INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 19 



plainly, that columns against proceeding further are firmly 

 and, as it were, fatally pitched ; and that it is no marvel, 

 that that is not obtained, for which men feel neither hope 

 nor desire. 



He thought also, that what is said of men s despondency 

 or self-conceit, as far as concerns most of the pursuers of 

 science, is too deeply fetched, for far the greater part is 

 otherwise occupied. They seek knowledge either for de 

 light and satisfaction, or for profit and professional emolu 

 ment, or for support and ornament of the reputation : and 

 if these are proposed as the ends of sciences, so far will 

 men be from wishing that the mass of knowledge receive 

 an increase, that, in that stock which is at hand, they will 

 seek no more than what they can turn to use in the matter 

 before them. And if any one among so many seeks know 

 ledge with an honest zeal and for its own sake, yet he will 

 be found to hunt rather after variety than truth. And if 

 he be a severer inquisitor of truth, yet that very truth will 

 be such as will rather explain more subtly things already 

 uttered, than kindle any new light. And if his heart is so 

 large, that he propounds to himself further discovery, he 

 will doubtless be most taken with that light which dis 

 plays in the distance specious contemplations, not that 

 which shows important works and inventions close at hand. 

 So he saw plainly that we return to this point, that it is by 

 no means wonderful that the course is not finished, when 

 men turn aside to these lesser matters : and much more 

 when, as far as he can see, the mark itself has never been 

 set up and fixed for any man. But the mark is no other, 

 than that mankind be continually enriched with new works 

 and powers. 



He thought also, that among these difficulties of the 

 sciences, the case of natural philosophy has been the 

 hardest of all : inasmuch as it has had but a trifling share 

 of men s labour, has been readily deserted, and never cul 

 tivated and matured in any high degree. For since the 

 Christian faith has grown up and been received, the 

 greatest number of wits have been employed upon divinity, 

 and in this subject the highest rewards have been offered 

 to men s studies, and aids of every kind most plentifully 

 supplied. And before-time, likewise, the greatest part of 

 the labours of philosophers was consumed in moral philo 

 sophy, which was almost in the place of divinity to the 

 heathens. And in both times a great part of the best wits 

 betook themselves to public business, especially in the time 



