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THE SECOND BOOK OF FRANCIS BACON.

Of the Proficience and

Advancement of Learning,
Divine and Human.

To the King.

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T might feem to have more nience, though it come often otherwife to pass, Excellent King, that those, which are fruitful in their generations, and have in themselves the forefight of Immortality in their defcendants, fhould likewise be more careful of the good eftate of future times, unto which they know they muft tranfmit and commend over their dearest pledges. Queen Elizabeth was a fojourner in the World in refpect of her unmarried life, and was a bleffing to her own times: and yet fo as the impreffion of her good Government, befides her happy memory, is not without fome effect which doth furvive her. But to your Majefty, whom God hath already bleffed with so much Royal iffue, worthy to continue and represent you

for ever; and whofe youthful and fruitful bed doth yet promise many of the like renovations; it is proper and agreeable to be converfant, not only in the tranfitory parts of good government, but in those acts also which are in their nature permanent and perpetual: amongst the which, if affection do not transport me, there is not any more worthy than the further endowment of the world with found and fruitful knowledge. For why should a few received Authors ftand up like Hercules's Columns, beyond which there should be no failing or discovering, fince we have so bright and benign a ftar as your Majefty to conduct and profper us? To return therefore where we left, it remaineth to confider of what kind those Acts are, which have been undertaken and performed by Kings and others for the increase and advancement of learning: wherein I purpose to speak actively without digreffing or dilating.

Let this ground therefore be laid, that all works are overcome by amplitude of reward, by foundness of direction, and by the conjunction of labours. The first multiplieth endeavour, the fecond preventeth error, and the third fupplieth the frailty of man but the principal of these is direction: for Claudus in via antevertit curforem extra viam; and Solomon excellently fetteth it down, If the Iron be not sharp, it requireth more strength; but Wisdom is that which prevaileth; fignifying that the Invention or election of the Mean is more effectual than any inforcement or accumulation of endeavours.

This I am induced to speak, for that (not derogating from the noble intention of any that have been defervers towards the State of Learning) I do observe, nevertheless, that their works and Acts are rather matters of Magnificence and Memory, than of progreffion and proficience; and tend rather to augment the mafs of Learning in the multitude of Learned men, than to rectify or raise the Sciences themselves.

The Works or Acts of merit towards Learning are converfant about three objects: the Places of Learning, the Books of Learning, and the Persons of the Learned. For as water, whether it be the dew of Heaven, or the springs of the Earth, doth scatter and lose itself in the ground, except it be collected into fome Receptacle, where it may by union comfort and sustain itself, (and for that cause the Industry of Man hath made and framed Spring-heads, Conduits, Cisterns, and Pools, which men have accustomed likewife to beautify and adorn with accomplishments of Magnificence and State, as well as of use and neceffity) fo this excellent liquor of Knowledge, whether it descend from divine inspiration, or spring from human sense, would foon perish and vanish to oblivion, if it were not preserved in Books, Traditions, Conferences, and Places appointed, as Univerfities, Colleges, and Schools, for the receipt and comforting of the fame.

The works which concern the Seats and Places of Learning are four; Foundations and Buildings, Endowments with Revenues, Endowments with

Franchises and Privileges, Inftitutions and Ordinances for government; all tending to quietness and privateness of life, and discharge of cares and troubles; much like the Stations which Virgil prefcribeth for the hiving of Bees:

Principio fedes Apibus ftatioque petenda,
Quo neque fit ventis aditus, &c.

The works touching Books are two; firft Libraries, which are as the Shrines where all the Relics of the ancient Saints, full of true virtue, and that without delufion or impofture, are preserved and repofed fecondly, new Editions of Authors, with more correct Impreffions, more faithful translations, more profitable glosses, more diligent Annotations, and the like.

The works pertaining to the persons of Learned men, befides the advancement and countenancing of them in general, are two: the reward and defignation of Readers in Sciences already extant and invented; and the reward and defignation of Writers and Inquirers concerning any parts of Learning not fufficiently laboured and profecuted.

These are fummarily the Works and Acts, wherein the merits of many excellent Princes and other worthy Personages have been conversant. As for any particular commemorations, I call to mind what Cicero faid, when he gave general thanks; Difficile non aliquem, ingratum, quenquam præterire. Let us rather, according to the Scriptures, look unto that part of the Race which is before us, than look back to that which is already attained.

First, therefore, amongst fo many great Foundations of Colleges in Europe, I find it strange that they are all dedicated to Profeffions, and none left free to Arts and Sciences at large. For if men judge that learning should be referred to action, they judge well; but in this they fall into the Error described in the ancient Fable, in which the other parts of the body did suppose the stomach had been idle, because it neither performed the office of Motion, as the limbs do, nor of Senfe, as the head doth; but yet, notwithstanding, it is the Stomach that digefteth and distributeth to all the reft: so if any man think Philosophy and Univerfality to be idle Studies, he doth not confider that all Profeffions are from thence served and supplied. And this I take to be a great cause that hath hindered the progreffion of learning, because these Fundamental knowledges have been studied but in paffage. For if you will have a Tree bear more fruit than it hath used to do, it is not any thing you can do to the boughs, but it is the stirring of the earth and putting new mould about the Roots, that must work it. Neither is it to be forgotten, that this dedicating of Foundations and Donations to profeffory Learning hath not only had a malign aspect and influence upon the growth of Sciences, but hath also been prejudicial to States and Governments. For hence it proceedeth that Princes find a folitude in regard of able men to ferve them in causes of state, because there is no education collegiate which is free; where fuch as were fo difpofed might give

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