150 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [XIII. i. 



further discovered, if the art itself of invention and dis 

 covery hath been passed over. 



2. That this part of knowledge is wanting, to my 

 judgement standeth plainly confessed; for first, logic 

 doth not pretend to invent sciences, or the axioms of 

 sciences, but passeth it over with a cuique in sua arte 

 credendum. And Celsus acknowledgeth it gravely, speak 

 ing of the empirical and dogmatical sects of physicians, 

 That medicines and cures were first found out, and then after 

 the reasons and causes were discoursed ; and not the causes 

 first found out, and by light from them the medicines and 

 cures discovered. And Plato in his Theaetetus noteth well, 

 That particulars are infinite, and the higher generalities give 

 no sufficient direction : and that the pith of all sciences, which 

 maketh the artsman differ from the inexpert, is in the middle 

 propositions, which in every particular knowledge are taken 

 from tradition and experience. And therefore we see, that 

 they which discourse of the inventions and originals of 

 things refer them rather to chance than to art, and rather 

 to beasts, birds, fishes, serpents, than to men. 



Dictamnum genetrix Cretaea carpit ab Ida, 

 Puberibus caulem foliis et flore comantem 

 Purpureo; non ilia feris incognita capris 

 Gramina, cum tergo volucres haesere sagittae. 



So that it was no marvel (the manner of antiquity being 

 to consecrate inventors) that the Egyptians had so few 

 human idols in their temples, but almost all brute : 



Omnigenumque Deum monstra, et latrator Anubis, 

 Contra Neptunum, et Venerem, contraque Minervam, &c. 



And if you like better the tradition of the Grecians, and 

 ascribe the first inventions to men, yet you will rather 

 believe that Prometheus first stroke the flints, and mar 

 velled at the spark, than that when he first stroke the 



