BOOK II. 303 



ascribed to Fracastorius, who speaks of it as &quot; Diascordium nostrum &quot; 

 in his De Cont. Morb. Cur. iii. 7. The confection of Alkermes in its 

 original form seems to have been invented by Mesu, an Arabian 

 physician. About Bacon s time what was called mineral kermes, 

 which was a preparation of antimony, was a popular medicine, but it 

 is probable that he here refers either to the confection of Mesu6 or 

 to some modification of it. 



P. 141. [i] the confections of sale which are in the shops: Lat. medi- 

 camenta ilia qua in officinis prostant venalia. [2] for readiness and not 

 for propriety : i. e. they are compounded for immediate use and not with 

 reference to the particular disease. [10] probations: In old MS. books 

 of receipts it is common to find probatum est written against such as have 

 been tried and found effectual. [21] I do find strange: Lat. mirari subit. 

 [23] extolled: i.e. by the school of Paracelsus. [33] more commanded: 

 i. e. more under control. Some copies of ed. 1605 read commended. 

 The Lat. has pro arbitrio regere. 



P. 142. [23] no more: Observe the repetition of the negative. We 

 should now say any more/ See p. 208, 1. 19. [29] artificial decora 

 tion : i. e. painting the face. Lat. adulterina ilia decoratio, quw fucos tt 

 pigmenta adhibet. [31] Mr. Spedding conjectures wholesome to use, 

 nor handsome to please. [33] I take the subject of it largely : Lat. 

 earn sensu intelligimus paulo largiori quam accipi consuevit. 



P. 143. [3] patience; i.e. endurance: Lat. tolerantia. [7] The Latin 

 adds in the prodigious strength of madmen. [16] which though it be 

 not true, &c. : Compare, for this construction, p. 81, 1. II, and Shake 

 speare, Merch. of Yen. i. 3. 137: 



4 Who if he break, thoa may st with better face 

 Exact the penalty. 

 [23] Comp. Bacon, Ess. Iviii. p. 237 ; quoted in note to p. 1 1, 1. 28. 



P. 144. [i] De Augm. iv. 3. [17, 18] by the benediction of a pro- 

 ducat: as in the fifth day of creation. See Gen. i. 20, 24: Producant 

 . . producat terra. See p. 1 1 6, 11. 5-9. 



p. 145. [6, 7] Lat. Etiam Chaldaorum Astrologia solennior, non multo 

 melior. [13] Sallust, Bell. Jug. 39. [16] referred over : i.e. to the par 

 ticular knowledges among which the various kinds of artificial cliuna- 

 tion are distributed; as astronomy, medicine, politics, and the like. [24] 

 near death : As an illustration of this belief in the possession of the 

 prophetic power by persons at the point of death, compare Shakespeare, 

 Rich. II. ii. i. 31, 32: 



Mcthinks I am a prophet new inspired 

 And thus expiring do foretell of him. 

 [28] Plato, Timaeus, iii. 71 : olov tv Karunrpy Stxontvy rvnovi. 



P. 146. [i] fury: Comp. Ovid, Met. ii. 640; vaticirios concefit mentt 



