THE FIRST BOOK. 37 



suppressed the rest ; so as if a man should begin the labour of a 

 new search, he were but like to light upon somewhat formerly 

 rejected, and by rejection brought into oblivion ; as if the multi 

 tude, or the wisest for the multitude s sake, were not ready 

 to give passage rather to that which is popular and superficial 

 than to that which is substantial and profound ; for the truth 

 is, that time seemeth to be of the nature of a river or stream, 

 which carrieth down to us that which is light and blown up, 

 and sinketh and drowneth that which is weighty and solid. 



(4) Another error, of a diverse nature from all the former, 

 is the over-early and peremptory reduction of knowledge into 

 arts and methods ; from which time commonly sciences receive 

 small or no augmentation. But as young men, when they 

 knit and shape perfectly, do seldom grow to a further stature, 

 so knowledge, while it is in aphorisms and observations, it is 

 in growth ; but when it once is comprehended in exact methods, 

 it may, perchance, be further polished, and illustrate and 

 accommodated for use and practice, but it increaseth no 

 more in bulk and substance. 



(5) Another error which doth succeed that which we last 

 mentioned is, that after the distribution of particular arts and 

 sciences, men have abandoned universality, or philosophic 

 prima, which cannot but cease and stop all progression. For 

 no perfect discovery can be made upon a flat or a level ; neither 

 is it possible to discover the more remote and deeper parts of 

 any science if you s band but upon the level of the same science, 

 and ascend not to a higher science. 



(6) Another error hath proceeded from too great a reverence, 

 and a kind of adoration of the mind and understanding of man ; 

 by means whereof, men have withdrawn themselves too much 

 from the contemplation of nature, and the observations of ex 

 perience, and have tumbled up and down in their own reason 

 and conceits. Upon these intellectualists, which are not 

 withstanding commonly taken for the most sublime and divine 

 philosophers, Heraclitus gave a just censure, saying: &quot;Men 

 sought truth in their own little worlds, and not in the great 

 and common world ; &quot; for they disdain to spell, and so by 

 degrees to read in the volume of God s works ; and contrari 

 wise by continual meditation and agitation of wit do urge and, 

 as it were, iavocate their own spirits to divine and give oracles 

 unto them, whereby they are deservedly deluded. 



(7) Another error that hath some connection with this latter 

 *8, that men have used to infect their meditations, opinions, 

 and doctrines with some conceits which they have most 

 admired, or some sciences which they have most applied, and 



