446 NOVUM ORGANUM. [BOOK L 



Inventions are also, as it were, new creations and imitations of 

 divine works, as was expressed by the poet: x 



&quot; Primura irugiferos foetus mortalibus aegiis 

 Dididerant quondam prsestanti nomine Athens? 

 Et recreaverunt vitam legesc~ue rogarunt.&quot; 



And it is worthy of remark in Solomon, that whilst he flourished 

 in the possession of his empire, in wealth, in the magnificence oi 

 his works, in his court, his household, his fleet, the splendour of 

 his name, and the most unbounded admiration of mankind, he 

 still placed his glory in none of these, but declared 3 &quot; that it is the 

 g&quot;.*y of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of a king to search 

 it out. 



Again, let any one but consider the immense difference between 

 men s lives in the most polished countries of Europe, and in any 

 wild and barbarous region of the new Indies, he will think it so 

 great, that man may be said to be a god unto man, not only on 

 account of mutual aid and benefits, but from their comparative 

 states the result of the arts, and not of the soil or climate. 



Again, we should notice the force, effect, and consequences of 

 inventions, which are nowhere more conspicuous than in those 

 three which were unknown to the ancients ; namely, printing, 

 gunpowder, and the compass. For these three have changed the 

 appearance and state of the whole world : first in literature, then 

 in warfare, and lastly in navigation ; and innumerable changes 

 have been thence derived, so that no empire, sect, or star, appears 

 to have exercised a greater power and influence on human affairs 

 than these mechanical discoveries. 



It will, perhaps, be as well to distinguish three species and 

 degrees of ambition. First, that of men who are anxious to 

 enlarge their own power in their country, which is a vulgar and 

 degenerate kind ; next, that of men who strive to enlarge the 

 power and empire of their couutr} 7 over mankind, which is more 

 dignified but not less covetous ; but if one were to endeavour to 

 renew and enlarge the power and empire of mankind in general 

 over the universe, such ambition (if it may be so termed) is both 

 more sound and more noble than the other two. Now the empire 



* This is the opening of the sixth book of Lucretius. Lacon pro 

 bably quoted irom memory ; the lines are, 



* Primse frugiferos foetus mortalibus segris 



Dididerunt quondam praeclaro nomine Athenae 

 Et recreaverunt, &c.&quot; 



The teeming corn, that feeble mortals crave, 



First, and long since, renowned Athens gave, 



And cheered their liij then taught to frame their lawfc 



9 Prov. xxv. 2. 



