FRANCIS BACON 5 



case with by far the greater number), let us wish that they may pros- 

 per as they desire in their undertaking, and attain what they pursue. 

 But if any individual desire, and is anxious not merely to adhere to, 

 and make use of present discoveries, but to penetrate still further, and 

 not to overcome his adversaries in disputes, but nature by labor, not in 

 short to give elegant and specious opinions, but to know to a certainty 

 and demonstration, let him, as a true son of science (if such be his 

 wish), join with us ; that when he has left the antechambers of nature 

 trodden by the multitude, an entrance may at last be discovered to 

 her inner apartments. And in order to be better understood, and 

 to render our meaning more familiar by assigning determinate names, 

 we have accustomed ourselves to call the one method the anticipation 

 of the mind, and the other the interpretation of nature. 



We have still one request left. We have at least reflected and 

 taken pains, in order to render our propositions not only true, but 

 of easy and familiar access to men's minds, however wonderfully 

 prepossessed and limited. Yet it is but just that we should obtain 

 this favor from mankind (especially in so great a restoration of learn- 

 ing and the sciences), that whosoever may be desirous of forming 

 any determiination upon an opinion of this our work either from his 

 own perceptions, or the crowd of authorities, or the forms of demon- 

 strations, he will not expect to be able to do so in a cursory manner, 

 and whilst attending to other matters ; but in order to have a thorough 

 knowledge of the subject, will himself, by degrees, attempt the course 

 which we describe and maintain ; will be accustomed to the subtlety 

 of things which is manifested by experience; and will correct the 

 depraved and deeply-rooted habits of his mind by a seasonable, and, 

 as it were, just hesitation : and then, finally (if he will), use his judg- 

 ment when he has begun to be master of himself. 



ON THE INTERPRETATION OF NATURE, OR THE 



REIGN OF MAN * 



Man acts, then, upon natural bodies (besides merely bringing them 

 together or removing them) by seven principal methods : I. By the 

 exclusion of all that impedes and disturbs ; II. by compression, ex- 

 tension, agitation, and the like ; III. by heat and cold ; IV. by detention 



* Part II, Conclusion of the Novum Organum. 



