V. ii.] THE FIRST BOOK. 



relief of man s estate. But this is that which will incfeed 

 dignify and exalt knowledge, if^contemplation and action 

 may be more nearly and straitly conjoined and united 

 together than they have been ; a conjunction like unto 

 {hat ot the two highest planets, Saturn, the planet of rest 

 and contemplation, and Jupiter, th^ planet nf 





and action. Howbeit, Tdo not mean, when I speak of use 

 ancf action, that end before-mentioned of the applying of 

 knowledge to lucre and profession ; for I am not ignorant 

 how much that diverteth and interrupted! the prosecution 

 and advancement of knowledge, like unto the golden ball 

 thrown before Atalanta, which while she goeth aside and 

 stoopeth to take up, the race is hindered, 



Declinat cursus, aurumque volubile tollit. 



Neither is my meaning, as was spoken of Socrates, to 

 call philosophy down from heaven to converse upon 

 the earth ; that is, to leave natural philosophy aside, and 

 to apply knowledge only to manners and policy. Butjis- 

 both heaven and earth do conspire and contribute to the 

 use and benefit of man; so the end ought to be, from 

 both philosophies to separate and reject vain speculations, 

 and whatsoever is empty and void, and to preserve and 

 augmeiiMvhatsoever is solid and fruitful : that knowledge 

 may not be as a courtesan, for pleasure and vanity only, 

 or as a bond-woman, to acquire and gain to her master s 

 use ; butjis a spouse, for generation, fruit, and comforL 



12. Thus have I described and opened, as by a kind 

 of dissection, those peccant humours (the principal of 

 them) which have not only given impediment to the 

 proficience of learning, but have given also occasion to 

 the traducement thereof: wherein if I have been too plain, 

 it must be remembered, fidelia vulnera amantis, sed dolosa 

 oscula tnalignanlis. This I think I have gained, that I 



