92 Bacon 



to conquer all nations; wherein nevertheless, it may be, he 

 may at some men s hands that are of a bitter disposition get 

 a like title as his scholar did : 



Felix terrarum praedo, non utile mundo 

 Editus exemplum, etc. 

 So 



Felix doctrinae praedo. 1 



But to me, on the other side, that do desire as much as lieth 

 in my pen to ground a sociable intercourse between anti 

 quity and proficience, it seemeth best to keep way with 

 antiquity usque ad aras ; and therefore to retain the ancient 

 terms, though I sometimes alter the uses and definitions, 

 according to the moderate proceeding in civil government ; 

 where although there be some alteration, yet that holdeth 

 which Tacitus wisely noteth, EademMagistratuumvocabula* 

 To return therefore to the use and acceptation of the 

 term Metaphysique, as I do now understand the word; it 

 appeareth, by that which hath been already said, that I 

 intend philosophia prima, Summary Philosophy, and Meta 

 physique, which heretofore have been confounded as one, 

 to be two distinct things. For the one I have made as a 

 parent or common ancestor to all knowledge ; and the other 

 I have now brought in as a branch or descendent of natural 

 science. It appeareth likewise that I have assigned to 

 Summary Philosophy the common principles and axioms 

 which are promiscuous and indifferent to several sciences : I 

 have assigned unto it likewise the inquiry touching the 

 operation of the relative and adventive characters of 

 essences, as quantity, similitude, diversity, possibility, and 

 the rest : with this distinction and provision ; that they be 

 handled as they have efficacy in nature, and not logically. 

 It appeareth likewise that Natural Theology, which hereto 

 fore hath been handled confusedly with Metaphysique, I 

 have inclosed and bounded by itself. It is therefore now 

 a question which is left remaining for Metaphysique; 



1 Illic Pellaei proles vesana Philippi 



Felix praedo jacet, terrarum vindice fato 



Raptus. . . . 



Nam sibi libertas unquam si redderet orbem, 



Ludibrio servatus erat, non utile mundo 



Editus exemplum. Lucan. Phars. x. 20. 



8 Tac. A nn. i. ;. 



