104 FOVUM OEGANUM 



industry of others must be quickened, and their courage 

 roused and inflamed, it is right to recall some points to 

 their memory. 



First, then, the introduction of great inventions appears 

 one of the most distinguished of human actions, and the 

 ancients so considered it; for they assigned divine honors 

 to the authors of inventions, but only heroic honors to those 

 who displayed civil merit (such as the founders of cities 

 and empires, legislators, the deliverers of their country 

 from lasting misfortunes, the quellers of tyrants, and the 

 like). And if any one rightly compare them, he will find 

 the judgment of antiquity to be correct; for the benefits 

 derived from inventions may extend to mankind in general, 

 but civil benefits to particular spots alone; the latter, more 

 over, last but for a time, the former forever. Civil reforma 

 tion seldom is carried on without violence and confusion, 

 while inventions are a blessing and a benefit without 

 injuring or afflicting any. 



Inventions are also, as it were, new creations and imita 

 tions of divine works, as was expressed by the poet: 69 



&quot;Priraura frugiferos foetus mortalibus segris 

 Dididerant quondam preestaiiti nomine Athense 

 Et recreaverunt vitam legesque rogarunt.&quot; 



And it is worthy of remark in Solomon, that while he 

 flourished in the possession of his empire, in wealth, in the 



68 This is the opening of the Sixth Book of Lucretius. Bacon probably 

 quoted from memory; the lines are 



&quot;Primse frugiferos foetus mortalibus segris 

 Dididerunt quondam prseclaro nomine AthenaB 

 Et recreaverunt,&quot; etc. 



The teeming corn, that feeble mortals crave, 



First, and long since, renowned Athens gave, 



And cheered their life then taught to frame their laws. 



