48 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



2. Neither is certainly that other merit of learning, 

 in repressing the inconveniences which grow from man 

 to man, much inferior to the former, of relieving the 

 necessities which arise from nature ; which merit was 

 lively set forth by the ancients in that feigned relation 

 of Orpheus' theatre, where all beasts and birds assem- 

 bled ; and forgetting their several appetites, some of 

 prey, some of game, some of quarrel, stood all sociably 

 together listening unto the airs and accords of the 

 harp ; the sound whereof no sooner ceased, or was 

 drowned by some louder noise, but every beast re- 

 turned to his own nature : wherein is aptly described 

 the nature and condition of men, who are full of 

 savage and unreclaimed desires, of profit, of lust, of 

 revenge ; which as long as they give ear to precepts, 

 to laws, to religion, sweetly touched with eloquence 

 and persuasion of books, of sermons, of harangues, so 

 long is society and peace maintained ; but if these 

 instruments be silent, or that sedition and tumult 

 make them not audible, all things dissolve into anarchy 

 and confusion. 



3. But this appeareth more manifestly, when kings 

 themselves, or persons of authority under them, or 

 other governors in commonwealths and popular estates, 

 are endued with learning. For although he might be 

 thought partial to his own profession, that said, ' Then 

 should people and estates be happy, when either kings 

 were philosophers, or philosophers kings ' ; yet so 

 much is verified by experience, that under learned 

 princes and governors there have been ever the best 

 times : for howsoever kings may have their imperfec- 

 tions in their passions and customs ; yet if they be 

 illuminate by learning, they have those notions of 

 religion, policy, and morality, which do preserve them 

 and refrain them from , all ruinous and peremptory 

 errors and excesses ; whispering evermore in their 

 -ears, when counsellors and servants stand mute and 

 silent. And senators or counsellors likewise, which be 

 learned, do proceed upon more safe and substantial 

 principles, than counsellors which are only men of 



