LITERATE EXPERIENCE. 



of despair he assigned two reasons: &quot; Because I number 

 my days, and would have it saved ;&quot; and &quot; to try whether 

 1 can get help in one intended part of this work, namely, 

 the compiling of a Natural and Experimental History, 

 which must be the foundation of a true and active phi 

 losophy.&quot; (a) Such are the consequences of vain attempts 

 to unite deep contemplation and unremitted action ! Such 

 the consequences of forgetting our limited powers ; that 

 we can reach only to our arm s length, and our voice be 

 heard only till the next air is still ! (b) 



It will be remembered, that in the Advancement of 

 Learning, he separates the subject of the human mind (c) 

 into 



&quot;1. Invention. 



1. The Understanding. J Judgment. 



3. Memory. 



.4. Tradition. 



2. The Will. 



Under the head of Invention, he says, &quot;The invention 

 of sciences, I purpose, if God give me leave, hereafter to 

 propound, having digested it into two parts ; whereof the 

 one I term experientia liter at a, and the other, interpretatio 

 nature: the former being but a degree and rudiment of 

 the latter. But I will not dwell too long, nor speak too 

 great upon a promise.&quot; This promise he, however, lived 

 partly to realize. 



In the year 1623, he completed his tract upon Literate 



(a) See vol. xiv. p. 4. 



(6) See the fable of Memnon, in the Wisdom of the Ancients, vol. iii, 

 p. 40. 



(c) Ante, p. cxii. 



