“Yee 
150 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, [XIIL. 1. 
further discovered, if the art itself of invention and dis- 
covery hath been passed over. 
2. That this part of knowledge is wanting, to my 
judgement standeth plainly confessed; for first, logic 
doth not pretend to invent sciences, or the axioms of 
sciences, but passeth it over with a cuzque in sua arte 
credendum. And Celsus acknowledgeth it gravely, speak- 
ing of the empirical and dogmatical sects of physicians, 
That medicines and cures were first found out, and then after 
the reasons and causes were discoursed ; and not the causes 
Jirst found out, and by light from them the medicines and 
cures discovered. And Plato in his Theaetetus noteth well, 
That particulars are infinite, and the higher generalites give 
no sufficient direction: and that the pith of all sciences, which 
maketh the artsman differ from the tnexpert, ts in the middle 
propositions, which in every particular knowledge are taken 
Jrom tradition and experience. And therefore we see, that 
they which discourse of the inventions and originals of 
things refer them rather to chance than to art, and rather 
to beasts, birds, fishes, serpents, than to men. 
Dictamnum genetrix Cretza carpit ab Ida, 
Puberibus caulem foliis et flore comantem 
Purpureo; non illa feris incognita capris 
Gramina, cum tergo volucres hesere sagitte. 
So that it was no marvel (the manner of antiquity being 
to consecrate inventors) that the Egyptians had so few 
human idols in their temples, but almost all brute: 
Omnigenumque Deum monstra, et latrator Anubis, 
Contra Neptunum, et Venerem, contraque Minervam, &c, 
And if you like better the tradition of the Grecians, and 
ascribe the first inventions to men, yet you will rather 
believe that Prometheus first stroke the flints, and mar- 
velled at the spark, than that when he first stroke the 
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