78 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [6. 



general) are two : the reward and designation of readers 

 in sciences already extant and invented; and the reward 

 and designation of writers and inquirers concerning any 

 parts of learning not sufficiently laboured and prosecuted. 



7. These are summarily the works and acts, wherein 

 the merits of many excellent princes and other worthy 

 personages have been conversant. As for any particular 

 commemorations, I call to mind what Cicero said, when 

 he gave general thanks ; Difficile non aliquem, ingratum 

 quenquam prcelerire. Let us rather, according to the 

 scriptures, look unto that part of the race which is before 

 us, than look back to that which is already attained. 



8. First therefore, amongst so many great foundations 

 of colleges in Europe, I find strange that they are all 

 dedicated to professions, and none left free to arts and 

 sciences at large. For if men judge that learning should 

 be referred to action, they judge well ; but in this they 

 fall into the error described in the ancient fable, in which 

 the other parts of the body did suppose the stomach had 

 been idle, because it neither performed the office of mo 

 tion, as the limbs do, nor of sense, as the head doth: 

 but yet notwithstanding it is the stomach that digesteth 

 and distributeth to all the rest. So if any man think phi 

 losophy and universality to be idle studies, he doth not 

 consider that all professions are from thence served and 

 supplied. And this I take to be a great cause that hath 

 hindered the progression of learning, because these 

 fundamental knowledges have been studied but in pas 

 sage. For if you will have a tree bear more fruit than 

 it hath used to do, it is not anything you can do to the 

 boughs, but it is the stirring of the earth and putting 

 new mould about the roots that must work it. Neither 

 is it to be forgotten, that this dedicating of foundations 



