108 NOTES TO PREFACE TO 



mark up their lodgings, and not with weapons to fight ; so I like 

 better that entry of truth which cometh peaceably with chalk to mark 

 up those minds which are capable to lodge and harbour it, than that 

 which cometh with pugnacity and contention." 



3. Advancement of Learning. 



"Another diversity of method there is," [he is speaking of the 

 different methods of " tradition," i. e. of communicating and trans- 

 mitting knowledge] which hath some affinity with the former, used 

 in some cases by the discretion of the ancients, but disgraced since 

 by the impostures of many vain persons, who have made it as a false 

 light for their counterfeit merchandises ; and that is, enigmatical and 

 disclosed. The pretence whereof [that is, of the enigmatical method] 

 is to remove the vulgar capacities from being admitted to the secrets 

 of knowledges, and to reserve them to selected auditors, or wits of such 

 sharpness as can pierce the veil." 



4. Procemium.de Interpretatione Natures. 



" Publicandi autem ista ratio ea est, ut quae ad ingeniorum cor- 

 respondentias captandas et mentium areas purgandas pertinent, 

 edantur in vulgus et per ora volitent ; reliqua per manus tradantur 

 cum electione etjudicio. Nee me latet usitatum et tritum esse impos- 

 tor um artificium, ut qusedam a vulgo secern ant nihilo iis ineptiis 

 quas vulgo propinant meliora. Sed ego sine omni impostura, ex 

 providentia sana prospicio, ipsam interpretationis formulam et inventa 

 per eandem, intra legitima et optata ingenia clausa, vegetiora et 

 munitiora futura." 



5. De Interpretatione Natura Sententics XII. 

 De moribus Interpretis. 



" Sit etiam in scientia quam adeptus est nee occultanda nee profe- 

 renda vanus, sed ingenuus et prudens : tradatque inventa non 

 ambitiose aut maligne, sed modo primum maxime vivaci et vegeto, id 

 est ad injurias temporis munitissimo, et ad scientiam propagandam 

 fortissimo, deinde ad errores pariendos innocentissimo, et ante omnia 

 qui sibi legitimum lector em seponat" 



6. Temporis Partus Masculus. C. 1. 



" An tu censes cum omnes omnium mentium aditus ac meatus 

 obscurissimis idolis, iisdemque alte haerentibus et inustis, obsessi et 

 obstruct! sint, veris Rerum et nativis radiis sinceras et politas areas 

 adesse? Nova invenienda est ratio qua mentibus obductissimis illabi 

 possimus. Ut enim phreneticorum deliramenta arte et ingenio sub- 

 vertuntur, vi et contentione efferantur, omnino ita in hac universali 

 insania mos gerendus est. Quid ? leviores illse conditiones, quae ad 



