V. 2l ] THE FIRST BOOK. 39 



be done, wonder that it can be done ; and as soon as 

 it is done, wonder again that it was no sooner done : 

 as we see in the expedition of Alexander into Asia, 

 which at first was prejudged as a vast and impossible 

 enterprise ; and yet afterwards it pleaseth Livy to make 

 no more of it than this, Nil aliud quam bene ausus vana 

 contemnere. And the same happened to Columbus in the 

 western navigation. But in intellectual matters it is 

 much more common ; as may be seen in most of the 

 propositions of Euclid ; which till they be demonstrate, 

 they seem strange to our assent; but being demonstrate, 

 our mind accepteth of them by a kind of relation (as the 

 lawyers speak) as if we had known them before. 



3. .Another error, that hath also some affinity with the 

 formerTis a conceit that of former opinions or sects after 

 variety and examination the best hath still prevailed and 

 sjjre^sed_ihe_jst ; so as if a man should begin the 

 labour of a new search, he were but like to light upon 

 somewhat formerly rejected, and by rejection brought into 

 oblivion : as if the multitude, or the wisest for the mult 

 itude s sake, were not ready to give passage rather to that 

 which is popular and superficial, than to that which is 

 substantial and profound ; for the truth is, that time 

 seemeth to be of the nature of a river or stream, which 

 carrieth down to us that which is light and blown up, and 

 sir.keth and drowneth that which is weighty and solid. 



4. Another errQr. of a diverse nature from all the 

 former, is the over-early and peremptory reduction of 

 knowledge into arts and methods ; from which time 

 commonly sciences Twelve yihall or no augmentation. 

 But as young men, when they knit and shape perfectly, 

 do seldom grow to a further stature ; so knowledge, while 

 it is in aphorisms and observations, it is in growth : but 



