XXIII. 49.] ° THE SECOND BOOK. 251 
may term it) animation of laws. Upon which I insist the 
less, because I purpose (if God give me De pruden- 
leave), having begun a work of this nature in ‘tia legislat- 
aphorisms, to propound it hereafter, noting °%, sive, de 
it in the mean time for deficient. Sontils ore 
50. And for your Majesty’s laws of England, I could 
say much of their dignity, and somewhat of their defect ; 
but they cannot but excel the civil laws in fitness for the 
government: for the civil law was om hos quesitum munus 
in usus; it was not made for the countries which it 
governeth. Hereof I cease to speak, because I will not 
intermingle matter of action with matter of general 
learning. 
XXIV. S thinces have I concluded this portion of 
learning touching civil knowledge; and 
with civil knowledge have concluded human philosophy ; 
and with human philosophy, philosophy in general. And 
being now at some pause, looking back into that I have 
passed through, this writing seemeth to me (s? munguam 
JSallit imago), as far as a man can judge of his own work, 
not much better than that noise or sound which musicians 
make while they are in tuning their instruments: which 
is nothing pleasant to hear, but yet is a cause why the 
music is sweeter afterwards. So have I been content to 
tune the instruments of the Muses, that they may play 
that have better hands. And surely, when I set before 
me the condition of these times, in which learning hath 
made her third visitation or circuit in all the qualities 
thereof; as the excellency and vivacity of the wits of this 
age; the noble helps and lights which we have by the 
travails of ancient writers; the art of printing, which com- 
municateth books to men of all fortunes; the openness 
