336 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [X. 2. 



merchants, divines, and in every of these better seen than 

 in their profession ; and no doubt upon this ground, that 

 they find that mediocrity and excellency in their art 

 maketh no difference in profit or reputation towards their 

 fortune; for the weakness of patients, and sweetness 

 of life, and nature of hope, maketh men depend upon 

 physicians with all their defects. But nevertheless these 

 things which we have spoken of are courses begotten 

 between a little occasion, and a great deal of sloth and 

 default ; for if we will excite and awake our observation, 

 we shall see in familiar instances what a predominant 

 faculty the subtilty of spirit hath over the variety of 

 matter or form. Nothing more variable than faces and 

 countenances : yet men can bear in memory the infinite 

 distinctions of them ; nay, a painter with a few shells of 

 colours, and the benefit of his eye, and habit of his 

 imagination, can imitate them all that ever have been, 

 are, or may be, if they were brought before him. No 

 thing more variable than voices; yet men can likewise 

 discern them personally: nay, you shall have a buffon 

 or panfomtmus, will express as many as he pleaseth. 

 Nothing more variable than the differing sounds of words; 

 yet men have found the way to reduce them tq a few 

 simple letters. So that it is not the insufficiency or in 

 capacity of man s mind, but it is the remote standing or 

 placing thereof, that breedeth these mazes and incom 

 prehensions. For as the sense afar off is full of mistaking, 

 but is exact at hand, so is it of the understanding : the 

 remedy whereof is, not to quicken or strengthen the 

 organ, but to go nearer to the object ; and therefore there 

 is .no doubt but if the physicians will learn and use the 

 true approaches and avenues of nature, they may assume 

 as much as the poet saith : 



