104 INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 



with truth. Yet seeing by rank and education I was 

 trained to civil affairs, and, like a youth, sometimes stag 

 gered in my opinions, and conceived I owed my country 

 something peculiar, and not equally pertaining to all other 

 parts, and hoped, if I obtained any honourable degree in 

 the commonwealth to perform with greater help of inge 

 nuity and industry what I had intended ; I both learnt 

 civil arts, and with all ingenuousness and due modesty, 

 commended myself to my friends who had some power. 

 And. in addition to this, because those things of whatever 

 kind penetrate not beyond the condition and culture of this 

 life, the hope occurred that I, born in no very prosperous 

 state of religion, might, if called to civil offices, contribute 

 somewhat to the safety of souls. But when my zeal was 

 imputed to ambition, and my age was matured, and my 

 disordered health also admonished me of my unhappy 

 slowness, and I next considered that I nowise fulfilled my 

 duty, while I was neglecting that by which I could through 

 myself benefit men, and applying myself to the things 

 which depended upon the will of another, I altogether 

 weaned myself from those thoughts, and wholly betook 

 myself to this work, according to my former principle. 

 Nor is my resolution diminished, by foreseeing in the state 

 of these times, a sort of declination and ruin of the learning 

 which is now in use; for although I dread not the incur 

 sions of barbarians (unless, perhaps, the empire of Spain 

 should strengthen itself, and oppress and debilitate others 

 by arms, itself by the burden), yet from civil wars (which, 

 on account of certain manners not long ago introduced, 

 seem to me about to visit many countries), and the malig 

 nity of sects, and from those compendiary artifices and cau 

 tions which have crept into the place of learning, no less a 

 tempest seems to impend over letters and science. Nor 

 can the shop of the typographer suffice for those evils. 

 And that unwarlike learning, which is nourished by ease, 

 and flourishes by praise and reward, which sustains not 

 the vehemency of opinion, and is the sport of artifices and 

 impostures, is overcome by the impediments which I have 

 mentioned. Far different is the nature of the knowledge 

 whose dignity is fortified by utility and operation. And 

 from the injuries of time I am almost secure; but for the 

 injuries of men I am not concerned. For should any say 

 that I savour things too high, I reply simply, in civil affairs 

 there is place for modesty, in contemplations for truth. 

 But if any one require works immediately, I say, without 

 any imposture, that I, a man not old, frail in health, in- 



