TO THE READER 



THIS fable my Lord devised, to the end that he might 

 exhibit therein a model or description of a college in 

 stituted for the interpreting of nature and the produc- 

 ino- of great ar &amp;gt;d marvellous works for the benefit of 



O O 



men, tinder the name of Salomon s House, or the Col 

 lege of the Six Days Works. And even so far his 

 Lordship hath proceeded, as to finish that part. Cer 

 tainly the model is more vast and high than can,pos- 

 sibly be imitated in all things; notwithstanding most 

 things therein are within men s power to effect. His 

 Lordship thought also in this present fable to have 

 composed a frame of Laws, or of the best state or 

 mould of a commonwealth ; but foreseeing it would 

 be a long work, his desire of collecting the Natural 

 History 1 diverted him, which he preferred many de 

 grees before it. 



This work of the New Atlantis (as much as con- 

 cerneth the English edition) his Lordship designed for 

 this place ; 2 in regard it hath so near affinity (in one 

 part of it) with the preceding Natural History. 



W. RAWLEY. 



1 In the Latin translation Rawley adds, aliarumgue Imtaurationis par- 

 tium contexendarum ; alluding probably to the De Augmentis, the only 

 portion of the Instauration, not belonging to the Natural History, which 

 he seems to have been employed upon afterwards. 



2 It was published at the end of the volume containing the Sylva Ryl- 

 varum. The titlepage bears no date. 



