Advancement of Learning 65 



Muses as barren virgins, and relying upon Vulcan. 1 But 

 certain it is, that unto the deep, fruitful, and operative 

 study of many sciences, especially Natural Philosophy and 

 Physic, books be not the only instrumentals ; wherein also 

 the beneficence of men hath not been altogether wanting: 

 for we see spheres, globes, astrolabes, maps, and the like, 

 have been provided as appurtenances to astronomy and 

 cosmography, as well as books : we see likewise that some 

 places instituted for physic have annexed the commodity 

 of gardens for simples of all sorts, and do likewise command 

 the use of dead bodies for anatomies. But these do respect 

 but a few things. In general, there will hardly be any main 

 proficience in the disclosing of nature, except there be some 

 allowance for expenses about experiments; whether they 

 be experiments appertaining to Vulcanus or Dsedalus, 

 furnace or engine, or any other kind: and therefore as 

 secretaries and spials of princes and states bring in bills for 

 intelligence, so you must allow the spials and intelligencers 

 of nature to bring in their bills; or else you shall be ill 

 advertised. 



And if Alexander made such a liberal assignation to 

 Aristotle of treasure 2 for the allowance of hunters, fowlers, 

 fishers, and the like, that he might compile a History of 

 Nature, much better do they deserve it that travail in 

 Arts of Nature. 3 



Another defect which I note, is an intermission or neglect 

 in those which are governors in universities, of consultation ; 

 and in princes or superior persons, of visitation: to enter 

 into account and consideration, whether the readings, 



1 See Nov. Org. ii. 7: &quot; Transeundum plane a Vulcano ad Miner- 

 vam, si in animo sit veras corporum texturas et schematismos 

 ... in lucem protrahere.&quot; 



2 ^Elian, Var. Hist. iv. 19, says that Philip held him, and Athenaeus, 

 ix. 398 f., states the amount said to have been allowed him by 

 Alexander, 800 talents. But Bacon takes his statement here from 

 Plin. Nat. Hist. viii. 17. 



3 The Latin has for &quot; travail in arts of Nature,&quot; &quot; in labyrinthis 

 artium viam sibi aperiunt,&quot; where Art is opposed to Nature. So 

 that the phrase &quot; Arts of Nature &quot; must be modified to mean &quot; Arts 

 concerned with Nature.&quot; Or, possibly, there is some mistake in 

 the reading. All the old editions have travailes. If the reading is 

 correct, the sense will be that they who lay down rules and general 

 principles of Arts in things Natural are worthy of higher reward 

 than are they who only collect Histories, i.e. catalogues or registers 

 of detached facts. 



