Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/559

 INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. if it be allowed to give that name to one of them : ! the first is of those who simple fiercely to increase ! their sway in their own country ; and this is com mon and mean. The second of those who strive to extend the sway of their country over other nations; which has doubtless more dignity, but not less selfishness. The third is of those who essay to create and extend the sway and empire of man himself or the human race over the uni verse of matter ; which is clearly wiser and no bler than the others. Now the empire of man consists in knowledge alone, for his power is what he knows, nor can any force burst the chain of natural causes ; for nature is only to be conquered by obeying. He thought also, and inquired what account should be made of the value and efficacy of inven tions, whether simple and unmixed, or joined with their favours and benefits. And in no case is this consideration more plainly suggested, than in those three inventions, which were unknown to the ancients, and whose birth among us was ob scure and noiseless; printing, gunpowder, and the compass. For these three, though a small number, and not remote in invention, have changed the face of things, and the condition of the world : the first in literature, the second in war, the third in navigation ; and hence have flowed infinite mutations in the state of things, apparent to care ful observers; so that no empire, sect, or star, seems to have had a stronger influence, and, as it were, ascendant over human affairs than those mechanical works. As to their worth, it may be best descried if any one will reflect what a gulf there is between man s life in the most polished country of Europe, and the rudest and most sa vage region of the New Indies : so great, that man may fairly be said to be a god to man, not only by reason of assistance and benefit, but from comparing their conditions. And this is not the effect of soil, or climate, or constitution, but of arts. But the new world of science and the new world of geography do not agree in the old being more refined than the new : on the contrary, it is certain that the additions to arts must show them selves greatly superior to those we have, so as not only to bend nature gently, but to conquer and enslave it, and shake it to its foundation : for it almost always happens that what is easy of dis covery is infirm of work; since the roots of things of potent virtue are covered deeply. But if to any one given to the love and worship of contempla tion, this frequent and honourable mention of works sounds somewhat harsh and offensive, let him be assured that he thwarts his natural wishes ; for in nature works are not only benefits to life, but pledges of truth. And, as it is most justly required in religion that a man should show his faith by works, it is right also in natural philoso phy that knowledge should be proved by its works in like manner. For truth is rather sho wn and proved by the evidence df works than by ;ir;ni. ment, or even sense. Hence there is one and the same means of improving man s condition and his mind. So he saw that what has been said of the dignity of the end we aim at and design, is not strengthened, but really diminished by words. He thought also, that what has been said of the excellence of the end may appear accommodated to his wishes. We must, therefore, inquire care fully what hopes shines on us, and on what side it appears : and we must be on our guard that love of what is excellent and beautiful do not make us lose or relax the rigour of our judgment. For it is meet to bestow on this matter legal caution, which distrusts on principle, and takes the least favourable view of human concerns. The lighter whisperings of hope must, therefore, be rejected, but those which seem to have some stability, discussed. And in taking a view of his prospects, it occurred to him, first, that what we are treating of, by reason of the eminent nature of good, is manifestly from God ; and that in the works of God the smallest beginnings lead to their end. He had hope also from the nature of time : for truth is by universal consent the daughter of time. It is a mark, therefore, of utter weakness and narrowness of mind to attribute infinite effects to authors, but to withhold, its due from time, the author of authors and of all author ity. Nor had he hope only in the common right of time, but also in the superiority of our own age. For the opinion of antiquity which men hold, is a hasty one, and not even agreeing with the name. For the old age or more advanced period of the world is properly to be called anti quity. And, in truth, as we expect a greater acquaintance with affairs and more mature judg ment, in an old man than in a youth, by reason of his experience, and his having seen and heard and thought more; it is reasonable that in like manner we should hope from our own age (if it knew its own strength, and would essay and apply it) more than from former times, being a more advanced age of the world, and enriched to fulness with numberless experiments and observa tions. Nor must we think it little that, in those distant voyages and travels which have been fre quent in our time, much has been discovered in nature which is capable of shedding new light on philosophy. Nay, it is dishonourable to men, if in our age the regions of the material world, that is, the earth, the ocean, and the heavenly bodies, are discovered and displayed to a vast extent, but the boundaries of the intellectual world are still fixed within the narrow space and knowledge of the ancients. Even the state of Europe at present in a political respect is not averse. England is raised, France at peace, Spain worn out, Italy and Germany in a state of inaction : so that from the power of the greatest kings being balanced, and the conditions of U