y iV NO MASTER EGA TIVE 91 ^f . ,: MICROFILMED 1991 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/NEW YORK a as part of the Foundations of Western Civilization Preservation Project jj Funded by the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT F THE HUMANITffiS Reproductions may not be mad » f c Columbia University L COPYRIGHT STATEMENT The copyright law of the Un States Code - concerns the reproductions of copyrigh^ ■ States - Title 17, United ^ of photocopies or other I 4 M imbia University Library reserves the right to refuse to a copy order if, in _ y ^^ement. fulfillment of the order involve viol i ^-^ f^ W "^ ■ShB*' s.' ■-■■ CON, TITLE: CON ESC I X/x 4CE: ..'^•'^:S|''", *^ / "DON .*, Ml. .», ,^ .«* / COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT BIBUOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET Master Negative # Original Material as Filmed - Existing Bibliographic Record 192B13 19 Essays. 1910. 88 p. 17I cm. serieS!^"* °^ *^*^^' ^^® university tutorial Restrictions on Use: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: AllJ!^^*^. IMAGE PLACEMENT: lA (t^) IB IIB __2jiLiqi DATE FILMED: HLMEDBY: RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS. INC WOODBRIDGE. CT REDUCTION RATIO: LLX. INITIALS__l2'_U?l3^a Tf^^ "^l^ft"-'- ''>^=^f^^?-^,^=^*^^^^^^^ ' ^\ »* y7 - v-^ jtt* Association for Information and Image Management 1 1 00 Wayne Avenue. Suite 1 1 00 Sliver Spring. Maryland 20910 301/587-8202 Centimeter 1 2 3 im ^M Inches 4 iniiiiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiilii iiiliiiilim hmji lij 7 8 iiiliinliiiil rrr 1.0 1.25 9 10 11 liinliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 150 lU u 1 2.8 |40 1.4 TTT 12 13 I TTT II 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 14 15 mm MPNUFOCTURED TO RUM STRNDRRDS BY RPPLIED IMAGE, INC. 9 Columbia (Hnitif m'tp intl)f(Cilp0fi^rtrjgark THE LIBRARIES ■^!?S^ *-::'S'»*a? l-aafaiii ^fp^ mw^ rr^'^'Sf .-^r^^f Tff^^^^l^pf i , T- -i cbe t1mvcri>itB HuioluU ;^erte6. (Benerat (Bbitor: WILLIAM BRIGGS, LL.D., D.C.L., M.A., B.Sc, PkINCIPAI. of UnIVRRSITV C"<»KH».«I'0NI>K.N« K CoLIKdE. h BACON ESSAYS L-XX. THE U2iv^SIT y rr-TORIAL SERIES. lEmlieb (rint3Ciic9, Bacon's Essays, I. -XX. By A. F. Wait, M.A. Is. Od. Chaucer. -Canterbury Tales. By A. .1. Wyvtt M \ With (Jh^sary. Prologue^ !>^Kiiight's Tale, Nuns Priest's Tale. Man of Law s Tale, Squire s Tale, l-^acli witli Prologue, 2h. Od. Dryden. ^Essay of Dramatic Poesy. By \V. H. Low, M.A. Ss. Txl Dryden^^ Defence of the Essay of Dramatic Poesy. Preface to the Fables. By Al.LEX Mawfij, M.A. U. iUl emh. Johnson.^^ A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. By E. J. Johnson. -Life of Milton. By S, E. (Jocjgi.v, M.A. Is. (kl. Langland. -Piers Plowman. Prologue and Voshmb L-VII., Text B. By J. h. Davis, D.Lil., M.A. 4s, M. Milton. -Early Poems, Comus, Lycidas. By S. E. (lorjoiN, M.A., aiHlA. 1^ W.vrr, M.A. •_>-.. (>,i. Areopagitica. Is. Od. Milton. -Paradise Lost, Books L, II. By A. E. Watt, M.A. is. 6d Books IV., V. r.y S. JC. (Jotit^iN, M.A. Ls. 6d. MUton. -Paradise Regained. By A. J. Wvatt, M.A. 28. (id. Milton.— Samson Agonistes. By A. J. Wvatt, M.A. 2s. 6d. Milton. -Sonnets. By W. E. Masom, M.A. Is, f>d. ' .* More. -Utopia. By R. R. RusK, Ph.D. 2s. Pope. Rape of the Lock. By A. E. Wait, M.A. Is. «d. Shakespeare. By Prof. W. J. RuLu:, D.Litt, In 40 volumes. 2s. a Volume, ' Midsummer Night's j Dream As Tou Like It King Jobu Much Aio About Notbuif Tempest AUa WeU that Ends Well Antony and Cleopscrs Comedy of Errors Coriolaaut Cymbeline Hamlet Henry IV. Part I. Henry IV. Part II. Henry V. Henry VI. FarU I. -III. Henry VIIL 2s, C)d. a Volume, Julius Caesar King Lear Love's I.abour's Lost Macbeth Measure for Measure Merchant of Venioe Merry Wive« of Windsor Othello Pericles Richaid II. Riohard III. Romeo and Juliet Sonnets The Taming of the Shrew The Two Noble Kinsmee Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus Troiius and Creasida Twelfth Night TwoOentlenien of Verona Venus and Adonis Winter'e Tale Shakespeare. Midsummer Night's Dream. Richard II. By A. E Wah', M.A. Hamlet. Merchant of Venice. By S E (io(;<;iN, M.A. Tempest. By A. U. WKEKt;«, B.A. 28. ^ch! Shakespeare.-Henry VUI. liy W. H. Low, M.A. 28. Spenser. -Faerie Queene, Book I. I5y W. H, Hill, M.A. 23. 6d. Z\)C Tllnivcreitv^ G^utorial Scries, BACON »»% ESSAYS I.-XX EDITED BY A. F. WATT, M.A. Oxon., KDITOR OF SHAKESPKARR's "RICHARD 11." AND " MIDSmiMER NICHTS DRKAM, " MILTON S " PAKADLSE LOST, 1. AND II.," ETC. WITH AX INTRODUCTION BY R. R. RUSK, Ph.D., M.A., KDITOR OF MORES " UTOI'lA." Second Edition* London: W. B. CLIVE, (Untt>er6itj ^utortaf (press &?. 157 Deury Lane, W.C. tff] ^li^^x' 4r.jr»5 56 59 63 68 iiifi"' '""""" ""'" ^ " '"^iiiiniii' ''' ""Till T CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF BACON'S CHIEF WORKS. --.■».,' '•I r\ ii '"' '5%^c First Eklitiun of Enmyi* (10) ; published 1597. ^■^ Advanc€ineiU of Leaiviiiig, Book I., 1603 ; published 1605. Advancement of Ltarningf Book II., 1605 ; published 1605. h>econd Edition of Emat/^ (38), 1607-1612 ; published 1612. XewAflaiUix, 1614-1617; published 1627. Xovutn Orijanum, 16()8-1620; published 16-20. IliMory f]f Henry VII., 1621-1622; published 1622. De Augmenti8 Scientiarum, 16>2-1623 ; pubUshed 1623. Thii-d Edition of Ettsaytt (58), 1612-1624 ; published 1625. jiri Jilji - fi.v ; - »•> . ■"-;-■ :.^«iiiiillSisii€J*s: ■^'^VV^I INTRODUCTION. 'II 'I § 1. Life of Bacon. — Francis Bacon was born on 2*2nd January, 1561, at York House, in the Strand, London. His father was Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Queen Elizabeth, and his mother was Anne, one of the daughters of Sir Anthony Cook. As a youth he was precociously solemn, and Queen Elizal)eth called him "The Young Lord Keeper." It is related that being asked on one occasion by the queen how old he was, he answered, " Two years younger than your Majesty's happy reign.*' He was sent in April 1573 to Tnnity College, Caml^ridge, where he remained till Christ- mas 1575, being then on the point of sixteen. At the university he took a dishke to the philosophy of Aristotle, " not for the worthlessness of the author," as he said, '* but for the unfruitfulness of the way ; being a philosophy only strong for disputations and contentions, but barren of the productions of works for the l)enefit of the life of man." This opinion he never altered and it determined his later philosophical position. After being admitted to the Society of Gray's Inn in June 1576 he was sent in September to France " to mould him to the arts of state." There he remained till his father's death in 1579, when he returned to England and commenced his regular career as a student of law. He became ** utter barrister" in 1582, l>encher in 1586, i< iider in 1588, and double reader in 1600. He entered Parliament in 1584 and sat in every Parlia- ment up to the time of his fall. Of his eloquence his friend Ben Jonson bears testimony : ** No man ever spake more neatly, more pressedly, more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness in what he uttered. No J&4. J'iO. A j^'Li'-.i.'-iT. rj,- v^.-3 :7.'i:f^A:.vA'Tvsr„trr'?;ri:-.f!' "-JS^Vy^'-f^f^-^W^ ..,« 2 INTRODXrCTION. member of his speech but consisted of its own graces. His hearers could not cough or look aside from him without loss. He commanded where he spoke ; and had his judges angry and pleiised at his devotion. No man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was that he should make an end." In 16i)iy Bacon married Alice Barnham, an alderman's daughter, who brought him a moderate fortune. His marriage was celebrated with great pomp. A contemporary accoimt says that Bacon '* was clad from top to toe in purple, and hath made himself and his wife such store of fine raiments of cloth of silver and gold that it dmws de careful in accepting presents from litigants when their case was still in process; he even borrowed money from suitors and was culpably negligent in allowing his servants to take presents. During his Chancellorship, 1617-16*21, he had also received and acted upon letters from Buckingham asking him to favour certain suitors. These would not have l)een sent to a man above suspicion, " a man of courage, fearing God and hating covet ousness," as he maintained a judge should Ix*. He excuseil himself bv saving that these things were vitia temporis and not vitia hominis, but we like to think of Bacon as something mon> than a man of his times, as rather a man of all time. To the charges against him Bacon made no legal defence, and on May 3rd, 1621, the famous judgment was pa«seil : — This High Court doth adjudge: (1) That the Lord Viscount St. Albans, Lord Chan- cellor of England, shall undergo fine and ransom of forty thousand pounds. (2) That he shall be imprisoned in the Tower during the King's pleasure. (3) That he shall l)e for ever incapable of an ofiice, place or employment in the State or Commonwealth. (4) That he shall never sit in Parliament, nor come within the verge of the Court. After a few days' imprisonment in the Tower he was released and his fine was also remitted. His exclusion from the Court was later revoked and the only part of the #< .-.<: ^^k^^^ 4 INTRODUCTION. sentence which remained in force was the prohibition from attending Parliament. This he tried in vain to liave cancelled. He admitted the justice of his sentence and said that he would rather l^e a briber than a defender of l)ril)es. *' I was," he says, ** the justest judge that was in England these fifty years. But it was the justest censure in Parliament that was these two hundred yeai-s." He like- wise recognised that his punishment was in the interests of justice and took '* no small comfort, in the thought that, hereafter, the greatness of a judge or magistmte shall be no sanctuary of guiltiness, which in few words is the beginning of a golden world." In his retirement he never gave up hope of re-entering public life. He was ** impatient of privateness, even in age and sickness " : as a moth to the light he sought to retiuTi to the source of liis suffering, but his appeals for office were always ignored. His retirement nevertheless enabled him to make his literary reputation more secure. Like 8ir Walter Scott in somewhat similar circumstances he devoted himself with amazing energy to literature and science, and during this period produced his Histories, the De Amjmeniis, the New Atlantis, and the Third Edition of the Esmys. The Advavcement of Learning, the Novum Oryanum, and the First and Second Edition of the Essays belong to the previous period. An experiment which was an anticipation of the modem process of refrigeration caused his death. Travelling to Highgat>e one April day he stopped on the way, purchased a hen, killed and with his own hands stuffed it with snow to test the power of cold to arrest putrefaction. As a result he caught a chill and was taken to the house of the Earl of Arundel, where on April 9th, 1626, he died of broiK^hitis. § 2. Bacons Philosophy. — With all his faihngs, Bacon was the herald of a new age. When others were looking back with regret to the past, trying tle — '* Let the deaa^£y^ftiiiii^a^Ai>a!B^MawL^rf*a ,jL%!!^i;? as?^^- i^iaifite-';^^fejaaifeifca£^\;;>.v :-^isk^iiA^i}^i:^ r.eys»uj^'^s -l^'lfc '"t* •■*% 6 INTRODUCTION. It was Bacon's object to briiij? thoiij^bt anew into fruit- ful relation with concrete experience. To attain this end was no easy task : the judgment of Time, a s[>ecious form of the lazy fallacy, was the final wonl in all arj^uments, and this Bacon set himself to refuto. Thus he was led to an utter rejwtion of the wisdom of tlie ancients. Many of his opinions, indt^nl, ori^nated in a reaction a^^ainst existing en*ors ; and when the errors which he attiU'ked passed awav, his views in their turn became errors. He inverts the ordinary view with re«;ard to history. ** These times," he says, meaning the times in which he lived, " are the ancient times, when the world is ancient, and not those which we account ancient by a computation backward from ourselves ' ; and he concludes therefrom, "that wisdom which we have derived principally frcmi the Greeks is but like the boyho4.)d of knowledge and has the characteristic property of boys : it can talk but it cannot generate; for it is fruitful of controversies but barren of works." The same cause also leads him to take a very pessimibiic view of human progress. ** Time,'" he says, '* is like a river which has l)rought down to us things light and puffed up, while those which are weighty and solid have sunk." Bacon would establish a trust worth v system whereby nature might l)e interpreted and brought into the service of man. Knowledge was to be sought ** for the glory of the Creator, and the relief of man's estiite.'* The only true knowledge for Bacon was a knowledge which was power, but he expressly rejected a narrow utili- tarianism. " For though it he true," he says, "that I am principally in pursuit of works and the active department of the sciences, yet I wait for harvest time, and do not attempt to mow the moss or to reap the green corn. For I well know that axioms once rightlv discovei'ed will carry whole troops of works along with them, and j)roduce them, not here and there one, but in clusters. And that un- seasonable and puerile hurry to snat<;h by way of earnest at the first works which come within reach, I utterly condemn and reject as an Atalanta's apple that hinders the race." I INTRODUCTION. 7 Ik^fore proceeding to enunciate his own system of pliilo- s<^»phy Bacon considei*ed it incuml)eut upon him to review the whole field of knowledge. This he did in \\\e Advance- ment of Learning. It was a great undertaking, but his was an age of intellectual heroism, when men were imbued with a desire for omniscience, and even lM)asted that they took all knowledge for their province. Bacon considered the time to In? favourahle for such a venture, and amongst the advantages of his day he mentions the art of printing, the discovery of the New World, and the peaceful state of the kingdom. Bacon fully recognised the magnitude of the task and the im|K)ssibility of accomplishing it successfully. Nevertheless his classification of the sciences is thought by some to be a more lasting contribution to philosophy than the new method which he expected would accomplish so much. The philosophy of the schoolmen which he condemned Bacon characterised as "Anticipation of the Mind": the new he termed " Interpretation of Nature." To signify his complete break with the jmst, and his opposition to the tra«litional philosophy which drew its inspiration from the Organon of Aristotle, he entitled his great work the Novum Orijanum, The Novum Organnm, i.e. the new instnunent or method of thought, is, he admits, a kind of logic, but a logic wholly different from and opposed to the logic of the schools. For the end which this science of mine proposes is," he maintains, " the invention not of arguments but of arts. And as the intention is different, so accordiutclv is the effect ; the effect of the one being to overcome an opponent in argiuuent, of the other to command nature in action." He consequently rejects demonsti*ation by means of the syllogism and employs induction throughout, but his theory of induction he likewise distinguishes from that of the formal logicians. Biicon's system is a form of induction which analyses experience and takes it to pieces, and by a due process of exclusion and rejection leads \o the inevitable conclusion. The first stage in the process is the collection of instances m^ms'^ 8 INTRODUCTION, to be invest iijatecl, the second is the sorting of instances, and the third the rejection or excUision of instances whiclido not exhibit the essential (qualities of the phenomena under examination. Then there remains '* Form, affirmative, solid, true and well limited." The use of experiment with a definite purpose was not recommended bv jiacon. The baselessness of many of the hypotheses which he found in the science of his time induced Ba<*on to disre- gard the important sei*vice which general thinking must perform in the process of scientific explanation. His method leaves but little room for hypothesis or generalisa- tion, and sometimes he seems t^ have thought that, were the collection of instances extensive enough, the sifting by the methods of exclusion might go on mechanically and extract in a purely mechanical fashion the truth contained in the particulars. In this error lies the real weakness of the whole method as described in the Novum Oryanum. It ignores the com- plexity of natural processes, and it introduces a needless distinction into the processes of mind, a distinction l)etween the receptive and passive on the one hand and the active and formative on the other. At the same time we can never overlook the contribution made to the theorv of induction by Bacon : its significance lies in the necessity for the application of the method of elimination or exclu- sion and in the definiteness by which appeal to fact is insisted on. In his romance entitled the New AthirUis Bacon picture for us what he conceives the outcome of the applica- tion of his new method might be. His Utopia is the heaven of the scientific mind. The island of Bensalem has an ideal polity ; it is not, however, over its jx)litical and social institutions that Bacon lingers, but over Salomon'^ House, *' which house or college is the very eye of the king- dom." This foundation is the emlx)diment of the new scientific spirit which Bacon hoped might bring happin* to humanitv. Salomon's House is a great laboratorv equipped with all manner of scientific instruments, and connected with it is an organised army of scientific in- vestigators. All the processes of nature are there artifi- •'5^'-w4>'**«s"t • INTRODUCTION. 9 cially reproduced, and the results made to serve mankind. But Bacon's vision of a world regenerated by science has vanished : not in that way is human happiness to be found. Indeed John Stuart Mill has questioned whether all the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day's toil of any human t)eing. § 3. Bacon's Philosophy of Life. — In religion Bacon desired unity and advocated tolerance: '*the ancient and true bonds of unity are one faith, one baptism, and not one ceremony, one policy.** Ethics he makes the handmaid to Theology. He preaches no gospel of duty for duty's sake and condemns all idealistic systems, commending Machiavelli the more for openly and unfeignedly declaring and describing what men do and not what they ought to do. In opposition to Aristotle he prefers the active to the contemplative life. He is a pragmatist also in that he judges the rightness of an action by its effects : the effects, however, are to be con- sidered with reference to the good not of the individual, but of the state. Bacon's political doctrines are influenced by the Greek conception of the state, especially by the views of Aristotle whom he professes to despise. He shares with Aristotle the view that states are naturally hostile to one another, that war is a necessity ; and his statement on foreign trade is as heterodox economically as Aristotle's dictum on interest. In Bacon w^e miss the modeni democratic note. He had no faith in democracy and like the Greeks despised the workers. § 4. The Essays. — Bacon will be remembered by his literary works when his philosophical writings are known only by name. He seems indeed to have had some intima- tion of this immortality when in the dedication to the Essays he predicted that' they might List *'as long as books last." Bacon has himself given his reason for describing these works as Essays : " The want of leisure hath made me choose to writecertain brief notes, set down rather signifi- cantly than curiously, which I have called Essays." They ^laakiiaaafclri 10 INTRODUCTION. consist merely of "axiomata media," rough generalisatious from experience, observations collected with a view to an inductive and exi)erimental pliilosoj)hy of human conduct, and so deserve the name of E^tsays or AtUtnpis. Tlie word, as he says, was new, but the thing old./ Montaigne's Essays are in fact the only important, if not ihe only, writ- ings previous to the time' of Bacon which bear the* name, but they have little in common with Bacon's writings, for Montaigne's Essays are spontaneous and full of'' vivid personal feeling. Bacon's are profound and compressed, and are delivered in a m.mner which is not merely authori- tative, Init even oracular, j The Essays were published in three separate editions, of which the first, containing ten, appeared in 1597, the second, containing tliirty-eight, in 1612, and the third, contain- ing fifty-eight, in l(J2o, the year before Bacon's death. Of the essays included in tliis selection none l>elongs to the first edition; the essays Of Truth, Of Revenge, Of Adversity, Of Simulation and Dissimulation, Of Envv, Of Boldness, Of Seditions and Troubles, Of Travel l)eloug to the third, and the remaimler to the second. Panidox passes for philosophy with a certain class of present-day writers : antithesis *was the form in which Bacon cast his thoughts. This trick of stvle, it has l)een sugc^ested, was the result of a mental habit' fostered by his practice in the coiu-ts. However this may l)e, Bacon him- self discloses his method, and in the De Augments Scien- fiarum he sets forth in tabular form the antitheta on various subjects. For the sake of illustration those on ** Kevenge '' are given below. Rkvenue. For. Revenge is a kind of wild justice. lie who i-equites violence with violence, .sins again.st the law but not against the man. The fear of private revenge is a useful thing ; for laws too often sleep. Against. He that did the first wrong made a beginning of mischief, he that retumeth it maketh no end. The more natural ••'""•ijre is, the more neetl to rt i .it. He that is ready to return an injury was belli ndhand more in time perhaps than in will. INTRODUCTION. 11 The E^mys remain by reason of this method a mere comi)endium of practical philosophy : there is in them no immanent dialectic transcending and reconciling in a liigher synthesis the opposition of thesis and antithesis. § 5. Bacon's Style. — ** These modern languages," says Bacon, "will at one time or another play the bank- rowte with books." So t<> preserve his own writings from oblivion he translated into Latin as many as he could of his English works, e.g. Esmys, Advanrement of Learning, History of Henry VI]., alleging as his reason for this with regard to the Esaays '* that the Latin volume of them (being in the luiiversal language) may last as long as books last." ^ Yet the language he affected to despise has had its triumph : Bacon's Latin writings are now read mainly through the medium of English translations, while his Essays have l»ecome a classic of the language, and they owe this position not to their subject-matter, but to theii' inimitable style and fine literary flavour. Terseness of expression and epigrammatic brevity are the most obvious characteristics of Bacon's style as seen in the Essays. Bacon possessed to a greater degree than any i>ther author of ancient or modern times, except perhaps Tacitus or Aristotle, the power of compressing into a few words a great body of thought. As an instance may l>e taken the famous passage in the Essay of Adversity, "Prosix^ritv is the blessing of the Old Testament, ad- versity is the blessing of the New ; which carrieth the L 'r iKmiidiction and the clearer revelation of God's lavour."(^Thi8 terseness of style is often attained by the avoidance of superfluous epithets and by the omission of the ordinarv joints and sinews of sj)eech, such as conjunc- tions and 'other logical connections. Yot it is seldom oarrie/style is his constajit use of fi^nirative lanpage . \ In his day, when conceits and far-fetcheJ melaph^Warfd comparisons were the delight of writers both of prose and of verse. Bacon 1 See Dedication of Essays. '4Si'-?"«:"j -ifi*.^*- ■« ■!*" :^ ' ^hi^ ''v. 'r^_ Sr "l-.V* .; r(;ViAf^r< '-W il- 12 INTRODUCTION. distiuguislieoi lit iug out that Bacon did not trouble about their accura<:*v. They are frequently inexact, but generally more forcit>le, and ahvays more serviceable to him than the exact words would have been, for he does not hesitate to alter the original to bring it into harmony with jt-e new context. { The language of the Essays is largely {permeated with \Latinisms, so that some knowledge of Latin is highly 8er\'iceable to the reader. Nevertheless, though Latin words and idioms are frequent, the English lias not suffered, but retains its natural power as a vehicle of expression. The sentences, says Dean Church, are brief rd rapid and '* come down like the strokes of a hammer." That Bacon's style was the result of labour and conscious art is proved by the fact that he considered certain pass- ages in his writings to be like finished stones, capable of being fitted into different buildings. The fact is that Bacon was a consummate artist, able to use all material eft'ectively, and that he invariably suited his style to his subject. Hence it is difficult to find any constant quality in his style. Perhaps the dignified self-esteem which pervades all the Essays may be taken as the chief charac- teristic of his work. vkA H 'f BACON'S ESSAYS. Jlcbiratiou. ^m To the Bight Honourable my very good Lord the Duke ob^ m Buckingham his Grace, Lord High Admiral of England. Excellent Lord, Solomon says, A good name is as a precious ointment ; and I assure myself such will your Grace's name be with posterity. For your fortune and merit both have been eminent, and you have planted things like to last. I do now publish my Essays, which, of all my works, have been most current, for that, as it seems, they come home to men's business and bosoms. I have enlarged them both in number and weight, so that they are indeed a new work. I thought it therefore agreeable to my affection and obligation to your Grace, to prefix your name before them both in English and in Latin. For 1 do conceive that the Latin Volume of them (being in the universal language) may last as long as books last. My Instauration I dedicated to the King j my History of Henry the Seventh (which I have now also translated into Latin) and my portions of Natural History, to the TjI Prince ; and these'l dedicate to your Grace, being of the best fruits that, by the good increase which God gives to my pen and labours, I could yield. God lead your Grace by the hand. Your Grace's most obliged and faithful servant, Fr. St. Alban. 14 ESSAY /. Oif TRUTH. 15 I. OF TRUTH. H7m« ts Truth f said jesting Pilate ; and would not stay for an answer. Certainly there be tliat delight in giddiness, and count it a bondage to fix a belief; affect- ing free-will in thinking, as well as in acting. And, 5 though the sects of philosophers of that kind be gone, yet there remain certain discoursing wits which are ot the same veins ; though there be not so much blood in them as was in those of the ancients. But it is not only the dithculty and labour which men tJike in finding 10 out of truth — nor, again, that, when it is found, it imposeth upon men's thoughts — that doth bring lies in .favour ; but a natural though corrupt love of the lie it self. One of the later schools of the Grecians examineth the matter, and is at a stand to think what should be in 15 it, that men should love lies, where neither they make for pleasure, as with poets, nor for advantage, as with the merchant, but for the lie's sake. But I cannot tell : this same truth is a naked and open daylight, that doth not show the masques and mummeries, and triumphs ot 20 the world, half so stat^^ly and daintily as candle-lights. Truth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl, that .sheweth best by day ; but it will not rise to the price of a diamond or carbuncle that sheweth best in varied lights. A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure. 25 Doth any mnn doubt, that if there were taken out of men's minds vain opinions, flattering hopes, false valuations, imaginations as one would, and the like, but it would leave the minds of a number of men poor shrunken things, full of melancholy and indisposition, and unpleas- 30 ing to themselves 1 One of the fathers, in great severity, called poesy vinum dienionum^ because it tilleth the imagination, and yet it is but with the shadow of a lie. But it is not the lie that passeth through the mind, but the lie that sinketh in and settleth in it, that doth the 85 hurt such as we spake of before. But howsoever these ii things are thus in men's depraved judgments and 1 affections, yet truth, which only doth judge itself, teacheth thai the inquiry of truth (which is the love- making, or wooing of it), the knowledge of truth (which is the presence of it), and the belief of truth (which 40 is the enjoying of it) is the sovereign good of human nature. The first creature of God, in the works of the days, was the light of the sense ; the last was the light of reason ; and His Sabbath work, ever since, is the illumination of His spirit. First He breathed light 45 ffl ^*P^^" ^^^® ^^^^ °^ ^^*^ matter, or chaos ; then He breathed I" light into the face of man : and still He breatheth aud inspireth light into the face of His cliosen. The poet, that beautified the sect that was otherwise inferior to the rest, siiith yet excellently well. It is a pleasure 50 to stand ujxyn the shore, and to see ships tost njwn the sea ; a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see the battle, and the adventures thereof below ; but no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of truth (a hill not to be commanded, and where 55 the air is always clear and serene), and to see the errors, and wanderings, and mists, and tempests, in the vale below; so always that this prospect be with pity, and , , not with swelling or pride. .Gftrtftinly it is heaven upon ~ - f>ariiL_to havi- 9 Jn charity, rest in 60 C providence, and turn upon the poles of. truth, ^ ^ To pass from theological and philosophical truth to "^ the truth of civil business, it will be acknowledged, even by those that pmctise it not, that clear and round dealing is the honour of man's nature, and that mixture 65 of falsehood is like alloy in coin of gold and silver, which may make the metal work the better, but it embaseth it. For these winding and crooked courses ijH are the goings of the serpent, which goeth basely upon ^ the belly, and not upon the feet. There is no vice that 70 OH doth so cover a man with shame as to be found false and perfidious ; and therefore Montaigne saith prettily, when he inquired the reason why the word of the lie should be such a disgrace and such an odious charge-- baith he If it be well weighed, to say that a man lieth, is 75 »r t'^i ^WM'^'^F^^ >-.?- 7M'^ ■ ZiMS7^^^'^?f!^f^^ 'I'" ^'^^^'f: w^^'Ss^i' ■ 16 £SSA Y II 1 as 1)17 1 ch as to say (hat he is brave tovxirds God, and a coward Uncards man ; for a ^'" ^'^"^^-^ f'"'f. ^ioear more fearful. Better saith he, Qaifimm vitie extremum inter munera pomit Xatnrx, It is as natural to die as 50 to be born : and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful iis the other. He that dies in an earnest pursuit, is like one that is wounded in hot blood : who, for the time, scarce feels the hurt ; and therefore a mind fixed and bent upon somewhat that is good doth avert the 55 dolours of death. But, above all, believe it, the sweetest canticle is, Ximc dimittis, when a man hath obtained worthy ends and expectations. Death hath this also, that it openeth the gate to good fame, and extinguisheth envy. 00 — Extiivctus amabitur idem. ms. I 20 ,.■'!. 18 ESSAY III OF UNITY TN RELIGION. 19 yr IIL a OF UNITY IN IlELIGION. ^£LiGioii beiiig tke chief band of liumaH soetefy, '* w a happy thing wlien itself is well contained within the true brtml-oL unity. The quarrels :uk1 divisions about religion were evils unknown to the heathen. The reason was, because the religion of the heathen consisted rather in rites and ceremonies than in any constant belief. For you may imagine what kind of faith theirs was, when the chief doctors and fathers of their church were the ix)ets. But the true Cod hath this attribute, 10 that He is a jealous God ; and therefore His worship and religion will endure no mixture nor jmrtner. We shall therefore speak a few words concerning the Unity of the Church ; what are the Fruits thereof ; what the Bounds ; and what the Means. 15 The Fruits of Unity (next unto the well-pleasing of God which is all in all) are two ; the one towards those that are without the Church, the other towards those that are within. For the former; it is certain, that heresies and schisms are of all others the greatest 20 scandals, yea, more than corruption of manners. For as in the natural hotly a wound or solution of continuity is worse than a corrupt humour, so in the spiritual. So that nothing doth so much keep men out of the Church, and drive men out of the Church, as brejich of 25 unity. And thei-efore, whensoever it cometh to that pass that one saith, Ecce in deserto^ another saith, A'cce in penetralihns, — that is, when some men seek Christ in the conventicles of heretics, and others in an outward face of a Church — that voice had need continually to 30 sound in men's ears, Nolite exirc. The Doctor of the Gentiles (the propriety of whose vocation drew him to have a special care of those without) saith, 1/ a heathen come 171, and hear you speak with several toiKjmSy will he ^ not say tliat you are mad? And certainly it is little 35 belter when atheists and profane persons do hear of so *.v. %v many discordant and contrary opinions in religion ; it 3 doth avert them from the Church, and maketh them to sit down in the chair of the scorn^^rs. It is but a light thing to be vouched in so serious a matter, but yet it expresseth well the deformity ; there is a Master of 40 scothng, that in his catalogue of books of a feigned library, sets down this title of a book. The Morris Dance of Heretics, b'or, indeed, every sect of them have a diverse posture, or cringe by themselves ; which cannot but move derision in worldlings and depraved politics, 45 who^re apt to contemn holy things. As for the Fruit towards those that are within, it is |)eace, which containeth infinite blessings. It estab- lisheth faith ; it kindleth charity ; the outward peace of the Church distilleth into peace of conscience, and it 50 turneth the labours of writing and reading controversies into treatises of mortification and de\ otion. Concerning the Bonds of Unity, the true placing of them imj)orteth exceedingly. There appear to be two — extremes ; for to certain zelants all speech of p;icifica- 55 tion is odious. Is it pence^ Jehu? What host thou to do with peace? turn t/iee behind me, Peace is not thet^ matter, but following and party. Contrariwise, certain LaodiceiAus and lukewarm persons think they may accommmlate points of religion by middle ways, and 60 taking part of both, and witty reconcilements, as if they i^ would make an arbitrement between God and man. Both these extremes are to be avoided ; which will be done if the league of Chri.stians, penned by our Saviour Himself, were in the two cross clauses thereof soundly 65 and plainly expounded : He that is not loith lis is against us ; and again, He that is not against us is with us ; that is, if the points fundamental, and of substance in religion, were truly discerned and distinguished from points not merely of faith, but of opinion, order, or 70 good intention. This is a thing may seem to many a matter trivial, and done already: but if it were done less partially, it would be embraced more generally. Of this I may give only this advice, according to my suiall model. Men ought to take heed of rending God's 75 iiS»;t 20 ESSAY III or UNITY IN nELiaiON, 21 3 Church by two kiii.ls of coiitiov€Tsies. Tho one is, when iho matter of the point rontrovertcMl is too snuill ^ and h-ht, not worth the heat and strife about it, knulled only by contra.hction. For, ixs it is noted by 80 one of the fathers, ChrUes coat imked had no seam, hut the ChnrcJiH vesture was of divers colours; whereupon he saith, //* vcste vurietus sit, scissura non sit ; they bo two thin^xs, Unity and Uniformity. The other is, when the matter of the point controverted is gre.t, but it is So driven to an over-great subtilty and obscurity, so that ' It beconieth a thing nither ingenious tlian substantial. A man that is of judgment and understanding shall sometimes hear ignorant men differ, and know well within himself that those which so differ mean one 90 thing, and yet they themselves would never aoree And it It come so to pass in that distance of judcMnent winch IS between man and man, shall we not think that God above, that knows the heart, doth not discern that trail men, m some of their contra^lictions, intend tho 9j sjime thing, and accepteth of both ? The nature of such controversies is excellently expressed by St. Paul in the warning and precept that he giveth concerning the same, J)erUa jn-ofanas vocum novitates cl opjmitiones Jalsi nornmis scieniiie. Men create oppositions which 100 are not, and put them into new terms so fixed as whercjis the meaning ought to govern the term, 'the term in effect governeth tho mmning. There bo also two false Peaces, or Unities, the one, when the i)eace IS gmuniled but upon an implicit ignorance (for all 100 colours will agree in the dark) ; the other when it is pieced up upon a direct admission of contraries in fundamental points. For truth and falsehood in such things are like tlie iron and clay in the toes of Nebu- chadnezzar's image : they may cleave but they will not 110 incorporate. Concerning the Means of procuring Unity, men musf. beware, that m the procuring or muniting of religious unity, they do not dissolve and deface the laws of charity and of human society. Thei^ be two sworda 115 amongst Christians, the spiritual and the temporal and 1 both have tlieir due office and place in the maintenance 3 of religion. But we may not take up the third sword, which is Mahomet's sword, or like unto it — that is, to })ro|mgate religion by wars, or by sanguinary persecu- tions to force consciences (except it be in cases of overt 1 20 scandal, blasphemy, or intermixture of practice against the state), much less to nourish seditions, to authorise conspiracies and rebellious, to put the sword into the people's hands, and the like, tending to the subversion of all government, which is the ordinance of Gpd. For 125 this is but to dash the first table against the second ; and so to consider men as Christians, as we forget that they are men. Lucretius the poet, wlien he beheld the act of Agamemnon, that could endure the sacrificing of his own daughter, exclaimed : — 130 Tantum rcliyio potuii suadcre malorum. What would he have said, if he had known of the massacre in France, or tlio powder treason of England ? He would have been seven times more Epicure and atheist than he was. For as the temporal sword is to be 1 85 drawn with great circumsjx^ction in cases of religion, so it is a thing monstrous to put it into hands of the conunon people. Let that be left to the Anabaptists and other furies. It was a great ])lasphemy when the devil said, / will ascend and be like tite Highest ; but it 140 is greater blasphemy to personate God, and bring Him in saying, / will descend awl he like the ■jn'i'^ice of darhiess. And what is it better, to make the cause of religion to descend to the cruel and execrable actions of murdering princes, butchery of people, and subversion of 145 stati o^hi^^ That whfrh iiTTVost is gone and irrevocable, and wise 10 men have enough to do with things present and to come ; therefore they do but trifle with themselves, that la])Our in past matters. There is no man doth a wrong for the wrong's sj\ke, but thereby to purchase himself profit, or pleiisuro, or honour, or the like ; therefore why 15 should I be angry with a man for loving himself better than me? And if any man should do wrong, merely out of ill-nature, why, yet it is but like the thorn or briar, which prick and sciatch, because they can do no other. The most tolerable sort of revenge is for those wron<»8 20 which there is no law to remetly : but then, lot a man take lieed the revenge be such as there is no law to punish ; else a man's enemy is still beforehand, and it is two for one. Some, when they take revenge, are desirous the |mrty 25 should know whence it cometh. This is the moie generous. For the delight seemeth to be not so ^cb S^cU in doing the hurt, as in making the party repent. But 4 base and crafty cowards are like the arrow that flieth in the dark. CJosmus, Duke of Florence, had a desperate saying 30 against perfidious or neglecting friends, as if those wrongs were unpardonable. You shall read (saith he) that we are commanded to forgive our enemies; hut you never read tliat we a/re commanded to forgive our friends. But yet the spirit of Job was in a better tune : Shall we 35 (saith he) take good at God's Itands, aiid not he content to take evil also ? And so of friends in a proportion. This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds gi-een, which otherwise would heal and do well. Public revenges are for the most part fortunate ; as that 40 for the death of Ciesar ; for the death of Pertinax ; for the dejith of Henry the Third of France ; and many moi-e. But in private revenges it is not so. Nay rather, vindicative persons live the life of witches, who, as they are mischievous, so end they infortunate. 45 V. OF ADVERSITY. It was an high six^ech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoics), that tfie good things lohich belong to Pros- jyerity are to he unsM, hut the good things tltat belong to Adversity are to he admired. Bona rerum secundarum optahiliay adrersarum niirahiiia. Certainly, if miracles 5 be the command over nature, they appear most in Adversity. It is yet a higher speech of his than the other (much too high for a heathen), It is true greatness to Jiave in one the frailty of a man, and tlie security of a God. Vere magnumy habere fragilitatem hominis, securi- 10 totem Dei, This would have done better in poesy, where transcendencies are more allowed ; and the poets, indeed, have been busy with it. For it is in effect the thing which is figured in that stiiinge fiction of the ancient poets, iiihA< *..jJMiifA ^ iJ.ikttm.. 24 S'iSAr V, b which seemeth not to l>e without mystery, nay, and to have gome approach to the state of a Christian : that Uei'cules, when he went to unbind Prometheueech to freedom of thought. And therefore it is a good shrewd proverb of the Spaniard, teU a lie and foul 100 a troth : as if there were no way of discovery but by Simulation. There be also three disadvantages to set it even The iirst, that Simulation and Dissimulation commonly carry with them a show of fearf ulness which, in any business, doth spoil the feathers of round flying 10& up to the mark. The second, that it puzzleth and per- plexeth the conceits of many, that perhaps would other- wise co-operate with him. and makes a man walk almost alone to his own ends. The third, and greatest, is, that it depriveth a man of one of the most principal in- IIU struments for action; which is trust and belief. Ihe ' best composition and temperature is to have openness in fame and opinion ; secrecy in habit ; dissimulation in soa-sonable use; and a power to feign, if there ^e no ^^^ remedy. s/r Til. OF PATIENTS AND CHILDREN. The joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears. They cannot utter the one, nor they wHl not utter the other. ChiUhen sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter ; they increase the cares of life, but they mitigate the remembrivnco of 5 '■*l Jl4>3vi. i^t^' ^V V^"'X^V^5-¥-*-'* '^ -^'^^^^^^^^^^"'''^^^®'^ 28 USSAV VII. OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE. 29 7 death. The {erpetuity by generation is common to beasts ; but memory, merit, and noblo works are proper to men. And surely a man shall see the noble.st works ,^^?: J^"°^*'^^^^"^^ *'''^'^ proceeded from childless men, 10 which have sought to express the images of their minds where those of their bodies have failed. So the care of posterity is most in them that have no posterity. They that are the first raisers of their houses are most in- dulgent towards their children, beholding them as the 15 continuance, not only of their kind, but of their work- and so both cliildren and creatures. ' The difference in affection of parents towards tlieir several children is many times unequal, and sometinuvs unworthy, esi>ocially in the mother; as Solomon saith 20 A wise son rejoweth the faUter, hut an nmjnicioua sou s/mmes the mother. A man shall see, where there is a house full of children, one or two of the eldest resT>ected and the youngrst made wantons ; but in tlie midst some that are as it were forgotten, who, many times, ne^'er. J5 theless, prr)ve the l)est. The illiberality of jmrents, in allowance towards their children, IS a harmful error, makes them ba.se, acquaint« them with shifts, makes them .sort with mean company and makes them surfeit more when they come to pleTity 30 And therefore the proof is best when men keep their authority towards their children, but not their purse Men have a foolish manner (both parents, and school- masters, and servants), in creating and breeding, an emulation between brothers during childhood • which Sb many times sorteth to discord wlien they are men and disturbeth families. ' The Italians make little difference between children and nephews, or near kinsfolk ; but, so they l)e of the lump they care not, though they pass not through their 40 own body. And, to say truth, in nature it is much a like matter : insomuch that wo see a nephew sometimes resembleth an uncle, or a kinsman, more than his own parent, as the blood happens. Let parents choose betimes the vocations and coarsea 45 they mean their children should take ; for then they -^at'J are most flexible. And let them not too much apply 7 themselves to the dispo.sition of their children, as think- ing they will take best to that which they have most mind to. It is true that, if the affection or apt- ness of the children be extraordinary, then it is good 50 not to cross it; but generally the precept is good, Opthnum elujCj stiave et facile iliiid faciei coiisuetudo. ^'oungiT brothers are commonly fortunate, but seldom never or where the elder are disinherited. 10 VIII. OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE. II E that hath wife and childrQB-.haJJi^iven hostages ^ta-ioi:iuue ; for they are impediments to great enteT^ prises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly the best works, and of gi'eatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men ; which, 5 both in affection and means, have married and endowed the public. Yet it were great reason that those that have children should have greatest care of future times ; unto which they know they must transmit their dearest pledges. Jr^me there are, who, though they lead a single life, vet their thoughts do end with themselves, and account future times im pertinencies. Nay, there are some other that account wife and children but as bills of fhargee. Nay, more, there are some foolish rich, cove- 15 toua men that take a pride in having no children, because they may be thought so much the richer. For, perhaps, they have heard some talk, Such a one is a great rich inan, and another except to it, Fea, hut hs hath a great charge of ddldren, as if it were an abatement to his 20 riches. But the most ordinary cause of a single life is liberty, especially in certain self-pleasing and humorous minds, which are so sensible of every restraint, as they N/' 9s ^**-? JTTV 80 ESSAY VIII. 8 will go near to think their girdles and garters to be 25 bonds anv]iapq jt muiiLikaiL ^^j^ ^ Ifill a pool. It is indifferent for judges and magistrates ; for if they be facile and corrupt, you shall have a servant five times worse than a wife. For soldiers, I find the generals commonly, in their horlatives, put men in 35 mind of their wives and children ; and I think the despising of marriage among the Turks maketh the vulgar soldier more base. .Certainly wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity; and single men, though they be many times 40 more charitable, because their means are less exhaust, yet, on the other side, they are more cruel and hard- hearted (good to make severe inquisitors), because their tenderness is not so oft called upon. Gnive natures, led by custom, and therefore constant, are commonly loving 45 husbands, as was said of Ulysses, Vetidaui snam jn-mtidit immorUditati. Chaste women are often [)roud and f re- ward, as presuming upon the merit of their ch:istity. It is one of the best bonds, both of chastity and obedience, m the wife, if she thinks her husband wise ; which she 50 will never do if she find him je;dous. Wives are young men's mistresses, compjinions 'for 'miOitto age, luid old meuV nurses ; so as a man may have a quarrel to marry, when he will. Kut yet he wai? reputed one of the wise men that made answer to the 55 question when a man should marry- A young man not yet, an elder man not at all. It is often seen that bad husbands have very good wives ; whether it be that it misoth the price of their husbiinds' kindness when it comes, or that the wives take a pride in their patience. 60 But this never fails, if the bad husbands were of their own choosing, against their friends' consent ; for then they will be sure to make good their own fully. ^I*v -4fii» k *•>■.* ^ ■» kr ■♦-» \\h OF ENVY. 81 5 IX. OF ENVY. TiiKRE l>e none of the affections which have been noted to fascinate or bewitch, but Love and Envy. They both have vehement wishes; they frame them- selves readily into imaginations and suggestions, and they come easily into the eye, especially upon the presence of the objects : which are the points that con- duce to fascination, if any such thing there be. We see, likewise, the Scripture calleth envy an evil eye / and the astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects : so that still there seemeth to be acknowledged, in .the 10 act of envy, an ejaculation or irradiation of the eye. Nay, some have been so curious as to note that the times when the stroke or percussion of an envious eye doth most hurt, are when the party envied is beheld in glory or triumph. For that sets an edge upon envy ; and, 15 besides, at such time, the spirits of the person envied do come forth most into the outward parts, and so meet the blow. But leaving these curiosities (though not unworthy to be thought on in fit place) we will handle what persons 20 are apt to envy others ; what jxirsous are most subject to he envied themselves ; and what is the difference between public and private envy. A man that hath no virtue in himself ever envieth virtue in others. For men's minds will either feed upon 25 their own good, or upon others' evil; and who wanteth the one will prey upon the other ; and whoso is out of hope to atti\in another's virtue, will seek to come at even hand, by depressing another's fortune. A man that is busy and inquisitive is commonly 30 envious. For to know much of other men's matters cannot be because all that ado may concern his own estate. Therefore it must needs be that he taketh a kind of play-pleasure in looking upon the fortunes of others. Neither can he that mindeth but his own 35 I. -w- \ m -i i 82 ESSAY IX. OF ENVY. 3S 9 business find much matter for envy. For envy is a gadding pa^ssiou, and walketh the streets, and doth nob keep home : Non est curiosus, quin idem sit vmlevoliis. Men of noble birth are noted to be envious towards 40 new men when they rise. For tlio disUnce is altered : and it is like a deceit of the eye that, when others come on, they think themselves go back. Deformed persons, and eunuchs, and old men, and bastards, are envious. For he that cannot possibly 45 mend his own case, will do what he can to impair another's : except these defects light uj^n a very brave and heroical nature, which thinketh to make his natural wants part of his honour ; in that it should be &iid that an eunuch, or a Lime man, did such great matters ; 50 affecting the honour of a minicle ; as it was in Narses the eunuch, and Agesilaus and Tamerlane, that were lame men. The same is the case of men that rise after calamities and misfortunes. For they are as men fallen out with 55 the times, and think other men's harms a redemption of their own sufferings. They that desire to excel in too many matters, out of levity and vain-glory, are ever envious. For they cannot want work ; it being impossible but many, in some one 60 of those things, should surpass them. Which was the character of Adrian the emperor, that mortally envied |x)et8 and paintei-s, and artilicera in works wherein he had a vein to excel. Lastly, near kinsfolk and fellows in oliice, and those 65 that are bred together, are more apt to awvy their equals when they are raised. For it doth upbraid unto them their own fortunes, and pointeth at them, and comet h oftener into their remembrance, and incuneth likewise more into the note of others ; and envy ever redoubleth 70 from speech and fame. Cain's envy wixs the more vile and malignant towards his brother Abel, because, when his sacrifice was better accepted, there was nobody to look on. Thus much for those that are apt to envy. Concerning those that are more or less subject to envy. 75 Fiist, persons of eminent virtue, when they aro advunceJ^ A J«>« «rl«v 4' ■•' ■♦ > M' fr are less envied. For their fortune seemeth but due unto 9 them ; and no man envieth the payment of a debt, but rewards and libei-ality rather. Again, envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man's self ; and where there is no comparison, no envy : and therefore kings are 80 not envied but by kings. Nevertheless, it is to be noted that unworthy persons are most envied at their first coming in, and afterwards overcome it better ; whereas, contrariwise, persons of worth and merit are most envied when their fortune continuetli long. For by that 85 time, though their virtue be the same, yet it hath not the sjime lustre ; for fresh men grow up that darken it. Persons of noble blood are less envied in their rising. For it seemeth but right done to their birth. Besides, there seemeth not much added to their fortune ; and 90 «nvy is as the sunbeams, that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising ground, than upon a fiat. And, for the same reason, those that aro advanced by degrees are less envied than those that aro advanced suddenly, and />er salt urn, ^^ Those that have joined with their honour great travels, cares, or perils, are less subject to envy. For men think that they ejun their honours hardly, and pity them sometimes; and pity ever hcaleth envy. Wherefore you shall observe, that the more deep and sober sort of politic 100 jM-rsons, in their greatness, are ever bemoaning themselves what a life they lead, chanting a quanta jxitiimtr. Not tliat they feel it so, but only to abate the edge of envy, r.ut this is to be understood of business that is laid upon men, and not such as they call unto themselves. For nothing increaseth envy more than an unnecessary and ambitious engrossing of business. And nothing doth extinguish envy more than for a great person to preserve all other infeiior officers in their full rights and pre-emi- nences of their places. For, by that means, there be so 110 many screens between him and envy. Above all, those are most subject to envy which carry the gieatness of their fortunes in an insolent and proud manner ; being never well but while they are showing liow great tliey are, either by outward pomp, or by 115 K.SS. 1—20 ^ 105 L rtl^V'fit-T.-^^ •TJsCti t tjlilife- .^^a^i^si^isiAii :'>S% '^^WW^^- 34 JESS AY IX, OF LOVE. 35 9 triumphing over all opposition or competition. Whereas wise men will rather do sacrifice to envy, in suffering themselves, sometimes of purpose, to be crossed and over- borne in things that do not much concern them. Not- 120 withstanding, so much is true, that the carriage of greatness in a plain and open manner (so it be without arrogancy and vain-glory), doth draw less envy than if it be in a more oi-afty and cunning fashion. For in that course a man doth but disavow fortune, and seemeth to 125 be conscious of his own want in worth, and doth but teach others to envy him. Lastly, to conclude this part : as we said in the begin- ning that the act of envy had somewhat in it of witchcraft., so there is no other cure of envy but the cure of wit<-h- 130 rnift ; and that is to remove the lot (us they aill it), and to lay it u|X)n anotlier. For which purpose, the wiser sort of great persons bring in ever upon the stage some- body upon whom to derive the envy that would come upon themselves ; sometimes upon ministers and servants, 135 sometimes upon colleagues and associates, and the like. And, for that turn, there are never wanting some persons of violent and undertaking natures, who, so they may have power and business, will take it at any cost. Now, to speak of public onvy, Tiieio is yet some good 140 in public envy, whereas in private there is none. For public envy is fus an ostracism, that eclipsoth men when they grow too gi-eat. And therefore it is a bridle also to great ones to keep within bounds. This envy, being in the Katin word invidia, goeth in 145 the modern languages by the name of fh'sconienfwent ; of which we shall speak in handling Sedition. It is a disease in a Stat^ like to infection. For, as infection spreadeth upon that which is sound, and tainteth it; so, when envy is gotten once into a SUite, it traduceth even 150 the best actions thereof, and turneth them into an ill odoiu'. And therefore there is little won by interming- ling of plausible actions. For that doth argue but 'a weakness and fear of envy, which hurteth so much the more ; as it is likewise usual in infections, which, if you 155 fear them, you call them upon you. • ► > * w * • #4 PijSlTiEBA1fri*iii.'iTfi'i~-^iVi-ri'-i'*iii"" '-' ' I This public envy seemeth to bear chiefly upon principal 9 officers or ministers, rather than upon Kings and Estates themselves. But this is a sure rule, that if the envy upon the minister be great, when the cause of it in him is small, or if the envy be general in a manner upon all 160 the ministers of an estate, then the envy (though hidden) is truly upon the State itself. And so much of public envy or discontentment, and the difference thereof from private envy, which was handled in the first place. We will add this in general, touching the affection of 1C5 envy, that of all other affections it is the most importune and continual. For of other affections there is occasion given but now and then ; and therefore it was well said, Invidia featos dies non agit. For it is ever working uix)n some or other. And it is also noted, that love and 170 envy do make a man pine, which other affections do not, because they are not so continual. It is also the vilest affection, and the most depraved ; for which cause it is the proper attribute of the Devil, who is called The envious man that soweth tares among the wheat by night ; 175 as it always cometh to pass, that envy worketh subtilty, and in the dark, and to the prejudice of good things, such as is the wheat. X. OF LOVE. TnE stage is more beholding to Love than the life of/ num. For, as to tlie stage, love is ever matter of comedies, and now and then of tragedies ; but in life it doth much mischief, sometimes like a Siren, sometimes like a Fury. You may observe that amongst all the 5 great and worthy persons (whereof the memory re- maineth, either ancient or recent), there is not one that hath been transported to the mad degree of love : which shows that great spirits and great business do keep out this weak passion. You must except, nevertbelegs, 10, ^«r3i -J ." iV^i 86 iBa'5'^r Jt. OP ORE AT PLACE. 37 10 Marcus Antonius, the half-partner of the empire of Rome, and Appius Claudius, the decemvir and law-giver ; whereof the former was indeed a voluptuous man, and inordinate, but the latter wjis an austere and wise man : 15 and therefore it seems (though rarely) that love can find entrance, not only in an open heart, but also into a heart well fortified, if watch be not well kept. It is a poor saying of Epicurus, .S'af/« nut^num alter alte^'i theatimm suimts : as if Man, made for the contemplation 20 of heaven, and all noble objects, should do nothing but kneel before a little idol, and make himself a subject, though not of the mouth (as beasts are), yet of the eye, wliich was given him for higher purposes. It is a strange thing to note the excess of this passion, and how it braves 25 the nature and value of things, by this: that the speak- ing in a perpetual hyperbole is comely in nothing but in love. Neither is it merely in the phrase. For, whereas it hath been well said, that the arch-fiattorer, with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self : 30 certainly the lover is more. For there was never a proud man thought so absurdly well of himself as the lover doth of the person loved. And therefore it was well said, that it is imjyossihle to love awl he xmae. Neither doth this weakness appear to others only, and not to the 35 party loved ; but to the loved most of all, except the love be reciproque. For it is a true rule, that love is ever rewarded either with the reciproque, or with an inward or secret contempt. By how much the more men ought to beware of this passion, which loseth not only other 40 things, but itself. As for the other losses, the poet's relation doth well figure them : that he that preferred Helena, quitted the gifts of Juno and Pallas ; for whoso- ever esteemeth too much of amorous affection quitteth both riches and wisdom. 45 This passion hath his floods in the very times of weak- ness, which are great prosperity and great atlversity (though this latter hath been less observed) ; both which times kindle love, and make it more fervent, and there- fore show it to be the child of folly. They do best who, ^0 if they cannot but admit love, yet make it keep quarter', ♦ -.1 «. #--* and sever it wholly from their serious affairs and actions 10 of life For if it check oBce with business, it trouWeth men's 'fortunes, and maketh men that they can no wa;s be true to their own ends. I know not how but martial men are given to love : I think it is but as they are given 55 to wine ; for perils commonly ask to be paid in pleasures There is in man's nature a secret inclination and motion towards love of others, which, if it be not spent „,K,n some one or a few, doth naturally spread itself towards many, and maketh men become humane and 60 charit,vble, as it is seen sometime in friars Njjpt.allovo maketh mknkind ; friendly love perfecteth it T^ wanton IBVgrWWnptcth and f.t..i..=..th it. XL OF GPxEAT PLACE. Men in Great Place are thrice servants ; servants of the Sovereign or SUte, servants of fame, and servants of business. So as they have no freedom, neither in tle.r persons, nor in their actions, nor in their t.raes It .s a Grange desire to seek power and to lose liberty : or to 5 seek power over others and to lose power over a man s self The rising unto place is laborious ; and by pains men come to greater pains : and it is sometimes base ; Td by indignities nien come to dignities. The standing ts slippery, and the regre.s is either a downfall or at lea^t 10 an eclipi which is a melancholy thing Cumn . mf^WP^w^^'^^ -ff^^ 42 ESS A r XIIL 12 this last wero fitter for a satire thau for a serious observation. 55 This is well to be weighed, that boldness is ever blind * .J. .,?*:•''''' """^ J-iiigers and inconveniences. Tiierefore »s '" •" counsel, good in execution. So that the right use of bold persons is, that they never command in chief, but be seconds, and under the direction of others. For 60 m counsel it is good to see dangers, and in execution not to see them, except they be very great. xiir. OF GOODNESS, AND GOODNESS OF NATURE. I TAKE Goodness in this sense— the affecting of the weal of men, which is that the Grecians call I'hilaalhropia ; and the word Immanily (as it is use,l) is a little too light to express it. Goo.lness I call the habit, and Good- 5 ness of Nature the inclination. This, of all virtues and dignities ot the mind, is the greatest, Injing the charecter of the Deity; and without it, man is a busy, mis- chievous, wretched thing, no better than a kind of inJ-fT' ^^^"^'^ answers to the theological virtue, 10 Charity, and admits no excess, but error. The desire of power, in excess, caused the angels to fa ; the desire of knowledge, in excess, cau.sed man to tall ; but in charity there is no excess ; neither can angel or man come m danger by it. The inclination to good- 15 ness IS imprinted deeply in the nature of man ; insomuch that. It It issue not towards men, it will take unto other living creatures : as it is seen in the Turks, a cruel people, who, nevertheless, are kind to be.-,sts, and gives alms to dogs and birds ; insomuch as Busbechius reporteth, a 20Chnsl,.an boy in Constantinople had like to have b^n stoned for gagging, in a waggishness, a long-billed fowl. Errors, indeed, in this virtue of goodness or charity, may be committed. The Italians have an ungracious proverb, lanlo buon die val nknie : So good lluil he U f V P * OV GOODNESS, AND GOODNESS OF NATURE. 43 good for noUnng. And one of the doctors of Italy, 13 Nicholas Machiavel, had the confidence to put in writing, almost in plain terms, that tlie Christian faith had given up good men in j/rey to those ivho are tyrannical and unjust. Which he si>ake l)ecause, indeed, there was never law, or sect, or opinion, did so much magnify goodness as the 30 Ciuistian religion doth. Therefore, to avoid the scandal, and the danger V)oth, it is good to take knowledge of the errors of an habit so excellent. Seek the good of other men, but be not in bondage to their faces or fancies : for that is but facility or softness ; which taketh an honest 35 mind prisoner. Neither give thou ^sop's cock a gem, ^ who would be better pleased and happier if he had had a b;irley-coru. The example of God teacheth the lesson truly : lie sendeth his rain, and maketh his sun to shine upon the jnst and the unjust ; but He doth not rain 40 wealth nor sliine honour and virtues upon men equally. Common benefits are to be communicate with all ; but peculiar benefits with choice. And beware how, in making the portraiture, thou breakest the pattern. For divinity maketh the love of ourselves the pattern, the 45 love of our neighbours but the portraiture. Sell all thou hast, and give it to t/ie poor, and follow me ; but sell not all thou hast, except thou come and follow me : that is, except thou have a vocation wherein thou mayest do as much good with little means as with great \ 50 for otherwise, in feeding the streams, thou driest the fountain. Neither is there only a habit of goodness directed by ^ right reason ; but there is in some men, even in nature, a disposition towards it ; as, on the other side, there is 55 a natural malignity ; for there be that in their nature do not affect the good of others. The lighter sort of malignity turneth but to a crossness, or frowardness, or aptness to oppose, or difiicilness, or the like ; but the deeper sort to envy, and mere mischief. Such men, in 60 other men's calamities, are, as it were, in season, and — ai-e ever on the loading part : not so good as the dogs that licked Lazarus' sores, but like flies that are still buzzing upon anything that is luw : Mlsanihropij that % l'?H^ii5pfc?tfiH^#e/-w-iiW,-kj, *» * ..^ ■i-s*.'^'d r4«v.. 44 ^^i'^F jc/r. 13 make it their practice to bring men to the bough, ami yet never have a tree for the pur{K)se in their gardens, ivs Timou had. Such dis]X)sitions are the very errors of human nature ; and yet they are the fittest timber to make great politiques of : like to knee-timber, that is 70 good for ships that are ordained to be tossed, but not for building houses that shall stand firm. The parts and signs of goodness are many. If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut 75 off from other hmds, but a continent that joins to them. If he be compassionate towards the aflliction of others, it shows tluit his heart is like tlie noble tree that is wounded itself when it gives the bilm. If he easily pardons and remits offences, it shows that his mind is 80 planted above injuries, so that lie cannot be shot. If he be thankful for small benefits, it shows that he weighs men's minds, and not their trash. But, above all, if he have St. Paul's perfection, that he would wish to be an anatltema from Christ, for the sjilvation of his brethen, 85 it shows much of a divine nature, and a kind of con- formity with Christ Himself. XIV. OF NOBILITY. We will speak of Nobility first as a portion of an estate, then as a condition of particular persons. A monarchy where there is no nobility at all is ever a pure and absolute tyranny, as that of the Turks. For .5 pr^tiiiit.y fi^.tprnp ers Sovereignty , and draws the eyes of the people somewhat asidia from the line royal. But for democracies, they need it not; and they are com- monly more quiet, and less subject to sedition than where there are stirps of nobles. For men's eyes are 10 upon the business, and not upon the persons ; or, if ^ O r ■HI1 -♦•flw^ OF NOBILITY. 45 upon the persons, it is for the business* sake, as fittest, 14 and not for flags and pedigree. We see the Switzers last well, notwithstanding their diversity of religion and of Cantons; for utility is their bond, and not respects. The United Provinces of the Low Countries 15 in their government excel. For where there is an equality, the consultations are more indifferent, and the payments and tributes more cheerful. A great and potent nobility addeth majesty to a monarch, but di- minisheth power, and putteth life and spirit into the 20 people, but presseth their fortune. It is well when nobles are not too gi-eat for sovereignty, nor for justice ; and yet maintained in that height, as the insolency of inferiors may be broken upon them before it come on too fast upon the majesty of kings. A numerous 25 nobility causeth poverty and inconvenience in a State ; for it is a surcharge of expense ; and besides, it being of necessity that many of the nobility fall in time to be weak in fortune, it maketh a kind of disproportion between honour and means. ^0 As for nobility in particular persons : it is a reverend thing to see an ancient castle or building not in decay, or to see a fair timber tree sound and perfect ; how much more to behold an ancient noble family, which hath stood against the waves and weathers of time. 35 For new nobility is but the act of power, but ancient nobility is the act of time. Those that are first raised ^ to nobility are commonly more virtuous, but less innocent, than their descendants; for there is rarely any rising but by a commixture of good and evil arts. 40 But it is reason the memory of their virtues remain to their posterity, and their faults die with themselves. Nobility of birth commonly abateth industry ; and he that is not industrious envieth him that is. Besides, noble persons cannot go much higher ; and he that 45 standeth at a stay when others rise can hardly avoid motions of envy. On the other side, nobibty extm- - guisheth the passive envy from others towards them, because they are in possession of honour. Certainly, kings that have able men of their nobility shall find 50 _3i. ii^ 46 ESSAY XV, OF SEDITIONS AND TROUBLES, 47 H ease in employing them, and a better slide into thoir business ; tor people nutmally bend to them as born in some sort to command. XV. OF SEDITIONS AND TROUBLES. Shepherds of people had need know the calendars of tempests in State ; whicli are commonly greatest when things grow to equality, as natural tempests are greatest about the equinoctia. And as there are certain hollow 5 blasts of wind and secret swellings of seas before a tempest, so arc there in States : Illc etiam cascos instate lumuUus Ssepe imnet^ /raiidesque et opcrta tumesccre hclla. Libels and licentious discourses against the State, 10 when they are frequent and open ; and in like sort, false news often running up and down to the disadvan- tage of the State, and hastily embniced, are amongst the signs of troubles. Virgil, giving the pedigi-eo of Fame, saith, she was sister to the giants : Iff Ulam terra parens^ ird irritata deorum, Extrcmam {ut perhihent) Cceo Enceladi^ue sor&rem Progenuit. As if fames were the relics of seditions past. But they are no less indeed the prelmlcs of seditions to come. 20 Howsoever, he noteth it right, that seditious tumults and seditious fames differ no more but as brother and sister, masculine and feminine : especially if it come to that, that the best actions of a State, and the most plausible, and which ought to give greatest con ten t- 25 ment, are taken in ill sense and traduced. For that shows the envy great, as Tacitus saith, Conflata nuigna invidiay sen henCy seu male, gesta premuut. Neither doth it follow that because these fames are a sign of troubles, that the su])pressing of them with too ^ M^ •^'fMV ^ 'A'^ i much severity should be a remedy of troubles. For the 15 despising of them many times checks them best ; and the going about to stop them doth but make a wonder long-lived. Also that kind of obedience, which Tacitus speaketh of, is to be held suspected: Erant in officio^ sed tamen qui inallent mandata imperantium interpretar% 35 quam exequi. Disputing, excusing, cavilling upon man- dates and directioDS, is a kind of shaking off the yoke, and assay of disobedience : especially if in those disput- ings they which are for the direction speak fearfully and tenderly, and those that are against it, audaciously. 40 Also, as Machiavel noteth well, when princes, that ought to be common parents, make themselves as a party, and lean to a side, that is, as a boat that is overthrown by uneven weight on the one side : as was well seen in the time of Henri III. of Fi-ance ; for, first himself 45 entered League for the extirpation of the Protestants, and, presently after, the same League was turned upon himself. For when the authority of princes is made but an accessory to a cause, and that there be other bands that tie faster than the band of sovereignty, kings begin 50 to be put almost out of possession. Also, when discords, and quarrels, and factions are carried openly and audjiciously, it is a sign the reverence of government is lost. For the motions of the greatest i^ persons m a government ought to be as the motions of 55 the planets under jmmum viobile (according to the old ^ opinion), which is, th:it every of them is carried swiftly by the highest motion, and softly in their own motion. And, therefore, when great ones in their own particular motion move violently, and, as Tacitus ex- 60 presseth it well, liberius quam ut imperantium memdmS' gent, it is a sign the orbs are out of frame. For reverence is that wherewith princes are girt from God, who threat- eneth the dissolving thereof : Solvam cingula regum. So when any of the four pillars of government are 65 mainly shakened, or weakened (which are Religion, Justice, Counsel, and Treasure), men had need to pray for fair weather. But let us pass from this part of predictions (concerning which, nevertheless, more light g^-^'-' «t»>i- ■.-■rr-'' '^^^J^TfSSi 48 ESSAY XV, 15 might he taken from that which followeth), and let us gpoak first of the materials of seclitions, then of the motives of them, and thirdly of the remedies. 1. Concerning the Materials of seditions. It is a thing well to be considered : for the surest way to prevent 75 seditions (if the times do bear it) is to take away the matter of them. For if there be fuel prepared, it is hard to tell whence the spark shall come that shall set it on fire. The matter of seditions is of two kinds — * much poverty, and much discontentment. It is cortiin, 80 so many overthrown estates, so many votes for troubles. Lucan noteth well the state of Rome before the civil war : nine umra vorax rapidnmqiir in tempore fo*niis, Hinc concussa fuUs, el muUis %Uile helium* 85 This same vutJtis utile helium is an assured and infallible sign of a State disposed to seditions and troubles. And if this poverty and broken estate in the better sort be joined with a want and necessity in the mean people, the danger is imminent and great. For 90 the rebellions of the belly are the worst. As for discon- tentments, they are in the politic body like to humours in the natui'al, which are apt to gather a preterruitui-al heat, and to intlame. And let no prinee measure the danger of them by thi.s, whether they be just or unjust 95 (for that were to imagine people to be too reasonable ; who do often spurn at their own good), nor yet by this, whether the griefs whereupon they rise be in fact great or small ; for they are the most dangerous discontent* ments, where the fear is greater than the feeling. Do- 100 lemii modus^ timendi von item, licsides, in great oppi-as- sions, the same things that provoke the patience do withal mate the courage ; but in feixra it is not so. Neither let any prince, or State, be secure concerning discontentments, because they have been often, or have 105 been long, and yet no peril hath ensued. For as it is true that every vapour of fume doth not turn into a storm, so it is nevertheless true that storms, though they blow over divers times, yet may fall at last. And, \ .'^ M* OF SEDITIONS AND TROUBLES. 4y as the Spanish pioverb noteth well, TJie cord breaketh at 15 the Ui8t by the weakest /mil. 110 The Causes and Motives of seditions are innovation in ^^ religion, taxes, alteration of laws and custom.s, breaking of privileges, general oppression, advancement of un- worthy persons, strangers, dearths, disbanded soldiers, factions grown desperate, and whatsoever in offending 115 people joineth and knitteth them in a common cause. For the Kemedies ; there may be some general pre- servatives, whereof we will speak : as for the just cure, it must answer to the particular disease, and so be left to counsel rather than rule. 120 The first remedy or prevention is to remove, by all , means possible, that material cause of sedition whereof we speak, which is want and poverty in the estate. To which pur|X)se serveth the opening and well-balancing of trade; the cherishing of manufactures; the banishing of 125 idleness ; the repressing of waste and excess by sumptuary laws ; the improvement and husbanding of the soil ; the regulating of prices of things vendible ; the moderating of taxes and tributes ; and the like. Generally, it is to be foreseen that the {x>pulation of a kingdom (especially 130 if it be not mown down by wars) do not exceed the stock of the kingdom which should maintain them. Neither is the }>opulation to be reckoned only by number. For a smaller number, that spend more and earn less, do wear out an estate sooner than a greater number that 135 live lower and gather more. Therefore the multiplying of nobility, and other degrees of quality, in an over-pro- portion to the common people, doth speedily bring a State to necessity ; and so doth likewise an over-grown clergy ; for they bring nothing to the stock ; and in like 140 manner, when more are bred scholars than preferments can take o£P. It is likewise to be remembered, that, forasmuch as the increase of any estate must be upon the foreigner (for whatsoever is somewhere gotten is somewhere lost), 145 there be but three things which one nation selleth unto another ; the commodity as nature yieldeth it, the manufacture, and the vecture, or carriage. So that, if £88. 1—20 B ■jti .'' <' si, ^ ^ *•:■■;* .- • -»■ , - -f* 50 ESSAY xr. OP SEDITIONS AND TROUBLES. 51 15 these iluoo wheels go, wejilth will flow as in a spring 150 tide. And it couieth many times to piiss, that materiam superabU opus, that the work and carriage is worth more than the material, and enricheth a State more ; as is notably seen in the Low Countiymen, who have the best mines above ground in the world. 155 Above all things, good policy is to be used, that the treiisures and monies in a State be not gathered into few hands. For otherwise, a State may have a great stock, and yet starve ; and money is like muck, not good except it be spread. This is done chiefly by suppressing, or at 160 tlie least keeping a strait hand upon, the devouring trades of usury, engrossing, great pasturages, and the like. For removing discontentments, or, at least, the danger of them : there is in every state (as we kno\^ two portions of subjects, the noblesse and the commonalty. 165 When one of these is discontent, the danger is not great: for common people are of slow motion, if they be not excited by the greater sort ; and the greater sort are of small strength, except the multitude be apt and ready to move of themselves. Then is the danger, when the 170 greater sort do but wait for the troubling of the waters amongst the meaner, that then they may declare them- selves. The poets feign that the rest of the gods would have bound Jupiter ; which ho hearing of, by the counsel of Pallas sent for Briareus, with his hundred hand.s, to 175 come in to his aid. An emblem, no doubt, to show how safe it is for monarchs to make sure of the goodwill of common people. To give moderate liberty for griefs and discontentraenta to evaporate (so it be without too great insolency or JISO bravery) is a safe way. For he that turneth the htimours back, and maketh the wound bleed inwards, endangereth malign ulcers and pernicious imposthumations. The part of Epimetheus mought well become Prome- theus, in the case of discontentments ; for there is not a 185 better provision against them. Epimetheus, when griefs and evils flew abroad, at last shut the lid, and kept hope in the bottom of the vessel. Certainly, the politic and ai'tificial nourishing and entertaining of hopes, and " m^ <\ I I carrying men from hopes to hopes, is one of the bes( 15 antidotes against the poison of discontentments. And it 190 is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding, when it can hold men's hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction ; and when it can handle things in such manner, as no evil shall appear so peremptory, but that it hath some outlet of hope : Avhich is the less hard to do, 195 because both particular persons and factions are apt enough to flatter themselves, or, at least, to brave that which they believe not. Also the foresight and prevention, that there be no likely or fit head whereunto discontented persons may 200 resort, and under whom they may join, is a known, but an excellent point of caution. I understand a fit head to bei^ne that hath greatness and reputation, trhat hath confidence with the discontented party,, and upon whom they turn their eyes, and that is thought discontented 205 in his own particular ; which kind of persons are either.: to be won and reconciled to the State, and that in a fast and true manner, or to be fronted with some other of the same party that may oppose them, and so divide the reputiition. Generally, the dividing and breaking of all 210 factions and combinations that are adverse to the State, and setting them at distance, or, at least, distrust among themselves, is not one of the worst remedies. For it is a desperate case, if those that hold with the proceeding of the State be full of discord and faction, and those that 215 are against it be entire and united. I have noted, that some witty and sharp speeches, which have fallen from princes, have given fire to seditions. Ca?sar did himself infinite hurt in that speech, Sylla nesdvit literas, non potuit dictare : for it did utterly 220 cut off that hope which men had entertained, that he would at one time or other give over his dictatorship. Galba undid himself by that speech, legi a se militem, non emi : for it put the soldiers out of hope of the donative. Probus, likewise, by that speech. Si vix&ro, non opus erit 225 cmiplius Romano imperio mUitibus ; a speech of great despair for the soldiers. And many the like. Surely princes had need, in tender matters and ticklish times, '^l^^^^^^^Aii^^^^^^^^^^i^^l^k^^l^siLJbkssi^i^m^S^ -jtaJOM^ "^'^la^^^ 52 ESSAY XVL 15 to beware wliat they say, especially in these sboi*t 230 speeches, which fly a])ioad like darts, and are thought to he shot out of their secret iuteiitions. Eor, afi for large discourses, they are fliit things, and not so much noted. Lastly, let princes, against all events, not l)e without some great person, one or rather more, of military 235 valour, near unto them, for the repressing of seditions in their beginnings. For, without that, there useth to be more trepidation in court upon the fii'st breaking out of trouble than were fit. And the State runneth the danger of that which Tacitus saith — Atque is habitus 240 wuimorum fuit, ui ])es8imum faci^ius auderent pauci, pltires vellent, oinnes paleretUur. But let such military persons be assured and well reputed of, rather than factious and popular ; holding also good correspondence with the other great men in the Stat© : or else the remedy 245 is worse than the disease. XVI. OF ATHEISM. I HAD rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind. And therefore God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because His 5 ordinary works convince it. It is true that a little )hilo>sophy inclin eth Ma " yi p hilosopliy bnnt^oth ]\Ian's Tor whil^ thti mind o f Ma iTn? scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no 10 farther; but when it beholdeth the chain of them confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity. Nay, even that school which is most accused of atheism, doth most demonstmte religion ; that is, the school of Leucippus, and Democritus, and 15 Epicurus. For it is a thousand times more credible that foui* mutable elements and one immutable fifth ubbeuce, to at lioism ; but^ jl^ntb niindaB^mT to n second causes OF JTffEIS3f. 63 duly and eternally placed, need no God, than that an 16 army of infinite small portions of seeds, unplaced, should have produced this order and beauty without a divine marshal. 20 The Scripture saith, 77ie fool hath said in his hearty there is no God ; it is not said, T/ie fool hath thought in his heart ;ko as he rather saith it by rote to himself, as that he would have, than that he can thoroughly believe it, or be persuaded of itj; for none deny there is a 25 Goect to the government of the world. Wherein they 40 say he did temjx)rize, though in secret he thought there was no God. But certainly he is traduced ; for his words are noble and divine : Non deos vulgi negare profannm ; sed vulgi oplniones diis a^)j)licare jyrofanum. Plato could have said no more. And although he had 45 the confidence to deny the administration, he had not the power to deny the natura The Indians of the West have names for their particular gods, though they have no name for God (as if the heathens should have had the names Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, (fee, but not the word 50 Dens), which shews that even those barbarous people have the notion, though they have not the latitude and extent of it. So that against atheists the very savages take part with the very subtlest philosophers. The con- templative atheist is rare : a Liagoras, a Bion, a Lucian 55 perhaps, aod some others. And yet they seem to be *.. \y ;fig&ie'6aih»aaaabi»>---. j^-iji-i^ .-r-:^^ ;>i'^j "uv itfV^Jr ■aSiiftiUKgrf'w « ^ ' ^ . ..•^iMi:iA-^- • lii«i»itf4t\Ai>- * j»-A6ff> »;^ v-f itJV.!Z*,.^i^;&^Bl^A»tr:ifiss-,eh\>r,mtura which cmn,,ge is manifestly such as that cre^ "e wuhout that conndcnce of a b^,(er nature than his S could never attain. So Man, when he restelh a'ld aS^ 8o su elh lamsolf upon divine p.^tection and favo.t^ gathereth a forco aud faith w'hich human . a(Se n .tself cou d not ob(ain ; therefore, as athei.mis in lu resix^cts hateful, so iu this, that it deS. human ^ nature of the means to exalt itself nbove'h man f^X 90 As lis in particular persons, so it is in nations NevJr was there such a S(Me for magnanimity as Rome Of paltes conscn/,h, nos amemus, tamen nee numero f/i>, jxtnos, nee robore GaUos, nee eaUidilaU P<.no^Zlar Z 95Gr^eos, nee deniq^u Aoc ijx,o hnjus yenlis ell^rJd^ \ OF surEnsTiTioy. 55 pietate, he reUqioue, aUjm hAc una mjnent^A quod de-\^ \yrum iinmortaliwn nmmm oinma regi, (jubeniamue perspeximus, omnes geiites iiationesque svperavimus. V XVIL OF SUPEKSTITION. It were better to have no opinion of God at all, than such LTpi'dtn a« is unworthy of Him. Jor^ one xb unbelief, the other is contumely : and ^^^^^^^^'''^^ .tition i; the reproach of the Deity ffj^f^^j^'l 5 well to that purpose : Surely^ saith he, / had ratnei a ;i^JLi sLld say ih.'e ^oas no --/;-;;- J ^ ^^ a, rintarch than that they should say there was one Seiy'^^glSortld^SieaiV is greater 10 towa ds nien. Atheism leaves a mnn to sense, to Slonhy to natun.l piety, to laws, to reputation : all S ch miy be guides to an outward monU virtue Tl oughXion were not. But superstition dismounts Ml thew Ld erecteth an absolute monarchy m the 15 A^i n!«, Therefore atheism did never perturb Ctea-trTmakesren weary of themselves, as look- btates , lor ij. inclined to atheism, tltt«k, describing the country where he travelleth, 45 which will be a good key to his inquiry. Let him keep also a diary. Let him not stay long in one city or town : ^ fpore or less, as the place deserveth, but not long Nay, fiaifaJiu&iJ P 58 i:ssAr XVIII. 18 when be stayeth in one city or town, let him chftn<7e his 00 lodging from one end and part of the town to another ; which is a great adamant of acquaintance. Let him ^ se juester himself from the company of his countrymen, and diet in such places where there is good company of the nation where he travelleth. Let him, upon his 55 removes from one place to another, procure recommend- . ation to some person of quality residing in the place whither he removeth, that he may use his favour in those things he desireth to see or know. Thus he may abridge his travel with much profit. 60 As for the acquaintance which is to be sought in travel, that which is most of all profitable is acquaintance with I- the secretaries and employed men of ambassadors. For so, in travelling in one country, he shall suck the experience of many. Let him also see and visit eminent 65 persons in all kinds, which are of great name abrojid, Vthat he may be able to tell how the life agreeth with the fame. For quarrels, they are with care and discre- tion to be avoided. They are commonly for mistresses, healths, place, and woi-ds. And let a man beware how 70 he keepeth company with choleric and quarrelsome persons, for they will engage him into their own quarrels. When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath tm veiled altogether behind him, but maintain a correspondence by letters T^with those of his acquaintance Avhich are of most worth. And let his travel appear rather in his discourse, than in his apparel or gesture ; and in his discourse let him be rather advised in his answers, than forward to tell stories : and let it appear that he doth not change his 80 country manners for those of foreign parts, but only prick in some flowers of that he hath learned abroad into the customs of his own country. I i OF EMPIRE. 50 XIX. OF EMPIRE. It IS a miserable state of mind to have few things to desire and many things to fear ; and yet that commonly is the case with kings ; who, being at the highest, want matter of desire, which makes their minds more languishing; and have many representations of 5 perils and shadows, which make their minds the less clear. And this is one reason also of that effect which the Scripture speaketh of, that the kiny^s heart is insa^ut- ahle ; for multitude of jealousies, and lack of some predominant desire, that should marshal and put in 10 order all the rest, raaketh any man's heart hard to find or sound. Hence it comes likewise, that princes many times make themselves desires, and set their hearts upon toys ; sometimes upon a building ; sometimes upon erecting of an Order; sometimes upon the advancing of 15 a person ; sometimes upon obtaining excellency in some art, or feat of the hand : as Nero for playing on the harp; Domitian for certainty of the hand with the arrow ; Commodus for playing at fence ; Caracalla for driving chariots; and the like. This seemeth incredible 20 unto those that know not the principle, that tJi^ mind of nutn is viwe cheered and refreshed by 2^'ofting in small things, than by standing at a stay in great. We see also that kings that have been fortunate conquei*ors in their first years, it being not possible for them to go forward 25 infinitely, but that they must have some chock or arrest in their fortunes, turn in their latter years to be super- stitious and melancholy ; as did Alexander the Great, Dioclesian, and in our niemoiy Charles V. ; and others : for he that is used to go forward, and tindeth a stop, 30 falleth out of his own favour, and is not the thing he was. To speak now of the true temper of empire : it is a tiling rare and hard to keep ; for both temper and dis- temper consist of contraries. But it is one thing to 35 ■ ft' ,■' • :i* '^^'"^^^dti^k:S\i^% ^• .^isii-.. =-"••*-.*■' =v-4r'v'?^^«^.f^. Jts«K-*:^^-^'- ■ ■-*;r-T'^a! CO ESS AT XJX. OF EMPIRE. 61 19 min<-le contmries, another to interchange them. The answer of Apolloniua to Vespisian is fall of excellent instruction. Vespasian asked him, Wfiat waa Nero s overthrow ? He answered, Nero could to-u/^i and tune tlui 40 harp well; hut in government sometimes he used to uriwl the mm too high, sometimes to let them down too hw. And certain it is, that nothing destroyeth authority so much as the unequal and untimely interchange of power pressed too far, and relaxed too much. 45 This is true, that the wisdom of all those latter time* in princes' affairs is rather line deliveries, and shiftings of dan^rers and mischiefs, when they are near, than solid and grounded courses to keep them aloof ; but this is but to try masteries witli fortune. And let men beware 50 how they neglect and suffer matter of trouble to be prepareeing the most 145 immediate in authority with the common people, they do best temper [>opu]ar commotions. For their merchants ; they ViV&vemi ftrn'tay and if they flourish not, a kingdom may have good limbs, but will -^ have empty veins, and nourish little. Taxes and imposts 150 upon them do seldom good to the king's revenue. For that that he wins in the hunUM. And on the other side, counsellois should not be too speculative into their sovereign's jwrson -The true com- 105 ti>sition of a counsellor is, rather to be skilful in ns master's business, than in his nature, for then he is like to advise him, and not to feed his humour. It.sof singu- lar use to princesif they take the opinions of their council both separately and together, for private opinion is more 110 free, but opinion before others is more reverend. In private, men are more Wd in their own humours, an^, in consort, men are more obnoxious to others humours. Therefore it is good to take both ; and of the inferior sort, rather in private, to preserve freedom ; of the greater, 115 rather in consort, to preserve respect. It « '"^'"" °'^ princes to tivke counsel concerning matters, if they t-vke no counsel likewise concerning por.sons. For all matters are as deid images ; and the life of the execution of affairs v- resteth in the good choice of persons. Neither is it 120 enough to consult concerning persons gecundujn genera (as in an idea, or mathematical description) what the kind and character of the person should be. lor the greatest errors are committed, and the most judgment is shown in the choice of individuals. It was trulv said, 0/Xrmt n^eonsiliarii moHui: Books will sj>eak plain wlw,x coxm- ,ieUoi»ular in the time of Elizabeth. . „ 45. politics: "politicians." 52. treaties: "treatises.' 54. importeth exceedingly: "is exceedingly important." 55. zelants: "zealots. 56. Is it peace : 2 Kings ix. 18. 59. Laodiceans: Revelations iii. 14. 61. witty: "ingenious.'* 65. cross: "apparently contradictory," the metaphor m "league " and "clause" is that of a federal treaty. 66. he that is not with us, etc.: Matthew xii. 30, Mark ix. 40, Luke ix. 50, xi. 23. 70. merely: "entiady." 73. less partially: " with less party spirit." 75. small model: "limited design." ^s- 71 He was referring 80. one of the fathers : St. Auijustine of Hippo, to the •' king s daughter," Ps. xlv. 13. 82. in veste, etc. : "in the garment let there be divers colours, but no rent " 98. devita profanas, etc.: "avoid profane babblings and the oppositions of knowledge fabely so called." 1 Tim. vi. 20. 100. as : " that," here and elsewhere. 104. implicit: " nnqnestioning." 108. Nebuchadnezzar's image : Dan. ii. 32. 112. muniting: "defending." LoX. munire. 121. practice: "plotting." 120. first table: sc. of the Commandments; the sense is **to make our tluiy towards (Jod come into conflict with duty towards our neighbour." 128. Lucretius: see above, I. 1. 48. 129. Agamemnon: thf commander of the Greeks against the Tiojan.s. He sncriticed his daughter Iphigeuia to Artemis to priicure a favourable wind. 131. Tantum religio, etc.: "to such ill deeds could religion prompt." 133. massacre in France: the massacre of St. Bartholomew, August 21, 1672, m which 60,000 Huguenots perished. 134. Epicure: "Eiti(urcan." 1 38. Anabaptists : the word means ' * persons who do not recognize infant baptism, and require that lulults be rebaptized before taking the communion." Historically they became identified with the Peasant Rising in Germany, and under Jan van Leyden (the Prophet) established a .socialistic kingdom called New Zion in Miinster (Westphalia). They were put down with great severity, 1535. 140. I will ascend, etc. : Lsaiah xiv. 12-14. The king of Babylon was tiiken to represent the devil. 141. personate: "give a character to," i.e. bring in. 153. Mercury rod: the caduceua or rod with which MercUry conducted the spirits of the dead to Hades. 154. facts: "deeds." la>i. facta. 157. would: "should." 157. Ira hominis : "the wrath of man worketh not the righteous- ness of God," James i. 20. 158. a wise father : not as yet ideutifiod. IV. K ^^ Vt N^C 1. wild: "uncultivated" or "uncivilised." 8. It is the glory: Proverbs xix 11. 13. purchase: "get." 30. Cosmus, Duke of Florence: Cosimo do' Medici was duke of Florence 1537-1574. 85. Shall we, etc. : Job il 10. L 'jSi'^ ^i; -; ^-^ 72 BACON: ESSAYS K, VL N0TH8, 73 87. in a proportion: t.c. taking into coii.siar'8 murderers came to violent deatliH ; Brutus ;iud Cassias, the chief of them, both fell at Philippi. The death of the Emi)eror Pertinax, 193 A. a, who was killed by the Praitoriau guards, was avenged by Ins successor Septimius Severus. Friar Clement, who murdered Htnry III., 1589, was publicly executed. IWon only mean? that these public revenj,'e8 turned "out well, for Henry IV. <;aincd more by the death of Heury III. thau by the execution of the murderer. V- Of^ pDvt^^lTY 1. Seneca: sec above, II. 1. 16. 6. miracles: Hacou thinking in Latin pas.ses from viirah ilia to miracida. A miracle is defined to be a case where a superior power commands Nature ; a man wlio is master of himself in adversity commands human nature, i.e. natural weakness in his own person. 9. security : ** freedom from care." 15. mystery: " secret intention," as in Hamlet ** the heart of my mystery." 19. lively: "vividly." Cp. "stately " above, I. 1. 20. 22. in a mean : " without exaggeration." 32. distastes: "disgu.sts." 35. lively: " bri^dit," as sad is "dark." 39. incensed: "burnt." 40. discover : " reveal "or ** biing to light." 2. asketh :" requires." f^n O »^ ' ^r* 5. Tacitus: Publius or Gains Cornelius Tacitus. See above, II. I 41. 6. sorted: " was matched." 8. Mucianus : governor of Syria in 69 a.d. ; ho helped Vespa-sian, who was in command against the revolted Jews, to secure the empire for him.self. 9. Vitellius: Emperor 69 a.d. See II. 1. 28. 11. these properties, etc. : '* these qualities, diplomacy or policy on the one hand, and dissimulation or closeness on the other, are indeed ditferent habits and faculties, and to be distinguished." 13. several: "separate." 14. that ... as: "such . . . that," or " the kind of ... " "which . . ." 19. poorness: "drawback." 20. ohtain: "attain." 22. choose or vary in particulars : " choose his course and adapt it to particular circumstances." r^ .i^> iV 23. softly: "slowly." 86. without observation what he is: i.e. gives people no chance to ob-serve or grasp what he really is. 41. industriously: "purposely." lAvi. dcindudria. 44. confessor: a priest who hears confessions. 47. the close air : i.e. the hot air of a room. However cold, air comes into a hot room fi*om outside, because it is more dense tlian the air inside, not vice vcrsd. 50. in that kind : "in that way," i. c. like confessing priests. 56, futile: "chuttcring." 57. vain: "useless," "silly." 62. tracts: "traits." 63. by how much it is many times: "in as much as it is often." 69. keep an indifferent carriage: "maintain an impartial attitude." 70. both : t. e. openness and dissimulation. 73. absurd: "unreasonable." Lat. absurdus. 88. nre: from L;itin opus opcris^ via French ociivrc — "practice." 95. take a fall: "sutler defeat." 98. fair: "simply," as in Scotch. 105. doth spoil the feathers, etc.; "stops the feathers carrying the arrow direct to the mark." 107. conceits: "conceptions." 112. temperature: "temperament." 112. to have openness, etc. : "to have a reputation and name for openness." yjj ^^ ftVRtNT'- AMD 7. memory: " being remembered." 15. kind: "race." 15. work: i.e. the family tlicy have founded, 16. creatures: "created things." 17. The difference in affection, etc. : the sense is, apparently, parents make distinctions between their children and frequently both parents do not make the same distinctions. 22. respected: "favoured." Cp. the phrase "respecter of persons." 23. made wantons: "spoilt." 28. sort: "consort," below, 1. 35, it means "results in." 46. apply themselves : "attend." Yx. sappliqitcr. 49. affection : " liking," sc. for a particular profession. 52. optimum elige, etc. : "choose the best, habit will make it pleasant and ca.sy." _ VIII. ^^ ' 7. it were great reason : " it would be reasonable to suppose." UlLDf V 13. impertinencies : " things not to the purpose, *- — Xp *■' -— ."^ t4 6AC0If: ^SSAV fX. NOTES. 76 14. bills of charges : "items of expenditure." 17. because : "in onler that." 22. humorous: "liable to huinoui^," "eccentric.'* 24. go near to think : ** almost think." 28. light: " lightly equippt'd." Cp. •Might troops." 29. churchmen: **ecclt'siastics." Cp. Twdjlh Night, when the Fool, who lives l»y the church, is asked if he is a churclnnan. 32. facile: ''easily influenced." This dictum was illustrated in the case of Bacon himself. 31. hortatives: ancient generals always encouraged tlioir trooi>s before a biittlc. Lat. cohortari. Caesar did not on)it to do so even when his troops were surprised. i. »• 45. vetulamsuam, etc : preferred **his old wife to immortality. Calypso ottered to make Ulysses immortal if he would stay with her in Ot?vgia, but he preferred to return to Penelope. 53. quarrel: " lenson," i.e. "cause of quarrel," and so "case.** 54. one of the wise men : Thales, one of the seven sages of Greece. IX. 0^ &NiVY 1. aflfections: " j>assions," " feelings." 2. envy: an evil eye : Prov. xxiii. 6, .xxviii. 22. 7. fascination: "overlooking," i.e. "hurting by malicious glances." ... mi 11. ejaculation: " shooting out" From I^Kit. rjacnlan. The evil eye is still believed in in Italy and the Kast. 12. curious: "minutely careful." I>at. cttra, "care." Similarly curiosities, I. 19, means "subtleties." 28. come at even hand, etc : " be even with anotlier by ruining him." 33. estate : " affairs ; " below it means "government. 34. play pleasure : " the pleasure of a spectator at a jday." 38. non est curiosus, etc. : " no man is a busybody without ab^o being ill-natured," from Plautus. 50? aflfecting: "aiming at." 50. Narses: a general of the Emi^ror Justinian 527-563 A. P. He defeated the Goths and was made exarch of Italy. His rival was the more famous Belisarius. 51 Agesilaus: King of Sparta 398-360 B.C. Ho commanded against the Persians in Asia Minor, and also served in Greece and fiaypt. 'si. Tamerlane: Timour kne, i.e. "Timour the lame." He wa« the greatest of the Mogul conquerors, and founder of the Mogul Empire in India 58. they cannot want work: " tbey have always something to work upon." 61. Adrian: Hadrian, Emperor of Ilome 117-138 a. d. 63. vein: "inclination." ^ ^^ 68. incurreth . . . into the note: " comes under the notice. ^^*-^ 4 -♦ Jk >■ " w ^ -«'L,' 41. P.'-* JMh 94. per saltum : " by a leap. " 96. travels: 'Mr.ivailcs," "labours." 102. quanta patimur : " how much we have to bear." 124. disavow fortune: " admit that fortune was wrong." sc. in favouring liim. 130. lot: "spell" or "charm." 13:j. derive : "divert," jtroprrly of turning the course of a stream. 141. ostracism: it was customary in Athens every year to take a vote of the people with a view to banishing any man who seemed likely to niake himself ruler of the city. If moro than 6000 votes were registered against any person, ho had to leave the city for ten years. 144. invidia: "political bad feeling." 152. plausible actions: "actions intended to win approval." 169. invidia festos dies non agit: "envy keeps no holiday." 175. the envious man: Matthew xiii. 25. X. or- UO V t I. beholding: "indebted." 4. Siren: the Sirens were fabulous creatures, half women, half birds, who inhabited a rocky island, and lured sailors to distruction by their singing. II. Marcus Antonius : the lover of Cleopatra. He shared the Komaii Kmpiie \vitli Augustus from 42-31 n.c. He was defeated by Augustus at Actium 31 B.C. 12. Appius Claudius: tho most famous of the Ten Com- missioners {(Icccmviri) appointed in 451 B.C. to draw up the laws of Home, subsequently known as the Twelve Tables. Falling in love with a girl called Virginia, he illegally claimed her as his slave. Her father Virginius, finding ho could not save his daughter otherwise, killed her with his own hand. 18. Epicurus: sec above, I. 1. 48. 18. satis magnum, etc. : "we are a sufTicient theme of contem- plation for each other," i.e. " the proper study of mankind is man." 21. idol: "image," a favourite word with Bacon; it has both senses of the word image here— (1) the imago which the eye forms of its object, (2) the image of a false god which is worshipped. 24. braves: "sets at nought." 26. hyperbole: "exaggeration in expression." 29. intelligence: "an understanding." 82. it was well said : sc. by Plutarch. 36. reciproque: "returned," "reciprocal," below it is a noun, "return." 40. the poet's relation, etc. : " the story told by the poet repre- sents them well." The story is that of the Judgment of Paris. Paris, when called upon to judge whether Juno, Pallas (Minerva) or Venus was fairest, decided in favour of Venus, and received as reward Helen, the most beautiful woman in Greece. He went 'ft.. />. .-O. 76 BACON: ESS A Y XI NOTES. without Cquitted) the gifts offered by Juno and Pallas, which weW power and wisdom. 50. keep quarter: "keep within limits." 62. check: "iutcrfere." 77 '^.♦-i XI. Of G^^-^h^^^^^^ 1. Great Place: " hi«,'h position." 2. fame: "iciiutation." \, at. Jama. 3. as: "that." 11. cum non sis qui fueris, etc. : "when you are uo longer the man you were, you have no reason Tor desiring to live." Cicero. 13. it were reason : " it would be reasonable," 15. shadow: i. c. an indoor life. 16. still: "always," as frequently iu Shakespeare and later. 29. Illi mors gravis incubat, etc. : "death is grievous to the man who dies well known to all, but unknown to himself." Seneca. 33. to can: "to be able." 38. vantage: an ailjcetivc qualifying "ground," 38. Merit and good works is the end, etc.: "the end" is the subject, "merit and good works" belong to the predicate. 39. conscience: "consciousness." lj%t. amscientia. 41. God's theatre: "what God saw," explained by the quotation which follows. 42. Et conversus, etc.: "and God turned to behold the works which His hands had made, and saw that thoy wci-e very good," Gen. i. 31. 46. globe: "('(unjiondium." 51. taxing: "lintliiig fault with." 52. bravery: " disi-lay," ♦' ostentation." 53. set it down to thyself: " make it your aim." 65. Reduce: " trace l»ack." Lat rerfitca. 60. positive: "uncompromising." 61. express thyself well : " give good reasons." 64. de facto: " by artion." voice: "assert." 68. execution of thy place: " the discharge of your office." 72. facility: "complaisance." ^^. steal it: "do it by stealth." 87. inward: "intimate." 88. close: "secret." 94. idle respects: "groundless preferences." 94. be without: sc. "them." 95. To respect persons, etc. : Proverbs xxviii. 21. 97. A place showeth the man: a Greek proverb, apxh AvSpa iflxwaiVj a.srrihed to various wise men. 99. Omnium consensu, etc.: ''all men would have held him fit .to rule, had he not nilcd." Tacitus, the historian of the early Roman Empire, 55-118 a.d. Galba, Emperor 69 A.D. Vespasian. Emperor 69-79 A. D. *^ i»?- -♦>' ^^, -ff) <. 101. Solus imperantium, etc. : " he was the only emperor who changed for the better." 103. manners and affection : "character and disposition." For the use of the words in Latin, cp. 7)iores ct affcctio. 110. side a man's self: " tiike sides," balance himself; "bo neutral." 118. Be not too sensible or too remembering, etc. : " do not be too sensitive about your position or reniiud otliers of it too much ; " or sensible may mean "conscious." * r XIL ^' 1. It is a trivial grammar-school text: it refers to the story which follows ; trivial^ derived from the Latin word trivia, a street-corner, means "stale" or "trite" ; text, a "quotation," cp. text of a sermon. 2. Demosthenes: an Athenian, the most famous of Greek oratoi-s, 385-322 B.C. As a statesman ho chiefly employed his poNvers in resisting the aggressions of Philip, King of Macedon. This .story is told by Cicero. Demosthenes had not naturally cither the gifts of action or utterance, but acquired thein by rigor- ous practice. 3. part: "quality." Cp. "a man of parts." 14. wonderful: used adverbially. The distinction in form be- tween rdjcctive and adverb is not fundamental, and has ilisappeared altogether in German. 22. popular states : states which have a popular form of government, " democracies." 26. mountebanks : literally a person who mounts upon a bench, so a "quack." 40. they will but slight it over, etc. : " they will merely make light of It and take a new line without more ado." 49. in bashfulness the spirits, etc. : Bacon has an elaborate theory of the part ]tlayed by the vital spirits in the life of man. Speaking generally, they represent tlie inherent energy which makes a man live and act. C.ises of bashfulness, he exphuns, by suppos- ing that the vital spirits come and go ; but when a bold man is put out of countenance, they receive a sudden chec^k, which leaves the man ludicrously heljtless. 51. a stale: "stalemate." When a player's king is in such a position that, though not actually in danger, he cannot move without going into check, i. «. exposing him.self to capture, and no other move can be made on the board, thegiime is considered 1. affecting: sec note on I. 1. 3 ; IX. 1. 50. 6, character: "characteristic." 9. answers: "corrc.spon.:; Xft^-rvfe-h^riafeiB&^jaKifesflfaidfc^ iJ.J ''■*■ .' Ta.>li.<^U "T^^^t^-"^ 78 BACON: ESfJAV XTV. KOTES. 79 diRposition : e.g. courage was a mean between cowardice (defect) and rashii.ss (rxeess). Christ iaii theology, to a ceitaiu extent, followed Aristotle, but laid dowu that cerUiin virtnes, notably charity (love), did not admit of excesa 10. but: ••only." 19. Busbechius: Au^er Ghislain de Biisbec, 1522-1592. He was ambassador from Ferdinand I. Emperor of Germany to the Sultan, and liv.^d in Constantinople seven vcars. lie wrote a description of the Ottoman Empire. He ascribes the particular wa,L'f,'i3hness " to a Venetian goldsmith. 25. doctors: '•harned men. 26. Nicholas Machiavel : Niccolo Machiavelli, a Florentine author and statesman. His most famous work is '* The Prince," a manual for Italian tyrants in the middle ages, studied in part from Caesar Borgia. The tone of this treatise, which is politic rather than moral, has won a bad reputation for Machiavelli, which he does not by nny means deserve. Bacon maligns him here. 32. take knowledge of : '•notice." 84. faces or fancies : *• fancies as expressed by their faces. ** 89. He sendeth rain, etc. : Matthew v. 45. 45. divinity: "divine teaching." 46. Sell all that thou hast: Mark x. 21. 64. right reason : " a just appreciation of what is light." 58. crossness: '• perverseness." frowardness: •'self-will" 59. difficilness: ♦'intractibility." 61. in season : "in tluir element." 62. are ever on the loading part: ''always take the line of exaggerating misfortunes. " 63. Lazarus : Luke xvi. 20. 64. Misanthropi: "haters of mankind." 67. Timon: of Athens, a noted misanthrope. Ho is reported to have saul in the Athenian Assemldy, that he had a fig-tree on which several Athenians had hanged tliemselves, and that he wa.<* about to cut it down with a view to building. He therefore invited any one who wished to do so to come and hang himself at once. 69. politiques: " i^olilicians." 69. knee-timber: 'Hlic timber from gnarled or bent trees." 84. anathema from Christ: "cursed by Christ" Rom. ix. 3. 2. estate: "state." 5. attempers: •'moderates." 9. stirps: " families," strictly speaking it shonld be stirpes iha plural. ^ 9. for men's eyes, etc. : this gives the reason why democracies can dispense with a nobility. 12. flags: "armorial devices." 16. respects: "consideration for rank.** 16. United Provinces: the seven states of the Netherlands <-*• which in 1579 revolted from Spain. Holland was the chief, and has given its name to all. 17. indiflferent: " imj>artial." 21. presseth: "depresses." 23. as: "that." 25. fast: "near," as in the phrase, "fast by." 27. surcharge of expense : '• unnecessary expense." 38. are . . . more virtuous: "have higher qualities," or more genius." Virtue often means " hidden power." 40. arts: "practices." 46. at a stay: "stationary." 47. motions: "emotions," or "impulses.** (I 50. of: "among." 51. a better slide into their business: either slide is used absolutely for smoothness— kind's will lind smoothness coming into their business — or the sliding is done by the kings who get better into their business when able nobles smooth the way, and save them from friction by commanding the respect of the lower clas.ses as mere ministers would not. XV. or- «.9p\^ion'> ^^P^ooet^ 1. shepherds of people : this is Uie expression habitually used in Homer for king.s. 1. calendars: the almanacs, which foretold the weather, in which shepherds were always supposed to be more interested than even farmers. One of Spenser's poems is entitled the Shepherd's Calendar. 7. ille etiam, etc.: "for he {sc. the sun) oftentimes gives warning of the secret approach of mutinous outbreaks, and of the swellings of treachery and hidden war " ; the quotation is from Virgil's Gcorgiffi. 13. Fame: "Rumour.*' Lat. faiim; it is used in this .sense throughout the es.say. 15. illam terra parens, etc.: Her, Earth, her mother, provoked by the wrath of Heaven, brought forth, they say, her latest child, a .sister to Coeus and Enceladus." Virgil, JEneid iv. Cceus and Enceladus were Titans, who seditiously rose against Jupiter. 23. that: "such a pass." 24. plausible: "praiseworthy." 26. envy: "political bad feeling" ; Lat. invidia. 26. conflata invidia, etc.: "when public hatred is aroused good or l)ad actions alike are niinous." Tacitus wrote, inviso semel principe: " when an emperor is once hated, good and bad actions alike ruin him," referring to Galba. 34. erant in officio, etc. : •* they held to their allegiance, but in the spirit of men who were rather disposed to explain the commands of their rulers than to obey them." 38. assay of : " experiment in." 89. for the direction: " in favour of the government." 39. fearfully and tenderly: "with caution and weakly," ■J*=a ■*' " * -•^1^ 80 BACON: ESSAY XV. NOTES, 81 w 41. Machiavel : see above, XIII. 1. 26. 43. that is as : ** the result is the same as in the case of . . 47. League : the League of the Holv Trinity or Holy League formed by the French Catholics, under the leadership of the Guises, for the suppression of the Huguenots. Henry III. joined it, but lost 80 much freedom by so doing that he felt it necessary to have the Duke of Guise assassinated. The League then turned against him and drove him out of Paris. 49. and that there be : that is redundant. 56. primum mobile: the name given to the outside sphere in the pre-Copernican system of astronomy. It revolved daily and carried round with it all the other nine spheres, which contained the fixed fttars and planets. These nine spheres had a leas rax)id motion of their own, in the opposite direction. 58. softly: "slowly." 61. liberius quam nt, etc. : *' with a freedom which proved that they had little respect for their rulers." 62. out of frame ; ** out of order." 64. Solvam cingula regum : ** I will loose the girdles of kings.** Cp. Isaiah xlv. 1 and Job xii. 18. 66. mainly : " much," now a provincialism. 68. part of predictions : the genitive is appositional, not partitive, **this part which consists of predictions.' 69. more : " further.** 75. if the times do bear it : " if the times allow of it.** 80. overthrown estates : "ruined fortunes." 81. Lucan: M. Aniueus Lucanus (39-65 A. p.), nephew of Seneca and Gallio. He lived in the reign of Nero, who became jealous of his success as a poet and forbade him to publish. Lucan then entered into a conspiracy against Nero, but the plot was betrayed, and he was compelled to commit suicide. Lucan wrote an epic poem called the Pharsalia, which described the Civil War between Ciesar and Pompeius 49 and 48 B.C. 83. hinc osura vorax, etc.: "Hence sprung devouring usury and interest that hastes to the day of payment ; hence shaken credit, and war become a boon to many." 99. dolendi modus, timendi, etc. : "there is a limit to suflfering, but no linjit to fear." 102. mate: " defeat,*' " checkmate.** 103. be secure: " feel safe,*' or "be careless." 114. strangers : "the presence of foreigners.*' Bacon is probably thinking of foreign favourites, e.g. the Provcn<,\ils in the reign of Henry III., and Jews and otlurs wliosn rompotitinn injured production. 124. well-balancing of trade: Bacon held that exports should exceed imi)orts, and that so a balance should be re ! in money. This theorv was overthrown by Adam Smith. jMuurin Political Economy has also discarded the belief that laws regulating expenditure, or artificially controlling prices, are valuable, 131. stock: "capital." Cp. "stocks.'* ^ -"I 144. upon: "at the expense of." 145. whatsoever is somewhere gotten, etc. : this also does not hold, or it would not be possible for the world at lari'e to srrow richer. 150. materiam sup srabit opus: " the work will be more valuable than the niateiial." 15^. mines above ground : L e. their manufactures and cariying trade. 158. muck: "manure.*' 161. engrossing: " monopolising," " making corners.** 170, troubling of the waters: John v. 4. 174. Pallas: "Minerva." Briareus: a Titan. 180. bravery: "defiance." 181. endangereth: " incurs the danger.** 182. imposthumations : "abscesses." 183. The part of Epimetheus, etc. : Prometheus "forethought" and Epimetheus "afterthought" were two brothers. Prometheus stole fire from heaven and gave it to men, who then learnt the arts, and became more like the gods. To be revenged the gods made a beautiful woman called Pandora (each bestowing a gift upon her), and sent her down to Epimetheus with a shut box. Epimetheus opened it, and it was full of diseases and pains and troubles, which flew out into the world. He shut the lid too late to stop their escape, but managed to keep in Hope which was at the bottom. 188. artificial: " artful'^ or "skilful." 197. brave: "])arade." 20«. in his own particular : " on his own particular account.*' 220. Sylla nescivit, etc. : "Sulla did not know his letters, and could not dictate." Both Sulla and Cresar when masters of Rome assumed the title of "dictitor." Sulli after reorganising the constitution laid down his office, Cfesar did not. 223. legi a se militem : "that h. chose his soldiers and did not buy them." 225. Frobus: Emperor of Rome 276-282 a.d. He was murdered by his soldiers at Sirmium (Mitrovitza on the Saav). 225. si vixero, etc. : " if 1 live Rome will not need soldiers,'* 233. events: "occasions," or " emergencies." 239. atque is habitus, etc.: "the general state of mind was such, that whereas few cared to venture upon so odious a crime, many wished for it, and all accepted it." The reference is to the murder of Galba. 243. holding a good correspondence with, etc. : " not dispro- portionately great when compared with other members of the state." XVI. ^f t 1. Legend: the Golden Legend, a volume containing biographies of the saints, written by Jacobus do Voragene, Archbishop of Genoa, in the 13tli century, ESS. 1—20 F '-A'i ,:am^^^k iiij^ 82 BACON: ESSAY XVI. NOTES. 83 2. Talmud: a volume of Rabbinical traditions written as a supplement to the Old Testament. , ,, , . , ., i 2. Alcoran: the Koran {al is the article), the Mahometen bible. 4. convince: "refute." Lsit. eonviiico, 8. gecond causes ; the immediate or efncicnt causes with which physical science is concerned, as opi)Oi>ed to God, the first cause. 14. Lencippus and Democritus: two early Greek philosophers who started the theory thai the physical workl was formed by the concoui-se of atoms in a void. Their physical theory was adopted by Epicurus, who used it as a basis on which to found his moral philosophy. , . ^ 1 c * 16. four mutahle Clements: sc. earth, air, wator and nre ; to these was added a tifih sukstance or quintessence, ether, of which the heavenly bodies were comp^seil. 21. the fool hath said, etc. : Ps. xiv. and liii. ..,, ^ .. 23. soas . . . persuaded of it: the first a^ stands for that, and the fust that for " what," wliile the second is causal 26. for whom it maketh : " in whose interest it is. ^^ 34. have of them that: " find men among them who. 43. non deos vulgi, etc.: **it is not profane to deny the existence of the gods in whom common people believe, but ^ it is profane to attiibute to the gods what common people believe. 45. Plato: li^cd in the 4th century B.C. lie was the greatest of the Greek idealists in philosophy. ^ 54. contemplative: "theoretical." , ^ *, , • n 55 Diagoras: a |>oet who came from the island of Mtdos in t le ^crean. His atheism was so fain ms that Ari3toidian?8 calls Socrates "the Melian " when he wishes lo imply that he was an atheist. , , . ... , 55 Bion : a Scythian who studied philosophy m Athens ami became an atheist. He lived about 260 B.C., and must be distinfjuished from the pastoral poet Bion of Smyrna. 55. Lucian: see I. 1. 13. His satires often riiliculeU the pagan 67 St Bernard: a famous mediaival saint, who preached the Second Crusade and founded the abbey of Clairvanx. He lived 1091-1153 A.D. , c *i 1 67. Non est jam dicere, etc. : " we may not Say, as^ the people so the priest,' for the peoi»le is not so bad as the priest 79. generosity: ** nobleness." 80. maintained: ''supported." 81. melior natnra : " higher nature.** 88. so in this : " so it is also in this." 92 quam volumns. etc. : " we may think as well of ourselves aa we please. Conscript Fathers, but we have not the numbers of the Spauiai-ds, nor the bodily strength of the Gauls, nor the cunning of the Carthaginians, nor the arts of Greece ; nay, wc are not even the enuals of our own Italians and Latins in their auction for the race from which they arc sprung, and the land which is their home. But in piety, in reverence, and in the certainty, which m our only wisdom, that the whole world is ruled and guided by the power of heaven, we are more than a match for any people or nation in the world." But Cicero is by no means so orthodox in his private writings. ^ ■XVII. 0^ SdPV^ ^c-rnior 4. Plutarch: he flourished in 85 A d , and besides the Lives wrote a tnalise on superstition, from which this quotation is taken. 12. natural piety: a sense of duty to friends and kindled implanted hy nature. 14. dismounts: "cists down." 19. Augustus CasBar: the foundation of the Empire by Augustus 27 B.C. brought peace and prosperity to Rome, which, as Bacon sav'«, do not promote religion, or as the Bible puts it "AN hen J-slnirun waxotl fat he kicked." 21. primum mobile: see XV. 1. 56. 21. ravisheth: "carries awny with it." 24. are fitted to practice : ** used to defend practice, not to guide I ' • 25. gravely: "weightily." i6. Council of Trent : the Council of the Church held at Trent in the Tyrol 1545-1563 a.d., at the time of the Reformat on. It refused to come to anv compromise with Luther and the Protestants, and by its rigid definition of dogma, and anathemas against her.tics, made the breach between Catholics and Pro- testants final. 27. schoolmen: mediaeval philosophers, who combined the philosophy of Aristotle and the metaphysical and ethical doctrines of Christianity into one system. See XIIL 1. 10. Their reasoning was wholly deductive, and therefore became formal and difficult to reconcile with new facts. Bacon himself was the first founder of the so-called inductive reasoning, which, although dogmatic and full of fallacies, was fruitful, as it attempted to take account of fresh knowledge. The chief of the later Schoolmen were— Duns Sc.-tus, Oc am, and the great Dominican doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas. 29. eccentrics and epicycles: the phenomena (appearances) had by this time made it tairly clear that the earth was not the centre of the planetary system. The sun however had to go round the earth, for in Joshua x. 13 the sun stood still over Gibeon. To »ive the phenomena it was asserted (1) that the pl;.nets had a motion of their own in circles (epicycles), whose centres were on the circumferf^nce of the circles, which formed their orbits, as they revolved round the earth, and (2) that these latter circles were eccentrics, i.e. the earth was not accurately the centre of them. Op. Milton (quoted by West), Paradise Lost, viii. 81-84 : •* How build, unbuild, contrive. To save ajipearances ; how gird the sjhere "With centric and eccentric scribbled o'er, Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb." '^i^^^^^-.^ ; & !--AA ^■■^ u BACON: ESSAYS XVIIL, XIX, NOTES. 85 34, sensual: " which a] »i.cal to the souses." Bacon tlironghonl the essay is aiming at the Roman Church. 39. good intentions: stupidity ami eccentricity must not be given a free hand, however sincere they may be, otlicrAise fanciful beliefs and doctrines may come in. . v«^f:„„ •• 40. taking an aim at : " guessing at," collofiuially shooting. 11. mixture of imaginations : the blending of our conceptions as 'to things hum:in and divine, which result in false arguments ^^ITottld'behad: '* should bo^^taken." *'lLivea care" was the usu:il expression for **take care." 53. fareth: "hajipens.** QX' Tv^KVv t XVIII. 6 allow "approve." It is a ditfercnt word from allow = permit j for the one is derived from Fr. alloucr, Lat. allaxidarc, '' to praise, and the other from Fr. aUouer, Lat. allocare, " to assign. 10. exercises or discipline: '' training or leannng. ^^ 11. hooded: " blindfolded " ; tlie metaphor is from hawking. 15. diaries: the reference is to the ship's log. 17. observation: things which the ti-aveller express y came ^2^2. ^'consistories ecclesiastic: "ecclesiastical assemblies." ^^ 51. adamant: usually "hard metal," but here the "loadstone or "maijiict." „ 63. diet: " take his meals," "board. 62. employed men: ^' atlachlt." 69 healths: ''toasts." A frequent source of nnarrel was the reftisal on the part of one member of a company to drmk the health of some lady or eminent person, who was distasteful to lum. 69. place: "precedence." „ 80. his country manners : "the customs of his own country. 81. prick in : " plant in," or possibly "engraft.' Empire : '* rnle," or " government." Lat. imperlurru ^^ 4. want matter of desire : " Jiave no objects oi desire. 5. representations: "ideas." 8. the king's heart, etc. : Proverbs xxv. 3. 14. toys: "trilles." tt • • i j « i.^™ 17 Nero • Emperor of Rome 54-68. a.d. He insisted on show- ing off his skill as a harpist and charioteer at the Games, and caused great scandal. It was also said that he played the harp during the great fire in Rome 64 a D. 18. Domitian: Emperor of Rome 81-96 A.D. ' 19. Commodus: son of Marcus Aurelius. From his accession to the position of Roman Emperor, Gibbon dates the decline XIX. J •V of the Roman Empire. He reigned 180-192 A.D., and emulated Nero by taking part as a gladiator in the Games. 19. play : the usual word for fencing, so used in the last act of Hamh:t 19. Caracalla: Emperor of Rome 211-217 a.d. He was the son of Septimius Severus, and was properly called Bassianus, but is known by a nickname derived from the Gallic tunic which he wore. In his crimes, the chief of which was the murder of his brother Geta, and in his love of the circus he resembled Nero and Commodus. His name is associated with the famous baths in Rome, and it was in his reign that all fieeboni subjects of the Empire received Roman citizenship. 25. Alexander the Great: he is said by Plutarch to have wept because tliere were no more worlds to conquer. 29. Dioclesian : Emperof of Rome 284-305 a.d. His successes against the barbarians served to stay the downfall of the Empire. He spent the last seven years of his life in retirement, and died in 312 A.D. 29. Charles V. : born 1500 a.d. died 1558, king of Spain, Naples, Sicily, and the Netherlands, and Emperor cif Germany. His life was spent in fighting with the Protestant princes of Germany and Francis I. of France. His most brilliant success was the defeat and capture of Francis near the Carthusian monastery, between Milan and Pavia. He retired in favour of his son in 1556, and .spent the hist two years of his life in a convent in Spain, hearing masses for his soul as though already dead. 33. temper of empire : "the blending of qualities and methods necessary for successful ruling." 37. Apollonius: of Tyana in Cappadocia, b. B.C. 4, half Pytha- gorean philosopher, half nxagician. This story comes from his life written by Philostratus 182 A.D. 46. fine deliveries: "skilful devices for getting out of diffi- culties." 49. try masteries with: " provoke a conflict with." 65. sunt plerumque, etc.: "the wills of kings are for the most part violent and self-contradictory." The quotation is from Sal lust's t/it^wr/A«, 113 ; not from Tacitus. The Latin is. Sod pler- umque rcgice volantatcs ut vchementes^ sic vwhUcs ct stepe ipsce sibi Oliver soE. 57. solecism: "mistake." The word was used primarily of mistakes in grammar, such as were made by the inhabiiauts of Soli in Asia Minor, who spoke bad Greek. 68. approaches: "attracting trade." 76. palm: " hand's-breadth." 77. take up peace at interest: "take np" = boiTow, and the meaning is to make peace, which, like money boncwcd at high interest, would cost dear in the end. 79. Guicciardini : 1482-1540 a.d., a famous Florentine his- torian. 86 BACON: ESSAY XIX. NOTES, 87 80. Ferdinando of Naples: 1458-1482 a.d. Ho was maiuly occupioJ with the internal troubles caused by his cnieltiea. 81. Lorenzins Medices : Lorenzo de' Medici, 1448-1492, tyrant of Florence. He was surnauied the Ma;;inficcnt, and was famous as a patron of art and Ifttei-s. After a war with Ferilinand of Kaples he made p. ace in 1480. 81. Ladovicus Sforza: 1451-1510 a.d. He was suniamed il M(yrOj " the Moor," because of his complexion. His family, which was of low origin, succeeded the Visconti as tyrants of Milan. The alliance mentioned here was directed piimaiily against Venice. 89. Livia : probably not the same who received the dying compliment ot Augustus, although she was in some quarters supposed to have muidt-red her husband in tlie interest of her son Tibeiius, but her granddaughter Livilla who married Drusus, son of Tiberius. She was seduced by Sejanus, the ambitious prefect of the Prajtorian guard, and took otf her husband by poison to aid Sejanus in his designs upon the succession, 89. infimed: "infamous." 90. Eoxolana : a Russian girl who was mairied by Solyman the Magnitircnt, the gi-eatest of the Oitomon en)peroi"s. She (om- passed the destruction of Mustaplsa, Solymau's son by another wife, to secure the succession for lier own children. 93. his queen: Is.nbella, the "she wolf" of France, 7/isby false deiivation for the '» of the possessive case. 96. that they be advoutresses : "when they are adulteresses," the reference being to Livilla and Isabella. 98. of: "due to." 105. Selymus II; Selim, son of Roxo!ana. He was defeated by Don John of Austria and the Venetians in a seafight olf Lepanto 1571 A.D. 106. Crispus: Flavius Julius Crispus, eldest son of Constintine the Great. He distinguished himself in the campaigns against the Franks, but was put to death at the instigation of Iiis step- mother Fausta 326 a.d. On the death of Cor *>-tine his three sons by Fausta, Constantine, Constantius, nnd L .. ais, succeeded him. Constantine, the eldest, who received Gaul, Biitain, ami Spain, made war upon Coistans and fell in battle at Aquileja near Venice. Constans received Italy, Ulyricum, and Africa ; he defeated his brother, but was murdered by his own troops. Constantius was originally only Kmperor of the East, but had secured control of all his father s dominions by 360, when Julian the Apostate was proclaimed Emperor by the soldiers at Paris. 112. Demetrius : son of Philij) V., King of Macedonia 220-179 B.C., whom Bacon calls Philip II. His father put him to death at the instigation of Perseus, another of his sons, on a charge of treasonable intrigues with the Romans. 117. Selymus I: dethroned his father, the Sultan Bajazet IL 1512 A.D. 117. three sons: Richard Coear-de-Lion, Geoffrey, and Joha X 125. state: "class." 126. hath a dependence of: " can look for support to." 126. foreign authority, sc. the Pope, backed upon occasion by the King of France. 128. collation: "consent." 133. my history: written just after Bacon's retirement from public life, and corrected by Janice I. The following passage <»'?curs towards the close of it: "He kept a straight hand on the nobility, and chose rather to advance clergyuien and lawyers, which were more obsequious to him, but had less interest in the people : which made for his absoluteness but not for his safety." 140. second: "inferior." 142. discourse high : " talk big." 147. vena porta: the large vein which conveys blood to the liver. 149. nourish little : " get little nourishment." 151. hundred: a .'>ub-di vision of the shire, called in Yorkshire wapentake ; it may in the first instance have consisted ot a hundred settlements, or have provided a hundred men to the shire army. 158. men of war: "soldiers." 160. Janizaries: the bodyguard of the Sultan. 161. pretorian bands, the bodyguard of the K man emperors. 165. good or evil times : astrologers sup;>03ed that history, public and personal, was influenced by the plau'Jts. 169. memento quod, etc.: "remember that \.\o\\ art a man, remember that thou art God,*' or "in place of God." XX. OF C-OUN ^*= 6. obliged: "bound." 11. Counsellor: Isaiah ix. 6. 11. in counsel is stability: Proverbs xx. 18. 13. agitation: the Latin word agitarc means both "to toss" and "to discuss," 15. fall of inconstancy, etc. : "full of inconsistency, first done and then undone." 16. Solomon's son: Relioboam, who forsook the counsel of the old men and followed the violent counsel of they)ung men, where- by he lost control of the northern tribes. 1 Kings xii. 28. intend: " mean." 39. elaborate: "elaborated." 42. resolution: "decision." 55. less of themselves : "less able themselves." 58. doctrine: "teaching." 60. cabinet councils: "private meetings of special advisers," such as were held by Louis XI. 68. plenas rimarum sum : " I am full of chinks." Terence. 69. futUe: "talkative." 72. which will hardly . . . persons: "which can scarcely be confided to more than one or two persons with safety." W^^^^f^*^'^^^:^^^^ 88 BACON: ESSAY XX. 77. grind with a hand-mill : "be independent of the machinery of govennneut. " 81. Morton: Archbishop of Canterbuiy. He had been in the service of Henry VII. before his accession. 81. Fox: Bishop of Winchester, the i)atron of Wolsey, and founder of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 88. divers: "several." 89. holpen: "set right.** 91. non inveniet, etc.: "he shall not find faith upon the earth." Cp. I. 1. 82. 98. out of faction: "from party motives." 102. principis est virtus, etc. : " it is the excellence of an emperor to know his advisers." 'Martial. 104. speculative: "iur> COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY \ This book is due on the date indicated below, or at the ! expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing, 1 as provided by the rules of the Library or by special ar- rangement with the Librarian in charge. t c DATE BORROWED ■ /' ■n0rt^4l 'BTloV4f 00; « \^^"B^'5 B ru ^ nj » -tr a > fn CO '-T.' C 1* H £^L- DO WOT \ 14^ A C2«*23»)M100 L9 4i ^#w^ nf " '^'t'^J