INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 39 



dreaming of some new works of spiders. And hence, for 

 the most part, those things which are still hidden in the 

 womb of nature have this same property that they escape 

 and elude the imaginations and reasonings of men. So he 

 thought if it check any one s hope of new inventions, that, 

 by inference from those before us, he counts them either 

 impossible or unlikely, he should know that he is not 

 competent, even to wish fitly and usefully. 



But again he thought that there are other things among 

 those discovered of a different and almost contrary nature 

 which lead us to think that mankind may pass by and 

 neglect great inventions lying close at their feet. For 

 although the invention of gunpowder, and silk, and the 

 compass, and sugar, and the like, seem to depend upon 

 certain properties of matter and nature ; the art of print 

 ing has certainly nothing which was not plain, and almost 

 obvious, and gathered from what was already known. But 

 in this race of invention the human mind is commonly so 

 unlucky and awkward, that in some things it first despairs, 

 and shortly after despises itself; and at first it seems in 

 credible that any such thing could be invented, but after 

 it is invented, again it appears incredible that it could have 

 escaped men so long. And this leads him to hope that 

 there yet remains a great mass of inventions which might be 

 gained, not only from uncovering new properties, but also 

 from transferring and applying those already known. 



He accepted also as happy omens what he observed in the 

 mechanical arts and their success, especially when compared 

 with philosophy. For the mechanical arts, as if enjoying 

 a certain vital air, grow and perfect themselves daily ; 

 while philosophy, like a statue, is adored and celebrated, 

 but moves not. The former also are seen rude and com 

 monly without proportion and cumbrous in the hands of 

 their first authors ; but afterwards get new strength and 

 aptness. The latter is in its greatest vigour with its first 

 author, and afterwards declines. And the real cause of this 

 different success is that in the mechanical arts, the wits of 

 many meet together in one; but in philosophy the wits of 

 all are spoiled by one. For after they have surrendered 

 themselves they give no increase, but are employed in the 

 servile office of dressing and attending one. Wherefore 

 .every philosophy, torn up from the roots of experience from 

 which it first sprung and grew, becomes dead matter. And 

 roused by this thought he observed also, that the means of 

 arts and sciences are, by universal consent, empirical or 



