Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/438

 310 THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. stir not or ev;ide, which is noted also by the Di vine Philosopher, Eccl. xii. 11 :&quot; Verba sapien- tum,&quot; saith he, &quot;sunt tanquam aculei et veluti clavi in altum defixi.&quot; The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails driven far in. Moreover, all science seems to be placed in ateep and high mountains; as being thought to be a lofty and high thing, looking down upon ignorance with a scornful eye. It may be ob served and seen also a great way, and far in com pass, as things set on the tops of mountains. Furthermore, science may well be feigned to oeset the highways, because which way soever we turn in this progress and pilgrimage of human life, we meet with some matter or occasion offered for contemplation. Sphynx is said to have received from the muses divers difficult questions and riddles, and to propound them unto men, which remaining with the muses, are free, it may be from savage cruelty ; for so long as there is no other end of study and meditation, than to know, the under standing is not racked and imprisoned, but enjoys freedom and liberty, and even in doubts and variety finds a kind of pleasure and delectation ; but when once these enigmas are delivered by the muses to Sphynx, that is, to practice, so that it be solicited and urged by action, and election, and determination, then they begin to be trouble some and raging; and unless they be resolved and expedited, they do wonderfully torment and vex the minds of men, distracting, and in a man ner rending them into sundry parts. Moreover, there is always a twofold condition propounded with Sphynx s enigmas : to him that doth not expound them, distraction of mind ; and to him that doth, a kingdom ; for he that knows that which he sought to know, hath attained the end he aimed at, and every artificer also com mands over his work. Of Sphynx s ridd-les, they are generally two kinds; some concerning the nature of things, others touching the nature of man. So also there are two kinds of empires, as rewards to those that resolve them. The one over nature, the other over men; for the proper and chief end of true natural philosophy is to command and sway over natural beings ; as bodies, medicines, mechanical works, and infinite other things; although the school, being content with such things as are offered, and priding itself with speeches, doth neglect realities and works, tread ing them as it were under foot. But that enigma propounded to (Edipus, by means of which he obtained the Theban empire, belonged to the nature of man : for whosoever doth thoroughly consider the nature of man, may be in a manner tfie contriver of his own fortune, and is born o command, whicb is well spoken of the Roman arts &quot;Tn regere iniperio populos, Romane memento Hie tibi erunt artr.B &quot; Roman remember, that with sceptre s awe Thy realms thou rul st. These arts let be thy rule. -It was, therefore, very apposite, that Augustus Caesar, whether by premeditation, or by a chance, bare a sphynx in his signet; for he, if ever any, was famous not only in political government, but in all the course of his life ; he happily discovered many new enigmas concerning the nature of man, which if he had not done with dexterity and promptness, he had oftentimes fallen into imminent danger and destruction. Moreover, it is added in the fable, that the body of Sphynx, when she was overcome, was laid upon an ass; which indeed is an elegant fiction, seeing there is nothing so acute and ab struse, but, being well understood and divulged, may be apprehended by a slow capacity. Neither is it to be omitted, that Sphynx was overcome by a man lame in his feet ; for when men are too swift of foot, and too speedy of pace in hasting to Sphynx s enigmas, it comes to pass, that, she getting the upper hand, their wits and minds are rather distracted by disputations, than that ever they come to command by works and effects. PROSERPINA, OR SPIRIT. PLUTO, they say, being made king of the infer nal dominions, by that memorable division, was in despair of ever attaining any one of the supe rior goddesses in marriage, especially if he should venture to court them, either with words, or with any amorous behaviour; so that of necessity he was to lay some plot to get one of them by ra pine : taking, therefore, the benefit of opportunity, he caught up Proserpina, the daughter of Ceres, a beautiful virgin, as she was gathering Narcissus flowers in the meadows of Sicily, and carried her away with him in his coach to the subterranean dominions, where she was welcomed with such respect, as that she was styled the Lady of Dis. But Ceres, her mother, when in no place she should find this her only beloved daughter, in a sorrowful humour and distracted beyond measure, went compassing the whole earth with a burning torch in her hand, to seek and recover this her lost child. But when she saw that all was in vain, supposing peradventure that she was carried to hell, she importuned Jupiter with many tears and lamentations, that she rnight.be restored unto her again : and at length prevailed thus far, that if she had tasted of nothing in hell, she should have leave to bring her from thence. Which condition was as good as a denial to her petition, Proserpina having already eaten three grains of a pomegranate. And yet for all this, Ceres gave not over her suit, but fell to prayers and moan?