BOOK L] APHORISMS. 435 



CXI. Nor should we omit another ground of hope. Let men 

 only consider (if they will) their infinite expenditure of talent, 

 time, and fortune, in matters and studies of far inferior impor 

 tance and value ; a small portion of which applied to sound and 

 eolid learning would be sufficient to overcome every difficulty. 

 And we have thought right to add this observation, because we 

 candidly own that such a collection of natural and experimental 

 history as we have traced in our own mind, and as is really 

 necessary, is a great and as it were royal work, requiring much 

 labour and expense. 



CXII. In the meantime let no one be alarmed at the multitude 

 of particulars, but rather inclined to hope on that very account. 

 For the particular phenomena of the arts and nature are in 

 reality but as a handful, when compared with the fictions of the 

 imagination removed and separated from the evidence of facts. 

 The termination of our method is clear, and I had almost said 

 near at hand ; the other admits of no termination, but only of 

 infinite confusion. For men have hitherto dwelt but little, or 

 rather only slightly touched upon experience, whilst they have 

 wasted much time on theories and the fictions of the imagination. 

 If we had but any one who ?ould actually answer our interroga 

 tions of nature, the invention of all causes and sciences would be 

 the labour of but a few years. 



CXIII. We think some ground of hope is afforded by our own 

 example, which is not mentioned for the sake of boasting, but as 

 a useful remark. Let those who distrust their own powers 

 observe myself, one who have amongst my contemporaries been 

 the most engaged in public business, who am not very strong in 

 health (which causes a great loss of time), and am the first ex 

 plorer of this course, following the guidance of none, nor even 

 communicating my thoughts to a single individual ; yet having 

 once firmly entered in the right way, and submitting the powers 

 of my mind to things, I have somewhat advanced (as I make 

 bold to think) the matter I now treat of. Then let others con 

 sider what may be hoped from men who enjoy abundant leisure, 

 from united labours, and the succession of ages, after these sug 

 gestions on our part, especially in a course which is not confined, 

 like theories, to individuals, but admits of the best distribution 

 and union of labour and effect, particularly in collecting experi 

 ments. For men will then only begin to know their own power, 

 when each performs a separate part, instead of undertaking in 

 crowds the same work. 



CXIV. Lastly, though a much more faint and uncertain breeze 

 of hope were to spring up from our new continent, yet we consi 

 der it necessary to make the experiment, if we would not show 

 a dastard spirit. For the risk attending want of success is not 

 to be compared with that of ncgloctin r the attempt; the former 



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