48 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



fruitful showers, which though they be profitable and good, 

 yet serve but for that season, and for a latitude of ground 

 where they fall ; but the other is indeed like the benefits of 

 heaven, which are permanent and universal. The former, 

 again, is mixed with strife and perturbation ; but the latter 

 hath the true character of Divine Presence ; coining in aura 

 leni, [with gentle breath,] without noise or agitation. 



Neither is certainly that other merit of learning, in 

 repressing the inconveniences which grow from man to man, 



10 much inferior to the former, of relieving the necessities which 

 arise from nature ; which merit was lively set forth by the 

 ancients in that feigned relation of Orpheus' theatre, where 

 all beasts and birds assembled ; and, forgetting their several 

 appetites, some of prey, some of game, some of quarrel, stood 

 all sociably together listening to the airs and accords of the 

 harp ; the sound whereof no sooner ceased, or was drowned 

 by some louder noise, but every beast returned to his own 

 nature : wherein is aptly described the nature and condition 

 of men, who are full of savage and unreclaimed desires, of 



20 profit, of lust, of revenge ; which as long as they give ear to 

 precepts, to laws, to religion, sweetly touched with eloquence 

 and persuasion of books, of sermons, of harangues, so long is 

 society and peace maintained ; but if these instruments be 

 silent, or that sedition and tumult make them not audible, 

 all things dissolve into anarchy and confusion. 



But this appeareth more manifestly, when kings them 

 selves, or persons of authority under them, or other governors 

 in commonwealths and popular estates, are endued with 

 learning. For although he might be thought partial to his 



30 own profession, that said, Then should people and estates be 

 happy, when either kings were philosophers, or philosophers 

 kings; yet so much is verified by experience, that under 

 learned princes and governors there have been ever the best 

 times ; for howsoever kings may have their imperfections in 

 their passions and customs ; yet, if they be illuminate by 

 learning, they have those notions of religion, policy, and 



