50 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



some inward discontent at the ingratitude of the times, 

 comprehended in a verse of Homer's : 



Telia, Phoebe, tuis lacrymas uleiscere nostras : 



[0 Phoebus, by thy shafts avenge these tears.] 



Trajan, who succeeded, was for his person not learned : 



but if we will hearken to the speech of our Saviour, that 



saith, He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, 



shall have a prophefs reward, he deserveth to be placed 



amongst the most learned princes : for there was not a 



10 greater admirer of learning, or benefactor of learning ; a 

 founder of famous libraries, a perpetual advancer of learned 

 men to office, and a familiar converser with learned professors 

 and preceptors, who were noted to have then most credit in 

 court. On the other side, how much Trajan's virtue and 

 government was admired and renowned, surely no testimony 

 of grave and faithful history doth more livelily set forth, 

 than that legend tale of Gregorius Magnus, bishop of Rome, 

 who was noted for the extreme envy he bore towards all 

 heathen excellency ; and yet he is reported, out of the love 



20 and estimation of Trajan's moral virtues, to have made unto 

 God passionate and fervent prayers for the delivery of his 

 soul out of hell ; and to have obtained it, with a caveat that 

 he should make no more such petitions. In this prince's 

 time also, the persecutions against the Christians received 

 intermission, upon the certificate of Plinius Secundus, a man 

 of excellent learning, and by Trajan advanced. 



Adrian, his successor, was the most curious man that lived, 

 and the most universal inquirer ; insomuch as it was noted 

 for an error in his mind, that he desired to comprehend all 



30 things, and not to reserve himself for the worthiest things : 

 falling into the like humour that was long before noted 

 in Philip of Macedon ; who, when he would needs over-rule 

 and put down an excellent musician in an argument touching 

 music, was well answered by him again, God forbid, sir, saith 

 he, that your fortune should be so bad, as to know these things 

 better than I. It pleased God likewise to use the curiosity 



