PREFACE. 7 



ticular authors. Nor let any one allege that learning slowly 

 springing up attained by degrees its full stature, and from 

 that time took up its abode in the works of a few, as having 

 performed its predetermined course ; and that as it is im 

 possible to discover any fthurer improvement, it only 

 remains for us to adorn and cultivate that which has been 

 discovered. It were indeed to be wished that such were 

 the case ; the more correct and true statement however is, 

 that this slavery of the sciences arises merely from the 

 impudence of a few, and the indolence of the rest of 

 mankind. For, no sooner was any particular branch of 

 learning (diligently enough perhaps) cultivated and la 

 boured, than up would spring some individual confident 

 in his art, who would acquire authority and reputation 

 from the compendious nature of his method, and, as far 

 as appearances went, would establish the art, whilst in 

 reality he was corrupting the labours of his ancestors. Yet 

 will this please succeeding generations, from the ready use 

 they can make of his labour, and their wearisome im 

 patience of fresh inquiry. But if any one be influenced by 

 an inveterate uniformity of opinion, as though it were the 

 decision of time let him learn that he is relying on a most 

 fallacious and weak argument. For not only are we, in a 

 great measure, unacquainted with the proportion of arts and 

 sciences that has been discovered and made its way to the 

 public in various ages and regions (much less with what has 

 been individually attempted and privately agitated), neither 

 the births nor the abortions of time being extant in any 

 register ,- but also that uniformity itself, and its duration 

 are not to be considered of any great moment. For how 

 ever varied the forms of civil government may be, there is 

 but one state of learning, and that ever was and ever will 

 be the democratic. Now with the people at large, the doc 

 trines that most prevail are either disputatious and violent, 

 or specious and vain, and they either ensnare or allure 

 assent. Hence, without question, the greatest wits have 

 undergone violence in every age, whilst others of no vulgar 

 capacity and understanding have still, from consulting their 

 reputation, submitted themselves to the decision of time 

 and the multitude. Wherefore if more elevated specula 

 tions have perchance any where burst forth, they have been 

 from time to time blown about by the winds of public 

 opinion, and extinguished, so that time, like a river, has 

 brought down all that was light and inflated, and has sunk 

 what was weighty and solid. Nay, those very leaders who 



