48 Bacon 



of the island never had forty-five years of better times ; and 

 yet not through the calmness of the season, but through the 

 wisdom of her regiment. For if there be considered of the 

 one side, the truth of religion established; the constant 

 peace and security ; the good administration of justice; the 

 temperate use of the prerogative, not slackened, nor much 

 strained; the flourishing state of learning, sortable to so 

 excellent a patroness ; the convenient estate of wealth and 

 means, both of Crown and subject; the habit of obedience, 

 and the moderation of discontents : and there be considered 

 on the other side the differences of religion; the troubles 

 of neighbour countries ; the ambition of Spain, and opposi 

 tion of Rome ; and then, that she was solitary and of herself: 

 these things, I say, considered, as I could not have chosen an 

 instance so recent and so proper, so I suppose I could not 

 have chosen one more remarkable or eminent to the purpose 

 now in hand, which is concerning the conjunction of learn 

 ing in the prince with felicity in the people. 



Neither hath learning an influence and operation only 

 upon civil merit and moral virtue, and the arts or tempera 

 ture of peace and peaceable government; but likewise it 

 hath no less power and efficacy in enablement towards 

 martial and military virtue and prowess ; as may be notably 

 represented in the examples of Alexander the Great, and 

 Caesar the dictator, mentioned before, but now in fit place 

 to be resumed : of whose virtues and acts in war there needs 

 no note or recital, having been the wonders of time in that 

 kind: but of their affections towards learning, and perfec 

 tions in learning, it is pertinent to say somewhat. 



Alexander * was bred and taught under Aristotle, the great 

 philosopher, who dedicated divers of his books of philo 

 sophy unto him: he was attended with Callisthenes and 

 divers other learned persons, that followed him in camp, 

 throughout his journeys and conquests. What price and 

 estimation he had learning in doth notably appear in these 

 three particulars : first, in the envy he used to express that 

 he bore towards Achilles, in this, that he had so good a 

 trumpet of his praises as Homer s verses ; secondly, in the 

 judgment or solution he gave touching that precious cabinet 

 of Darius, which was found among his jewels; whereof 

 question was made what thing was worthy to be put into it ; 



1 These anecdotes of Alexander come from Plutarch, Vit. Alex. 



