CXXviii LIFE OF BACOiY. 



learning ; as the study of words is merely the selection of 

 one species of knowledge ; and contentious learning is only 

 the conflict of opinion which ever exists when any science 

 is in progress, and the way from sense to the understanding 

 is not sufficiently cleared ; (c) and falsehood is one of the 

 consequences attendant upon inquiry, as our opinions, 

 being formed not only by impressions upon our senses, 

 but by confidence in the communication of others and our 

 own reasonings, unavoidably teem with error, which can 

 by time alone be corrected. 



Study of As it is Bacon s doctrine that knowledge consists in 

 understanding the properties of creatures and the names 

 by which they are called, &quot; the occupation of Adam in 

 Paradise,&quot; (d) it may seem extraordinary that he should 

 not have formed a higher estimate than he appears to have 

 formed of the study of words. Words assist thought; 

 they teach us correctness ; they enable us to acquire the 

 knowledge and character of other nations ; (e) and the 



(r) See Nov. Org. Aph. 76. vol. ix. p. 227. 



((/) Advancement of Learning, vol. ii. p. 55. 



(e) The following ingenious observations are from the De Augmentis, 

 book vi. chap. i. vol. viii. p. 309. &quot; Atque una etiam hoc pacto capientur 

 signa haud levia, sed observatu digna (quod fortasse quispiam non putaret) 

 de ingeniis et moribus populorum et nationum, ex linguis ipsorum. Equi- 

 dem libenter audio Ciceronem notantem, quod apud Graecos desit verbum, 

 quod Latinum illud Ineptum reddat; Propterea/ inquit, quod Greeds 

 hoc vitium tarn familiare fuit, ut illud in se ne agnoscerent quidem : digna 

 certe gravitate Romana censura. Quid illud quod Graeci in compositioni- 

 bus verborum tanta licentia usi sunt, Romani contra magnam in hac re 

 severitatem adhibuerunt? Plane colligat quis Graecos fuisse artibus, Ro- 

 manos rebus gerendis,magis idoneos. Artium enim distinctiones verborum 

 compositionem fere exigunt ; at res et negotia simpliciora verba postulant. 

 Quin Hebraei tantum compositiones illas refugiunt, ut malint metaphora 

 abuti quam compositionem introducere. Quinetiam verbis tarn paucis et 

 minime commixtis utuntur, ut plane ex lingua ipsa quis perspiciat gentem 

 fuisse illam Nazaraam, et a reliquis gentibus separatam. Annon et illud 



