Advancement of Learning 129 



as it hath formerly collected, to the end we may make use 

 thereof. Neither is this use, truly taken, only to furnish 

 argument to dispute probably with others, but likewise to 

 minister unto our judgment to conclude aright within our 

 selves. Neither may these Places serve only to apprompt 

 our invention, but also to direct our inquiry. For a faculty 

 of wise interrogating is half a knowledge. For as Plato 

 saith, Whosoever seeketh, knoweth that which he seeketh for in 

 a general notion : else how shall he know it when he hath 

 found it ? 1 and therefore the larger your anticipation is, 

 the more direct and compendious is your search. But the 

 same Places which will help us what to produce of that which 

 we know already, will also help us, if a man of experience 

 were before us, what questions to ask; or, if we have books 

 and authors to instruct us, what points to search and 

 revolve; so as I cannot report that this part of invention, 

 which is that which the schools call Topics, is deficient. 2 



Nevertheless, Topics are of two sorts, general and special. 3 

 The general we have spoken to; but the particular hath 

 been touched by some, but rejected generally as inartificial 

 and variable. But leaving the humour which hath reigned 

 too much in the schools, which is, to be vainly subtle in a 

 few things which are within their command, and to reject 

 the rest ; I do receive particular Topics, (that is, places or 

 directions of invention and inquiry in every particular 

 knowledge,) as things of great use, being mixtures of Logic 

 with the matter of sciences; for in these it holdeth, ars in- 

 veniendi adolescit cum inventis ; 4 for as in going of a way, 

 we do not only gain that part of the way which is passed, 

 but we gain the better sight of that part of the way which 

 remaineth: so every degree of proceeding in a science 

 giveth a light to that which folio weth; which light if we 

 strengthen by drawing it forth into questions or places of 

 inquiry, we do greatly advance our pursuit. 5 



Now we pass unto the arts of Judgment, which handle 

 the natures of Proofs and Demonstrations; which as to 

 Induction hath a coincidence with Invention. , For in all 



1 Plato, Menon. 80. 



* This passage is better arranged in the Latin. The paragraphs 

 on Topics look as if they had been inserted as an afterthought. 



3 Cf. Aristot. Rhet. u. xxii. 16, 17. 



* Cf . Nov. Org. i. 1 30. 



6 In the Latin an inquiry de gravi et levi is here added as a Topic. 



