THE SECOND BOOK. 63 



of writers and inquirers concerning any parts of learning not 

 sufficiently laboured and prosecuted. 



7. These are summarily the works and acts wherein the 

 merits of many excellent princes and other worthy personages 

 have been conversant. As for any particular commemora 

 tions, I call to mind what Cicero said when he gave general 

 thanks, Difficile non aliquem, ingratum quenquam prceterire. 

 Let,us rather, according to the Scriptures, look unto that part 

 of the race which is before us, than look back to that which is 

 already attained. 



8. First, therefore, amongst so many great foundations of 

 colleges in Europe, I find strange that they are all dedicated 

 to professions, and none left free to arts and sciences at large. 

 For if men judge that learning should be referred to action, 

 they judge well ; but in this they fall into the error described 

 in the ancient fable, in which the other parts of the body did 

 suppose the stomach had been idle, because it neither per 

 formed the office of motion, as the limbs do, nor of sense, as 

 the head doth ; but yet notwithstanding it is the stomach 

 that digesteth and distributeth to all the rest. So if any man 

 think philosophy and universality to be idle studies, he doth 

 not consider that all professions are from thence served and 

 supplied. And this I take to be a great cause that hath 

 hindered the progression of learning, because these funda 

 mental knowledges have been studied but in passage. For if 

 you will have a tree bear more fruit than it hath used to do, 

 it is not anything you can do to the boughs, but it is the 

 stirring of the earth and putting new mould about the roots 

 that must work it. Neither is it to be forgotten, that thir; 

 dedicating of foundations and dotations to professory learning 

 hath not only had a malign aspect and influence upon the 

 growth of sciences, but hath also been prejudicial to states 

 and governments. For hence it proceedeth that princes find a 

 solitude in regard of able men to serve them in causes of 

 estate, because there is no education collegiate which is free, 

 where such as were so disposed might give themselves in 

 histories, modern languages, books of policy and civil dis 

 course, and other the like enablements unto service of estate. 



9. And because founders of colleges do plant, and founders 

 of lectures do water, it followeth well in order to speak of the 

 defect which is in public lectures; namely, in the smallness 

 and meanness of the salary or reward which in most places is 

 assigned unto them, whether they be lectures of arts, or of 

 professions. For it is necessary to the progression of sciences 

 that readers be of the most able and sufficient men ; as those 



