Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/558

 430 INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. been, almost as much as men, the discoverers of nature s operations, nor have men in this matter made much use of their prerogative. We must, however, examine what is done. And, first, of the simple and untaught mode of invention which is common with men, it is no other than that he who girds and prepares himself for an invention, first inquires and learns what others have said on the subject, then adds his own reflection. But for a man to commit himself to the guidance of others, or to entreat and almost invoke his own spirit to give him oracles, is a proceeding without ground. Next follows the invention in use with logicians, which has only a nominal connexion with the matter in hand. For it is not of principles and axioms, of which arts consist, but only of what seems agreeable to them. For logic, with a well known response, drives the curious and importunate, and lovers of business to yield their faith, as it were allegiance to some art. There remains simple experience, which, if unforeseen, is called chance, if sought, experi ment. And this is no more than, as they say, the faggot unbound. Nay, more, they who are assiduously employed in opening and bringing to light some nature or work, by a long and desul tory course of experiments, are either fixed in amazement, or run round in giddiness, sometimes eager, at others confused ; and always find matter for further inquiry. Nor can it well be other wise. For it is an aimless and very foolish speculation, to search for the nature of a thing in itself: for the same nature is hidden in some, in others open, and as it were palpable ; and causes admiration -in the latter, in the former not even attention. Thus that quality of bodies which resists separation, seems a very subtle thing, and ingenious in bubbles of water, which for this purpose throw themselves into thin films in the form of a hemisphere. The same quality is little marked in stone or wood, but goes under the name of solid. Wherefore he saw that a certain ill fortune rather than ignorance is to be imputed to men, since they have been drawn from the appointed path by mischance or tempta tions, but, within its bounds, have not shown themselves wanting in energy. He thought also, that some limit must be set to despondency, oral least to complaint; and that it must i^ther be considered whether we are to stop altogether, and use what we have already ; or to make trial and devise something by which the matter may proceed better. And, first, it is right to mark the excellency and value of the end and purpose, that in a dry matter and difficult at tempt there may be a greater supply of industry. And he remembered that in ancient times, the af fection and zeal of men exceeding moderation : divine honours were paid to inventors. But those who had deserved well in civil affairs, as the foun- of their countries from long standing evils, de- throners of tyrants, and the like, reached not be yond the rank of heroes. Nor has this distinction in old time been made without reason, seeing that the gifts of the former fell upon the whole human race, those of the latter upon limited districts and patches of society : the former to pour blessings on human life without violence or uproar, while the latter are not commonly introduced but with struggle and tumult. Now if the utility of any single invention so moved men, that they account ed more than man him who could include the whole human race in some solitary benefit, that invention is certainly much more exalted, which by a kind of mastery contains within itself all particular inventions, and delivers the mind from bondage, and opens it a road, that under sure and unerring guidance it may penetrate to whatever can be of novelty and further advancement. For as in the early ages, when sailors steered their course only by observations of the heavenly bo dies, they coasted along the shores of the old con tinent, or ventured across some small internal seas : but it was necessary that the use of the compass should be known, as a more certain guide of the passage, before the ocean could be crossed and the tracts of the new world discovered : in like manner, all that has been hitherto invented in human arts and sciences might have been found out by instinct, experience, observation, meditation, being more obvious to sense ; but before we may stretch across to the more distant and secret regions of nature, it is a necessary provision, that some better and more perfect application and ma nagement of the human mind be found out. Wherefore such an invention as this would be, without doubt, a most noble and truly masculine offspring of time. Again, in the Holy Scripture he saw that Solo mon the king, while in the pride of his power, his riches, his magnificent works, his guards, his household, his exact distribution and arrangement of slaves and domestics, his fleet moreover, the renown of his name, and the greatest honour from men ; thought none of these his true glory, but said, that &quot;the glory of God is to conceal a thing, but the glory of the king is to find it out,&quot; as if the Divine nature took delight in the innocent and playful sport of children, who hide themselves that they may be found out ; and from his indul gence and graciousness to men, chose the human soul his playfellow. And the glory of invention* is that they raise human nature, without hurting any one, (as civil affairs commonly do,) and do not press or sting a man s conscience, but bestow on all rewards and blessings without the sacrifice, or injury, or sorrow of one. For the nature of light is pure and harmless, it may be perverted in its use, but not polluted in itself. Again, taking note of the purposes and ambi ders of cities and empires, legislators, deliverers tions of men, he observed three kinds of ambition