J 



OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



like, were grossly managed at the first, and by time accom 

 modated and refined ; but contrariwise, the philosophies 

 > and sciences of Aristotle, Plato, Democritus, Hippocrates, 

 Euclides, Archimedes, of most vigour at the first and by 

 time degenerate and imbased ; whereof the reason is no 

 other, but that in the former many wits and industries 

 have contributed in one ; and in the latter many wits and 

 industries have been spent about the wit of some one, 

 whom many times they have rather depraved than illus- 



10 trated. For as water will not ascend higher than the level 

 of the first springhead from whence it descendeth, so 

 knowledge derived from Aristotle, and exempted from 

 liberty of examination, will not rise again higher than the 

 knowledge of Aristotle. And therefore although the posi 

 tion be good, Oportet discentem credere, [ While we are learn 

 ing we should believe,] yet it must be coupled with this, 

 Oportet edoctum judicare; \After we have learnt we should 

 judge /] for disciples do owe unto masters only a temporary 

 belief, and a suspension of their own judgment until they be 



20 fully instructed, and not an absolute resignation, or per 

 petual captivity : and therefore, to conclude this point, I 

 will say no more, but so let great authors have their due, as 

 time, which is the author of authors, be not deprived of his 

 due, which is, further and further to discover truth. sj*\- 



Thus have I gone over these three diseases of learning ; 

 besides the which, there are some other rather peccant 

 humours than formed diseases : which nevertheless are not 

 so secret and intrinsic, but that they fall under a popular 

 observation and traducement, and therefore are not to be 



30 passed over. 



The first of these is the extreme affecting of two ex- 



^7\ f&^r*~ ^" mm^^^ ^ ^ 



tremities :^wie one antiquity^bhe other novelty ; wherein 

 it seemeth the children of time do take after the nature 

 and malice of the father. For as he devoureth his children, 

 so one of them seeketh to devour and suppress the other ; 



