40 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



the earth ; that is, to leave natural philosophy aside, 

 and to apply knowledge only to manners and policy. 

 But as both heaven and earth do conspire and con 

 tribute to the use and benefit of man ; so the end 

 ought to be, from both philosophies to separate and 

 reject vain speculations, and whatsoever is empty and 

 void, and to preserve and augment whatsoever is solid 

 and fruitful : that knowledge may not be as a cour 

 tesan, for pleasure and vanity only, or as a bond 

 woman, to acquire and gain to her master s use ; but 

 as a spouse, for generation, fruit, and comfort. 



12. Thus have I described and opened, as by a kind 

 of dissection, those peccant humours (the principal of 

 them) which have not only given impediment to the 

 proficience of learning, but have given also occasion to 

 the traducement thereof : wherein if I have been too 

 plain, it must be remembered, fidelia vulnera amantis, 

 sed dolosa oscula malignantis. This I think I have 

 gained, that I ought to be the better believed in that 

 which I shall say pertaining to commendation ; because 

 I have proceeded so freely in that which concerneth 

 censure. And yet I have no purpose to enter into 

 a laudative of learning, or to make a hymn to the 

 Muses (though I am of opinion that it is long since their 

 rites were duly celebrated), but my intent is, without 

 varnish or amplification justly to weigh the dignity 

 of knowledge in the balance with other things, and to 

 take the true value thereof by testimonies and argu 

 ments divine and human. 



VI. 1. First therefore let us seek the dignity of 

 knowledge in the arch-type or first platform, which 

 is in the attributes and acts of God, as far as they are 

 revealed to man and may be observed with sobriety ; 

 wherein we may not seek it by the name of learning ; 

 for all learning is knowledge acquired, and all know 

 ledge in God is original : and therefore we must look 

 for it by another name, that of wisdom or sapience, as 

 the scriptures call it. 



2. It is so then, that in the work of the creation we 

 see a double emanation of virtue from God ; the one 



