120 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



that physicians say to themselves, as Salomon ex- 

 presseth it upon an higher occasion, * If it befall to 

 me as befalleth to the fools, why should I labour to 

 be more wise ? And therefore I cannot much blame 

 physicians, that they use commonly to intend some 

 other art or practice, which they fancy, more than their 

 profession. For you shall have of them antiquaries, 

 poets, humanists, statesmen, merchants, divines, and 

 in every of these better seen than in their profes 

 sion ; and no doubt upon this ground, that they find 

 that mediocrity and excellency in their art maketh 

 no difference in profit or reputation towards their 

 fortune ; for the weakness of patients, and sweetness 

 of life, and nature of hope, maketh men depend upon 

 physicians with all their defects. But nevertheless 

 these things which we have spoken of are courses 

 begotten between a little occasion, and a great deal of 

 sloth and default ; for if we will excite and awake our 

 observation, we shall see in familiar instances what 

 a predominant faculty the subtilty of spirit hath over 

 the variety of matter or form. Nothing more variable 

 than faces and countenances : yet men can bear in memory 

 the infinite distinctions of them ; nay, a painter with 

 a few shells of colours, and the benefit of his eye, and 

 habit of his imagination, can imitate them all that ever 

 have been, are, or may be, if they were brought before 

 him. Nothing more variable than voices ; yet men 

 can likewise discern them personally : nay, you shall 

 have a buffon or pantomimus, will express as many as 

 he pleaseth. Nothing more variable than the differing 

 sounds of words ; yet men have found the way to 

 reduce them to a few simple letters. So that it is not 

 the insufficiency or incapacity of man s mind, but it 

 is the remote standing or placing thereof, that breedeth 

 these mazes and incomprehensions. For as the sense 

 afar off is full of mistaking, but is exact at hand, so is 

 it of the understanding : the remedy whereof is, not 

 to quicken or strengthen the organ, but to go nearer 

 to the object ; and therefore there is no doubt but if 

 the physicians will learn and use the true approaches 



