XVII. 3.] THE SECOND BOOK. 171 



as may be best examined ; and he that receiveth know 

 ledge, desireth rather present satisfaction, than expectant 

 inquiry ; and so rather not to doubt, than not to err : 

 glory making the author not to lay open his weakness, 

 and sloth making the disciple not to know his strength. 



4. But knowledge that is delivered as a thread to be 

 spun on, ought to be delivered and intimated, if it were 

 possible, in the same method wherein it was invented : and 

 so is it possible of knowledge induced. But in this same 

 anticipated and prevented knowledge, no man knoweth 

 how he came to the knowledge which he hath obtained. 

 But yet nevertheless, secundum majus et minus, a man may 

 revisit and descend unto the foundations of his know 

 ledge and consent ; and so transplant it into another, as 

 it grew in his own mind. For it is in knowledges as it 

 is in plants : if you mean to use the plant, it is no matter 

 for the roots ; but if you mean to remove it to grow, then 

 it is more assured to rest upon roots than slips : so the 

 delivery of knowledges (as it is now used) is as of fair 

 bodies of trees without the roots ; good for the carpenter, 

 but not for the planter. But if you will have sciences 

 grow, it is less matter for the shaft or body of the tree, so 

 you look well to the taking up of the roots. 2)e metbodo 

 Of which kind of delivery the method of the sincera, sive 

 mathematics, in that subject, hath some adfilios 

 shadow : but generally I see it neither put scien iarum - 

 in ure nor put in inquisition, and therefore note it for 

 deficient. 



5. Another diversity of method there is, which hath 

 some affinity with the former, used in some cases by 

 the discretion of the ancients, but disgraced since by 

 the impostures of many vain persons, who have made it 

 as a false light for their counterfeit merchandises; and 



