PREFACE. Vll 



dation of a true and active philosophy. &quot;(#) Such 

 are the causes assigned by Lord Bacon, each deser 

 ving a separate consideration. 



The first of these two reasons is &quot; because I 

 number my days, and would have it saved&quot; The 

 meaning of this cannot be mistaken. Bacon 

 was born in the year 1560. His health was 

 always delicate. Etiam, he says, nonnihil homi- 

 nibus spei fieri putamus ab exemplo nostro proprio ; 

 neque jactantia? causa hoc dicirnus, sed quod utile 

 dictu sit. Si qui diffidant, me videant, hominem inter 

 homines a?tatis mea3 civilibus negotiis occupatissimum, 

 nee firina ad mod urn valetudine (quod magnum habet 

 temporis dispendium), atque in hacre plane protopi- 

 rum, et vestigia nullius secutum, neque haecipsa cum 

 ullo mortalium communicantem; et tamen veram 

 viam constanter ingressum, et ingenium rebus sub- 

 mittentem, hsec ipsa aliquatenus (ut existimamus) 

 provexisse. (a) 



In the year 1617, when he was fifty-seven years 

 of age, the great seals were offered to him. Un 

 mindful of the feebleness of his constitution ; un- 



(z) Postea, xii. 



(a) &quot; We judge also that mankind may conceive some hopes 

 from our example, which we offer, not by way of ostentation, but 

 because it may be useful. If any one therefore should despair, 

 let him consider a man as much employed in civil affairs as any 

 other of his age, a man of no great share of health, who must 

 therefore have lost much time, and yet, in this undertaking, he is 

 the first that leads the way, unassisted by any mortal, and stead 

 fastly entering the true path, that was absolutely untrod before, 

 and submitting his mind to things, may somewhat have advanced 

 the design.&quot; Shaw s Translation. 



