128 Bacon 



diligence than of any artificial erudition. And herein 

 Aristotle wittily, but hurtfully, doth deride the Sophists 

 near his time, saying, They did as if one that prof essed the art 

 of shoe-making should not teach how to make a shoe, but only 

 exhibit in a readiness a number of shoes of all fashions and 

 sizes* But yet a man might reply, that if a shoemaker 

 should have no shoes in his shop, but only work as he is 

 bespoken, he should be weakly customed. But our Saviour 

 speaking of divine knowledge, saith, that the kingdom of 

 heaven is like a good householder, that bringeth forth both new 

 and old store : 2 and we see the ancient writers of Rhetoric 

 do give it in precept, &quot; that pleaders should have the Places, 

 whereof they have most continual use, ready handled in 

 all the variety that may be; &quot; as that, &quot; to speak for the 

 literal interpretation of the law against equity, and con 

 trary; and to speak for presumptions and inferences 

 against testimony, and contrary.&quot; 3 And Cicero himself, 

 being broken unto it by great experience, delivereth it 

 plainly, that whatsoever a man shall have occasion to 

 speak of, if he will take the pains, he may have it in effect 

 premeditate, and handled, in thesi ; 4 so that when he 

 cometh to a particular he shall have nothing to do, but to 

 put to names and times and places, and such other circum 

 stances of individuals. We see likewise the exact diligence 

 of Demosthenes; who, in regard of the great force that the 

 entrance and access into causes hath to make a good impres 

 sion, had ready framed a number of prefaces for orations 

 and speeches. All which authorities and precedents may 

 overweigh Aristotle s opinion, that would have us change a 

 rich wardrobe for a pair of shears. 



But the nature of the collection of this provision or 

 preparatory store, though it be common both to Logic and 

 Rhetoric, yet having made an entry to it here, where it 

 came first to be spoken of, I think fit to refer over the 

 further handling of it to Rhetoric. 



The other part of invention, which I term suggestion, 

 doth assign and direct us to certain marks, or places, which 

 may excite our mind to return and produce such knowledge 



1 Aristot. Soph. EL 34. 2 Matt. xiii. 52. 



3 In the edition 1605 these passages are printed in black letter, as 

 quotations. 



4 Cic. Oral. 14 (46). 



