ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 245 



And for the memory itself, it seems hitherto to have 

 been negligently and superficially inquired into. There is, 

 indeed, some art of memory extant; but I know that much 

 better precepts for confirming and enlarging the memory 

 may be had than this art contains, and that a better practice 

 of the art itself may be formed than what is at present re 

 ceived. And I doubt not, if any one were disposed to make 

 an ostentatious show of this art, that many surprising things 

 might be performed by it; and yet, as now managed, it is 

 but barren and useless. &quot;We do not, however, pretend that 

 it spoils or surcharges the natural memory, which is the 

 common objection, but that it is not dexterously applied for 

 assisting the memory in real business, and serious affairs. 

 But this turn, perhaps, I may receive from the political 

 course of life I have led, never to value what has the ap 

 pearance of art without any use. For immediately to repeat 

 a multitude of names, or words, once repeated before, or 

 offhand to compose a great number of verses upon a sub 

 ject, or to touch any matter that occasionally turns up with 

 a satirical comparison, or to turn serious things into jest, 

 or to elude anything by contradiction, or cavil, etc. , of all 

 which faculties there is a great fund in the mind, and which 

 may, by a proper capacity and exercise, be carried to almost 

 a miraculous height; yet I esteem all the things of this kind 

 no more than rope- dancing, antic postures, and feats of 

 activity. And indeed they are nearly the same things, the 

 one being an abuse of the bodily, as the other is of the 

 mental powers; and though they may cause admiration, 

 they cannot be highly esteemed. 



This art of memory has two intentions; viz., prenotion 

 and emblem. By prenotion we understand the breaking off 

 of an endless search ; for when one endeavors to call any 

 thing to mind without some previous notion, or perception 

 of what is sought for, the mind strives and exerts itself, 

 endeavors and casts about in an endless manner; but if it 

 has any certain notion beforehand, the infinity of the search 

 is presently cut short, and the mind hunts nearer home as 



