ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 247 



SIXTH BOOK 



CHAPTEK I 



Division of Tradition into the Doctrine of the Organ, the Method and the 

 Illustration of Speech. The Organ of Speech divided into the Knowl 

 edge of the Marks of Things, of Speaking and &quot;Writing. The last two 

 comprise the two Branches of Grammar. The Marks of Things divided 

 into Hieroglyphics and Real Characters. Grammar again divided into 

 Literary and Philosophical. Prosody referred to the Doctrine of Speech, 

 and Ciphers to the Department of Writing 



ANY man may, excellent King, when he pleases, take 

 the liberty to jest and laugh at himself or his own 

 projects. Who, then, knows as there is a book in 

 the famous library of St. Victor, entitled &quot;Formicarum 

 Artium,&quot; 1 whether our book may not be an accidental 

 transcript of its contents. We have indeed only accumu 

 lated a little heap of dust, and deposited therein many 

 grains of the arts and sciences whereto ants may creep to 

 repose a while, and then betake themselves to their labors: 

 nay, the wisest of kings points out the ant as an example 

 to those whose only care is to live upon the main stock, 

 neglecting to cultivate the fields of science, and reap a new 

 harvest of discoveries. 3 



We next proceed to the art of delivering, uttering, and 

 communicating such things as are discovered, judged of, 

 and treasured up in the memory; and this we call by the 

 general name of traditive doctrine, which takes in all the arts 

 relating to words and discourse. For although reason be as 

 the soul of discourse, yet they ought both to be treated 

 separate, no less than the soul and body. We divide this 

 traditive doctrine into three parts; viz., with regard, 1, to 



1 Pantagruel, ii. 7, p. 76. 2 ii. 6, 6. 



