50 THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



prerogative, not slackened, nor much strained ; the nourishing 

 state of learning, sortable to so excellent a patroness ; the con 

 venient estate of wealth and means, both of crown and subject ; 

 the habit of obedience, and the moderation of discontents ; and 

 there be considered, on the other side, the differences of religion 

 the troubles of neighbour countries, the ambition of Spam, and 

 opposition of Rome, and then that she was solitary and of her 

 self these things, I say, considered, as I could not have chosen 

 an instance so recent and so proper, so I suppose I could not 

 have chosen one more remarkable or eminent to the purpose 

 now in hand, which is concerning the conjunction of learning in 

 the prince with felicity in the people. 



(10) Neither hath learning an influence and operation only 

 upon civil merit and moral virtue, and the arts or temperature 

 of peace and peaceable government ; but likewise it hath no less 

 power and efficacy in enablement towards martial and military 

 virtue and prowess, as may be notably represented in the ex 

 amples of Alexander the Great and Caesar the Dictator (men 

 tioned before, but now in fit place to be resumed), of whose 

 virtues and acts in war there needs no note or recital, having 

 been the wonders of time in that kind ; but of their affections 

 towards learning and perfections in learning it is pertinent 



fm Sletinicter was bred and taught under Aristotle, the 

 great philosopher, who dedicated divers of his books of philo 

 sophy unto him ; he was attended with Callisthenes and divers 

 other learned persons, that followed him in camp, throughout 

 his journeys and conquests. What price and estimation he 

 had learning in doth notably appear in these three particulars : 

 first in the envy he used to express that he bare towards 

 Achilles, in this, that he had so good a trumpet of his praises 

 as Homer s verses ; secondly, in the judgment or solution ho 

 gave touching that precious cabinet of Darius, which was found 

 among his jewels (whereof question was made what thing was 

 worth f to be put into it, and he gave his opinion for Homers 

 worM; thirdly, in his letter to Aristotle after he had set 

 forth his books of nature, wherein he expostulated with him 

 for publishing the secrets or mysteries of philosophy ; and gave 

 him to understand that himself esteemed it more to excel 

 other men in learning and knowledge than in power and 

 empire And what use he had of learning doth appear, or 

 rather shine, in all his speeches and answers, being full of 

 science and use of science, and that in all variety. 



(12) And herein again it may seem a thing scholastical, and 

 somewhat idle to recite things that every man knoweth ; but 



