21-23.] NOTES. 95 



1. 16. excusation, excuse. There is no need to deny or to 

 apologise for what every one approves of. 



1. 18. more probably, i.e., in a way which will meet with more 

 general approval ; more successfully. 



1. 19. in applying themselves, in accommodating themselves to : 

 in humouring. 



1. 22. exquisite, careful. 



1. 23. it is a speech, etc. A lover is content with contemplating 

 his beloved : but no one is of sufficient importance to claim the 

 undivided attention of the wise man. Cf. "It was a poor saying 

 of Epicurus, ' We are a sufficiently large theatre, one for another': 

 as if man, made for the contemplation of heaven and all noble 

 objects, should do nothing but kneel before a little idol, and make 

 himself subject, though not of the mouth, as beasts are, yet of the 

 eye, which was given him for higher purposes." Essay x. 



1. 26. I shall yield, I am willing to admit. 



1. 29. cause, viz. , why learned men do not study the character of 

 individuals. The cause is their uprightness, a rejection upon 

 choice, a deliberate refusal to do so. 



1. 30. bounds of observation, cf. "Counsellors should not be too 

 speculative into their Sovereign's person. The true composition 

 of a counsellor is rather to be skilful in their master's business, 

 than in his nature : for then he is like to advise him and not to 

 feed his humour " Essay xx. 



1. 34. a man's self, Bacon generally uses ' a man ' where we 

 should use the indefinite ' one.' 



1. 35. speculative is used in its literal sense of ' prying into.' 



1. 36. to work, to influence, to wind, to make him do what you 

 please. The Latin tr. has ' lead him about at your pleasure.' 

 Cf. our expression, ' to twist a person round one's fingers.' 



Page 23, 1. 2. entire, honest. It is the Latin integer, which 

 means both whole and honest. 



1. 4. the Levant, i.e. the East generally. The Greek historian 

 Herodotus makes this custom as old as 700 B.C. Ellis supposes 

 that Bacon is referring to the narration of some modern traveller. 



1. 7. bent, crafty : not straightforward. 



1. 8. the hearts of kings, etc., p. 1, 1. 13. 



1. 13. carriage, demeanour, small and ordinary, etc. In the 

 Latin translation Bacon adds, ' For instance in their looks, ges 

 ture, gait, daily conversation, and the like.' 



1. 16. consequence, inference. 



1. 19. uncivilly, with bad taste. Cf. " The speech of Themi- 

 stocles, the Athenian, which was haughty and arrogant in taking 



