PREFACE. XXXV11 



tion, nor familiar illustrated by examples, (d) as 

 in most of his philosophical works ; nor written 



airs and accords of the harp ; the sound whereof no sooner 

 ceased, or was drowned by some louder noise, but every beast 

 returned to his own nature: wherein is aptly described the na 

 ture and condition of men, who are full of savage and unre 

 claimed desires of profit, of lust, of revenge; which as long as 

 they give ear to precepts, to laws, to religion, sweetly touched 

 with eloquence and persuasion of books, of sermons, of ha 

 rangues, so long is society and peace maintained ; but if these 

 instruments be silent, or that sedition and tumult make them not 

 audible, all things dissolve into anarchy and confusion.&quot; 



(d) In the Treatise De Augmentis, lib. v. 2, upon literate 

 experience or invention, not by art but by accident, he says, 

 speaking of the error in supposing that experiments will succeed 

 without due consideration of quantity of matter, &quot; It is not 

 altogether safe to rely upon any natural experiment, before 

 proof be made both in a lesser, and greater quantity. Men 

 should remember the mockery of .^Esop s housewife, who con 

 ceited that by doubling her measure of barley, her hen would 

 daily lay her two eggs; but the hen grew fat, and laid none.&quot; 

 As specimens of his familiar illustration, see also the Advance 

 ment of Learning, vol. ii. p. 44, when speaking of studies teem 

 ing with error, he says, &quot; Surely to alchemy this right is due, 

 that it may be compared to the husbandman whereof ^Esop 

 makes the fable ; that, when he died, told his sons, that he had 

 left unto them gold buried under ground in his vineyard ; and 

 they digged over all the ground, and gold they found none : but 

 by reason of their stirring and digging the mould about the 

 roots of their vines, they had a great vintage the year follow 

 ing : so assuredly the search and stir to make gold hath 

 brought to light a great number of good and fruitful inven 

 tions and experiments, as well for the disclosing of nature as 

 for the use of man s life.&quot; See again in exhibiting the nature of 

 the philosophy of universals, &quot; Philosopha Prima,&quot; the connec 

 tion between all parts of nature, he says, &quot; Is not the delight of 



