THE NOVUM ORGANUM. 99 



title Temporis Partus Masculus l , and that it is also the title of 

 a tract published [by Stephens in 1734, and reprinted] by 

 Mallet [in 1760 2 ], and evidently of a later date than the other 

 of the same name. 



From (116) to (128) Bacon endeavours to obviate objections 

 and unfavourable opinions of his design. In the first place he 

 plainly declares that he is no founder of a sect or school, therein 

 differing from the ancient Greeks, and from certain new men, 

 namely Telesius, Patricius, and Severinus. Abstract opinions 

 on nature and first principles are in his judgment of no great 

 moment. Nor again does he promise to mankind the power 

 of accomplishing any particular or special works for with 

 him works are not derived from works nor experiments from 

 experiments, but causes and axioms are derived from both, and 

 from these new works and experiments are ultimately deduced; 

 and at present the natural history of which he is in possession 

 is not sufficient for the purposes of legitimate interpretation, 

 that is, for the establishment of axioms. Again, that his Natu- 

 ral History and Tables of Invention are not free from errors, 

 which at first they cannot be, is not a matter of much import- 

 ance. These errors, if not too numerous, will readily be cor- 

 rected when causes and axioms have been discovered, just as 

 errors in a manuscript or printed book are easily corrected by 

 the meaning of the passage in which they occur. Again, it may 

 be said that the Natural History contains many commonplace 

 things ; also many things mean and sordid ; and lastly many 

 things too subtle to be of any use. To this a threefold answer 

 is to be given. In the first place, rare and notable things can- 

 not be understood, much less new things brought to light, 

 unless the causes of common things and their causes' causes be 

 duly examined and searched out. Secondly, whatever is 

 worthy of existence is also worthy to be known ; for knowledge 

 represents and is the image of existence. Lastly, things ap- 

 parently useless are in truth of the greatest use. No one will 

 deny that light is useful, though it is not tangible or material. 

 And the accurate knowledge of simple natures is as light, and 



1 Say rather, " is the title prefixed by M. Bouillet to the second chapter of the 

 fragment printed by Gruter with the heading Tradendi modus legitimus" I cannot 

 find that M. Bouillet had any authority for giving it this title, more than the tenor of 

 the chapter itself, which shows that it fits. J. S. 



2 A small portion of it was printed by Gruter at the end of the Partis secundce 

 Delineatio [and it seems to have been the beginning of the Pars secunda itself], 



H 2 



