16.] NOTES. 89 



estimate of the value of the Socratic dialectics, which we know 

 chiefly in the dialogues of Plato, see Mill's Essay on Liberty, 

 p. 26. 



1. 19. manners, morals. 



1. 21. humorous, capricious. 



1. 23. redargution, refutation. Under governments so favour 

 able to learning as those of Elizabeth and James, a defence of 

 learning is unnecessary. Other governments, however, may in 

 time arise who will be hostile to learning, and then Bacon's 

 defence of it may prove useful. 



1. 25. in regard of, on account of. 



1. 28. bright stars, Bacon was, to a certain extent, a believer 

 in astrology. See note on p. 33, 1. 2. The words bright stars are 

 from Horace, Bk. 1, Od. 3, 1. 2. Castor and Pollux the twin 

 sons of Leda were after death placed in heaven as the constella 

 tion of the Twins. They were worshipped as favourable to 

 sailors. Cf. 



" At their joint star, what time on storm-beat seamen 



Dawns its white splendour, 

 Back from the rocks recedes the rush of waters, 

 Winds fall clouds fly and every threatening billow, 

 Lulled at their will, upon the breast of ocean 



Sinks into slumber." 



Martin's Translation. Burke, in his speech on Conciliation with 

 America, quoted this passage to illustrate his arguments that 

 conciliatory measures on the part of England would quiet the 

 political storm. 



Pages 16-25. Bacon now proceeds to consider the discredit 

 which is supposed to have been brought upon learning by 

 the position, character, manners, and studies of learned men 

 themselves. Of tfiese the last alone deservlTconsideration. No 

 reasonable man would condemn a scholar because of the position 

 in which circumstances had placed him, or the disposition with 

 which nature had endowed him. However, we are dealing here 

 not with rational objections, but with popular prejudices: so 

 that the remaining considerations cannot be thus lightly dis 

 missed. Learned men^ it is said, are poor and obscure* and 

 pursue mean occupations. This is not the place, Bacon says, 

 for a panegyric on poverty, but it would be easy to show that the 

 world owes much to poor but learned men. Wealth is not 

 always a guarantee of virtue : nor ought learning to be regarded 

 as a means of obtaining wealth. As for obscurity, most men 

 allow the superior dignity and comfort of a private station ' 

 ~wJiile there can be no greater mistakejhan that of regarding the 



