114 THE ADVANCEMENT OP LEARNING. 



form may have use: and in natural philosophy likewise, by 

 wofaKununi or satisfactory reason, Qua autensum pant, 

 overis gffSte est; but the subtlety of nature and operations 

 will not be enchained in those bonds. For arguments consist 

 of propositions, and propositions of words, and words are but 

 the ? current tokens or marks of popular notions of things; 

 which notions, if they be grossly and variably collected out of 

 particulars, it is not the laborious examination either of conse 

 quences of arguments, or of the truth of proposition s, that can 

 ever correct that error, being (as the physicians speaic) in the 

 fiTst digestion. And, therefore, it was not without cause, that 

 so many excellent philosophers became sceptics and academics 

 andTnied any certainty of knowledge or comprehension ; and 

 held opinion that the knowledge of man extended .only to ap- 

 earancTs and probabilities. It is true that in Socrates it was 

 Sosed to be P but a form of irony, Sdentum disnmulando 

 ^mulavit for he used to disable his knowledge, to the end to 

 eSnTe his knowledge ; like the humour of Tiberius in his be 

 ginnings that would reign, but would not acknowledge so 

 much. And in the later academy, which Cicero embraced, 

 5S .opinion also of acatalepsia (I doubt) was not held sin 

 cerely for that all those which excelled in copy of speech 

 seem to have chosen that sect, as that which was fittest to 

 Jivfglory to their eloquence and variable discourses; being 

 rather like progresses of pleasure than journeys to an end. 

 But assuredly many scattered in both academies did hold it in 

 fubtletTInd integrity. But here was their chief error: they 

 charted the deceit upon the senses ; which in my judgment 

 Notwithstanding all their caviUations) are very sufficient to 

 certify and report truth, though not always immediately, yet 

 by comparison, by help of instrument, and by producing and 

 urdng such things as are too subtle for the sense to some 

 effect comprehensible by the sense, and other like assistance. 

 But they ought to have charged the deceit upon the weakness 

 of the Stellfctual powers, and upon the manner of collecting 

 and concluding upon the reports of the senses. This I speak, 

 not to disable the mind of man, but to stir it up to seek help ; 

 for no man be he never so cunning or practised can make a 

 straight line or perfect circle by steadiness of hand, which may 

 be easily done by help of a ruler or compass. 



(5* This part of invention, concerning the invention of 



sciences, I purpose (if God give me leave) hereafter to pro- 



Ind having digested it into two parts : whereof the one I 



term experientia literate, and the other ^pretetwmitura ; 



the former being but a degree and rudiment of the latter 



