The two books of Francis, Lord Verulam. Of the proficience and advancement of learning.

  • Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The two books of Francis, Lord Verulam. Of the proficience and advancement of learning. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    blood, civil history, morality, policy, about the which men s affections, praises, fortunes, do turn and are conversant; but this same “ lumen siccum” (dry light) doth parch and offend most men’s watery and soft natures. But, to speak truly of things as they are in worth, rational knowledges are the keys ol all other arts; for as Aristotle saith aptly and elegantly, “ That the hand is the instru- ment of instruments, and the mind is the form of formsso these be truly said to be the art of arts : neither do they only direct, but likewise confirm and strengthen; even as the habit of shooting doth not only enable to shoot a nearer shoot, but also to draw a stronger bow. The arts intellectual are four in number; divided according to the ends whereunto they are referred ; for man’s labour is to invent that which is sought or pi opounded; or to judge that which is invented; or to retain that which is judged ; or to deliver over that which is retained. So as the arts must be four; art of inquiry or invention; art of examination or judg- ment; art of custody or memory ; and art of elocu- tion or tradition. Invention is of two kinds, much differing; the one, of arts and sciences; and the other, of speech and arguments. The former of these I do report | deficient; which seemeth to me to be such a defi- V 1 fe p