192 BACON 



It were easy to collect a large number of this kind of soph- 

 isms which we collected in our youth, but without their illus- 

 trations and solutions. These at last we have found time to 

 digest, and think the performance of considerable service 

 whereto if their fallacies and detections were annexed, it might 

 be a work of considerable service, as launching into primary 

 philosophy and politics as well as rhetoric. And so much for 

 the popular marks or colors of apparent good and evil, both 

 simple and comparative. 



A second collection wanting to the apparatus of rhetoric is 

 that intimated by Cicero, when he directs a set of common- 

 places, suited to both sides of the question, to be had in readi- 

 ness; such are, "Pro verbis legis," et "Pro sententia legis." 

 But we extend this precept further, so as to include not only 

 judicial, but also deliberate and demonstrative forms. Our 

 meaning is, that all the places of common use, whether for proof, 

 confutation, persuasion, dissuasion, praise, or dispraise, should 

 be ready studied, and either exaggerated or degraded with the 

 utmost effort of genius, or, as it were, perverse resolution be- 

 yond all measure of truth. And the best way of forming this 

 collection, both for conciseness and use, we judge to be that 

 of contracting and winding up these places into certain acute 

 and short sentences ; as into so many clues, which may occa- 

 sionally be wound off into larger discourses. And something 

 of this kind we find done by Seneca ; c but only in the way of 

 suppositions or cases. The following examples will more 

 fully illustrate our intention : 



For BEAUTY Against 



The deformed endeavor, by Virtue, like a diamond, is best 



malice, to keep themselves from plain set 



contempt. As a good dress to a deformed 



Deformed persons are com- person, so is beauty to a vicious 



monly revenged of nature. man. 



Virtue is internal beauty, and Those adorned with beauty, and 



beauty external virtue. those affected by it, are generally 



Beauty makes virtue shine, and shallow alike, 

 vice blush. 



For BOLDNESS Against 



A bashful suitor shows the way Boldness is the verger to folly. 

 to deny him. Impudence is fit for nothing but 



Boldness in a politician is like imposture. 



