that devourer of promising   
youths4 ,and then1 to cover one mischief
 with another1 and provide for the      
security of this monster1 he invented   
and built a labyrinth2 a work infamous  
for its end and design1 but admirable   
and prodigious for art and workmanship4 
,after this1 that he might not only be  
celebrated for wicked inventions1 but be
 sought after1 as well for prevention1  
as for instruments of mischief1 he      
formed that ingenious device of his     
clue1 which led directly through all the
 windings of the labyrinth4 ,this       
,ddalus was persecuted by ,minos with   
the utmost severity1 diligence1 and     
inquiry2 but he always found refuge and 
means of escaping4 ,lastly1 endeavoring 
to teach his son ,icarus the art of     
flying1 the novice1 trusting too much to
 his wings1 fell from his towering      
flight1 and was drowned in the sea4     
,,explanation4--,the sense of the fable 
runs thus4 ,it first denotes envy1 which
 is continually upon the watch1 and     

strangely prevails among excellent      
artificers2 for no kind of people are   
observed to be more implacably and      
destructively envious to one another    
than these4  ,in the next place1 it     
observes an impolitic and improvident   
kind of punishment inflicted upon       
,ddalus--that of banishment2 for good   
workmen are gladly received everywhere1 
so that banishment to an excellent      
artificer is scarce any punishment at   
all2 whereas other conditions of life   
cannot easily flourish from home4 ,for  
the admiration of artists is propagated 
and increased among foreigners and      
strangers2 it being a principle in the  
minds of men to slight and despise the  
mechanical operators of their own       
nation4  ,the succeeding part of the    
fable is plain1 concerning the use of   
mechanic arts1 whereto human life stands
 greatly indebted1 as receiving from    
this treasury numerous particulars for  
the service of religion1 the ornament of
 civil society1 and the whole provision 

and apparatus of life2 but then the same
 magazine supplies instruments of lust1 
cruelty1 and death4 ,for1 not to mention
 the arts of luxury and debauchery1 we  
plainly see how far the business of     
exquisite poisons1 guns1 engines of war1
 and such kind of destructive           
inventions1 exceeds the cruelty and     
barbarity of the ,minotaur himself4     
,the addition of the labyrinth contains 
a beautiful allegory1 representing the  
nature of mechanic arts in general2 for 
all ingenious and accurate mechanical   
inventions may be conceived as a        
labyrinth1 which1 by reason of their    
subtilty1 intricacy1 crossing1 and      
interfering with one another1 and the   
apparent resemblances they have among   
themselves1 scarce any power of the     
judgment can unravel and distinguish2 so
 that they are only to be understood and
 traced by the clue of experience4  ,it 
is no less prudently added1 that he who 
invented the windings of the labyrinth1 
should also show the use and management 

of the clue2 for mechanical arts have an
 ambiguous or double use1 and serve as  
well to produce as to prevent mischief  
and destruction2 so that their virtue   
almost destroys or unwinds itself4      
,unlawful arts and indeed frequently    
arts themselves1 are persecuted by      
,minos1 that is1 by laws1 which prohibit
 and forbid their use among the people2 
but notwithstanding this1 they are hid1 
concealed1 retained1 and everywhere find
 reception and skulking-places2 a thing 
well observed by ,tacitus of the        
astrologers and fortune-tellers of his  
time4 8,these10 says he1 8are a kind of 
men that will always be prohibited1 and 
yet will always be retained in our      
city40  ,but lastly1 all unlawful and   
vain arts1 of what kind soever1 lose    
their reputation in tract of time2 grow 
contemptible and perish1 through their  
overconfidence1 like ,icarus2 being     
commonly unable to perform what they    
boasted4 ,and to say the truth1 such    
arts are better suppressed by their own 

vain pretensions1 than checked or       
restrained by the bridle of laws4#fcb   
,,xx4--,,ericthonius1 ,,or ,,imposture4 
,,explained ,,of ,,the ,,improper ,,use 
,,of ,,force ,,in ,,natural             
,,philosophy4   ,the poets feign that   
,vulcan attempted the chastity of       
,minerva1 and impatient of refusal1 had 
recourse to force2 the consequence of   
which was the birth of ,ericthonius1    
whose body from the middle upwards was  
comely and well-proportioned1 but his   
thighs and legs small1 shrunk1 and      
deformed1 like an eel4 ,conscious of    
this defect1 he became the inventor of  
chariots1 so as to show the graceful1   
but conceal the deformed part of his    
body4   ,,explanation4--,this strange   
fable seems to carry this meaning4 ,art 
is here represented under the person of 
,vulcan1 by reason of the various uses  
it makes of fire2 and nature1 under the 
person of ,minerva1 by reason of the    
industry employed in her works4 ,art1   
therefore1 whenever it offers violence  

to nature1 in order to conquer1 subdue1 
and bend her to its purpose1 by tortures
 and force of all kinds1 seldom obtains 
the end proposed2 yet upon great        
struggle and application1 there proceed 
certain imperfect births1 or lame       
abortive works1 specious in appearance1 
but weak and unstable in use2 which are1
 nevertheless1 with great pomp and      
deceitful appearances1 triumphantly     
carried about1 and shown by impostors4  
,a procedure very familiar1 and         
remarkable in chemical productions1 and 
new mechanical inventions2 especially   
when the inventors rather hug their     
errors than improve upon them1 and go on
 struggling with nature1 not courting   
her4     ,,xxi4--,,deucalion1 ,,or      
,,restitution4  ,,explained ,,of ,a     
,,useful ,,hint ,,in ,,natural          
,,philosophy4   ,the poets tell us1 that
 the inhabitants of the old world being 
totally destroyed by the universal      
deluge1 excepting ,deucalion and        
,pyrrha1 these two1 desiring with       

zealous and fervent devotion to restore 
mankind1 received this oracle for       
answer1 that 8they should succeed by    
throwing their mother's bones behind    
them40 ,this at first cast them into    
great sorrow and despair1 because1 as   
all things were levelled by the deluge1 
it was in vain to seek their mother's   
tomb2 but at length they understood the 
expression of the oracle to signify the 
stones of the earth1 which is esteemed  
the mother of all things4               
,,explanation4--,this fable seems to    
reveal a secret of nature1 and correct  
an error familiar to the mind2 for men's
 ignorance leads them to expect the     
renovation or restoration of things from
 their corruption and remains1 as the   
phnix is said to be restored out of its 
ashes2 which is a very improper         
procedure1 because such kind of         
materials have finished their course1   
and are become absolutely unfit to      
supply the first rudiments of the same  
things again2 whence1 in cases of       

renovation1 recourse should be had to   
more common principles4                 
,,xxii4--,,nemesis1 ,,or ,,the          
,,vicissitude ,,of ,,things4            
,,explained ,,of ,,the ,,reverses ,,of  
,,fortune4   ,nemesis is represented as 
a goddess venerated by all1 but feared  
by the powerful and the fortunate4 ,she 
is said to be the daughter of ,nox and  
,oceanus4  ,she is drawn with wings1 and
 a crown2 a javelin of ash in her right 
hand2 a glass containing ,ethiopians in 
her left2 and riding upon a stag4       
,,explanation4--,the fable receives this
 explanation4 ,the word ,nemesis        
manifestly signifies revenge1 or        
retribution2 for the office of this     
goddess consisted in interposing1 like  
the ,roman tribunes1 with an 8,i forbid 
it10 in all courses of constant and     
perpetual felicity1 so as not only to   
chastise haughtiness1 but also to repay 
even innocent and moderate happiness    
with adversity2 as if it were decreed1  
that none of human race should be       

admitted to the banquet of the gods1 but
 for sport4 ,and1 indeed1 to read over  
that chapter of ,pliny wherein he has   
collected the miseries and misfortunes  
of ,augustus ,csar1 whom1 of all        
mankind1 one would judge most           
fortunate1--as he had a certain art of  
using and enjoying prosperity1 with a   
mind no way tumid1 light1 effeminate1   
confused1 or melancholic1--one cannot   
but think this a very great and powerful
 goddess1 who could bring such a victim 
to her altar4#fcc  ,the parents of this 
goddess were ,oceanus and ,nox2 that is1
 the fluctuating change of things1 and  
the obscure and secret divine decrees4  
,the changes of things are aptly        
represented by the ,ocean1 on account of
 its perpetual ebbing and flowing2 and  
secret providence is justly expressed by
 ,night4 ,even the heathens have        
observed this secret ,nemesis of the    
night1 or the difference betwixt divine 
and human judgment4#fcd  ,wings are     
given to ,nemesis1 because of the sudden

 and unforeseen changes of things2 for1 
from the earliest account of time1 it   
has been common for great and prudent   
men to fall by the dangers they most    
despised4 ,thus ,cicero1 when admonished
 by ,brutus of the infidelity and rancor
 of ,octavius1 coolly wrote back3 8,i   
cannot1 however1 but be obliged to you1 
,brutus1 as ,i ought1 for informing me1 
though of such a trifle40#fce  ,nemesis 
also has her crown1 by reason of the    
invidious and malignant nature of the   
vulgar1 who generally rejoice1 triumph1 
and crown her1 at the fall of the       
fortunate and the powerful4 ,and for the
 javelin in her right hand1 it has      
regard to those whom she has actually   
struck and transfixed4 ,but whoever     
escapes her stroke1 or feels not actual 
calamity or misfortune1 she affrights   
with a black and dismal sight in her    
left hand2 for doubtless1 mortals on the
 highest pinnacle of felicity have a    
prospect of death1 diseases1 calamities1
 perfidious friends1 undermining        

enemies1 reverses of fortune1 c41       
represented by the ,ethiopians in her   
glass4 ,thus ,virgil1 with great        
elegance1 describing the battle of      
,actium1 says of ,cleopatra1 that 8she  
did not yet perceive the two asps behind
 her20#fcf but soon after1 which way    
soever she turned1 she saw whole troops 
of ,ethiopians still before her4        
,lastly1 it is significantly added1 that
 ,nemesis rides upon a stag1 which is a 
very long-lived creature2 for though    
perhaps some1 by an untimely death in   
youth1 may prevent or escape this       
goddess1 yet they who enjoy a long flow 
of happiness and power1 doubtless become
 subject to her at length1 and are      
brought to yield4                       
,,xxiii4--,,achelous1 ,,or ,,battle4    
,,explained ,,of ,,war ,,by ,,invasion4 
,the ancients relate1 that ,hercules and
 ,achelous being rivals in the courtship
 of ,deianira1 the matter was contested 
by single combat2 when ,achelous having 
transformed himself1 as he had power to 

do1 into various shapes1 by way of      
trial2 at length1 in the form of a      
fierce wild bull1 prepares himself for  
the fight2 but ,hercules still retains  
his human shape1 engages sharply with   
him1 and in the issue broke off one of  
the bull's horns2 and now ,achelous1 in 
great pain and fright1 to redeem his    
horn1 presents ,hercules with the       
cornucopia4   ,,explanation4--,this     
fable relates to military expeditions   
and preparations2 for the preparation of
 war on the defensive side1 here denoted
 by ,achelous1 appears in various       
shapes1 whilst the invading side has but
 one simple form1 consisting either in  
an army1 or perhaps a fleet4 ,but the   
country that expects the invasion is    
employed infinite ways1 in fortifying   
towns1 blockading passes1 rivers1 and   
ports1 raising soldiers1 disposing      
garrisons1 building and breaking down   
bridges1 procuring aids1 securing       
provisions1 arms1 ammunition1 c4 ,so    
that there appears a new face of things 

every day2 and at length1 when the      
country is sufficiently fortified and   
prepared1 it represents to the life the 
form and threats of a fierce fighting   
bull4  ,on the other side1 the invader  
presses on to the fight1 fearing to be  
distressed in an enemy's country4 ,and  
if after the battle he remains master of
 the field1 and has now broke1 as it    
were1 the horn of his enemy1 the        
besieged1 of course1 retire inglorious1 
affrighted1 and dismayed1 to their      
stronghold1 there endeavoring to secure 
themselves1 and repair their strength2  
leaving1 at the same time1 their country
 a prey to the conqueror1 which is well 
expressed by the ,amalthean horn1 or    
cornucopia4     ,,xxiv4--,,dionysus1    
,,or ,,bacchus4#fcg  ,,explained ,,of   
,,the ,,passions4   ,the fable runs1    
that ,semele1 ,jupiter's mistress1      
having bound him by an inviolable oath  
to grant her an unknown request1 desired
 he would embrace her in the same form  
and manner he used to embrace ,juno2 and

 the promise being irrevocable1 she was 
burnt to death with lightning in the    
performance4 ,the embryo1 however1 was  
sewed up1 and carried in ,jupiter's     
thigh till the complete time of its     
birth2 but the burden thus rendering the
 father lame1 and causing him pain1 the 
child was thence called ,dionysus4 ,when
 born1 he was committed1 for some years1
 to be nursed by ,proserpina2 and when  
grown up1 appeared with so effeminate a 
face1 that his sex seemed somewhat      
doubtful4 ,he also died1 and was buried 
for a time1 but afterwards revived4     
,when a youth1 he first introduced the  
cultivation and dressing of vines1 the  
method of preparing wine1 and taught the
 use thereof2 whence becoming famous1 he
 subdued the world1 even to the utmost  
bounds of the ,indies4 ,he rode in a    
chariot drawn by tigers4 ,there danced  
about him certain deformed demons called
 ,cobali1 c4 ,the ,muses also joined in 
his train4 ,he married ,ariadne1 who was
 deserted by ,theseus4 ,the ivy was     

sacred to him4 ,he was also held the    
inventor and institutor of religious    
rites and ceremonies1 but such as were  
wild1 frantic1 and full of corruption   
and cruelty4 ,he had also the power of  
striking men with frenzies4 ,pentheus   
and ,orpheus were torn to pieces by the 
frantic women at his orgies2 the first  
for climbing a tree to behold their     
outrageous ceremonies1 and the other for
 the music of his harp4 ,but the acts of
 this god are much entangled and        
confounded with those of ,jupiter4      
,,explanation4--,this fable seems to    
contain a little system of morality1 so 
that there is scarce any better         
invention in all ethics4 ,under the     
history of ,bacchus1 is drawn the nature
 of unlawful desire or affection1 and   
disorder2 for the appetite and thirst of
 apparent good is the mother of all     
unlawful desire1 though ever so         
destructive1 and all unlawful desires   
are conceived in unlawful wishes or     
requests1 rashly indulged or granted    

before they are well understood or      
considered1 and when the affection      
begins to grow warm1 the mother of it   
7the nature of good7 is destroyed and   
burnt up by the heat4 ,and whilst an    
unlawful desire lies in the embryo1 or  
unripened in the mind1 which is its     
father1 and here represented by         
,jupiter1 it is cherished and concealed1
 especially in the inferior part of the 
mind1 corresponding to the thigh of the 
body1 where pain twitches and depresses 
the mind so far as to render its        
resolutions and actions imperfect and   
lame4 ,and even after this child of the 
mind is confirmed1 and gains strength by
 consent and habit1 and comes forth into
 action1 it must still be nursed by     
,proserpina for a time2 that is1 it     
skulks and hides its head in a          
clandestine manner1 as it were under    
ground1 till at length1 when the checks 
of shame and fear are removed1 and the  
requisite boldness acquired1 it either  
assumes the pretext of some virtue1 or  

openly despises infamy4 ,and it is      
justly observed1 that every vehement    
passion appears of a doubtful sex1 as   
having the strength of a man at first1  
but at last the impotence of a woman4   
,it is also excellently added1 that     
,bacchus died and rose again2 for the   
affections sometimes seem to die and be 
no more2 but there is no trusting them1 
even though they were buried1 being     
always apt and ready to rise again      
whenever the occasion or object offers4 
,that ,bacchus should be the inventor of
 wine1 carries a fine allegory with it2 
for every affection is cunning and      
subtle in discovering a proper matter to
 nourish and feed it2 and of all things 
known to mortals1 wine is the most      
powerful and effectual for exciting and 
inflaming passions of all kinds1 being1 
indeed1 like a common fuel to all4  ,it 
is again1 with great elegance1 observed 
of ,bacchus1 that he subdued provinces1 
and undertook endless expeditions1 for  
the affections never rest satisfied with

 what they enjoy1 but with an endless   
and insatiable appetite thirst after    
something further4 ,and tigers are      
prettily feigned to draw the chariot2   
for as soon as any affection shall1 from
 going on foot1 be advanced to ride1 it 
triumphs over reason1 and exerts its    
cruelty1 fierceness1 and strength       
against all that oppose it4  ,it is also
 humorously imagined1 that ridiculous   
demons dance and frisk about this       
chariot2 for every passion produces     
indecent1 disorderly1 interchangeable   
and deformed motions in the eyes1       
countenance1 and gesture1 so that the   
person under the impulse1 whether of    
anger1 insult1 love1 c41 though to      
himself he may seem grand1 lofty1 or    
obliging1 yet in the eyes of others     
appears mean1 contemptible1 or          
ridiculous4  ,the ,muses also are found 
in the train of ,bacchus1 for there is  
scarce any passion without its art1     
science1 or doctrine to court and       
flatter it2 but in this respect the     

indulgence of men of genius has greatly 
detracted from the majesty of the       
,muses1 who ought to be the leaders and 
conductors of human life1 and not the   
handmaids of the passions4  ,the        
allegory of ,bacchus falling in love    
with a cast mistress1 is extremely      
noble2 for it is certain that the       
affections always court and covet what  
has been rejected upon experience4 ,and 
all those who by serving and indulging  
their passions immensely raise the value
 of enjoyment1 should know1 that        
whatever they covet and pursue1 whether 
riches1 pleasure1 glory1 learning1 or   
anything else1 they only pursue those   
things that have been forsaken and cast 
off with contempt by great numbers in   
all ages1 after possession and          
experience4  ,nor is it without a       
mystery that the ivy was sacred to      
,bacchus1 and this for two reasons3     
first1 because ivy is an evergreen1 or  
flourishes in the winter2 and secondly1 
because it winds and creeps about so    

many things1 as trees1 walls1 and       
buildings1 and raises itself above them4
 ,as to the first1 every passion grows  
fresh1 strong1 and vigorous by          
opposition and prohibition1 as it were  
by a kind of contrast or antiperistasis1
 like the ivy in the winter4 ,and for   
the second1 the predominant passion of  
the mind throws itself1 like the ivy1   
round all human actions1 entwines all   
our resolutions1 and perpetually adheres
 to1 and mixes itself among1 or even    
overtops them4  ,and no wonder that     
superstitious rites and ceremonies are  
attributed to ,bacchus1 when almost     
every ungovernable passion grows wanton 
and luxuriant in corrupt religions2 nor 
again1 that fury and frenzy should be   
sent and dealt out by him1 because every
 passion is a short frenzy1 and if it be
 vehement1 lasting1 and take deep root1 
it terminates in madness4 ,and hence the
 allegory of ,pentheus and ,orpheus     
being torn to pieces is evident2 for    
every headstrong passion is extremely   

bitter1 severe1 inveterate1 and         
revengeful upon all curious inquiry1    
wholesome admonition1 free counsel1 and 
persuasion4  ,lastly2 the confusion     
between the persons of ,jupiter and     
,bacchus will justly admit of an        
allegory1 because noble and meritorious 
actions may sometimes proceed from      
virtue1 sound reason1 and magnanimity1  
and sometimes again from a concealed    
passion and secret desire of ill1       
however they may be extolled and        
praised1 insomuch that it is not easy to
 distinguish betwixt the acts of        
,bacchus and the acts of ,jupiter4      
,,xxv4--,,atalanta ,,and ,,hippomenes1  
,,or ,,gain4  ,,explained ,,of ,,the    
,,contest ,,betwixt ,,art ,,and         
,,nature4   ,atalanta1 who was          
exceedingly fleet1 contended with       
,hippomenes in the course1 on condition 
that1 if ,hippomenes won1 he should     
espouse her1 or forfeit his life if he  
lost4 ,the match was very unequal1 for  
,atalanta had conquered numbers1 to     

their destruction4 ,hippomenes1         
therefore1 had recourse to stratagem4   
,he procured three golden apples1 and   
purposely carried them with him2 they   
started2 ,atalanta outstripped him soon2
 then ,hippomenes bowled one of his     
apples before her1 across the course1 in
 order not only to make her stoop1 but  
to draw her out of the path4 ,she1      
prompted by female curiosity1 and the   
beauty of the golden fruit1 starts from 
the course to take up the apple4        
,hippomenes1 in the mean time1 holds on 
his way1 and steps before her2 but she1 
by her natural swiftness1 soon fetches  
up her lost ground1 and leaves him again
 behind4 ,hippomenes1 however1 by       
rightly timing his second and third     
throw1 at length won the race1 not by   
his swiftness1 but his cunning4         
,,explanation4--,this fable seems to    
contain a noble allegory of the contest 
betwixt art and nature4 ,for art1 here  
denoted by ,atalanta1 is much swifter1  
or more expeditious in its operations   

than nature1 when all obstacles and     
impediments are removed1 and sooner     
arrives at its end4 ,this appears almost
 in every instance4 ,thus1 fruit comes  
slowly from the kernel1 but soon by     
inoculation or incision2 clay1 left to  
itself1 is a long time in acquiring a   
stony hardness1 but is presently burnt  
by fire into brick4 ,so again1 in human 
life1 nature is a long while in         
alleviating and abolishing the          
remembrance of pain1 and assuaging the  
troubles of the mind2 but moral         
philosophy1 which is the art of living1 
performs it presently4 ,yet this        
prerogative and singular efficacy of art
 is stopped and retarded to the infinite
 detriment of human life1 by certain    
golden apples2 for there is no one      
science or art that constantly holds on 
its true and proper course to the end1  
but they are all continually stopping   
short1 forsaking the track1 and turning 
aside to profit and convenience1 exactly
 like ,atalanta4#fch ,whence it is no   

wonder that art gets not the victory    
over nature1 nor1 according to the      
condition of the contest1 brings her    
under subjection2 but1 on the contrary1 
remains subject to her1 as a wife to a  
husband4#fci     ,,xxvi4--,,prometheus1 
,,or ,,the ,,state ,,of ,,man4          
,,explained ,,of ,,an ,,overruling      
,,providence1 ,,and ,,of ,,human        
,,nature4   ,the ancients relate that   
man was the work of ,prometheus1 and    
formed of clay2 only the artificer mixed
 in with the mass1 particles taken from 
different animals4 ,and being desirous  
to improve his workmanship1 and endow1  
as well as create1 the human race1 he   
stole up to heaven with a bundle of     
birch-rods1 and kindling them at the    
chariot of the ,sun1 thence brought down
 fire to the earth for the service of   
men4  ,they add that1 for this          
meritorious act1 ,prometheus was repayed
 with ingratitude by mankind1 so that1  
forming a conspiracy1 they arraigned    
both him and his invention before       

,jupiter4 ,but the matter was otherwise 
received than they imagined2 for the    
accusation proved extremely grateful to 
,jupiter and the gods1 insomuch that1   
delighted with the action1 they not only
 indulged mankind the use of fire1 but  
moreover conferred upon them a most     
acceptable and desirable present1 viz3  
perpetual youth4  ,but men1 foolishly   
overjoyed hereat1 laid this present of  
the gods upon an ass1 who1 in returning 
back with it1 being extremely thirsty1  
strayed to a fountain4 ,the serpent1 who
 was guardian thereof1 would not suffer 
him to drink1 but upon condition of     
receiving the burden he carried1        
whatever it should be4 ,the silly ass   
complied1 and thus the perpetual renewal
 of youth was1 for a drop of water1     
transferred from men to the race of     
serpents4  ,prometheus1 not desisting   
from his unwarrantable practices1 though
 now reconciled to mankind1 after they  
were thus tricked of their present1 but 
still continuing inveterate against     

,jupiter1 had the boldness to attempt   
deceit1 even in a sacrifice1 and is said
 to have once offered up two bulls to   
,jupiter1 but so as in the hide of one  
of them to wrap all the flesh and fat of
 both1 and stuffing out the other hide  
only with the bones2 then1 in a         
religious and devout manner1 gave       
,jupiter his choice of the two4         
,jupiter1 detesting this sly fraud and  
hypocrisy1 but having thus an           
opportunity of punishing the offender1  
purposely chose the mock bull4  ,and now
 giving way to revenge1 but finding he  
could not chastise the insolence of     
,prometheus without afflicting the human
 race 7in the production whereof        
,prometheus had strangely and           
insufferably prided himself71 he        
commanded ,vulcan to form a beautiful   
and graceful woman1 to whom every god   
presented a certain gift1 whence she was
 called ,pandora4#fdj ,they put into her
 hands an elegant box1 containing all   
sorts of miseries and misfortunes2 but  

,hope was placed at the bottom of it4   
,with this box she first goes to        
,prometheus1 to try if she could prevail
 upon him to receive and open it2 but he
 being upon his guard1 warily refused   
the offer4 ,upon this refusal1 she comes
 to his brother ,epimetheus1 a man of a 
very different temper1 who rashly and   
inconsiderately opens the box4 ,when    
finding all kinds of miseries and       
misfortunes issued out of it1 he grew   
wise too late1 and with great hurry and 
struggle endeavored to clap the cover on
 again2 but with all his endeavor could 
scarce keep in ,hope1 which lay at the  
bottom4  ,lastly1 ,jupiter arraigned    
,prometheus of many heinous crimes2 as  
that he formerly stole fire from heaven2
 that he contemptuously and deceitfully 
mocked him by a sacrifice of bones2 that
 he despised his present1#fda adding    
withal a new crime1 that he attempted to
 ravish ,pallas2 for all which1 he was  
sentenced to be bound in chains1 and    
doomed to perpetual torments4           

,accordingly1 by ,jupiter's command1 he 
was brought to ,mount ,caucasus1 and    
there fastened to a pillar1 so firmly   
that he could no way stir4 ,a vulture or
 eagle stood by him1 which in the       
daytime gnawed and consumed his liver2  
but in the night the wasted parts were  
supplied again2 whence matter for his   
pain was never wanting4  ,they relate1  
however1 that his punishment had an end2
 for ,hercules sailing the ocean1 in a  
cup1 or pitcher1 presented him by the   
,sun1 came at length to ,caucasus1 shot 
the eagle with his arrows1 and set      
,prometheus free4 ,in certain nations1  
also1 there were instituted particular  
games of the torch1 to the honor of     
,prometheus1 in which they who ran for  
the prize carried lighted torches2 and  
as any one of these torches happened to 
go out1 the bearer withdrew himself1 and
 gave way to the next2 and that person  
was allowed to win the prize1 who first 
brought in his lighted torch to the     
goal4   ,,explanation4--,this fable     

contains and enforces many just and     
serious considerations2 some whereof    
have been long since well observed1 but 
some again remain perfectly untouched4  
,prometheus clearly and expressly       
signifies ,providence2 for of all the   
things in nature1 the formation and     
endowment of man was singled out by the 
ancients1 and esteemed the peculiar work
 of ,providence4 ,the reason hereof     
seems1 #a4 ,that the nature of man      
includes a mind and understanding1 which
 is the seat of ,providence4 #b4 ,that  
it is harsh and incredible to suppose   
reason and mind should be raised1 and   
drawn out of senseless and irrational   
principles2 whence it becomes almost    
inevitable1 that providence is implanted
 in the human mind in conformity with1  
and by the direction and the design of  
the greater overruling ,providence4     
,but1 #c4 ,the principal cause is this3 
that man seems to be the thing in which 
the whole world centres1 with respect to
 final causes2 so that if he were away1 

all other things would stray and        
fluctuate1 without end or intention1 or 
become perfectly disjointed1 and out of 
frame2 for all things are made          
subservient to man1 and he receives use 
and benefit from them all4 ,thus the    
revolutions1 places1 and periods1 of the
 celestial bodies1 serve him for        
distinguishing times and seasons1 and   
for dividing the world into different   
regions2 the meteors afford him         
prognostications of the weather2 the    
winds sail our ships1 drive our mills1  
and move our machines2 and the          
vegetables and animals of all kinds     
either afford us matter for houses and  
habitations1 clothing1 food1 physic2 or 
tend to ease1 or delight1 to support1 or
 refresh us so that everything in nature
 seems not made for itself1 but for man4
  ,and it is not without reason added1  
that the mass of matter whereof man was 
formed1 should be mixed up with         
particles taken from different animals1 
and wrought in with the clay1 because it

 is certain1 that of all things in the  
universe1 man is the most compounded and
 recompounded body2 so that the         
ancients1 not improperly1 styled him a  
,microcosm1 or little world within      
himself4 ,for although the chemists have
 absurdly1 and too literally1 wrested   
and perverted the elegance of the term  
microcosm1 whilst they pretend to find  
all kind of mineral and vegetable       
matters1 or something corresponding to  
them1 in man1 yet it remains firm and   
unshaken1 that the human body is1 of all
 substances1 the most mixed and         
organical2 whence it has surprising     
powers and faculties2 for the powers of 
simple bodies are but few1 though       
certain and quick2 as being little      
broken1 or weakened1 and not            
counterbalanced by mixture2 but         
excellence and quantity of energy reside
 in mixture and composition4  ,man1     
however1 in his first origin1 seems to  
be a defenceless1 naked creature1 slow  
in assisting himself1 and standing in   

need of numerous things4 ,prometheus1   
therefore1 hastened to the invention of 
fire1 which supplies and administers to 
nearly all human uses and necessities1  
insomuch that1 if the soul may be called
 the form of forms1 if the hand may be  
called the instrument of instruments1   
fire may1 as properly1 be called the    
assistant of assistants1 or the helper  
of helps2 for hence proceed numberless  
operations1 hence all the mechanic arts1
 and hence infinite assistances are     
afforded to the sciences themselves4    
,the manner wherein ,prometheus stole   
this fire is properly described from the
 nature of the thing2 he being said to  
have done it by applying a rod of birch 
to the chariot of the ,sun2 for birch is
 used in striking and beating1 which    
clearly denotes the generation of fire  
to be from the violent percussions and  
collisions of bodies2 whereby the       
matters struck are subtilized1 rarefied1
 put into motion1 and so prepared to    
receive the heat of the celestial       

bodies2 whence they1 in a clandestine   
and secret manner1 collect and snatch   
fire1 as it were by stealth1 from the   
chariot of the ,sun4  ,the next is a    
remarkable part of the fable1 which     
represents that men1 instead of         
gratitude and thanks1 fell into         
indignation and expostulation1 accusing 
both ,prometheus and his fire to        
,jupiter1--and yet the accusation proved
 highly pleasing to ,jupiter2 so that   
he1 for this reason1 crowned these      
benefits of mankind with a new bounty4  
,here it may seem strange that the sin  
of ingratitude to a creator and         
benefactor1 a sin so heinous as to      
include almost all others1 should meet  
with approbation and reward4 ,but the   
allegory has another view1 and denotes1 
that the accusation and arraignment1    
both of human nature and human art among
 mankind1 proceeds from a most noble and
 laudable temper of the mind1 and tends 
to a very good purpose2 whereas the     
contrary temper is odious to the gods1  

and unbeneficial in itself4 ,for they   
who break into extravagant praises of   
human nature1 and the arts in vogue1 and
 who lay themselves out in admiring the 
things they already possess1 and will   
needs have the sciences cultivated among
 them1 to be thought absolutely perfect 
and complete1 in the first place1 show  
little regard to the divine nature1     
whilst they extol their own inventions  
almost as high as his perfection4 ,in   
the next place1 men of this temper are  
unserviceable and prejudicial in life1  
whilst they imagine themselves already  
got to the top of things1 and there     
rest1 without further inquiry4 ,on the  
contrary1 they who arraign and accuse   
both nature and art1 and are always full
 of complaints against them1 not only   
preserve a more just and modest sense of
 mind1 but are also perpetually stirred 
up to fresh industry and new            
discoveries4 ,is not1 then1 the         
ignorance and fatality of mankind to be 
extremely pitied1 whilst they remain    

slaves to the arrogance of a few of     
their own fellows1 and are dotingly fond
 of that scrap of ,grecian knowledge1   
the ,peripatetic philosophy2 and this to
 such a degree1 as not only to think all
 accusation or arraignment thereof      
useless1 but even hold it suspect and   
dangerous8 ,certainly the procedure of  
,empedocles1 though furious--but        
especially that of ,democritus 7who with
 great modesty complained that all      
things were abstruse2 that we know      
nothing2 that truth lies hid in deep    
pits2 that falsehood is strangely joined
 and twisted along with truth1 c47--is  
to be preferred before the confident1   
assuming1 and dogmatical school of      
,aristotle4 ,mankind are1 therefore1 to 
be admonished1 that the arraignment of  
nature and of art is pleasing to the    
gods2 and that a sharp and vehement     
accusation of ,prometheus1 though a     
creator1 a founder1 and a master1       
obtained new blessings and presents from
 the divine bounty1 and proved more     

sound and serviceable than a diffusive  
harangue of praise and gratulation4 ,and
 let men be assured that the fond       
opinion that they have already acquired 
enough1 is a principal reason why they  
have acquired so little4  ,that the     
perpetual flower of youth should be the 
present which mankind received as a     
reward for their accusation1 carries    
this moral2 that the ancients seem not  
to have despaired of discovering        
methods1 and remedies1 for retarding old
 age1 and prolonging the period of human
 life2 but rather reckoned it among     
those things which1 through sloth and   
want of diligent inquiry1 perish and    
come to nothing1 after having been once 
undertaken1 than among such as are      
absolutely impossible1 or placed beyond 
the reach of the human power4 ,for they 
signify and intimate from the true use  
of fire1 and the just and strenuous     
accusation and conviction of the errors 
of art1 that the divine bounty is not   
wanting to men in such kind of presents1

 but that men indeed are wanting to     
themselves1 and lay such an inestimable 
gift upon the back of a slow-paced ass2 
that is1 upon the back of the heavy1    
dull1 lingering thing1 experience2 from 
whose sluggish and tortoise-pace        
proceeds that ancient complaint of the  
shortness of life1 and the slow         
advancement of arts4 ,and certainly it  
may well seem1 that the two faculties of
 reasoning and experience are not       
hitherto properly joined and coupled    
together1 but to be still new gifts of  
the gods1 separately laid1 the one upon 
the back of a light bird1 or abstract   
philosophy1 and the other upon an ass1  
or slow-paced practice and trial4 ,and  
yet good hopes might be conceived of    
this ass1 if it were not for his thirst 
and the accidents of the way4 ,for we   
judge1 that if any one would constantly 
proceed1 by a certain law and method1 in
 the road of experience1 and not by the 
way thirst after such experiments as    
make for profit or ostentation1 nor     

exchange his burden1 or quit the        
original design for the sake of these1  
he might be an useful bearer of a new   
and accumulated divine bounty to        
mankind4  ,that this gift of perpetual  
youth should pass from men to serpents1 
seems added by way of ornament1 and     
illustration to the fable2 perhaps      
intimating1 at the same time1 the shame 
it is for men1 that they1 with their    
fire1 and numerous arts1 cannot procure 
to themselves those things which nature 
has bestowed upon many other creatures4 
,the sudden reconciliation of           
,prometheus to mankind1 after being     
disappointed of their hopes1 contains a 
prudent and useful admonition4 ,it      
points out the levity and temerity of   
men in new experiments1 when1 not       
presently succeeding1 or answering to   
expectation1 they precipitantly quit    
their new undertakings1 hurry back to   
their old ones1 and grow reconciled     
thereto4  ,after the fable has described
 the state of man1 with regard to arts  

and intellectual matters1 it passes on  
to religion2 for after the inventing and
 settling of arts1 follows the          
establishment of divine worship1 which  
hypocrisy presently enters into and     
corrupts4 ,so that by the two sacrifices
 we have elegantly painted the person of
 a man truly religious1 and of an       
hypocrite4 ,one of these sacrifices     
contained the fat1 or the portion of    
,god1 used for burning and incensing2   
thereby denoting affection and zeal1    
offered up to his glory4 ,it likewise   
contained the bowels1 which are         
expressive of charity1 along with the   
good and useful flesh4 ,but the other   
contained nothing more than dry bones1  
which nevertheless stuffed out the hide1
 so as to make it resemble a fair1      
beautiful1 and magnificent sacrifice2   
hereby finely denoting the external and 
empty rites and barren ceremonies1      
wherewith men burden and stuff out the  
divine worship1--things rather intended 
for show and ostentation than conducing 

to piety4 ,nor are mankind simply       
content with this mock-worship of ,god1 
but also impose and further it upon him1
 as if he had chosen and ordained it4   
,certainly the prophet1 in the person of
 ,god1 has a fine expostulation1 as to  
this matter of choice3 8,is this the    
fasting which ,i have chosen1 that a man
 should afflict his soul for a day1 and 
bow down his head like a bulrush80      
,after thus touching the state of       
religion1 the fable next turns to       
manners1 and the conditions of human    
life4 ,and though it be a very common1  
yet is it a just interpretation1 that   
,pandora denotes the pleasures and      
licentiousness which the cultivation and
 luxury of the arts of civil life       
introduce1 as it were1 by the           
instrumental efficacy of fire2 whence   
the works of the voluptuary arts are    
properly attributed to ,vulcan1 the ,god
 of ,fire4 ,and hence infinite miseries 
and calamities have proceeded to the    
minds1 the bodies1 and the fortunes of  

men1 together with a late repentance2   
and this not in each man's particular1  
but also in kingdoms and states2 for    
wars1 and tumults1 and tyrannies1 have  
all arisen from this same fountain1 or  
box of ,pandora4  ,it is worth          
observing1 how beautifully and elegantly
 the fable has drawn two reigning       
characters in human life1 and given two 
examples1 or tablatures of them1 under  
the persons of ,prometheus and          
,epimetheus4 ,the followers of          
,epimetheus are improvident1 see not far
 before them1 and prefer such things as 
are agreeable for the present2 whence   
they are oppressed with numerous        
straits1 difficulties1 and calamities1  
with which they almost continually      
struggle2 but in the mean time gratify  
their own temper1 and1 for want of a    
better knowledge of things1 feed their  
minds with many vain hopes2 and as with 
so many pleasing dreams1 delight        
themselves1 and sweeten the miseries of 
life4  ,but the followers of ,prometheus

 are the prudent1 wary men1 that look   
into futurity1 and cautiously guard     
against1 prevent1 and undermine many    
calamities and misfortunes4 ,but this   
watchful1 provident temper1 is attended 
with a deprivation of numerous          
pleasures1 and the loss of various      
delights1 whilst such men debar         
themselves the use even of innocent     
things1 and what is still worse1 rack   
and torture themselves with cares1      
fears1 and disquiets2 being bound fast  
to the pillar of necessity1 and         
tormented with numberless thoughts      
7which for their swiftness are well     
compared to an eagle71 that continually 
wound1 tear1 and gnaw their liver or    
mind1 unless1 perhaps1 they find some   
small remission by intervals1 or as it  
were at nights2 but then new anxieties1 
dreads1 and fears1 soon return again1 as
 it were in the morning4 ,and1          
therefore1 very few men1 of either      
temper1 have secured to themselves the  
advantages of providence1 and kept clear

 of disquiets1 troubles1 and            
misfortunes4  ,nor indeed can any man   
obtain this end without the assistance  
of ,hercules2 that is1 of such fortitude
 and constancy of mind as stands        
prepared against every event1 and       
remains indifferent to every change2    
looking forward without being daunted1  
enjoying the good without disdain1 and  
enduring the bad without impatience4    
,and it must be observed1 that even     
,prometheus had not the power to free   
himself1 but owed his deliverance to    
another2 for no natural inbred force and
 fortitude could prove equal to such a  
task4 ,the power of releasing him came  
from the utmost confines of the ocean1  
and from the sun2 that is1 from ,apollo1
 or knowledge2 and again1 from a due    
consideration of the uncertainty1       
instability1 and fluctuating state of   
human life1 which is aptly represented  
by sailing the ocean4 ,accordingly1     
,virgil has prudently joined these two  
together1 accounting him happy who knows

 the causes of things1 and has conquered
 all his fears1 apprehensions1 and      
superstitions4#fdb  ,it is added1 with  
great elegance1 for supporting and      
confirming the human mind1 that the     
great hero who thus delivered him sailed
 the ocean in a cup1 or pitcher1 to     
prevent fear1 or complaint2 as if1      
through the narrowness of our nature1 or
 a too great fragility thereof1 we were 
absolutely incapable of that fortitude  
and constancy to which ,seneca finely   
alludes1 when he says3 8,it is a noble  
thing1 at once to participate in the    
frailty of man and the security of a    
god40  ,we have hitherto1 that we might 
not break the connection of things1     
designedly omitted the last crime of    
,prometheus--that of attempting the     
chastity of ,minerva--which heinous     
offence it doubtless was1 that caused   
the punishment of having his liver      
gnawed by the vulture4 ,the meaning     
seems to be this1--that when men are    
puffed up with arts and knowledge1 they 

often try to subdue even the divine     
wisdom and bring it under the dominion  
of sense and reason1 whence inevitably  
follows a perpetual and restless rending
 and tearing of the mind4 ,a sober and  
humble distinction must1 therefore1 be  
made betwixt divine and human things1   
and betwixt the oracles of sense and    
faith1 unless mankind had rather choose 
an heretical religion1 and a fictitious 
and romantic philosophy4#fdc  ,the last 
particular in the fable is the ,games of
 the ,torch1 instituted to ,prometheus1 
which again relates to arts and         
sciences1 as well as the invention of   
fire1 for the commemoration and         
celebration whereof these games were    
held4 ,and here we have an extremely    
prudent admonition1 directing us to     
expect the perfection of the sciences   
from succession1 and not from the       
swiftness and abilities of any single   
person2 for he who is fleetest and      
strongest in the course may perhaps be  
less fit to keep his torch alight1 since

 there is danger of its going out from  
too rapid as well as from too slow a    
motion4#fdd ,but this kind of contest1  
with the torch1 seems to have been long 
dropped and neglected2 the sciences     
appearing to have flourished principally
 in their first authors1 as ,aristotle1 
,galen1 ,euclid1 ,ptolemy1 c42 whilst   
their successors have done very little1 
or scarce made any attempts4 ,but it    
were highly to be wished that these     
games might be renewed1 to the honor of 
,prometheus1 or human nature1 and that  
they might excite contest1 emulation1   
and laudable endeavors1 and the design  
meet with such success as not to hang   
tottering1 tremulous1 and hazarded1 upon
 the torch of any single person4        
,mankind1 therefore1 should be          
admonished to rouse themselves1 and try 
and exert their own strength and chance1
 and not place all their dependence upon
 a few men1 whose abilities and         
capacities1 perhaps1 are not greater    
than their own4  ,these are the         

particulars which appear to us shadowed 
out by this trite and vulgar fable1     
though without denying that there may be
 contained in it several intimations    
that have a surprising correspondence   
with the ,christian mysteries4 ,in      
particular1 the voyage of ,hercules1    
made in a pitcher1 to release           
,prometheus1 bears an allusion to the   
word of ,god1 coming in the frail vessel
 of the flesh to redeem mankind4 ,but we
 indulge ourselves no such liberties as 
these1 for fear of using strange fire at
 the altar of the ,lord4                
,,xxvii4--,,icarus ,,and ,,scylla ,,and 
,,charybdis1 ,,or ,,the ,,middle ,,way4 
,,explained ,,of ,,mediocrity ,,in      
,,natural ,,and ,,moral ,,philosophy4   
,mediocrity1 or the holding a middle    
course1 has been highly extolled in     
morality1 but little in matters of      
science1 though no less useful and      
proper here2 whilst in politics it is   
held suspected1 and ought to be employed
 with judgment4 ,the ancients described 

mediocrity in manners by the course     
prescribed to ,icarus2 and in matters of
 the understanding by the steering      
betwixt ,scylla and ,charybdis1 on      
account of the great difficulty and     
danger in passing those straits4        
,icarus1 being to fly across the sea1   
was ordered by his father neither to    
soar too high nor fly too low1 for1 as  
his wings were fastened together with   
wax1 there was danger of its melting by 
the sun's heat in too high a flight1 and
 of its becoming less tenacious by the  
moisture if he kept too near the vapor  
of the sea4 ,but he1 with a juvenile    
confidence1 soared aloft1 and fell down 
headlong4   ,,explanation4--,the fable  
is vulgar1 and easily interpreted2 for  
the path of virtue lies straight between
 excess on the one side1 and defect on  
the other4 ,and no wonder that excess   
should prove the bane of ,icarus1       
exulting in juvenile strength and vigor2
 for excess is the natural vice of      
youth1 as defect is that of old age2 and

 if a man must perish by either1 ,icarus
 chose the better of the two2 for all   
defects are justly esteemed more        
depraved than excesses4 ,there is some  
magnanimity in excess1 that1 like a     
bird1 claims kindred with the heavens2  
but defect is a reptile1 that basely    
crawls upon the earth4 ,it was          
excellently said by ,heraclitus3 8,a dry
 light makes the best soul20 for if the 
soul contracts moisture from the earth1 
it perfectly degenerates and sinks4 ,on 
the other hand1 moderation must be      
observed1 to prevent this fine light    
from burning1 by its too great subtility
 and dryness4 ,but these observations   
are common4  ,in matters of the         
understanding1 it requires great skill  
and a particular felicity to steer clear
 of ,scylla and ,charybdis4 ,if the ship
 strikes upon ,scylla1 it is dashed in  
pieces against the rocks2 if upon       
,charybdis1 it is swallowed outright4   
,this allegory is pregnant with matter2 
but we shall only observe the force of  

it lies here1 that a mean be observed in
 every doctrine and science1 and in the 
rules and axioms thereof1 between the   
rocks of distinctions and the whirlpools
 of universalities3 for these two are   
the bane and shipwreck of fine geniuses 
and arts4     ,,xxviii4--,,sphinx1 ,,or 
,,science4  ,,explained ,,of ,,the      
,,sciences4   ,they relate that ,sphinx 
was a monster1 variously formed1 having 
the face and voice of a virgin1 the     
wings of a bird1 and the talons of a    
griffin4 ,she resided on the top of a   
mountain1 near the city ,thebes1 and    
also beset the highways4 ,her manner was
 to lie in ambush and seize the         
travellers1 and having them in her      
power1 to propose to them certain dark  
and perplexed riddles1 which it was     
thought she received from the ,muses1   
and if her wretched captives could not  
solve and interpret these riddles1 she1 
with great cruelty1 fell upon them1 in  
their hesitation and confusion1 and tore
 them to pieces4 ,this plague having    

reigned a long time1 the ,thebans at    
length offered their kingdom to the man 
who could interpret her riddles1 there  
being no other way to subdue her4 dipus1
 a penetrating and prudent man1 though  
lame in his feet1 excited by so great a 
reward1 accepted the condition1 and with
 a good assurance of mind1 cheerfully   
presented himself before the monster1   
who directly asked him3 8,what creature 
that was1 which1 being born four-footed1
 afterwards became two-footed1 then     
three-footed1 and lastly four-footed    
again80 dipus1 with presence of mind1   
replied it was man1 who1 upon his first 
birth and infant state1 crawled upon all
 fours in endeavoring to walk2 but not  
long after went upright upon his two    
natural feet2 again1 in old age walked  
three-footed1 with a stick2 and at last1
 growing decrepit1 lay four-footed      
confined to his bed2 and having by this 
exact solution obtained the victory1 he 
slew the monster1 and1 laying the       
carcass upon an ass1 led her away in    

triumph2 and upon this he was1 according
 to the agreement1 made king of ,thebes4
   ,,explanation4--,this is an elegant1 
instructive fable1 and seems invented to
 represent science1 especially as joined
 with practice4 ,for science may1       
without absurdity1 be called a monster1 
being strangely gazed at and admired by 
the ignorant and unskilful4 ,her figure 
and form is various1 by reason of the   
vast variety of subjects that science   
considers2 her voice and countenance are
 represented female1 by reason of her   
gay appearance and volubility of speech2
 wings are added1 because the sciences  
and their inventions run and fly about  
in a moment1 for knowledge like light   
communicated from one torch to another1 
is presently caught and copiously       
diffused2 sharp and hooked talons are   
elegantly attributed to her1 because the
 axioms and arguments of science enter  
the mind1 lay hold of it1 fix it down1  
and keep it from moving or slipping     
away4 ,this the sacred philosopher      

observed1 when he said3 8,the words of  
the wise are like goads or nails driven 
far in40#fde ,again1 all science seems  
placed on high1 as it were on the tops  
of mountains that are hard to climb2 for
 science is justly imagined a sublime   
and lofty thing1 looking down upon      
ignorance from an eminence1 and at the  
same time taking an extensive view on   
all sides1 as is usual on the tops of   
mountains4 ,science is said to beset the
 highways1 because through all the      
journey and peregrination of human life 
there is matter and occasion offered of 
contemplation4  ,sphinx is said to      
propose various difficult questions and 
riddles to men1 which she received from 
the ,muses2 and these questions1 so long
 as they remain with the ,muses1 may    
very well be unaccompanied with         
severity1 for while there is no other   
end of contemplation and inquiry but    
that of knowledge alone1 the            
understanding is not oppressed1 or      
driven to straits and difficulties1 but 

expatiates and ranges at large1 and even
 receives a degree of pleasure from     
doubt and variety2 but after the ,muses 
have given over their riddles to        
,sphinx1 that is1 to practice1 which    
urges and impels to action1 choice1 and 
determination1 then it is that they     
become torturing1 severe1 and trying1   
and1 unless solved and interpreted1     
strangely perplex and harass the human  
mind1 rend it every way1 and perfectly  
tear it to pieces4 ,all the riddles of  
,sphinx1 therefore1 have two conditions 
annexed1 viz3 dilaceration to those who 
do not solve them1 and empire to those  
that do4 ,for he who understands the    
thing proposed1 obtains his end1 and    
every artificer rules over his work4#fdf
  ,sphinx has no more than two kinds of 
riddles1 one relating to the nature of  
things1 the other to the nature of man2 
and correspondent to these1 the prizes  
of the solution are two kinds of        
empire1--the empire over nature1 and the
 empire over man4 ,for the true and     

ultimate end of natural philosophy is   
dominion over natural things1 natural   
bodies1 remedies1 machines1 and         
numberless other particulars1 though the
 schools1 contented with what           
spontaneously offers1 and swollen with  
their own discourses1 neglect1 and in a 
manner despise1 both things and works4  
,but the riddle proposed to dipus1 the  
solution whereof acquired him the       
,theban kingdom1 regarded the nature of 
man2 for he who has thoroughly looked   
into and examined human nature1 may in a
 manner command his own fortune1 and    
seems born to acquire dominion and rule4
 ,accordingly1 ,virgil properly makes   
the arts of government to be the arts of
 the ,romans4#fdg ,it was1 therefore1   
extremely apposite in ,augustus ,csar to
 use the image of ,sphinx in his signet1
 whether this happened by accident or by
 design2 for he of all men was deeply   
versed in politics1 and through the     
course of his life very happily solved  
abundance of new riddles with regard to 

the nature of man2 and unless he had    
done this with great dexterity and ready
 address1 he would frequently have been 
involved in imminent danger1 if not     
destruction4  ,it is with the utmost    
elegance added in the fable1 that when  
,sphinx was conquered1 her carcass was  
laid upon an ass2 for there is nothing  
so subtile and abstruse1 but after being
 once made plain1 intelligible1 and     
common1 it may be received by the       
slowest capacity4  ,we must not omit    
that ,sphinx was conquered by a lame    
man1 and impotent in his feet2 for men  
usually make too much haste to the      
solution of ,sphinx's riddles2 whence it
 happens1 that she prevailing1 their    
minds are rather racked and torn by     
disputes1 than invested with command by 
works and effects4                      
,,xxix4--,,proserpine1 ,,or ,,spirit4   
,,explained ,,of ,,the ,,spirit         
,,included ,,in ,,natural ,,bodies4     
,they tell us1 ,pluto having1 upon that 
memorable division of empire among the  

gods1 received the infernal regions for 
his share1 despaired of winning any one 
of the goddesses in marriage by an      
obsequious courtship1 and therefore     
through necessity resolved upon a rape4 
,having watched his opportunity1 he     
suddenly seized upon ,proserpine1 a most
 beautiful virgin1 the daughter of      
,ceres1 as she was gathering narcissus  
flowers in the meads of ,sicily1 and    
hurrying her to his chariot1 carried her
 with him to the subterraneal regions1  
where she was treated with the highest  
reverence1 and styled the ,lady of ,dis4
 ,but ,ceres1 missing her only daughter1
 whom she extremely loved1 grew pensive 
and anxious beyond measure1 and taking a
 lighted torch in her hand1 wandered the
 world over in quest of her             
daughter1--but all to no purpose1 till1 
suspecting she might be carried to the  
infernal regions1 she1 with great       
lamentation and abundance of tears1     
importuned ,jupiter to restore her2 and 
with much ado prevailed so far as to    

recover and bring her away1 if she had  
tasted nothing there4 ,this proved a    
hard condition upon the mother1 for     
,proserpine was found to have eaten     
three kernels of a pomegranate4 ,ceres1 
however1 desisted not1 but fell to her  
entreaties and lamentations afresh1     
insomuch that at last it was indulged   
her that ,proserpine should divide the  
year betwixt her husband and her mother1
 and live six months with the one and as
 many with the other4 ,after this1      
,theseus and ,perithous1 with uncommon  
audacity1 attempted to force ,proserpine
 away from ,pluto's bed1 but happening  
to grow tired in their journey1 and     
resting themselves upon a stone in the  
realms below1 they could never rise from
 it again1 but remain sitting there     
forever4 ,proserpine1 therefore1 still  
continued queen of the lower regions1 in
 honor of whom there was also added this
 grand privilege1 that though it had    
never been permitted any one to return  
after having once descended thither1 a  

particular exception was made1 that he  
who brought a golden bough as a present 
to ,proserpine1 might on that condition 
descend and return4 ,this was an only   
bough that grew in a large dark grove1  
not from a tree of its own1 but like the
 mistletoe from another1 and when       
plucked away a fresh one always shot out
 in its stead4   ,,explanation4--,this  
fable seems to regard natural           
philosophy1 and searches deep into that 
rich and fruitful virtue and supply in  
subterraneous bodies1 from whence all   
the things upon the earth's surface     
spring1 and into which they again       
relapse and return4 ,by ,proserpine1 the
 ancients denoted that ethereal spirit  
shut up and detained within the earth1  
here represented by ,pluto1--the spirit 
being separated from the superior globe1
 according to the expression of the     
poet4#fdh ,this spirit is conceived as  
ravished1 or snatched up by the earth1  
because it can in no way be detained1   
when it has time and opportunity to fly 

off1 but is only wrought together and   
fixed by sudden intermixture and        
comminution1 in the same manner as if   
one should endeavor to mix air with     
water1 which cannot otherwise be done   
than by a quick and rapid agitation1    
that joins them together in froth whilst
 the air is thus caught up by the water4
 ,and it is elegantly added1 that       
,proserpine was ravished whilst she     
gathered narcissus flowers1 which have  
their name from numbedness or           
stupefaction2 for the spirit we speak of
 is in the fittest disposition to be    
embraced by terrestrial matter when it  
begins to coagulate1 or grow torpid as  
it were4  ,it is an honor justly        
attributed to ,proserpine1 and not to   
any other wife of the gods1 that of     
being the lady or mistress of her       
husband1 because this spirit performs   
all its operations in the subterraneal  
regions1 whilst ,pluto1 or the earth1   
remains stupid1 or as it were ignorant  
of them4  ,the ether1 or the efficacy of

 the heavenly bodies1 denoted by ,ceres1
 endeavors with infinite diligence to   
force out this spirit1 and restore it to
 its pristine state4 ,and by the torch  
in the hand of ,ceres1 or the ether1 is 
doubtless meant the sun1 which disperses
 light over the whole globe of the      
earth1 and if the thing were possible1  
must have the greatest share in         
recovering ,proserpine1 or reinstating  
the subterraneal spirit4 ,yet           
,proserpine still continues and dwells  
below1 after the manner excellently     
described in the condition betwixt      
,jupiter and ,ceres4 ,for first1 it is  
certain that there are two ways of      
detaining the spirit1 in solid and      
terrestrial matter1--the one by         
condensation or obstruction1 which is   
mere violence and imprisonment2 the     
other by administering a proper aliment1
 which is spontaneous and free4 ,for    
after the included spirit begins to feed
 and nourish itself1 it is not in a     
hurry to fly off1 but remains as it were

 fixed in its own earth4 ,and this is   
the moral of ,proserpine's tasting the  
pomegranate2 and were it not for this1  
she must long ago have been carried up  
by ,ceres1 who with her torch wandered  
the world over1 and so the earth have   
been left without its spirit4 ,for      
though the spirit in metals and minerals
 may perhaps be1 after a particular     
manner1 wrought in by the solidity of   
the mass1 yet the spirit of vegetables  
and animals has open passages to escape 
at1 unless it be willingly detained1 in 
the way of sipping and tasting them4    
,the second article of agreement1 that  
of ,proserpine's remaining six months   
with her mother and six with her        
husband1 is an elegant description of   
the division of the year2 for the spirit
 diffused through the earth lives       
above-ground in the vegetable world     
during the summer months1 but in the    
winter returns under ground again4  ,the
 attempt of ,theseus and ,perithous to  
bring ,proserpine away1 denotes that the

 more subtile spirits1 which descend in 
many bodies to the earth1 may frequently
 be unable to drink in1 unite with      
themselves1 and carry off the           
subterraneous spirit1 but on the        
contrary be coagulated by it1 and rise  
no more1 so as to increase the          
inhabitants and add to the dominion of  
,proserpine4#fdi  ,the alchemists will  
be apt to fall in with our              
interpretation of the golden bough1     
whether we will or no1 because they     
promise golden mountains1 and the       
restoration of natural bodies from their
 stone1 as from the gates of ,pluto2 but
 we are well assured that their theory  
had no just foundation1 and suspect they
 have no very encouraging or practical  
proofs of its soundness4 ,leaving1      
therefore1 their conceits to themselves1
 we shall freely declare our own        
sentiments upon this last part of the   
fable4 ,we are certain1 from numerous   
figures and expressions of the ancients1
 that they judged the conservation1 and 

in some degree the renovation1 of       
natural bodies to be no desperate or    
impossible thing1 but rather abstruse   
and out of the common road than wholly  
impracticable4 ,and this seems to be    
their opinion in the present case1 as   
they have placed this bough among an    
infinite number of shrubs1 in a spacious
 and thick wood4 ,they supposed it of   
gold1 because gold is the emblem of     
duration4 ,they feigned it adventitious1
 not native1 because such an effect is  
to be expected from art1 and not from   
any medicine or any simple or mere      
natural way of working4                 
,,xxx4--,,metis1 ,,or ,,counsel4        
,,explained ,,of ,,princes ,,and ,,their
 ,,council4   ,the ancient poets relate 
that ,jupiter took ,metis to wife1 whose
 name plainly denotes counsel1 and that 
he1 perceiving she was pregnant by him1 
would by no means wait the time of her  
delivery1 but directly devoured her2    
whence himself also became pregnant1 and
 was delivered in a wonderful manner2   

for he from his head or brain brought   
forth ,pallas armed4                    
,,explanation4--,this fable1 which in   
its literal sense appears monstrously   
absurd1 seems to contain a state secret1
 and shows with what art kings usually  
carry themselves towards their council1 
in order to preserve their own authority
 and majesty not only inviolate1 but so 
as to have it magnified and heightened  
among the people4 ,for kings commonly   
link themselves1 as it were1 in a       
nuptial bond to their council1 and      
deliberate and communicate with them    
after a prudent and laudable custom upon
 matters of the greatest importance1 at 
the same time justly conceiving this no 
diminution of their majesty2 but when   
the matter once ripens to a decree or   
order1 which is a kind of birth1 the    
king then suffers the council to go on  
no further1 lest the act should seem to 
depend upon their pleasure4 ,now1       
therefore1 the king usually assumes to  
himself whatever was wrought1           

elaborated1 or formed1 as it were1 in   
the womb of the council 7unless it be a 
matter of an invidious nature1 which he 
is sure to put from him71 so that the   
decree and the execution shall seem to  
flow from himself4#fej ,and as this     
decree or execution proceeds with       
prudence and power1 so as to imply      
necessity1 it is elegantly wrapped up   
under the figure of ,pallas armed4  ,nor
 are kings content to have this seem the
 effect of their own authority1 free    
will1 and uncontrollable choice1 unless 
they also take the whole honor to       
themselves1 and make the people imagine 
that all good and wholesome decrees     
proceed entirely from their own head1   
that is1 their own sole prudence and    
judgment4     ,,xxxi4--,,the ,,sirens1  
,,or ,,pleasures4  ,,explained ,,of     
,,men',s ,,passion ,,for ,,pleasures4   
,,introduction4--,the fable of the      
,sirens is1 in a vulgar sense1 justly   
enough explained of the pernicious      
incentives to pleasure2 but the ancient 

mythology seems to us like a vintage    
ill-pressed and trod2 for though        
something has been drawn from it1 yet   
all the more excellent parts remain     
behind in the grapes that are untouched4
   ,,fable4--,the ,sirens are said to be
 the daughters of ,achelous and         
,terpsichore1 one of the ,muses4 ,in    
their early days they had wings1 but    
lost them upon being conquered by the   
,muses1 with whom they rashly contended2
 and with the feathers of these wings   
the ,muses made themselves crowns1 so   
that from this time the ,muses wore     
wings on their heads1 except only the   
mother to the ,sirens4  ,these ,sirens  
resided in certain pleasant islands1 and
 when1 from their watch-tower1 they saw 
any ship approaching1 they first        
detained the sailors by their music1    
then1 enticing them to shore1 destroyed 
them4  ,their singing was not of one and
 the same kind1 but they adapted their  
tunes exactly to the nature of each     
person1 in order to captivate and secure

 him4 ,and so destructive had they been1
 that these islands of the ,sirens      
appeared1 to a very great distance1     
white with the bones of their unburied  
captives4  ,two different remedies were 
invented to protect persons against     
them1 the one by ,ulysses1 the other by 
,orpheus4 ,ulysses commanded his        
associates to stop their ears close with
 wax2 and he1 determining to make the   
trial1 and yet avoid the danger1 ordered
 himself to be tied fast to a mast of   
the ship1 giving strict charge not to be
 unbound1 even though himself should    
entreat it2 but ,orpheus1 without any   
binding at all1 escaped the danger1 by  
loudly chanting to his harp the praises 
of the gods1 whereby he drowned the     
voices of the ,sirens4                  
,,explanation4--,this fable is of the   
moral kind1 and appears no less elegant 
than easy to interpret4 ,for pleasures  
proceed from plenty and affluence1      
attended with activity or exultation of 
the mind4#fea ,anciently their first    

incentives were quick1 and seized upon  
men as if they had been winged1 but     
learning and philosophy afterwards      
prevailing1 had at least the power to   
lay the mind under some restraint1 and  
make it consider the issue of things1   
and thus deprived pleasures of their    
wings4  ,this conquest redounded greatly
 to the honor and ornament of the       
,muses2 for after it appeared1 by the   
example of a few1 that philosophy could 
introduce a contempt of pleasures1 it   
immediately seemed to be a sublime thing
 that could raise and elevate the soul1 
fixed in a manner down to the earth1 and
 thus render men's thoughts1 which      
reside in the head1 winged as it were1  
or sublime4  ,only the mother of the    
,sirens was not thus plumed on the head1
 which doubtless denotes superficial    
learning1 invented and used for delight 
and levity2 an eminent example whereof  
we have in ,petronius1 who1 after       
receiving sentence of death1 still      
continued his gay frothy humor1 and as  

,tacitus observes1 used his learning to 
solace or divert himself1 and instead of
 such discourses as give firmness and   
constancy of mind1 read nothing but     
loose poems and verses4#feb ,such       
learning as this seems to pluck the     
crowns again from the ,muses' heads1 and
 restore them to the ,sirens4  ,the     
,sirens are said to inhabit certain     
islands1 because pleasures generally    
seek retirement1 and often shun society4
 ,and for their songs1 with the manifold
 artifice and destructiveness thereof1  
this is too obvious and common to need  
explanation4 ,but that particular of the
 bones stretching like white cliffs     
along the shores1 and appearing afar    
off1 contains a more subtile allegory1  
and denotes that the examples of others'
 calamity and misfortunes1 though ever  
so manifest and apparent1 have yet but  
little force to deter the corrupt nature
 of man from pleasures4  ,the allegory  
of the remedies against the ,sirens is  
not difficult1 but very wise and noble2 

it proposes1 in effect1 three remedies1 
as well against subtile as violent      
mischiefs1 two drawn from philosophy and
 one from religion4  ,the first means of
 escaping is to resist the earliest     
temptation in the beginning1 and        
diligently avoid and cut off all        
occasions that may solicit or sway the  
mind2 and this is well represented by   
shutting up the ears1 a kind of remedy  
to be necessarily used with mean and    
vulgar minds1 such as the retinue of    
,ulysses4  ,but nobler spirits may      
converse1 even in the midst of          
pleasures1 if the mind be well guarded  
with constancy and resolution4 ,and thus
 some delight to make a severe trial of 
their own virtue1 and thoroughly        
acquaint themselves with the folly and  
madness of pleasures1 without complying 
or being wholly given up to them2 which 
is what ,solomon professes of himself   
when he closes the account of all the   
numerous pleasures he gave a loose to1  
with this expression3 8,but wisdom still

 continued with me40 ,such heroes in    
virtue may1 therefore1 remain unmoved by
 the greatest incentives to pleasure1   
and stop themselves on the very         
precipice of danger2 if1 according to   
the example of ,ulysses1 they turn a    
deaf ear to pernicious counsel1 and the 
flatteries of their friends and         
companions1 which have the greatest     
power to shake and unsettle the mind4   
,but the most excellent remedy1 in every
 temptation1 is that of ,orpheus1 who1  
by loudly chanting and resounding the   
praises of the gods1 confounded the     
voices1 and kept himself from hearing   
the music of the ,sirens2 for divine    
contemplations exceed the pleasures of  
sense1 not only in power but also in    
sweetness4     ,,footnotes3  #a ,by ,b4 
,montagu4 ,appendix1 note #c1 #a4  #b   
,baconiana1 #bja4  #c ,bacon's          
,apophthegms4  #d ,it is not surprising 
that ladies then received an education  
rare in our own times4 ,it should be    
remembered that in the sixteenth century

 ,latin was the language of courts and  
schools1 of diplomacy1 politics1 and    
theology2 it was the universal language1
 and there was then no literature in the
 modern tongues1 except the ,italian2   
indeed all knowledge1 ancient and       
modern1 was conveyed to the world in the
 language of the ancients4 ,the great   
productions of ,athens and ,rome were   
the intellectual all of our ancestors   
down to the middle of the sixteenth     
century4  #e ,prospetto delle ,memorie  
aneddote dei ,lincei da ,f4             
,cancellieri4 ,roma1 #ahbc4 ,this fact  
is quoted by ,monsieur ,cousin1 in a    
note to his ,fragments de ,philosophie  
,cartsienne4  #f ,sir ,robert ,cecil4   
#g ,gray's ,inn is one of the four ,inns
 or companies for the study of law4  #h 
,king's or ,queen's ,counsel are        
barristers that plead for the           
government2 they receive fees but no    
salary2 the first were appointed in the 
reign of ,charles ,,ii4 ,queen's        
,counsel extraordinary was a title      

peculiar to ,bacon1 granted1 as the     
patent specially states1 honoris causa4 
#i ,letter to ,lord ,burleigh4  #aj ,the
 ,solicitor-,general is a law-officer   
inferior in rank to the                 
,attorney-,general1 with whom he is     
associated in the management of the law 
business of the crown4 ,he pleads also  
for private individuals1 but not against
 government4 ,he has a small salary1 but
 very considerable fees4 ,the salary in 
,bacon's time was but seventy pounds4   
#aa ,bacon was1 like other courtiers1 in
 the habit of presenting the ,queen with
 a ,new ,year's gift4 ,on one occasion1 
it was a white satin petticoat          
embroidered with snakes and fruitage1 as
 emblems of wisdom and beauty4 ,the     
donors varied in rank from the ,lord    
,keeper down to the dust-man4  #ab      
,essays4  #ac ,the ,attorney-,general is
 the public prosecutor on behalf of the 
,crown1 where the state is actually and 
not nominally the prosecutor4 ,he pleads
 also as a barrister in private causes1 

provided they are not against the       
government4 ,as he receives a fee for   
every case in which the government is   
concerned1 his emoluments are           
considerable2 but he has no salary4 ,his
 official position secures to him the   
best practice at the bar4 ,the salary   
was1 in ,bacon's time1 but #hal4 #fs4   
#h;d4 per annum2 but the situation      
yielded him six thousand pounds yearly4 
#ad ,preliminary ,discourse on the      
,study of ,natural ,philosophy4  #ae    
,essay xvi4  #af ,decisions being given 
against the parties is no proof of      
uncorruptness2 it is always the party   
who loses his suit that complains2 the  
gainer receives the price of his bribe1 
and is silent4  #ag ,the exactions of   
his servants appear to have been very   
great2 their indulgence in every kind of
 extravagance1 and the lavish           
profuseness of his own expenses1 were   
the principal causes of his ruin4       
,mallet relates that one day1 during the
 investigation into his conduct1 the    

,chancellor passed through a room where 
several of his servants were sitting2 as
 they arose from their seats to greet   
him1 8,sit down1 my masters10 exclaimed 
he1 8your rise hath been my fall40  #ah 
,essay xi4  #ai ,macaulay's ,essays4    
#bj ,he was not1 as has been erroneously
 supposed1 stripped of his titles of    
nobility2 this was proposed2 but it was 
negatived by the majority formed by     
means of the bishops4  #ba ,the ,prince 
of ,wales1 afterwards ,charles the      
,first1 was before he ascended the      
throne the patron of ,bacon1 who said of
 him in his will1 8my most gracious     
sovereign1 who ever when he was prince  
was my patron40  #bb ,the ,seasons4  #bc
 ,lives of the ,lord ,chancellors and   
,keepers of the ,great ,seal of         
,england4  #bd ,bracton is one of the   
earliest writers of ,english law4 ,he   
flourished in the thirteenth century4   
,the title of his work is ,de ,legibus  
et ,consuetudinibus ,angli1 first       
printed in #aefi4  #be ,the woods on his

 estate of ,gorhambury4  #bf ,of the    
,interpretation of ,nature4  #bg ,ibid4 
#bh ,new ,atlantis4  #bi ,advancement of
 ,learning4  #cj ,edinburgh ,review4    
#ca ,essays4  #cb ,advancement of       
,learning4  #cc ,preliminary ,discourse 
on the ,study of ,natural ,philosophy4  
#cd ,tattler1 ,no4 #bfg4  #ce           
,introduction to the ,literature of     
,europe in the fifteenth1 sixteenth1 and
 seventeenth centuries4  #cf ,montaigne 
says1 in his author's address to the    
reader3--  8,ie veulx qu'on m'y veoye en
 ma faon simple1 naturelle et ordinaire1
 sans estude et artifice2 car c'est moi 
que je peinds40 ,he says again          
elsewhere3 8,ie n'ay pas plus faict mon 
livre1 que mon livre m'a faict2 livre   
consubstantiel  son aucteur1 d'une      
occupation propre1 membre de ma vie1 non
 d'une occupation et fin tierce et      
estrangiere1 comme touts aultres        
livres40 7,livre ii4 ch4 xviii47  #cg   
,introduction to the ,encyclopdia4  #ch 
,introduction to the ,literature of     

,europe in the fifteenth1 sixteenth1 and
 seventeenth centuries4  #ci            
,introduction to the ,literature of     
,europe in the #aeth1 #afth1 and #agth  
centuries4  #dj ,no4 #bfg4  #da ,essays4
  #db ,he refers to the following       
passage in the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john1   
xviii4 #ch3 8,pilate saith unto him1    
,what is truth8 ,and when he had said   
this1 he went out again unto the ,jews1 
and saith unto them1 ,i find in him no  
fault at all40  #dc ,he probably refers 
to the 8,new ,academy10 a sect of ,greek
 philosophers1 one of whose moot        
questions was1 8,what is truth80 ,upon  
which they came to the unsatisfactory   
conclusion1 that mankind has no         
criterion by which to form a judgment4  
#dd ,perhaps he was thinking of ,st4    
,augustine4--,see ,aug4 ,confess4 i4    
#be1 #bf4  #de 8,the wine of evil       
spirits40  #df ,genesis i4 #c3 8,and    
,god said1 ,let there be light1 and     
there was light40  #dg ,at the moment   
when 8,the ,lord ,god formed man out of 

the dust of the ground1 and breathed    
into his nostrils the breath of life2   
and man became a living soul40--,genesis
 ii4 #g4  #dh ,lucretius1 the ,roman    
poet and ,epicurean philosopher1 is     
alluded to4--,lucret4 ii4 init4 ,comp4  
,adv4 of ,learning1 i4 #h1 #e4  #di ,he 
refers to the sect which followed the   
doctrines of ,epicurus4 ,the life of    
,epicurus himself was pure and          
abstemious in the extreme4 ,one of his  
leading tenets was1 that the aim of all 
speculation should be to enable men to  
judge with certainty what course is to  
be chosen1 in order to secure health of 
body and tranquillity of mind4 ,the     
adoption1 however1 of the term          
8pleasure10 as denoting this object1 has
 at all periods subjected the ,epicurean
 system to great reproach2 which1 in    
fact1 is due rather to the conduct of   
many who1 for their own purposes1 have  
taken shelter under the system in name  
only1 than to the tenets themselves1    
which did not inculcate libertinism4    

,epicurus admitted the existence of the 
,gods1 but he deprived them of the      
characteristics of ,divinity1 either as 
creators or preservers of the world4    
#ej ,lord ,bacon has either translated  
this passage of ,lucretius from memory  
or has purposely paraphrased it4 ,the   
following is the literal translation of 
the original3 8',tis a pleasant thing1  
from the shore1 to behold the dangers of
 another upon the mighty ocean1 when the
 winds are lashing the main2 not because
 it is a grateful pleasure for any one  
to be in misery1 but because it is a    
pleasant thing to see those misfortunes 
from which you yourself are free3 'tis  
also a pleasant thing to behold the     
mighty contests of warfare1 arrayed upon
 the plains1 without a share in the     
danger2 but nothing is there more       
delightful than to occupy the elevated  
temples of the wise1 well fortified by  
tranquil learning1 whence you may be    
able to look down upon others1 and see  
them straying in every direction1 and   

wandering in search of the path of      
life40  #ea ,michael de ,montaigne1 the 
celebrated ,french ,essayist4 ,his      
,essays embrace a variety of topics1    
which are treated in a sprightly and    
entertaining manner1 and are replete    
with remarks indicative of strong native
 good sense4 ,he died in #aeib4 ,the    
following quotation is from the second  
book of the ,essays1 c4 #ah3 8,lying is 
a disgraceful vice1 and one that        
,plutarch1 an ancient writer1 paints in 
most disgraceful colors1 when he says   
that it is #8affording testimony that   
one first despises ,god1 and then fears 
men2' it is not possible more happily to
 describe its horrible1 disgusting1 and 
abandoned nature2 for1 can we imagine   
anything more vile than to be cowards   
with regard to men1 and brave with      
regard to ,god80  #eb ,st4 ,luke xviii4 
#h3 8,nevertheless1 when the ,son of man
 cometh1 shall he find faith upon the   
earth80  #ec ,a portion of this ,essay  
is borrowed from the writings of        

,seneca4 ,see his ,letters to ,lucilius1
 ,b4 iv4 ,ep4 #bd and #hb4  #ed 8,the   
array of the death-bed has more terrors 
than death itself40 ,this quotation is  
from ,seneca4  #ee ,he probably alludes 
to the custom of hanging the room in    
black where the body of the deceased    
lay1 a practice much more usual in      
,bacon's time than at the present day4  
#ef ,tacit4 ,hist4 ii4 #di4  #eg ,ad    
,lucil4 #gg4  #eh 8,reflect how often   
you do the same things2 a man may wish  
to die1 not only because either he is   
brave or wretched1 but even because he  
is surfeited with life40  #ei 8,livia1  
mindful of our union1 live on1 and fare 
thee well40--,suet4 ,aug4 ,vit4 c4 #ajj4
  #fj 8,his bodily strength and vitality
 were now forsaking ,tiberius1 but not  
his duplicity40--,ann4 vi4 #ej4  #fa    
,this was said as a reproof to his      
flatterers1 and in spirit is not unlike 
the rebuke administered by ,canute to   
his retinue4--,suet4 ,vespas4 ,vit4 c4  
#bc4  #fb 8,i am become a ,divinity1 ,i 

suppose40  #fc 8,if it be for the       
advantage of the ,roman people1         
strike40--,tac4 ,hist4 i4 #da4  #fd 8,if
 aught remains to be done by me1        
dispatch40--,dio ,cass4 #gf1 ad fin4    
#fe ,these were the followers of ,zeno1 
a philosopher of ,citium1 in ,cyprus1   
who founded the ,stoic school1 or       
8,school of the ,portico10 at ,athens4  
,the basis of his doctrines was the duty
 of making virtue the object of all our 
researches4 ,according to him1 the      
pleasures of the mind were preferable to
 those of the body1 and his disciples   
were taught to view with indifference   
health or sickness1 riches or poverty1  
pain or pleasure4  #ff 8,who reckons the
 close of his life among the boons of   
nature40 ,lord ,bacon here quotes from  
memory2 the passage is in the tenth     
,satire of ,juvenal1 and runs thus3--   
8,fortem posce animum1 mortis terrore   
carentem1   ,qui spatium vit extremum   
inter munera ponat   ,natur0--  8,pray  
for strong resolve1 void of the fear of 

death1 that reckons the closing period  
of life among the boons of nature40  #fg
 ,he alludes to the song of ,simeon1 to 
whom the ,holy ,ghost had revealed1     
8that he should not see death before he 
had seen the ,lord's ,christ40 ,when he 
beheld the infant ,jesus in the temple1 
he took the child in his arms and burst 
forth into a song of thanksgiving1      
commencing1 8,lord1 now lettest thou thy
 servant depart in peace1 according to  
thy word1 for mine eyes have seen thy   
salvation40--,st4 ,luke ii4 #bi4  #fh   
8,when dead1 the same person shall be   
beloved40--,hor4 ,ep4 ii4 #a1 #ad4  #fi 
8,behold1 he is in the desert40--,st4   
,matthew xxiv4 #bf4  #gj 8,behold1 he is
 in the secret chambers40--,ib4  #ga ,he
 alludes to #a ,corinthians xiv4 #bc3   
8,if1 therefore1 the whole church be    
come together into one place1 and all   
speak with tongues1 and there come in   
those that are unlearned1 or            
unbelievers1 will they not say that ye  
are mad80  #gb ,psalm i4 #a3 8,blessed  

is the man that walketh not in the      
counsel of the ungodly1 nor standeth in 
the way of sinners1 nor sitteth in the  
seat of the scornful40  #gc ,this dance1
 which was originally called the        
,morisco dance is supposed to have been 
derived from the ,moors of ,spain2 the  
dancers in earlier times blackening     
their faces to resemble ,moors4 ,it was 
probably a corruption of the ancient    
,pyrrhic dance1 which was performed by  
men in armor1 and which is mentioned as 
still existing in ,greece1 in ,byron's  
8,song of the ,greek ,captive30--       
8,you have the ,pyrrhic dance as yet40  
,attitude and gesture formed one of the 
characteristics of the dance4 ,it is    
still practised in some parts of        
,england4--,rabelais1 ,pantag4 ii4 #g4  
#gd #b ,kings ix4 #ah4  #ge ,he alludes 
to the words in ,revelation1 c4 iii4 v4 
#ad1 #ae1 #af3 8,and unto the angel of  
the church of the ,laodiceans write2    
,these things saith the ,amen1 the      
faithful and true ,witness1 the         

beginning of the creation of ,god2 ,i   
know thy works1 that thou art neither   
cold nor hot4--,i will spue thee out of 
my mouth40 ,laodicea was a city of ,asia
 ,minor4 ,st4 ,paul established the     
church there which is here referred to4 
#gf ,st4 ,matthew xii4 #cj4  #gg 8,in   
the garment there may be many colors1   
but let there be no rending of it40  #gh
 8,avoid profane and vain babblings1 and
 oppositions of science1 falsely so     
called40--#a ,tim4 vi4 #bj4  #gi ,he    
alludes to the dream of ,nebuchadnezzar1
 significant of the limited duration of 
his kingdom4--,see ,daniel ii4 #cc1 #da4
  #hj ,mahomet proselytized by giving to
 the nations which he conquered1 the    
option of the ,koran or the sword4  #ha 
8,to deeds so dreadful could religion   
prompt40 ,the poet refers to the        
sacrifice by ,agamemnon1 the ,grecian   
leader1 of his daughter ,iphigenia1 with
 the view of appeasing the wrath of     
,diana4--,lucret4 i4 #ie4  #hb ,he      
alludes to the massacre of the          

,huguenots1 or ,protestants1 in ,france1
 which took place on ,st4 ,bartholomew's
 day1 ,august #bd1 #aegb1 by the order  
of ,charles ,,ix4 and his mother1       
,catherine de ,medici4 ,on this occasion
 about #fj1jjj persons perished1        
including the ,admiral ,de ,coligny1 one
 of the most virtuous men that ,france  
possessed1 and the main stay of the     
,protestant cause4  #hc ,more generally 
known as 8,the ,gunpowder ,plot40  #hd  
,isa4 xiv4 #ad4  #he ,allusion is made  
to the 8caduceus10 with which ,mercury1 
the messenger of the ,gods1 summoned the
 souls of the departed to the infernal  
regions4  #hf 8,the wrath of man worketh
 not the righteousness of ,god40--,james
 i4 #bj4  #hg ,he alludes to ,cosmo de  
,medici1 or ,cosmo ,i41 chief of the    
,republic of ,florence1 the encourager  
of literature and the fine arts4  #hh   
,job ii4 #aj4--8,shall we receive good  
at the hand of ,god1 and shall we not   
receive evil80  #hi ,by 8public         
revenges10 he means punishment awarded  

by the state with the sanction of the   
laws4  #ij ,he alludes to the           
retribution dealt by ,augustus and      
,anthony to the murderers of ,julius    
,csar4 ,it is related by ancient        
historians1 as a singular fact1 that not
 one of them died a natural death4  #ia 
,henry ,,iii4 of ,france was            
assassinated in #aeii1 by ,jacques      
,clement1 a ,jacobin monk1 in the frenzy
 of fanaticism4 ,although ,clement      
justly suffered punishment1 the end of  
this bloodthirsty and bigoted tyrant may
 be justly deemed a retribution dealt by
 the hand of an offended ,providence2 so
 truly does the ,poet say3--            
8neque enim lex quior ulla   ,quam necis
 artifices arte perire su40  #ib ,sen4  
,ad ,lucil4 #ff4  #ic ,ibid4 #ec4  #id  
,stesichorus1 ,apollodorus1 and others4 
,lord ,bacon makes a similar reference  
to this myth in his treatise 8,on the   
,wisdom of the ,ancients40 8,it is added
 with great elegance1 to console and    
strengthen the minds of men1 that this  

mighty hero 7,hercules7 sailed in a cup 
or #8urceus1' in order that they may not
 too much fear and allege the narrowness
 of their nature and its frailty2 as if 
it were not capable of such fortitude   
and constancy2 of which very thing      
,seneca argued well1 when he said1 #8,it
 is a great thing to have at the same   
time the frailty of a man1 and the      
security of a ,god4'0  #ie ,funereal    
airs4 ,it must be remembered that many  
of the ,psalms of ,david were written by
 him when persecuted by ,saul1 as also  
in the tribulation caused by the wicked 
conduct of his son ,absalom4 ,some of   
them1 too1 though called 8,the ,psalms  
of ,david10 were really composed by the 
,jews in their captivity at ,babylon2   
as1 for instance1 the #acgth ,psalm1    
which so beautifully commences1 8,by the
 waters of ,babylon there we sat down40 
,one of them is supposed to be the      
composition of ,moses4  #if ,this fine  
passage1 beginning at 8,prosperity is   
the blessing10 which was not published  

till #afbe1 twenty-eight years after the
 first ,essays1 has been quoted by      
,macaulay1 with considerable justice1 as
 a proof that the writer's fancy did not
 decay with the advance of old age1 and 
that his style in his later years became
 richer and softer4 ,the learned critic 
contrasts this passage with the terse   
style of the ,essay of ,studies 7,essay 
#ej71 which was published in #aeig4  #ig
 ,tac4 ,ann4 v4 #a4  #ih ,tac4 ,hist4   
ii4 #gf4  #ii ,a word now unused1       
signifying the 8traits10 or 8features40 
#ajj ,a truth4--,a4 ,l4 ,,ii4 xxiii4    
#ad4  #aja ,proverbs x4 #a3 8,a wise son
 maketh a glad father1 but a foolish son
 is the heaviness of his mother40  #ajb 
,petted--spoiled4  #ajc ,this word seems
 here to mean 8a plan10 or 8method10 as 
proved by its results4  #ajd ,ends in4  
#aje ,there is considerable justice in  
this remark4 ,children should be taught 
to do what is right for its own sake1   
and because it is their duty to do so1  
and not that they may have the selfish  

gratification of obtaining the reward   
which their companions have failed to   
secure1 and of being led to think       
themselves superior to their companions4
 ,when launched upon the world1         
emulation will be quite sufficiently    
forced upon them by stern necessity4    
#ajf 8,select that course of life which 
is the most advantageous2 habit will    
soon render it pleasant and easily      
endured40  #ajg ,his meaning is1 that if
 clergymen have the expenses of a family
 to support1 they will hardly find means
 for the exercise of benevolence toward 
their parishioners4  #ajh 8,he preferred
 his aged wife ,penelope to             
immortality40 ,this was when ,ulysses   
was entreated by the goddess ,calypso to
 give up all thoughts of returning to   
,ithaca1 and to remain with her in the  
enjoyment of immortality4--,plut4       
,gryll4 #a4  #aji 8,may have a pretext10
 or 8excuse40  #aaj ,thales1 ,vide      
,diog4 ,laert4 i4 #bf4  #aaa ,so        
prevalent in ancient times was the      

notion of the injurious effects of the  
eye of envy1 that1 in common parlance1  
the ,romans generally used the word     
8prfiscini10--8without risk of          
enchantment10 or 8fascination10 when    
they spoke in high terms of themselves4 
,they supposed that they thereby averted
 the effects of enchantment produced by 
the evil eye of any envious person who  
might at that moment possibly be looking
 upon them4 ,lord ,bacon probably here  
alludes to ,st4 ,mark vii4 #ba1 #bb3    
8,out of the heart of men               
proceedeth--deceit1 lasciviousness1 an  
evil eye40 ,solomon also speaks of the  
evil eye1 ,prov4 xxiii4 #f1 and xxviii4 
#bb4  #aab ,to be even with him4  #aac  
8,there is no person a busybody1 but    
what he is ill-natured too40 ,this      
passage is from the ,stichus of         
,plautus4  #aad ,narses superseded      
,belisarius in the command of the armies
 of ,italy1 by the orders of the        
,emperor ,justinian4 ,he defeated       
,totila1 the king of the ,goths 7who had

 taken ,rome71 in a decisive engagement1
 in which the latter was slain4 ,he     
governed ,italy with consummate ability 
for thirteen years1 when he was         
ungratefully recalled by ,justin the    
,second1 the successor of ,justinian4   
#aae ,tamerlane1 or ,timour1 was a      
native of ,samarcand1 of which territory
 he was elected emperor4 ,he overran    
,persia1 ,georgia1 ,hindostan1 and      
captured ,bajazet1 the valiant ,sultan  
of the ,turks1 at the battle of ,angora1
 #adjb1 whom he is said to have inclosed
 in a cage of iron4 ,his conquests      
extended from the ,irtish and ,volga to 
the ,persian ,gulf1 and from the ,ganges
 to the ,grecian ,archipelago4 ,while   
preparing for the invasion of ,china1 he
 died1 in the #gjth year of his age1 ,a4
 ,d4 #adje4 ,he was tall and corpulent  
in person1 but was maimed in one hand1  
and lame on the right side4  #aaf       
,spartian ,vit4 ,adrian1 #ae4  #aag     
,comes under the observation4  #aah 8,by
 a leap10 i4 e4 over the heads of       

others4  #aai 8,how vast the evils we   
endure40  #abj ,he probably alludes to  
the custom of the ,athenians1 who       
frequently ostracized or banished by    
vote their public men1 lest they should 
become too powerful4  #aba ,from in and 
video1--8to look upon20 with reference  
to the so-called 8evil eye0 of the      
envious4  #abb 8,envy keeps no          
holidays40  #abc ,see ,st4 ,matthew     
xiii4 #be4  #abd ,beholden4  #abe ,he   
iniquitously attempted to obtain        
possession of the person of ,virginia1  
who was killed by her father ,virginius1
 to prevent her from falling a victim to
 his lust4 ,this circumstance caused the
 fall of the ,decemviri at ,rome1 who   
had been employed in framing the code of
 laws afterwards known as 8,the ,laws of
 the ,twelve ,tables40 ,they narrowly   
escaped being burned alive by the       
infuriated populace4  #abf 8,we are a   
sufficient theme for contemplation1 the 
one for the other40--,sen4 ,epist4 ,mor4
 #a4 #g4 7,a4 ,l4 l4 iii4 #f47 ,pope    

seems1 notwithstanding this censure of  
,bacon1 to have been of the same opinion
 with ,epicurus3--    8,know then       
thyself1 presume not ,god to scan1      
,the proper study for mankind is man40  
,essay on ,man1 ,ep4 ii4 #a4 #b4        
,indeed1 ,lord ,bacon seems to have     
misunderstood the saying of ,epicurus1  
who did not mean to recommend man as the
 sole object of the bodily vision1 but  
as the proper theme for mental          
contemplation4  #abg ,amare et sapere   
vix ,deo conceditur4--,pub4 ,syr4 ,sent4
 #ae4 7,a4 ,l4 ii4 pro4 #aj47  #abh ,he 
refers here to the judgment of ,paris1  
mentioned by ,ovid in his ,epistles1 of 
the ,heroines4  #abi ,montaigne has     
treated this subject before ,bacon1     
under the title of ,de l'incommodit de  
la ,grandeur4 7,b4 iii4 ch4 vii47  #acj 
8,since you are not what you were1 there
 is no reason why you should wish to    
live40  #aca 8,death presses heavily    
upon him1 who1 well known to all others1
 dies unknown to himself40--,sen4       

,thyest4 ii4 #dja4  #acb 8,and ,god     
turned to behold the works which his    
hands had made1 and he saw that         
everything was very good40--,see ,gen4  
i4 #ca4  #acc 8,as a matter of course40 
#acd ,too great easiness of access4     
#ace ,predilections that are undeserved4
  #acf ,proverbs xxviii4 #ba4 ,the whole
 passage stands thus in our version3    
8,he that maketh haste to be rich shall 
not be innocent4 ,to have respect of    
persons is not good2 for1 for a piece of
 bread1 that man will transgress40  #acg
 8,by the consent of all he was fit to  
govern1 if he had not governed40  #ach  
8,of the emperors1 ,vespasian alone     
changed for the better after his        
accession40--,tac4 ,hist4 i4 #di1 #ej   
7,a4 ,l4 ii4 xxii4 #e74  #aci ,plut4    
vit4 ,demosth4 #ag1 #ah4  #adj ,it is   
not improbable that this passage        
suggested ,pope's beautiful lines in the
 ,essay on ,man1 ,ep4 i4 #abe-bh4       
8,pride still is aiming at the blest    
abodes1   ,men would be angels1 angels  

would be gods4   ,aspiring to be gods1  
if angels fell1   ,aspiring to be       
angels1 men rebel40  #ada ,auger ,gislen
 ,busbec1 or ,busbequius1 a learned     
traveller1 born at ,comines1 in         
,flanders1 in #aebb4 ,he was employed by
 the ,emperor ,ferdinand as ambassador  
to the ,sultan ,solyman ,,ii4 ,he was   
afterwards ambassador to ,france1 where 
he died1 in #aeib4 ,his 8,letters0      
relative to his travels in the ,east1   
which are written in ,latin1 contain    
much interesting information4 ,they were
 the pocket companion of ,gibbon1 and   
are highly praised by him4  #adb ,in    
this instance the stork or crane was    
probably protected1 not on the abstract 
grounds mentioned in the text1 but for  
reasons of state policy and gratitude   
combined4 ,in ,eastern climates the     
cranes and dogs are far more efficacious
 than human agency in removing filth and
 offal1 and thereby diminishing the     
chances of pestilence4 ,superstition1   
also1 may have formed another motive1 as

 we learn from a letter written from    
,adrianople1 by ,lady ,montagu1 in      
#agah1 that storks were 8held there in a
 sort of religious reverence1 because   
they are supposed to make every winter  
the pilgrimage to ,mecca4 ,to say truth1
 they are the happiest subjects under   
the ,turkish government1 and are so     
sensible of their privileges1 that they 
walk the streets without fear1 and      
generally build their nests in the lower
 parts of the houses4 ,happy are those  
whose houses are so distinguished1 as   
the vulgar ,turks are perfectly         
persuaded that they will not be that    
year attacked either by fire or         
pestilence40 ,storks are still          
protected1 by municipal law1 in         
,holland1 and roam unmolested about the 
market-places4  #adc ,nicolo            
,machiavelli1 a ,florentine statesman4  
,he wrote 8,discourses on the first     
,decade of ,livy10 which were           
conspicuous for their liberality of     
sentiment1 and just and profound        

reflections4 ,this work was succeeded by
 his famous treatise1 8,il ,principe10  
8,the ,prince20 his patron1 ,csar       
,borgia1 being the model of the perfect 
prince there described by him4 ,the     
whole scope of this work is directed to 
one object--the maintenance of power1   
however acquired4 ,though its precepts  
are no doubt based upon the actual      
practice of the ,italian politicians of 
that day1 it has been suggested by some 
writers that the work was a covert      
exposure of the deformity of the        
shocking maxims that it professes to    
inculcate4 ,the question of his motives 
has been much discussed1 and is still   
considered open4 ,the word              
8,machiavellism0 has1 however1 been     
adopted to denote all that is deformed1 
insincere1 and perfidious in politics4  
,he died in great poverty1 in the year  
#aebg4  #add ,vide ,disc4 ,sop4 ,liv4   
ii4 #b4  #ade ,st4 ,matthew v4 #de4     
8,for he maketh his sun rise on the evil
 and on the good1 and sendeth rain on   

the just and on the unjust40  #adf ,this
 is a portion of our ,saviour's reply to
 the rich man who asked him what he     
should do to inherit eternal life3      
8,then ,jesus beholding him1 loved him1 
and said unto him1 ,one thing thou      
lackest3 go thy way1 sell whatsoever    
thou hast1 and give to the poor1 and    
thou shalt have treasure in heaven2 and 
come1 take up the cross1 and follow     
me40--,st4 ,mark x4 #ba4  #adg ,see ,st4
 ,luke xvi4 #ba4  #adh ,timon of        
,athens1 as he is generally called      
7being so styled by ,shakspeare in the  
play which he has founded on his story71
 was surnamed the 8,misanthrope10 from  
the hatred which he bore to his         
fellow-men4 ,he was attached to         
,apemantus1 another ,athenian of similar
 character to himself1 and he professed 
to esteem ,alcibiades1 because he       
foresaw that he would one day bring ruin
 on his country4 ,going to the public   
assembly on one occasion1 he mounted the
 rostrum1 and stated that he had a      

fig-tree1 on which many worthy citizens 
had ended their days by the halter2 that
 he was going to cut it down for the    
purpose of building on the spot1 and    
therefore recommended all such as were  
inclined1 to avail themselves of it     
before it was too late4  #adi ,a piece  
of timber that has grown crooked1 and   
has been so cut that the trunk and      
branch form an angle4  #aej ,he probably
 here refers to the myrrh-tree4         
,incision is the method usually adopted 
for extracting the resinous juices of   
trees2 as in the ,india-rubber and      
gutta-percha trees4  #aea 8,a votive10  
and1 in the present instance1 a         
8vicarious offering40 ,he alludes to the
 words of ,st4 ,paul in his ,second     
,epistle to ,timothy ii4 #aj3           
8,therefore ,i endure all things for the
 elect's sake1 that they may also obtain
 the salvation which is in ,christ      
,jesus with eternal glory40  #aeb       
,consideration of1 or predilection for1 
particular persons4  #aec ,the ,low     

,countries had then recently emancipated
 themselves from the galling yoke of    
,spain4 ,they were called the ,seven    
,united ,provinces of the ,netherlands4 
#aed ,this passage may at first sight   
appear somewhat contradictory2 but he   
means to say1 that those who are first  
ennobled will commonly be found more    
conspicuous for the prominence of their 
qualities1 both good and bad4  #aee     
,consistent with reason and justice4    
#aef ,the periods of the ,equinoxes4    
#aeg 8,he often warns1 too1 that secret 
revolt is impending1 that treachery and 
open warfare are ready to burst         
forth40--,virg4 ,georg4 i4 #dfe4  #aeh  
8,mother ,earth1 exasperated at the     
wrath of the ,deities1 produced her1 as 
they tell1 a last birth1 a sister to the
 giants ,cus1 and ,enceladus40--,virg4  
n4 iv4 #agi4  #aei 8,great public odium 
once excited1 his deeds1 whether good or
 whether bad1 cause his downfall40      
,bacon has here quoted incorrectly1     
probably from memory4 ,the words of     

,tacitus are 7,hist4 ,b4 i4 ,c4 #g73    
8,inviso semel principe1 seu bene1 seu  
male1 facta premunt10--8,the ruler once 
detested1 his actions1 whether good or  
whether bad1 cause his downfall40  #afj 
8,they attended to their duties2 but    
still1 as preferring rather to discuss  
the commands of their rulers1 than to   
obey them40--,tac4 ,hist4 ii4 #ci4  #afa
 ,he alludes to the bad policy of ,henry
 the ,third of ,france1 who espoused the
 part of 8,the ,league10 which was      
formed by the ,duke of ,guise and other 
,catholics for the extirpation of the   
,protestant faith4 ,when too late he    
discovered his error1 and finding his   
own authority entirely superseded1 he   
caused the ,duke of ,guise and the      
,cardinal ,de ,lorraine1 his brother1 to
 be assassinated4  #afb 8,the primary   
motive power40 ,he alludes to an        
imaginary centre of gravitation1 or     
central body1 which was supposed to set 
all the other heavenly bodies in motion4
  #afc 8,too freely to remember their   

own rulers40  #afd 8,i will unloose the 
girdles of kings40 ,he probably alludes 
here to the first verse of the #deth    
chapter of ,isaiah3 8,thus saith the    
,lord to his anointed1 to ,cyrus1 whose 
right hand ,i have holden1 to subdue    
nations before him2 and ,i will loose   
the loins of kings1 to open before him  
the two-leaved gates40  #afe 8,hence    
devouring usury1 and interest           
accumulating in lapse of time2 hence    
shaken credit1 and warfare1 profitable  
to the many40--,lucan4 ,phars4 i4 #aha4 
#aff 8,warfare profitable to the many40 
#afg 8,to grief there is a limit1 not so
 to fear40  #afh 8,check10 or 8daunt40  
#afi ,this is similar to the proverb now
 in common use3 8',tis the last feather 
that breaks the back of the camel40     
#agj ,the state4  #aga ,though sumptuary
 laws are probably just in theory1 they 
have been found impracticable in any    
other than infant states4 ,their        
principle1 however1 is certainly        
recognized in such countries as by      

statutory enactment discountenance      
gaming4 ,those who are opposed to such  
laws upon principle1 would do well to   
look into ,bernard ,mandeville's 8,fable
 of the ,bees10 or 8,private ,vices     
,public ,benefits40 ,the ,romans had    
numerous sumptuary laws1 and in the     
,middle ,ages there were many enactments
 in this country against excess of      
expenditure upon wearing apparel and the
 pleasures of the table4  #agb ,he means
 that they do not add to the capital of 
the country4  #agc ,at the expense of   
foreign countries4  #agd 8,the          
workmanship will surpass the            
material40--,ovid1 ,met4 ,b4 ii4 l4 #e4 
#age ,he alludes to the manufactures of 
the ,low ,countries4  #agf ,like manure4
  #agg ,sometimes printed engrossing1   
great pasturages4 ,by engrossing1 is    
meant the trade of engrossers--men who  
buy up all that can be got of a         
particular commodity1 then raise the    
price4 ,by great pasturages is meant    
turning corn land into pasture4 ,of this

 practice great complaints had been made
 for near a century before ,bacon's     
time1 and a law passed to prevent       
it4--,see ,lord ,herbert of ,cherbury's 
,history of ,henry ,,viii4  #agh ,the   
myth of ,pandora's box1 which is here   
referred to1 is related in the ,works   
and ,days of ,hesiod4 ,epimetheus was   
the personification of 8,afterthought10 
while his brother ,prometheus           
represented 8,forethought10 or prudence4
 ,it was not ,epimetheus that opened the
 box1 but ,pandora--8,all-gift10 whom1  
contrary to the advice of his brother1  
he had received at the hands of         
,mercury1 and had made his wife4 ,in    
their house stood a closed jar1 which   
they were forbidden to open4 ,till her  
arrival1 this had been kept untouched2  
but her curiosity prompting her to open 
the lid1 all the evils hitherto unknown 
to man flew out and spread over the     
earth1 and she only shut it down in time
 to prevent the escape of ,hope4  #agi  
8,sylla did not know his letters1 and so

 he could not dictate40 ,this saying is 
attributed by ,suetonius to ,julius     
,csar4 ,it is a play on the ,latin verb 
dictare1 which means either 8to         
dictate10 or 8to act the part of        
,dictator10 according to the context4   
,as this saying was presumed to be a    
reflection on ,sylla's ignorance1 and to
 imply that by reason thereof he was    
unable to maintain his power1 it was    
concluded by the ,roman people that     
,csar1 who was an elegant scholar1      
feeling himself subject to no such      
inability1 did not intend speedily to   
yield the reins of power4--,suet4 ,vit4 
,c4 ,jul4 ,cs4 #gg1 i4 and ,cf4 ,a4 ,l4 
i4 vii4 #ab4  #ahj 8,that soldiers were 
levied by him1 not bought40--,tac4      
,hist4 i4 #e4  #aha 8,if ,i live1 there 
shall no longer be need of soldiers in  
the ,roman empire40--,flav4 ,vop4 ,vit4 
,prob4 #bj4  #ahb 8,and such was the    
state of feeling1 that a few dared to   
perpetrate the worst of crimes2 more    
wished to do so2 all submitted to       

it40--,hist4 i4 #bh4  #ahc ,he probably 
alludes to the legends or miraculous    
stories of the saints2 such as walking  
with their heads off1 preaching to the  
fishes1 sailing over the sea on a cloak1
 c4 c4  #ahd ,this is a book that       
contains the ,jewish traditions1 and the
 rabbinical explanations of the law4 ,it
 is replete with wonderful narratives4  
#ahe ,this passage not improbably       
contains the germ of ,pope's famous     
lines3--    8,a little learning is a    
dangerous thing2   ,drink deep1 or taste
 not the ,pierian spring40  #ahf ,a     
philosopher of ,abdera2 the first who   
taught the system of atoms1 which was   
afterwards more fully developed by      
,democritus and ,epicurus4  #ahg ,he was
 a disciple of the last-named           
philosopher1 and held the same          
principles2 he also denied the existence
 of the soul after death4 ,he is        
considered to have been the parent of   
experimental philosophy1 and was the    
first to teach1 what is now confirmed by

 science1 that the ,milky ,way is an    
accumulation of stars4  #ahh ,spirit4   
#ahi ,psalm xiv4 #a1 and liii4 #a4  #aij
 ,to whose 7seeming7 advantage it is2   
the wish being father to the thought4   
#aia 8,it is not profane to deny the    
existence of the deities of the vulgar2 
but1 to apply to the divinities the     
received notions of the vulgar1 is      
profane40--,diog4 ,laert4 x4 #abc4  #aib
 ,he alludes to the native tribes of the
 continent of ,america and the ,west    
,indies4  #aic ,he was an ,athenian     
philosopher1 who1 from the greatest     
superstition1 became an avowed atheist4 
,he was proscribed by the ,areiopagus   
for speaking against the gods with      
ridicule and contempt1 and is supposed  
to have died at ,corinth4  #aid ,a      
,greek philosopher1 a disciple of       
,theodorus the atheist1 to whose        
opinions he adhered4 ,his life was said 
to have been profligate1 and his death  
superstitious4  #aie ,lucian ridiculed  
the follies and pretensions of some of  

the ancient philosophers2 but though the
 freedom of his style was such as to    
cause him to be censured for impiety1 he
 hardly deserves the stigma of atheism  
here cast upon him by the learned       
author4  #aif 8,it is not for us now to 
say1 #8,like priest like people1' for   
the people are not even so bad as the   
priest40 ,st4 ,bernard1 abbot of        
,clairvaux1 preached the second ,crusade
 against the ,saracens1 and was         
unsparing in his censures of the sins   
then prevalent among the ,christian     
priesthood4 ,his writings are           
voluminous1 and by some he has been     
considered as the latest of the fathers 
of the ,church4  #aig 8,a superior      
nature40  #aih 8,we may admire          
ourselves1 conscript fathers1 as much as
 we please2 still1 neither by numbers   
did we vanquish the ,spaniards1 nor by  
bodily strength the ,gauls1 nor by      
cunning the ,carthaginians1 nor through 
the arts the ,greeks1 nor1 in fine1 by  
the inborn and native good sense of this

 our nation1 and this our race and soil1
 the ,italians and ,latins themselves2  
but through our devotion and our        
religious feeling1 and this1 the sole   
true wisdom1 the having perceived that  
all things are regulated and governed by
 the providence of the immortal ,gods1  
have we subdued all races and           
nations40--,cic4 de4 ,harus4 ,respon4   
#i4  #aii ,the justice of this position 
is1 perhaps1 somewhat doubtful4 ,the    
superstitious man must have some        
scruples1 while he who believes not in a
 ,god 7if there is such a person71 needs
 have none4  #bjj ,time was personified 
in ,saturn1 and by this story was meant 
its tendency to destroy whatever it has 
brought into existence4--,plut4 de      
,superstit4 x4  #bja ,the primary motive
 power4  #bjb ,this ,council commenced  
in #aede1 and lasted eighteen years4 ,it
 was convened for the purpose of        
opposing the rising spirit of           
,protestantism1 and of discussing and   
settling the disputed points of the     

,catholic faith4  #bjc ,irregular or    
anomalous movements4  #bjd ,an epicycle 
is a smaller circle1 whose centre is in 
the circumference of a greater one4     
#bje ,to account for4  #bjf ,synods1 or 
councils4  #bjg ,at the present day     
called attachs4  #bjh ,he probably means
 the refusing to join on the occasion of
 drinking healths when taking wine4     
#bji ,something to create excitement4   
#baj 8,the heart of kings is            
unsearchable40--,prov4 v4 #c4  #baa     
,commodus fought naked in public as a   
gladiator1 and prided himself on his    
skill as a swordsman4  #bab ,making a   
stop at1 or dwelling too long upon4     
#bac ,after a prosperous reign of       
twenty-one years1 ,diocletian abdicated 
the throne1 and retired to a private    
station4  #bad ,after having reigned    
thirty-five years1 he abdicated the     
thrones of ,spain and ,germany1 and     
passed the last two years of his life in
 retirement at ,st4 ,just1 a convent in 
,estremadura4  #bae ,philost4 vit4      

,apoll4 ,tyan4 v4 #bh4  #baf 8,the      
desires of monarchs are generally       
impetuous and conflicting among         
themselves40--,quoted rightly1 ,a4 ,l4  
ii4 xxii4 #e1 from ,sallust 7,b4 ,j4    
#aac74  #bag ,he was especially the     
rival of the ,emperor ,charles the      
,fifth1 and was one of the most         
distinguished sovereigns that ever ruled
 over ,france4  #bah ,an eminent        
historian of ,florence4 ,his great work1
 which is here alluded to1 is1 8,the    
,history of ,italy during his own       
,time10 which is considered one of the  
most valuable productions of that age4  
#bai ,spoken badly of4 ,livia was said  
to have hastened the death of ,augustus1
 to prepare the accession of her son    
,tiberius to the throne4  #bbj ,solyman 
the ,magnificent was one of the most    
celebrated of the ,ottoman monarchs4 ,he
 took the ,isle of ,rhodes from the     
,knights of ,st4 ,john4 ,he also subdued
 ,moldavia1 ,wallachia1 and the greatest
 part of ,hungary1 and took from the    

,persians ,georgia and ,bagdad4 ,he died
 ,a4 ,d4 #aeff4 ,his wife ,roxolana 7who
 was originally a slave called ,rosa or 
,hazathya71 with the ,pasha ,rustan1    
conspired against the life of his son   
,mustapha1 and by their instigation this
 distinguished prince was strangled in  
his father's presence4  #bba ,the       
infamous ,isabella of ,anjou4  #bbb     
,adulteresses4  #bbc ,he1 however1      
distinguished himself by taking ,cyprus 
from the ,venetians in the year #aega4  
#bbd ,he was falsely accused by his     
brother ,perseus of attempting to       
dethrone his father1 on which he was put
 to death by the order of ,philip1 ,b4  
,c4 #ahj4  #bbe ,anselm was ,archbishop 
of ,canterbury in the time of ,william  
,rufus and ,henry the ,first4 ,though   
his private life was pious and          
exemplary1 through his rigid assertion  
of the rights of the clergy he was      
continually embroiled with his          
sovereign4 ,thomas  ,becket pursued a   
similar course1 but with still greater  

violence4  #bbf ,the great vessel that  
conveys the blood to the liver1 after it
 has been enriched by the absorption of 
nutriment from the intestines4  #bbg    
,this is an expression similar to our   
proverb1 8,penny-wise and               
pound-foolish40  #bbh ,a subdivision of 
the shire4  #bbi ,the ,janizaries were  
the body-guards of the ,turkish sultans1
 and enacted the same disgraceful part  
in making and unmaking monarchs1 as the 
mercenary ,prtorian guards of the ,roman
 ,empire4  #bcj 8,remember that thou art
 a man40  #bca 8,remember that thou art 
a ,god40  #bcb 8,the representative of  
,god40  #bcc ,isaiah ix4 #f3 8,his name 
shall be called1 ,wonderful1            
,counsellor1 ,the mighty ,god1 ,the     
everlasting ,father1 ,the ,prince of    
,peace40  #bcd ,prov4 xx4 #ah3 8,every  
purpose is established by counsel3 and  
with good advice make war40  #bce ,the  
wicked ,rehoboam1 from whom the ten     
tribes of ,israel revolted1 and elected 
,jeroboam their king4--,see #a ,kings   

xii4  #bcf ,hesiod1 ,theog4 #hhf4  #bcg 
,the political world has not been       
convinced of the truth of this doctrine 
of ,lord ,bacon2 as cabinet councils are
 now held probably by every sovereign in
 ,europe4  #bch 8,i am full of          
outlets40--,ter4 ,eun4 ,i4 ii4 #be4     
#bci ,that is1 without a complicated    
machinery of government4  #bdj ,master  
of the ,rolls and ,privy ,councillor    
under ,henry ,,vi41 to whose cause he   
faithfully adhered4 ,edward ,,iv4       
promoted him to the ,see of ,ely1 and   
made him ,lord ,chancellor4 ,he was     
elevated to the ,see of ,canterbury by  
,henry ,,vii41 and in #adic received the
 ,cardinal's hat4  #bda ,privy          
,councillor and ,keeper of the ,privy   
,seal to ,henry ,,vii41 and1 after      
enjoying several bishoprics in          
succession1 translated to the ,see of   
,winchester4 ,he was an able statesman1 
and highly valued by ,henry ,,vii4 ,on  
the accession of ,henry ,,viii4 his     
political influence was counteracted by 

,wolsey2 on which he retired to his     
diocese1 and devoted the rest of his    
life to acts of piety and munificence4  
#bdb ,before mentioned1 relative to     
,jupiter and ,metis4  #bdc ,remedied4   
#bdd 8,he shall not find faith upon the 
earth40 ,lord ,bacon probably alludes to
 the words of our ,saviour1 ,st4 ,luke  
xviii4 #h3 8,when the ,son of man       
cometh1 shall he find faith upon the    
earth80  #bde ,he means to say1 that    
this remark was only applicable to a    
particular time1 namely1 the coming of  
,christ4 ,the period of the destruction 
of ,jerusalem was probably referred to4 
#bdf 8',tis the especial virtue of a    
prince to know his own men40  #bdg ,in  
his disposition1 or inclination4  #bdh  
,liable to opposition from4  #bdi       
8,according to classes10 or1 as we      
vulgarly say1 8in the lump40 ,lord      
,bacon means that princes are not1 as a 
matter of course1 to take counsellors   
merely on the presumption of talent1    
from their rank and station2 but that1  

on the contrary1 they are to select such
 as are tried men1 and with regard to   
whom there can be no mistake4  #bej     
8,the best counsellors are the dead40   
#bea 8,are afraid0 to open their mouths4
  #beb 8,night-time for counsel40--  4  
,gaisf4 ,par4 ,gr4 ,b4 #cei4  #bec ,on  
the accession of ,james the ,sixth of   
,scotland to the throne of ,england in  
#afjc4  #bed ,a phrase much in use with 
the ,romans1 signifying1 8to attend to  
the business in hand40  #bee ,a         
tribunitial or declamatory manner4  #bef
 8,i'll follow the bent of your humor40 
#beg ,the ,sibyl alluded to here is the 
,cuman1 the most celebrated1 who offered
 the ,sibylline ,books for sale to      
,tarquin the ,proud4  8,at this time1 an
 unknown woman appeared at court1 loaded
 with nine volumes1 which she offered to
 sell1 but at a very considerable price4
 ,tarquin refusing to give it1 she      
withdrew and burnt three of the nine4   
,some time after she returned to court1 
and demanded the same price for the     

remaining six4 ,this made her looked    
upon as a mad woman1 and she was driven 
away with scorn4 ,nevertheless1 having  
burnt the half of what were left1 she   
came a third time1 and demanded for the 
remaining three the same price which she
 had asked for the whole nine4 ,the     
novelty of such a proceeding1 made      
,tarquin curious to have the books      
examined4 ,they were put1 therefore1    
into the hands of the augurs1 who1      
finding them to be the oracles of the   
,sybil of ,cum1 declared them to be an  
invaluable treasure4 ,upon this the     
woman was paid the sum she demanded1 and
 she soon after disappeared1 having     
first exhorted the ,romans to preserve  
her books with care40--,hooke's ,roman  
,history4  #beh ,bald head4 ,he alludes 
to the common saying3 8,take time by the
 forelock40  #bei ,phd4 viii4  #bfj     
,hom4 ,il4 v4 #hde4  #bfa ,packing the  
cards is an admirable illustration of   
the author's meaning4 ,it is a cheating 
exploit1 by which knaves1 who1 perhaps1 

are inferior players1 insure to         
themselves the certainty of good hands4 
#bfb 8,send them both naked among       
strangers1 and then you will see40  #bfc
 ,this word is used here in its         
primitive sense of 8retail dealers40 ,it
 is said to have been derived from a    
custom of the ,flemings1 who first      
settled in this country in the          
fourteenth century1 stopping the        
passengers as they passed their shops1  
and saying to them1 8,haber das1        
herr80--8,will you take this1 sir80 ,the
 word is now generally used as          
synonymous with linen-draper4  #bfd ,to 
watch4  #bfe ,state4  #bff ,discussing  
matters4  #bfg ,he refers to the        
occasion when ,nehemiah1 on presenting  
the wine1 as cup-bearer to ,king        
,artaxerxes1 appeared sorrowful1 and1 on
 being asked the reason of it1 entreated
 the king to allow ,jerusalem to be     
rebuilt4--,nehemiah ii4 #a4  #bfh ,this 
can hardly be called a marriage1 as1 at 
the time of the intrigue1 ,messalina was

 the wife of ,claudius2 but she forced  
,caius ,silius1 of whom she was deeply  
enamored1 to divorce his own wife1 that 
she herself might enjoy his society4    
,the intrigue was disclosed to ,claudius
 by ,narcissus1 who was his freedman1   
and the pander to his infamous vices2 on
 which ,silius was put to death4 ,vide  
,tac4 ,ann4 xi4 #bi1 seq4  #bfi ,to     
speak in his turn4  #bgj ,be questioned 
upon4  #bga ,kept on good terms4  #bgb  
,desire it4  #bgc 8,that he did not have
 various hopes in view1 but solely the  
safety of the emperor40 ,tigellinus was 
the profligate minister of ,nero1 and   
,africanus ,burrhus was the chief of the
 ,prtorian ,guards4--,tac4 ,ann4 xiv4   
#eg4  #bgd ,as ,nathan did1 when he     
reproved ,david for his criminality with
 ,bathsheba4--#b ,samuel xii4  #bge ,use
 indirect stratagems4  #bgf ,he alludes 
to the old ,cathedral of ,st4 ,paul1 in 
,london1 which1 in the sixteenth        
century1 was a common lounge for idlers4
  #bgg ,movements1 or springs4  #bgh    

,chances1 or vicissitudes4  #bgi ,enter 
deeply into4  #bhj ,faults1 or weak     
points4  #bha 8,the wise man gives heed 
to his own footsteps2 the fool turneth  
aside to the snare40 ,no doubt he here  
alludes to ,ecclesiastes xiv4 #b1 which 
passage is thus rendered in our version3
 8,the wise man's eyes are in his head2 
but the fool walketh in darkness40  #bhb
 ,mischievous4  #bhc ,it must be        
remembered that ,bacon was not a favorer
 of the ,copernican system4  #bhd       
8,lovers of themselves without a        
rival40--,ad4 ,qu4 ,fr4 iii4 #h4  #bhe  
,remedy4  #bhf ,adapted to each other4  
#bhg ,injures or impairs4  #bhh ,a thing
 suspected4  #bhi ,he probably alludes  
to ,jeremiah vi4 #af3 8,thus saith the  
,lord1 ,stand ye in the ways1 and see1  
and ask for the old paths1 where is the 
good way1 and walk therein1 and ye shall
 find rest for your souls40  #bij ,that 
is1 by means of good management4  #bia  
,it is supposed that he here alludes to 
,sir ,amyas ,paulet1 a very able        

statesman1 and the ambassador of ,queen 
,elizabeth to the court of ,france4     
#bib ,quotations4  #bic ,apologies4     
#bid ,boasting4  #bie ,prejudice4  #bif 
#b ,tim4 iii4 #e4  #big 8,trifles with  
great effort40  #bih 8,with one brow    
raised to your forehead1 the other bent 
downward to your chin1 you answer that  
cruelty delights you not40--,in ,pis4   
#f4  #bii 8,a foolish man1 who fritters 
away the weight of matters by finespun  
trifling on words40--,vide ,quint4 x4   
#a4  #cjj ,plat4 ,protag4 i4 #ccg4  #cja
 ,find it easier to make difficulties   
and objections than to originate4  #cjb 
,one really in insolvent circumstances1 
though to the world he does not appear  
so4  #cjc ,he here quotes from a passage
 in the ,politica of ,aristotle1 book i4
 8,he who is unable to mingle in        
society1 or who requires nothing1 by    
reason of sufficing for himself1 is no  
part of the state1 so that he is either 
a wild beast or a divinity40  #cjd      
,epimenides1 a poet of ,crete 7of which 

,candia is the modern name71 is said by 
,pliny to have fallen into a sleep which
 lasted #eg years4 ,he was also said to 
have lived #bii years4 ,numa pretended  
that he was instructed in the art of    
legislation by the divine nymph ,egeria1
 who dwelt in the ,arician grove4       
,empedocles1 the ,sicilian philosopher1 
declared himself to be immortal1 and to 
be able to cure all evils4 ,he is said  
by some to have retired from society    
that his death might not be known1 and  
to have thrown himself into the crater  
of ,mount tna4 ,apollonius of ,tyana1   
the ,pythagorean philosopher1 pretended 
to miraculous powers1 and after his     
death a temple was erected to him at    
that place4 ,his life is recorded by    
,philostratus2 and some persons1 among  
whom are ,hierocles1 ,dr4 ,more1 in his 
,mystery of ,godliness1 and recently    
,strauss1 have not hesitated to compare 
his miracles with those of our ,saviour4
  #cje 8,a great city1 a great desert40 
#cjf ,sarsaparilla4  #cjg ,a liquid     

matter of a pungent smell1 extracted    
from a portion of the body of the       
beaver4  #cjh 8,partakers of cares40    
#cji ,plutarch 7,vit4 ,pomp4 #ai7       
relates that ,pompey said this upon     
,sylla's refusal to give him a triumph4 
#caj ,plut4 ,vit4 ,j4 ,cs4 #fd4  #caa   
,cic4 ,philip4 xiii4 #aa4  #cab 8,these 
things1 by reason of our friendship1 ,i 
have not concealed from you40--,vide    
,tac4 ,ann4 iv4 #dj4  #cac ,dio ,cass4  
lxxv4  #cad ,such infamous men as       
,tiberius and ,sejanus hardly deserve   
this commendation4  #cae ,philip de     
,comines4  #caf ,charles the ,bold1     
,duke of ,burgundy1 the valiant         
antagonist of ,louis ,,xi4 of ,france4  
,de ,comines spent his early years at   
his court1 but afterwards passed into   
the service of ,louis ,,xi4 ,this       
monarch was notorious for his cruelty1  
treachery1 and dissimulation1 and had   
all the bad qualities of his            
contemporary1 ,edward ,,iv4 of ,england1
 without any of his redeeming virtues4  

#cag ,pythagoras went still further than
 this1 as he forbade his disciples to   
eat flesh of any kind whatever4 ,see the
 interesting speech which ,ovid         
attributes to him in the fifteenth book 
of the ,metamorphoses4 ,sir ,thomas     
,browne1 in his ,pseudoxia 7,browne's   
,works1 ,bohn's ,antiq4 ed4 vol4 i4 p4  
#bg1 et seq471 gives some curious       
explanations of the doctrines of this   
philosopher4--,plut4 de ,educat4 ,puer4 
#ag4  #cah ,tapestry4 ,speaking         
hypercritically1 ,lord ,bacon commits an
 anachronism here1 as ,arras did not    
manufacture tapestry till the middle    
ages4  #cai ,plut4 ,vit4 ,themist4 #bh4 
#cbj ,ap4 ,stob4 ,serm4 v4 #abj4  #cba  
,james i4 #bc4  #cbb ,he alludes to the 
recommendation which moralists have     
often given1 that a person in anger     
should go through the alphabet to       
himself1 before he allows himself to    
speak4  #cbc ,in his day1 the musket was
 fixed upon a stand1 called the 8rest10 
much as the gingals or matchlocks are   

used in the ,east at the present day4   
#cbd ,from debts and incumbrances4  #cbe
 ,plut4 ,vit4 ,themist4 ad init4  #cbf  
8,equal to business40  #cbg ,he alludes 
to the following passage1 ,st4 ,matthew 
xiii4 #ca3 8,another parable put he     
forth unto them1 saying1 ,the kingdom of
 heaven is like to a grain of           
mustard-seed1 which a man took and sowed
 in his field2 which indeed is the least
 of all seeds2 but when it is grown1 it 
is the greatest among herbs1 and        
becometh a tree1 so that the birds of   
the air come and lodge in the branches  
thereof40  #cbh ,virg4 ,ecl4 vii4 #ea4  
#cbi ,vide4 ,a4 ,l4 i4 vii4 #aa4  #ccj  
,he was vanquished by ,lucullus1 and    
finally submitted to ,pompey4--,plut4   
,vit4 ,lucull4 #bg4  #cca ,he alludes to
 the prophetic words of ,jacob on his   
death-bed1 ,gen4 xlix4 #i1 #ad1 #ae3    
8,judah is a lion's whelp2 444 he       
stooped down1 he couched as a lion1 and 
as an old lion4444 ,issachar is a strong
 ass couching down between two burdens3 

,and he saw that rest was good1 and the 
land that it was pleasant2 and bowed his
 shoulder to bear1 and became a servant 
unto tribute40  #ccb ,sums of money     
voluntarily contributed by the people   
for the use of the sovereign4  #ccc     
,young trees4  #ccd 8,a land strong in  
arms and in the richness of the         
soil40--,virg4 n4 i4 #ece4  #cce ,he    
alludes to the dream of ,nebuchadnezzar1
 which is mentioned ,daniel iv4 #aj2 8,i
 saw1 and behold a tree in the midst of 
the earth1 and the height thereof was   
great4 ,the tree grew1 and was strong1  
and the height thereof reached unto     
heaven1 and the sight thereof to the end
 of all the earth3 the leaves thereof   
were fair1 and the fruit thereof much1  
and in it was meat for all2 the beasts  
of the field had shadow under it1 and   
the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the    
boughs thereof1 and all flesh was fed of
 it40  #ccf 8,right of citizenship40    
#ccg 8,right of trading40  #cch 8,right 
of intermarriage40  #cci 8,right of     

inheritance40  #cdj 8,right of          
suffrage40  #cda 8,right of honors40    
#cdb ,long since the time of ,lord      
,bacon1 as soon as these colonies had   
arrived at a certain state of maturity1 
they at different periods revolted from 
the mother country4  #cdc ,the laws and 
ordinances promulgated by the sovereigns
 of ,spain were so called4 ,the term was
 derived from the ,byzantine empire4    
#cdd ,qualifications4  #cde ,attend to4 
#cdf ,for a short or transitory period4 
#cdg ,be in a hurry4  #cdh ,it was its  
immense armaments that in a great       
measure consumed the vitals of ,spain4  
#cdi 8,pompey's plan is clearly that of 
,themistocles2 for he believes that     
whoever is master of the sea will obtain
 the supreme power40--,ad ,att4 x4 #h4  
#cej ,encomiums4  #cea ,st4 ,matthew vi4
 #bg2 ,st4 ,luke xii4 #be4  #ceb ,the   
effects of which must be felt in old    
age4  #cec ,of benefit in your          
individual case4  #ced ,any striking    
change in the constitution4  #cee ,take 

medical advice4  #cef ,incline rather to
 fully satisfying your hunger4  #ceg    
,celsus de ,med4 i4 #a4  #ceh ,to hope  
the best1 but be fully prepared for the 
worst4  #cei 8,suspicion is the passport
 to faith40  #cfj ,a censure of this    
nature has been applied by some to ,dr4 
,johnson1 and possibly with some reason4
  #cfa ,to start the subject4  #cfb     
,requires to be bridled4  #cfc ,he      
quotes here from ,ovid3 8,boy1 spare the
 whip1 and tightly grasp the            
reins40--,met4 ii4 #abg4  #cfd ,one who 
tests or examines4  #cfe ,the galliard  
was a light active dance1 much in       
fashion in the time of ,queen           
,elizabeth4  #cff ,hits at1 or remarks  
intended to be applied to1 particular   
individuals4  #cfg ,a slight or insult4 
#cfh ,a sarcastic remark4  #cfi ,the old
 term for colonies4  #cgj ,he perhaps   
alludes covertly to the conduct of the  
,spaniards in extirpating the aboriginal
 inhabitants of the ,west ,india        
,islands1 against which the venerable   

,las ,casas so eloquently but vainly    
protested4  #cga ,of course1 this       
censure would not apply to what is      
primarily and essentially a convict     
colony2 the object of which is to drain 
the mother country of its impure        
superfluities4  #cgb ,times have much   
changed since this was penned1 tobacco  
is now the staple commodity1 and the    
source of 8the main business0 of        
,virginia4  #cgc ,to labor hard4  #cgd  
,marshy2 from the ,french marais1 a     
marsh4  #cge ,gewgaws1 or spangles4     
#cgf ,he alludes to ,ecclesiastes v4    
#aa1 the words of which are somewhat    
varied in our version3 8,when goods     
increase1 they are increased that eat   
them2 and what good is there to the     
owners thereof1 saving the beholding of 
them with their eyes80  #cgg 8,the rich 
man's wealth is his strong              
city40--,proverbs x4 #ae2 xviii4 #aa4   
#cgh 8,in his anxiety to increase his   
fortune1 it was evident that not the    
gratification of avarice was sought1 but

 the means of doing good40  #cgi 8,he   
who hastens to riches will not be       
without guilt40 ,in our version the     
words are3 8,he that maketh haste to be 
rich shall not be innocent40--,proverbs 
xxviii4 #bb4  #chj ,pluto being the king
 of the infernal regions1 or place of   
departed spirits4  #cha ,rent-roll1 or  
account taken of income4  #chb ,wait    
till prices have risen4  #chc 8,in the  
sweat of another's brow40 ,he alludes to
 the words of ,genesis iii4 #ai3 8,in   
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat    
bread40  #chd ,planter of sugar-canes4  
#che 8,wills and childless persons were 
caught by him1 as though with a         
hunting-net40--,tacit4 ,ann4 xiii4 #db4 
#chf 8,pythoness10 used in the sense of 
witch4 ,he alludes to the witch of      
,endor1 and the words in ,samuel xxviii4
 #ai4 ,he is1 however1 mistaken in      
attributing these words to the witch3 it
 was the spirit of ,samuel that said1   
8,to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be  
with me40  #chg 8,but the house of neas 

shall reign over every shore1 both his  
children's children1 and those who shall
 spring from them40--n4 iii4 #ig4  #chh 
8,after the lapse of years1 ages will   
come in which ,ocean shall relax his    
chains around the world1 and a vast     
continent shall appear1 and ,tiphys     
shall explore new regions1 and ,thule   
shall be no longer the utmost verge of  
earth40--,sen4 ,med4 ii4 #cge4  #chi ,he
 was king of ,samos1 and was            
treacherously put to death by ,ortes1   
the governor of ,magnesia1 in ,asia     
,minor4 ,his daughter1 in consequence of
 her dream1 attempted to dissuade him   
from visiting ,ortes1 but in            
vain4--,herod4 iii4 #abd4  #cij ,plut4  
,vit4 ,alex4 #b4  #cia 8,thou shalt see 
me again at ,philippi40--,appian ,bell4 
,civ4 iv4 #acd4  #cib 8,thou1 also1     
,galba1 shalt taste of empire40--,suet4 
,vit4 ,gall4 #d4  #cic ,hist4 v4 #ac4   
#cid ,suet4 vit4 ,domit4 #bc4  #cie     
,catherine de ,medicis1 the wife of     
,henry ,,ii4 of ,france1 who died from a

 wound accidentally received in a       
tournament4  #cif ,james ,i4 being the  
first monarch of ,great ,britain4  #cig 
8,the eighty-eighth will be a wondrous  
year40  #cih 8,aristophanes1 in his     
,comedy of the ,knights1 satirizes      
,cleon1 the ,athenian demagogue4 ,he    
introduces a declaration of the oracle1 
that the ,eagle of hides 7by whom ,cleon
 was meant1 his father having been a    
tanner71 should be conquered by a       
serpent1 which ,demosthenes1 one of the 
characters in the play1 expounds as     
meaning a maker of sausages4 ,how ,lord 
,bacon could for a moment doubt that    
this was a mere jest1 it is difficult to
 conjecture4 ,the following is a literal
 translation of a portion of the passage
 from ,the ,knights 7l4 #aig73 8,but    
when a leather eagle with crooked talons
 shall have seized with its jaws a      
serpent1 a stupid creature1 a drinker of
 blood1 then the tan-pickle of the      
,paphlagonians is destroyed2 but upon   
the sellers of sausages the deity       

bestows great glory1 unless they choose 
rather to sell sausages40  #cii ,this is
 a very just remark4 ,so-called strange 
coincidences1 and wonderful dreams that 
are verified1 when the point is         
considered1 are really not at all       
marvellous4 ,we never hear of the #iii  
dreams that are not verified1 but the   
thousandth that happens to precede its  
fulfilment is blazoned by unthinking    
people as a marvel4 ,it would be a much 
more wonderful thing if dreams were not 
occasionally verified4  #djj ,under this
 name he alludes to the ,critias of     
,plato1 in which an imaginary 8terra    
incognita0 is discoursed of under the   
name of the 8,new ,atlantis40 ,it has   
been conjectured from this by some1 that
 ,plato really did believe in the       
existence of a continent on the other   
side of the globe4  #dja ,hot and fiery4
  #djb ,with the eyes closed or         
blindfolded4  #djc ,he was a favorite of
 ,tiberius1 to whose murder by ,nero he 
was said to have been an accessary4 ,he 

afterwards prostituted his own wife to  
,caligula1 by whom he was eventually put
 to death4  #djd ,liable to4  #dje      
,chirpings like the noise of young      
birds4  #djf ,jewels or necklaces4  #djg
 ,spangles1 or ,o's of gold or silver4  
,beckmann says that these were invented 
in the beginning of the seventeenth     
century4 ,see ,beckmann's ,hist4 of     
,inventions 7,bohn's ,stand4 ,lib471    
vol4 i4 p4 #dbd4  #djh ,or              
antic-masques4 ,these were ridiculous   
interludes dividing the acts of the more
 serious masque4 ,these were performed  
by hired actors1 while the masque was   
played by ladies and gentlemen4 ,the    
rule was1 the characters were to be     
neither serious nor hideous4 ,the       
8,comus0 of ,milton is an admirable     
specimen of a masque4  #dji ,turks4     
#daj 8,he is the best asserter of the   
liberty of his mind1 who bursts the     
chains that gall his breast1 and at the 
same moment ceases to grieve40--,this   
quotation is from ,ovid's ,remedy of    

,love1 #bic4  #daa 8,my soul has long   
been a sojourner40  #dab 8,the wish is  
father to the thought10 is a proverbial 
saying of similar meaning4  #dac ,vide  
,disc4 ,sop4 ,liv4 iii4 #f4  #dad       
,jacques ,clement1 a ,dominican friar1  
who assassinated ,henry ,,iii4 of       
,france1 in #aehi4 ,the sombre fanatic  
was but twenty-five year of age2 and he 
had announced the intention of killing  
with his own hands the great enemy of   
his faith4 ,he was instigated by the    
,leaguers1 and particularly by the      
,duchess of ,montpensier1 the sister of 
the ,duke of ,guise4  #dae ,he murdered 
,henry ,,iv4 of ,france1 in #afaj4  #daf
 ,philip ,,ii4 of ,spain having1 in     
#aehb1 set a price upon the head of     
,william of ,nassau1 ,prince of ,orange1
 the leader of the ,protestants1        
,jaureguy attempted to assassinate him1 
and severely wounded him4  #dag ,he     
assassinated ,william of ,nassau1 in    
#aehd4 ,it is supposed that this fanatic
 meditated the crime for six years4     

#dah ,a resolution prompted by a vow of 
devotion to a particular principle or   
creed4  #dai ,he alludes to the         
,hindoos1 and the ceremony of ,suttee1  
encouraged by the ,brahmins4  #dbj      
,flinching4--,vide ,cic4 ,tuscul4 ,disp4
 ii4 #ad4  #dba 8,every man is the      
architect of his own fortune40 ,sallust1
 in his letters 8,de ,republic          
,ordinand10 attributes these words to   
,appius ,claudius ,ccus1 a ,roman poet  
whose works are now lost4 ,lord ,bacon1 
in the ,latin translation of his        
,essays1 which was made under his       
supervision1 rendered the word 8poet0   
8comicus20 by whom he probably meant    
,plautus1 who has this line in his      
8,trinummus0 7,act ii1 sc4 #b73 8,nam   
sapiens quidem pol ipsus fingit fortunam
 sibi10 which has the same meaning1     
though in somewhat different terms4     
#dbb 8,a serpent1 unless it has devoured
 a serpent1 does not become a dragon40  
#dbc ,or 8desenvoltura10 implying       
readiness to adapt one's self to        

circumstances4  #dbd ,impediments1      
causes for hesitation4  #dbe 8,in that  
man there was such great strength of    
body and mind1 that1 in whatever station
 he had been born1 he seemed as though  
he should make his fortune40  #dbf 8,a  
versatile genius40  #dbg 8,a little of  
the fool40  #dbh 8,thou carriest ,csar  
and his fortunes40--,plut4 ,vit4 ,cls4  
#ch4  #dbi 8,the ,fortunate40 ,he       
attributed his success to the           
intervention of ,hercules1 to whom he   
paid especial veneration4  #dcj 8,the   
,great40--,plut4 ,syll4 #cd4  #dca ,a   
successful ,athenian general1 the son of
 ,conon1 and the friend of ,plato4  #dcb
 ,fluency1 or smoothness4  #dcc ,lord   
,bacon seems to use the word in the     
general sense of 8lending money upon    
interest40  #dcd 8,drive from their     
hives the drones1 a lazy                
race40--,georgics1 b4 iv4 #afh4  #dce   
8,in the sweat of thy face shalt thou   
eat thy bread40--,gen4 iii4 #ai4  #dcf  
8,in the sweat of the face of another40 

#dcg ,in the middle ages the ,jews were 
compelled1 by legal enactment1 to wear  
peculiar dresses and colors2 one of     
these was orange4  #dch 8,a concession  
by reason of hardness of heart40 ,he    
alludes to the words in ,st4 ,matthew   
xix4 #h4  #dci ,see note to ,essay xix4 
#ddj ,hold4  #dda ,the imaginary country
 described in ,sir ,thomas ,more's      
political romance of that name4  #ddb   
,regulation4  #ddc ,be paid4  #ddd ,our 
author was one of the earliest writers  
who treated the question of the interest
 of money with the enlightened views of 
a statesman and an economist4 ,the      
taking of interest was considered1 in   
his time1 immoral4  ,laws on this matter
 are extremely ancient4 ,moses forbids  
the ,jews to require interest of each   
other4 8,thou shalt not lend upon usury 
to thy brother2 usury of money1 usury of
 victuals1 usury of any thing that is   
lent upon usury3  8,unto a stranger thou
 mayest lend upon usury2 but unto thy   
brother thou shalt not lend upon        

usury40--,deut4 xxiii4 #ai1 #bj4  ,among
 the ,greeks1 the rate of interest was  
settled by agreement between the        
borrower and the lender1 without any    
interference of the law4 ,the customary 
rate varied from ten to thirty-three and
 one third per cent4  ,the ,romans      
enacted laws against usurious interest2 
but their legal interest1 admitted by   
the law of the ,twelve ,tables1 was1    
according to some1 twelve per cent41 or1
 to others1 one twelfth of the capital1 
i4 e4 eight and one third per cent4     
,justinian reduced it to six per cent4  
,in ,england1 the legal rate of interest
 was1 in ,henry the ,eighth's reign1 ten
 per cent4 ,it was reduced1 in #afbd1 to
 eight per cent4 ,it was further        
diminished1 in #afgb1 to six per cent4  
,and definitively1 in #agac1 fixed at   
five per cent41 the ordinary rate of    
interest throughout ,europe4 ,in        
,france1 the rates of interest have been
 nearly similar at the same periods4    
#dde 8,he passed his youth full of      

errors1 of madness even40--,spartian4   
,vit4 ,sev4  #ddf ,he was nephew of     
,louis the ,twelfth of ,france1 and     
commanded the ,french armies in ,italy  
against the ,spaniards4 ,after a        
brilliant career1 he was killed at the  
battle of ,ravenna1 in #aeab4  #ddg     
,joel ii4 #bh1 quoted ,acts ii4 #ag4    
#ddh ,he lived in the second century    
after ,christ1 and is said to have lost 
his memory at the age of twenty-five4   
#ddi 8,he remained the same1 but with   
the advance of years was not so         
becoming40--,cic4 ,brut4 #ie4  #dej     
8,the close was unequal to the          
beginning40 ,this quotation is not      
correct2 the words are3 8,memorabilior  
prima pars vit quam postrema            
fuit10--8,the first part of his life was
 more distinguished than the            
latter40--,livy xxxviii4 ch4 #ec4  #dea 
,by the context1 he would seem to       
consider 8great spirit0 and 8virtue0 as 
convertible terms4 ,edward ,,iv41       
however1 has no claim to be considered  

as a virtuous or magnanimous man1 though
 he possessed great physical courage4   
#deb ,features4  #dec 8,the autumn of   
the beautiful is beautiful40  #ded ,by  
making allowances4  #dee ,rom4 i4 #ca2  
#b ,tim4 iii4 #c4  #def 8,where she errs
 in the one1 she ventures in the other40
  #deg ,spies4  #deh ,solyman the       
,magnificent1 ,sultan of the ,turks4    
#dei ,site4  #dfj ,knoll4  #dfa ,have a 
liking for cheerful society4 ,momus     
being the god of mirth4  #dfb ,eats up4 
#dfc ,plut4 ,vit4 ,lucull4 #ci4  #dfd ,a
 vast edifice1 about twenty miles from  
,madrid1 founded by ,philip ,,ii4  #dfe 
,esth4 i4 #e2 8,the ,king made a feast  
unto all the people that were present in
 ,shushan the palace1 both unto great   
and small1 seven days1 in the court of  
the garden of the king's palace40  #dff 
,the cylinder formed by the small end of
 the steps of winding stairs4  #dfg ,the
 funnel of a chimney4  #dfh ,where to   
go4  #dfi ,bow1 or bay1 windows4  #dgj  
,flush with the wall4  #dga             

,antechamber4  #dgb ,withdrawing-room4  
#dgc ,watercourses4  #dgd ,pine trees4  
#dge ,kept warm in a greenhouse4  #dgf  
,the damson1 or plum of ,damascus4  #dgg
 ,currants4  #dgh ,an apple that is     
gathered very early4  #dgi ,a kind of   
quince1 so called from 8cotoneum10 or   
8cydonium10 the ,latin name of the      
quince4  #dhj ,the fruit of the         
cornel-tree4  #dha ,the warden was a    
large pear1 so called from its keeping  
well4 ,warden-pie was formerly much     
esteemed in this country4  #dhb         
,perpetual spring4  #dhc ,flowers that  
do not send forth their smell at any    
distance4  #dhd ,a species of grass of  
the genus argostis4  #dhe ,the blossoms 
of the bean4  #dhf ,bring or lead you4  
#dhg ,impeding4  #dhh ,causing the water
 to fall in a perfect arch1 without any 
spray escaping from the jet4  #dhi      
,lilies of the valley4  #dij ,in rows4  
#dia ,insidiously subtract nourishment  
from4  #dib ,to consider or expect4     
#dic ,love1 are pleased with4  #did ,it 

is more advantageous to deal with men   
whose desires are not yet satisfied1    
than with those who have gained all they
 have wished for1 and are likely to be  
proof against inducements4  #die ,in the
 sense of the ,latin 8gloriosus10       
8boastful10 8bragging40  #dif           
,professions or classes4  #dig          
,weakness1 or indecision of character4  
#dih ,he probably alludes to the ancient
 stories of the friendship of ,orestes  
and ,pylades1 ,theseus and ,pirithos1   
,damon and ,pythias1 and others1 and the
 maxims of the ancient philosophers4    
,aristotle considers that equality in   
circumstances and station is one        
requisite of friendship4 ,seneca and    
,quintus ,curtius express the same      
opinion4 ,it seems hardly probable that 
,lord ,bacon reflected deeply when he   
penned this passage1 for between equals1
 jealousy1 the most insidious of all the
 enemies of friendship1 has the least   
chance of originating4 ,dr4 ,johnson    
says3 8,friendship is seldom lasting but

 between equals1 or where the           
superiority on one side is reduced by   
some equivalent advantage on the other4 
,benefits which cannot be repaid1 and   
obligations which cannot be discharged1 
are not commonly found to increase      
affection2 they excite gratitude indeed1
 and heighten veneration1 but commonly  
take away that easy freedom and         
familiarity of intercourse1 without     
which1 though there may be fidelity1 and
 zeal1 and admiration1 there cannot be  
friendship40--,the ,rambler1 ,no4 #fd4  
#dii ,in such a case1 gratitude and     
admiration exist on the one hand1 esteem
 and confidence on the other4  #ejj     
,lowering1 or humiliating4  #eja        
,referees4  #ejb ,disgusted4  #ejc      
,giving no false color to the degree of 
success which has attended the          
prosecution of the suit4  #ejd ,to have 
little effect4  #eje ,to this extent4   
#ejf ,of the information4  #ejg 8,ask   
what is exorbitant1 that you may obtain 
what is moderate40  #ejh ,this formed   

the first essay in the earliest edition 
of the work4  #eji ,attentively4  #eaj  
,vapid3 without taste or spirit4  #eaa  
8,studies become habits40  #eab         
8,splitters of cummin-seeds20 or1 as we 
now say1 8splitters of straws10 or      
8hairs40 ,butler says of ,hudibras3--   
8,he could distinguish and divide   ,a  
hair 'twixt south and southwest side40  
#eac ,causes one side to preponderate4  
#ead 8,the common father40  #eae 8,as   
one of us40 ,henry the ,third of        
,france1 favoring the league formed by  
the ,duke of ,guise and ,cardinal ,de   
,lorraine against the ,protestants1 soon
 found that1 through the adoption of    
that policy1 he had forfeited the       
respect of his subjects4  #eaf ,see a   
note to ,essay #ae4  #eag ,of ,castile4 
,she was the wife of ,ferdinand of      
,arragon1 and was the patroness of      
,columbus4  #eah ,the words in our      
version are3 8,he that observeth the    
wind shall not sow1 and he that         
regardeth the clouds shall not          

reap4--,ecclesiastes xi4 #a4  #eai      
,exact in the extreme4 ,point-de-vice   
was originally the name of a kind of    
lace of very fine pattern4  #ebj        
8,appearances resembling virtues40  #eba
 8,a good name is like sweet-smelling   
ointment40 ,the words in our version    
are1 8,a good name is better than       
precious ointment4--,ecclesiastes vii4  
#a4  #ebb 8,disregarding his own        
conscience40  #ebc 8,to instruct under  
the form of praise40  #ebd 8,the worst  
kind of enemies are those who flatter40 
#ebe ,a pimple filled with 8pus10 or    
8purulent matter40 ,the word is still   
used in the east of ,england4  #ebf ,the
 words in our version are3 8,he that    
blesseth his friend with a loud voice1  
rising early in the morning1 it shall be
 counted a curse to him40--,proverbs    
xxvii4 #ad4  #ebg ,in other words1 to   
show what we call an esprit de corps4   
#ebh ,theologians4  #ebi #b ,cor4 xi4   
#bc4  #ecj 8,i will magnify my          
apostleship40 ,he alludes to the words  

in ,romans xi4 #ac3 8,inasmuch as ,i am 
the apostle of the ,gentiles1 ,i magnify
 mine office40  #eca ,vaunting1 or      
boasting4  #ecb ,noise4 ,we have a      
corresponding proverb3 8,great cry and  
little wool40  #ecc ,a high or good     
opinion4  #ecd ,vide ,liv4 xxxvii4 #dh4 
#ece ,by express command4  #ecf 8,those 
who write books on despising glory1 set 
their names in the title-page40 ,he     
quotes from ,cicero's 8,tusculan        
,disputationes10 b4 i4 c4 #ae1 whose    
words are2 8,quid nostri philosophi8    
,nonne in his libris ipsis1 quos        
scribunt de contemnend glori1 sua nomina
 inscribunt40--8,what do our            
philosophers do8 ,do they not1 in those 
very books which they write on despising
 glory1 set their names in the          
title-page80  #ecg ,pliny the ,younger1 
the nephew of the elder ,pliny1 the     
naturalist4  #ech 8,one who set off     
every thing he said and did with a      
certain skill40 ,mucianus was an        
intriguing general in the times of ,otho

 and ,vitellius4--,hist4 xi4 #hj4  #eci 
,namely1 the property of which he was   
speaking1 and not that mentioned by     
,tacitus4  #edj ,apologies4  #eda       
,concessions4  #edb ,plin4 ,epist4 vi4  
#ag4  #edc ,boastful4  #edd 8,all fame  
emanates from servants40--,q4 ,cic4 de  
,petit4 ,consul4 v4 #ag4  #ede          
8,founders of empires40  #edf ,he       
alludes to ,ottoman1 or ,othman ,i41 the
 founder of the dynasty now reigning at 
,constantinople4 ,from him1 the ,turkish
 empire received the appellation of     
8,othoman10 or 8,ottoman0 ,porte4  #edg 
8,perpetual rulers40  #edh ,surnamed the
 ,peaceful1 who ascended the throne of  
,england ,a4 ,d4 #iei4 ,he was eminent  
as a legislator1 and a rigid assertor of
 justice4 ,hume considers his reign 8one
 of the most fortunate that we meet with
 in the ancient ,english history40  #edi
 ,these were a general collection of the
 ,spanish laws1 made by ,alphonso ,x4 of
 ,castile1 arranged under their proper  
titles4 ,the work was commenced by ,don 

,ferdinand his father1 to put an end to 
the contradictory decisions in the      
,castilian courts of justice4 ,it was   
divided into seven parts1 whence its    
name 8,siete ,partidas40 ,it did not1   
however1 become the law of ,castile till
 nearly eighty years after4  #eej       
8,deliverers10 or 8preservers40  #eea   
8,extenders10 or 8defenders of the      
empire40  #eeb 8,fathers of their       
country40  #eec 8,participators in      
cares40  #eed 8,leaders in war40  #eee  
,proportion1 dimensions4  #eef 8,equal  
to their duties40  #eeg 8,to expound the
 law40  #eeh 8,to make the law40  #eei  
,the ,mosaic law4 ,he alludes to        
,deuteronomy xxvii4 #ag4 8,cursed be he 
that removeth his neighbor's landmark40 
#efj 8,a righteous man falling down     
before the wicked is as a troubled      
fountain and a corrupt                  
spring40--,proverbs xxv4 #bf4  #efa 8,ye
 who turn judgment to wormwood1 and     
leave off righteousness in the          
earth40--,amos v4 #g4  #efb 8,he who    

wrings the nose strongly brings blood40 
,proverbs xxx4 #cc3 8,surely1 the       
churning of milk bringeth forth butter1 
and the wringing of the nose bringeth   
forth blood2 so the forcing of wrath    
bringeth forth strife40  #efc 8,he will 
rain snares upon them40 ,psalm xi4 #f3  
8,upon the wicked he shall rain snares1 
fire1 and brimstone1 and an horrible    
tempest40  #efd ,strained4  #efe 8,it is
 the duty of a judge to consider not    
only the facts1 but the circumstances of
 the case40--,ovid4 ,trist4 ,i4 i4 #cg4 
#eff ,pliny the ,younger1 ,ep4 ,b4 #f1  
,e4 #b1 has the observation3            
8,patientiam 444 qu pars magna justiti  
est20 8,patience1 which is a great part 
of justice40  #efg ,is not successful4  
#efh ,makes him to feel less confident  
of the goodness of his cause4  #efi     
,altercate1 or bandy words with the     
judge4  #egj 8,do men gather grapes of  
thorns1 or figs of thistles60--,st4     
,matthew vii4 #af4  #ega ,plundering4   
#egb 8,friends of the court40  #egc     

8,parasites10 or 8flatterers of the     
court40  #egd ,which were compiled by   
the decemvirs4  #ege 8,the safety of the
 people is the supreme law40  #egf      
8,mine40  #egg 8,yours40  #egh ,he      
alludes to #a ,kings x4 #ai1 #cj3 8,the 
throne had six steps1 and the top of the
 throne was round behind2 and there were
 stays on either side on the place of   
the seat1 and two lions stood beside the
 stays4 ,and twelve lions stood there on
 the one side and on the other upon the 
six steps40 ,the same verses are        
repeated in #a ,chronicles ix4 #ah1 #ai4
  #egi 8,we know that the law is good1  
if a man use it lawfully40--#a ,timothy 
i4 #h4  #ehj ,a boast4  #eha ,in our    
version it is thus rendered3 8,be ye    
angry1 and sin not2 let not the sun go  
down upon your wrath40--,ephesians iv4  
#bf4  #ehb ,sen4 ,de ,ira i4 #a4  #ehc  
8,in your patience possess ye your      
souls40--,luke xvi4 #ai4  #ehd 8,and    
leave their lives in the wound40 ,the   
quotation is from ,virgil's ,georgics1  

iv4 #bch4  #ehe ,susceptibility upon4   
#ehf 8,a thicker covering for his       
honor40  #ehg ,pointed and peculiarly   
appropriate to the party attacked4  #ehh
 8,ordinary abuse40  #ehi 8,the thing   
that hath been1 it is that which shall  
be2 and that which is done1 is that     
which shall be done2 and there is no new
 thing under the sun4 ,is there any     
thing whereof it may be said1 ,see1 this
 is new8 ,it hath been already of old   
time1 which was before                  
us40--,ecclesiastes i4 #i1 #aj4  #eij   
,in his ,phdo4  #eia 8,there is no      
remembrance of former things3 neither   
shall there be any remembrance of things
 that are to come1 with those that shall
 come hereafter40--,ecclesiastes i4 #aa4
  #eib 8,and ,elijah the ,tishbite1 who 
was of the inhabitants of ,gilead1 said 
unto ,ahab1 ,as the ,lord ,god of       
,israel liveth1 before whom ,i stand1   
there shall not be dew nor rain these   
years1 but according to my word40--#a   
,kings xvii4 #a4 8,and it came to pass  

after many days1 that the word of the   
,lord came to ,elijah in the third year1
 saying1 ,go1 show thyself unto ,ahab2  
and ,i will send rain upon the          
earth40--#a ,kings xviii4 #a4  #eic     
,confined to a limited space4  #eid ,the
 whole of the continent of ,america then
 discovered is included under this name4
  #eie ,limited4  #eif ,vide ,plat4     
,tim4 iii4 #bd1 seq4  #eig ,mach4 ,disc4
 ,sop4 ,liv4 ii4 #b4  #eih ,sabinianus  
of ,volaterra was elected ,bishop of    
,rome on the death of ,gregory the      
,great1 ,a4 ,d4 #fjd4 ,he was of an     
avaricious disposition1 and thereby     
incurred the popular hatred4 ,he died in
 eighteen months after his election4    
#eii ,this ,cicero speaks of as 8the    
great year of the mathematicians40 8,on 
the ,nature of the ,gods10 ,b4 #d1 ch4  
#bj4 ,by some it was supposed to occur  
after a period of #ab1ied years1 while1 
according to others1 it was of #be1ibj  
years' duration4--,plat4 ,tim4 iii4 #ch1
 seq4  #fjj ,conceit4  #fja ,observed4  

#fjb ,a curious fancy or odd conceit4   
#fjc ,the followers of ,arminius1 or    
,james ,harmensen1 a celebrated divine  
of the #afth and #agth centuries4       
,though called a heresy by ,bacon1 his  
opinions have been for two centuries1   
and still are1 held by a large portion  
of the ,church of ,england4  #fjd ,a    
belief in astrology1 or at least the    
influence of the stars was almost       
universal in the time of ,bacon4  #fje  
,germany4  #fjf ,charlemagne4  #fjg     
,when led thither by ,alexander the     
,great4  #fjh ,striking4  #fji          
,application of the 8aries10 or         
battering-ram4  #faj ,this fragment was 
found among ,lord ,bacon's papers1 and  
published by ,dr4 ,rawley in his        
,resuscitatio4  #faa ,tac4 ,hist4 ii4   
#hj4  #fab ,cs4 de ,bell4 ,civ4 i4 #f4  
#fac ,tac4 ,ann4 i4 #e4  #fad ,vide     
,herod4 viii4 #ajh1 #aji4  #fae ,varro  
distributes the ages of the world into  
three periods2 viz3 the unknown1 the    
fabulous1 and the historical4 ,of the   

former1 we have no accounts but in      
,scripture2 for the second1 we must     
consult the ancient poets1 such as      
,hesiod1 ,homer1 or those who wrote     
still earlier1 and then again come back 
to ,ovid1 who1 in his ,metamorphoses1   
seems1 in imitation perhaps of some     
ancient ,greek poet1 to have intended a 
complete collection1 or a kind of       
continued and connected history of the  
fabulous age1 especially with regard to 
changes1 revolutions1 or                
transformations4  #faf ,most of these   
fables are contained in ,ovid's         
,metamorphoses and ,fasti1 and are fully
 explained in ,bohn's ,classical        
,library translation4  #fag ,homer's    
,hymn to ,pan4  #fah ,cicero1 ,epistle  
to ,atticus1 #e4  #fai ,ovid1           
,metamorphoses1 b4 ii4  #fbj ,this      
refers to the confused mixture of       
things1 as sung by ,virgil3--           
8,namque canebat uti magnum per inane   
coacta   ,semina terrarumque animque    
marisque fuissent2   ,et liquidi simul  

ignis2 ut his exordia primis   ,omnia1  
et ipse tener mundi concreverit         
orbis40--    ,ecl4 vi4 #ha4  #fba ,this 
is always supposed to be the case in    
vision1 the mathematical demonstrations 
in optics proceeding invariably upon the
 assumption of this phenomenon4  #fbb   
8,torva lena lupum sequitur1 lupus ipse 
capellam3   ,florentem cytisum sequitur 
lasciva capella40    ,virgil1 ,ecl4 ii4 
#fc4  #fbc ,ovid1 ,rem4 ,amoris1 v4     
#cdc4 ,mart4 ,epist4  #fbd ,psalm xix4  
#a4  #fbe ,syrinx1 signifying a reed1 or
 the ancient pen4  #fbf ,ovid1 ,metam4  
b4 iv4  #fbg ,thus it is the excellence 
of a general1 early to discover what    
turn the battle is likely to take2 and  
looking prudently behind1 as well as    
before1 to pursue a victory so as not to
 be unprovided for a retreat4  #fbh ,it 
may be remembered that the ,athenian    
peasant voted for the banishment of     
,aristides1 because he was called the   
,just4 ,shakspeare forcibly expresses   
the same thought3--    8,let me have men

 about me that are fat2   ,sleek-headed 
men1 and such as sleep o' nights3       
,yond ,cassius has a lean and hungry    
look2   ,he thinks too much3 such men   
are dangerous40  ,if ,bacon had         
completed his intended work upon        
8,sympathy and ,antipathy10 the constant
 hatred evinced by ignorance of         
intellectual superiority1 originating   
sometimes in the painful feeling of     
inferiority1 sometimes in the fear of   
worldly injury would not have escaped   
his notice4  #fbi ,thus we see that     
,orpheus denotes learning2 ,eurydice1   
things1 or the subject of learning2     
,bacchus1 and the ,thracian women1 men's
 ungoverned passions and appetites1 c4  
,and in the same manner all the ancient 
fables might be familiarly illustrated1 
and brought down to the capacities of   
children4  #fcj    8,quod procul a nobis
 flectat ,fortuna gubernans2   ,et ratio
 potius quam res persuadeat ipsa40  #fca
 ,proteus properly signifies primary1   
oldest1 or first4  #fcb ,bacon nowhere  

speaks with such freedom and perspicuity
 as under the pretext of explaining     
these ancient fables2 for which reason  
they deserve to be the more read by such
 as desire to understand the rest of his
 works4  #fcc ,as she also brought the  
author himself4  #fcd                   
8----------cadit ,ripheus1 justissimus  
unus1   ,qui fuit ex ,teucris1 et       
servantissimus qui3   ,diis aliter      
visum40--neid1 lib4 ii4  #fce ,te autem 
mi ,brute sicut debeo1 amo1 quod istud  
quicquid est nugarum me scire voluisti4 
#fcf    8,regina in mediis patrio vocat 
agmina sistro2   ,necdum etiam geminos a
 tergo respicit angues40    neid1 viii4 
#fif4  #fcg ,ovid's ,metamorphoses1 b4  
iii41 iv41 and vi42 and ,fasti1 iii4    
#gfg4  #fch 8,declinat cursus1 aurumque 
volubile tollit40  #fci ,the author1 in 
all his physical works1 proceeds upon   
this foundation1 that it is possible1   
and practicable1 for art to obtain the  
victory over nature2 that is1 for human 
industry and power to procure1 by the   

means of proper knowledge1 such things  
as are necessary to render life as happy
 and commodious as its mortal state will
 allow4 ,for instance1 that it is       
possible to lengthen the present period 
of human life2 bring the winds under    
command3 and every way extend and       
enlarge the dominion or empire of man   
over the works of nature4  #fdj         
8,all-gift40  #fda ,viz3 that by        
,pandora4  #fdb    8,felix qui potuit   
rerum cognoscere causas1   ,quique metus
 omnes et inexorabile fatum   ,subjecit 
pedibus1 strepitumque ,acherontis       
avari40    ,georg4 ii4 #dij4  #fdc ,de  
,augmentis ,scientiarum1 sec4 xxviii4   
and supplem4 xv4  #fdd ,an allusion     
which1 in ,plato's writings1 is applied 
to the rapid succession of generations1 
through which the continuity of human   
life is maintained from age to age2 and 
which are perpetually transferring from 
hand to hand the concerns and duties of 
this fleeting scene4     1              
--,plato1 ,leg4 b4 vi4 ,lucretius also  

has the same metaphor3--    8,et quasi  
cursores vitai lampada tradunt40  #fde  
,eccles4 xii4 #aa4  #fdf ,this is what  
the author so frequently inculcates in  
the ,novum ,organum1 viz3 that knowledge
 and power are reciprocal2 so that to   
improve in knowledge is to improve in   
the power of commanding nature1 by      
introducing new arts1 and producing     
works and effects4  #fdg    8,tu regere 
imperio populos1 ,romane1 memento3   ,h 
tibi erunt artes40    neid1 vi4 #hea4   
#fdh    8,sive recens tellus1 seductaque
 nuper ab alta   there1 cognati         
retinebat semina cli40--,metam4 i4 #hj4 
#fdi ,many philosophers have certain    
speculations to this purpose4 ,sir      
,isaac ,newton1 in particular1 suspects 
that the earth receives its vivifying   
spirit from the comets4 ,and the        
philosophical chemists and astrologers  
have spun the thought into many         
fantastical distinctions and            
varieties4--,see ,newton1 ,princip4 lib4
 iii4 p4 #dgc1 c4  #fej ,this policy    

strikingly characterized the conduct of 
,louis ,,xiv41 who placed his generals  
under a particular injunction1 to       
advertise him of the success of any     
siege likely to be crowned with an      
immediate triumph1 that he might attend 
in person and appear to take the town by
 a coup de main4  #fea ,the one denoted 
by the river ,achelous1 and the other by
 ,terpsichore1 the muse that invented   
the cithara and delighted in dancing4   
#feb    8,vivamus1 mea ,lesbia1 atque   
amemus2   ,rumoresque senum severiorum  
,omnes unius estimemus assis40--,catull4
 ,eleg4 v4  ,and again--    8,jura senes
 norint1 et quod sit fasque nefasque    
,inquirant tristes2 legumque examina    
servent40    ,metam4 ix4 #eej4