IV. 12.] THE FIRST BOOK. 



thereby, as the principal cause that hath kept theirl 

 at a stay without growth or advancement. For hence 

 it hath comen, that in arts mechanical the first deviser 

 comes shortest, and time addeth and perfecteth ; but in 

 sciences the first author goeth furthest, and time leeseth 

 and corrupteth. So we see, artillery, sailing, printing, and 

 the like, were grossly managed at the first, and by time 

 accommodated and refined : but contrariwise, the philo 

 sophies and sciences of Aristotle, Plato, Democritus, 

 Hippocrates, Euclides, Archimedes, of most vigour at 

 the first and by time degenerate and imbased ; whereof 

 the reason is no other, but that in the former many wits 

 and industries have contributed in one ; and in the latter 

 many wits and industries have been spent about the wit 

 of some one, whom many times they have rather de 

 praved than illustrated. For as water will not ascend&quot;&quot; 1 

 higher than the level of the first springhead from whence 

 it descendeth, so knowledge derived from Aristotle, and 

 exempted from liberty of examination, will not rise again 

 higher than the knowledge of Aristotle. And therefore 

 although the position be good, Oportet discentem credere, 

 yet it must be coupled with this, Oportet edoctumjudicare; 

 for disciples do owe unto masters only a temporary belief 

 and a suspension of their own judgement till they 

 fully instructed, and not an absolute resignation or per 

 Ipetual captivity : and therefore, to conclude this point, 

 I will say no more, but so let great authors have their 

 due, as time, which is the author of authors, be not 

 deprived of his due, which is, further and further to 

 discover truth. Thus have I gone over these three 

 diseases of learning; besides the which there are some 

 other rather peccant humours than formed diseases, 

 which nevertheless are not so secret and intrinsic but 



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