LIB. I. 63, 64. 43 



Neque illucl quenquam moveat, quod in libris ejus De 

 animalibus*, et in Problematibus, et in aliis suis tracta- 

 tibus, versatio frequens sit in experimentis. Ille enim 

 prius decreverat ; neque experientiam ad constituenda 

 decreta et axiomata rite consuluit ; sed postqnam pro 

 arbitrio suo decrevisset, experientiam ad sua placita 

 tortam circumd licit, et captivam ; ut hoc etiam nomine 

 magis accusandus sit, quam sectatores ejus moderni 

 (scholasticorum philosophorum genus) qui experientiam 



omnino deseruerunt. 



LXIV. 



At philosophise genus cmpiricum* placita magis de- 

 formia et monstrosa educit, quam sophisticum aut ratio 

 nale genus ; quia non in luce notionum vulgarium, 

 (qua? licet tenuis sit et superficialis, tamen est quodam- 

 modo universalis, et ad multa pertinens) sed in pauco- 

 rum experimentorum angustiis et obscuritate fundatum 

 est. Itaque talis philosophia illis, qui in hujusmodi 

 experimentis quotidie versantur, atque ex ipsis phanta- 

 siam contaminarunt, probabilis videtur, et quasi certa ; 

 cscteris, incredibilis et vana. Cujus exemplum notabile 

 est in chemicis, eorumque dogmatibus ; alibi autem 

 vix hoc tempore invenitur, nisi forte in philosophia 

 Gilberti 6 . Sed tameu circa hujusmodi philosophias 

 cautio nullo modo prsetermittenda erat ; quia rnente 

 jam praevidemus et auguramur, si quando homines, no- 

 stris monitis excitati, ad experientiam se serio contu- 

 lerint (valere jussis doctrinis sophisticis) turn demum, 



or expressed in Language. Bacon s himself allows it no little honour in 



objection no doubt would be that the Adv. of Learning, B. i. p. 44. 



Man s knowledge must necessarily 5 The e/uTretpi a here attacked would 



depend on his conceptions. be good so far as it is an appeal to 



4 The Hist. Animal, of Aristotle was facts : bad, in that it has no Method 



certainly a far more systematic and and no Patience. 



satisfactory collection than Bacon s 6 Gilbert of Colchester, cf. supr. 



Sylva Sylvarum is. And Bacon I. 54. 



