LETTERS FROM THE CABALA. 83 



Sir Thomas Bodley to Sir Francis Bacon, upon his 



new Philosophy. 

 Sir, 



As soon as the term was ended, supposing your leisure 

 was more than before, I was coming to thank you two or 

 three times, rather chusing to do it by word than letter; but 

 I was still disappointed of my purpose, as I am at this 

 present upon an urgent occasion, which doth tie me fast to 

 Fulham, and hath now made me determine to impart my 

 mind in writing. I think you know I have read your 

 &quot;Cogitata et visa;&quot; which I protest, I have done with 

 great desire, reputing it a token of your singular love, that 

 you joined me with those your friends, to whom you would 

 commend the first perusal of your draught ; for which 

 I pray give me leave to say but this unto you. First, that 

 if the depth of my affection to your person and spirit, to 

 your works and your words, and to all your ability, were as 

 highly to be valued as your affection is to me, it might 

 walk with your s arm in arm, and claim your love by just 

 desert; but there can be no comparison, where our states 

 are so uneven, and our means to demonstrate our affections, 

 so indifferent ; insomuch as for mine own, I must leave it 

 to be prized in the nature that it is ; and you shall evermore 

 find it most addicted to your worth. As touching the 

 subject of your book, you have set afoot so many noble 

 speculations, as I cannot chuse but wonder, and I shall 

 wonder at it ever, that your expence of time considered 

 in your public profession, which hath in a manner no 

 acquaintance with scholarship or learning, you should have 

 culled forth the quintessence, and sucked up the sap 

 of the chiefest kind of learning. For howsoever in some 

 points, you do vary altogether from that which, is arid 

 hath been ever the received doctrine of our schools, 



