204 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [XXII. 2. 



some heads or points thereof, that it may appear the 

 better what it is, and whether it be extant. 



3. First therefore in this, as in all things which are 

 practical, we ought to cast up our account, what is in 

 our power, and what not ; for the one may be dealt with 

 by way of alteration, but the other by way of application 

 only. The husbandman cannot command, neither the 

 nature of the earth, nor the seasons of the weather ; no 

 more can the physician the constitution of the patient, nor 

 the variety of accidents. So in the culture and cure of 

 the mind of man, two things are without our command; 

 points of nature, and points of fortune. For to the basis 

 of the one, and the conditions of the other, our work is 

 limited and tied. In these things therefore it is left unto 

 us to proceed by application : 



Vincenda est omnis fortuna ferendo: 



and so likewise, 



Vincenda est omnis Natura ferendo. 



But when that we speak of suffering, we do not speak of 

 a dull and neglected suffering, but of a wise and indus 

 trious suffering, which draweth and contriveth use and ad 

 vantage out of that which seemeth adverse and contrary; 

 which is that properly which we call accommodating 

 or applying. Now the wisdom of application resteth 

 principally in the exact and distinct knowledge of the 

 precedent state or disposition, unto which we do apply : 

 for we cannot fit a garment, except we first take mea 

 sure of the body. 



4. So then the first article of this knowledge is, to set 

 down sound and true distributions and descriptions of the 



. several characters and tempers of men s natures and dis 

 positions; specially having regard to those differences 

 which are most radical in being the fountains and causes 



