8-9.] NOTES. 79 



position was not altogether a logical one, but it is easily explained. 

 Firstly, as noticed above, he was so interested in science that he 

 was content simply to accept theology as resting on evidence of 

 its own, without caring to examine the evidence. Secondly, a 

 historical criticism of the sacred books of the Christians was not 

 taken up till after his time. Lastly, in an age when scientific 

 inquirers were being punished by the church, it was of the first 

 importance to show the absurdity of trying to control scientific 

 inquiry. The task of reconciling its results to ecclesiastical 

 dogmas might be left to theologians. 



1. 22. by the waxen wings of the senses, referring to the legend 

 of Icarus, who attempted to fly from Crete on wings made of 

 wax. He flew too near the sun : his wings melted, and he fell 

 into the sea, and was drowned. The senses are as incapable 

 of penetrating the divine mysteries as the wings of Icarus were 

 of carrying him through the air. 



1. 23. the conceit, the idea. The word is used in this sense 

 throughout the book. It means lit. anything which is conceived 

 in the mind. 



1. 23. should incline, the conditional mood shows that Bacon is 

 quoting an opinion of others, and not expressing his own. 



1. 27. Job, a person whose history is told in one of the books of 

 the Jewish Scripture. He was distinguished for his patience 

 iinder trials and misfortune. 



1. 29. worketh nothing, in the Latin tr. Bacon adds ordinarily. 

 He excepts the miracles recorded in Scripture. 



1. 32. unclean, the word is used in the English translation of 

 the Jewish law to signify what is ceremonially impure. 



Page 9, 1. 1. in the entrance of philosophy, when a man begins 

 to study science. 



1. 4. it, i.e., the habit of concentrating the attention on second 

 causes. The word induce is used in its literal sense of bring on. 

 This use of the word is common in Bacon. 



1. 7. the highest link, etc., an allegorical interpretation of a 

 passage in Homer, in which Jupiter says 'that if all the gods 

 and goddesses were to pull at a golden chain hung from earth to 

 heaven, they could not drag him down, but that he could drag 

 them tip, together with earth and sea, and suspend all in mid 

 air.' Cf. Bk. 2, p. 35. Bacon means that the series of natural 

 phenomena is directed by God. However far back we may go in 

 the series of physical causes, we are driven ultimately to the 

 conception of a first cause. Cf. 



" But who can turn the stream of destiny, 

 Or break the chain of strong necessity, 

 Which fast is tied to Jove's eternal seat ? " 



Spenser, Faery Queene, 1. v. 25 ; 



