66 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



and denied generally the immortality of the soul, yet 

 came to this point, that whatsoever motions the spirit 

 of man could act and perform without the organs of 

 the body, they thought might remain after death ; 

 which were only those of the understanding, and not 

 of the affection ; so immortal and incorruptible a thing 

 did knowledge seem unto them to be. But we, that 

 know by divine revelation that not only the under 

 standing but the affections purified, not only the spirit 

 but the body changed, shall be advanced to immortality, 

 do disclaim in these rudiments of the senses. But it 

 must be remembered, both in this last point, and so it 

 may likewise be needful in other places, that in pro 

 bation of the dignity of knowledge or learning, I did 

 in the beginning separate divine testimony from human, 

 which method I have pursued, and so handled them 

 both apart. 



7. Nevertheless I do not pretend, and I know it will 

 be impossible for me, by any pleading of mine, to 

 reverse the judgement, either of Aesop s cock, that pre 

 ferred the barley-corn before the gem ; or of Midas, 

 that being chosen judge between Apollo, president of 

 the Muses, and Pan, god of the flocks, judged for 

 plenty ; or of Paris, that judged for beauty and love 

 against wisdom and power ; or of Agrippina, * occidat 

 matrem, modo imperet, that preferred empire with 

 any condition never so detestable ; or of Ulysses, * qui 

 vetulam praetulit immortalitati, being a figure of 

 those which prefer custom and habit before all ex 

 cellency ; or of a number of the like popular judge 

 ments. For these things must continue as they have 

 been : but so will that also continue whereupon learning 

 hath ever relied, and which faileth not: * Justificata 

 est sapientia a filiis suis. 



