INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. 221 



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 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 these compendiary artifices and 

 cautions which here 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 these 

 evils. And that unwarlike learning, which is nourished 

 by ease, and flourishes by praise and reward, which sus 

 tains 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 con 

 templations for truth. But if any one require works im 

 mediately, I say, without any imposture, that I, a man not 

 old, frail in health, involved in civil studies, coming to the 

 obscurest of all subjects without guide or light, have done 

 enough, if I have constructed the machine itself and the 

 fabric, though I may not have employed or moved it. 



