IV. 6.] THE FIRST BOOK. 33 



truth proved by arguments, authorities, similitudes, ex- 

 amplesT^TTrpori particular confutations and solutions of 

 every scruple, cavillation, and_objection ; breeding for the 

 most part one question as fast as it solveth another ; even 

 as in the former resemblance, when you carry the light 

 into one corner, you darken the rest ; so that the fable 

 and fiction of Scylla seemeth to be a lively image of this 

 kind of philosophy or knowledge ; which was trans 

 formed into a comely virgin for the upper parts ; but 

 then Candida succinctam lalrantibus inguina monsiris : so 

 the generalities of the schoolmen are for a while good 

 and proportionable ; but then when you descend into 

 their distinctions and decisions, instead of a fruitful 

 womb for the use and benefit of man s life, they end 

 in monstrous altercations and barking questions. So 

 as it is not possible but this quality of knowledge must 

 fall under popular contempt, the people being apt to 

 contemn truth upon occasion of controversies and alter 

 cations, and to think they are all out of their way which 

 never meet; and when they see such digladiation about 

 subtilties, and matter of no use or moment, they easily 

 fall upon that judgement of Dionysius of Syracusa. Verba 

 ista sunt senum otiosorum. 



7. Notwithstanding, certain it is that if those school 

 men to their great thirst of truth and unwearied travail 

 of wit had joined variety and universality of reading 

 and contemplation, they had proved excellent lights, to 

 the great advancement of all learning and knowledge ; 

 but as they are, they are great undertakers indeed, and 

 fierce with dark keeping. But as in the inquiry of the 

 divine truth, their pride inclined to le^ave the oracle of 

 God s word, and to vanish in the mixture of their own 

 inventions ; so in the inquisition of nature, they ever left 



D 



