142 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [X. 10. 



10. But lest I grow to be more particular than is agree- 

 Filum me- able eitner to m 7 intention or to proportion, 

 didnale, she I will conclude this part with the note of one 

 de vidbns deficience more, which seemeth to me of 



greatest consequence ; which is, that the pre 

 scripts in use are too compendious to attain 

 their end : for, to my understanding, it is a vain and flat 

 tering opinion to think any medicine can be so sovereign 

 or so happy, as that the receipt or use of it can work any 

 great effect upon the body of man. It were a strange 

 speech which spoken, or spoken oft, should reclaim a 

 man from a vice to which he were by nature subject. It 

 is order, pursuit, sequence, and interchange of applica 

 tion, which is mighty in nature; which although it re 

 quire more exact knowledge in prescribing, and more 

 precise obedience in observing, yet is recompensed with 

 the magnitude of effects. And although a man would 

 think, by the daily visitations of the physicians, that there 

 were a pursuance in the cure : yet let a man look into 

 their prescripts and ministrations, and he shall find them 

 but inconstancies and every day s devices, without any 

 settled providence or project. Not that every scrupulous 

 or superstitious prescript is effectual, no more than every 

 straight way is the way to heaven ; but the truth of the 

 direction must precede severity of observance. 



11. For cosmetic, it hath parts civil, and parts effemin 

 ate : for cleanness of body was ever esteemed to pro 

 ceed from a due reverence to God, to society, and to 

 ourselves. As for artificial decoration, it is well worthy 

 of the deficiences which it hath; being neither fine 

 enough to deceive, nor handsome to use, nor wholesome 

 to please. 



12. For athletic, I take the subject of it largely, that 



