64 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



states and commonwealths, as it does not likewise give 

 fortune to particular persons. For it was well noted 

 long ago, that Homer hath given more - men their 

 livings, than either Sylla, or Caesar, or Augustus ever 

 did, notwithstanding their great largesses and donatives, 

 and distributions of lands to so many legions. And 

 no doubt it is hard to say whether arms or leai-ning 

 have advanced greater numbers. And in case of 

 sovereignty we see, that if arms or descent have carried 

 away the kingdom, yet learning hath carried the 

 priesthood, which ever hath been in some competition 

 with empire. 



5. Again, for the pleasure and dehght of knowledge 

 and learning, it far surpasseth all other in nature. 

 For, shall the pleasures of the affections so exceed the 

 pleasure of the sense, as much as the obtaining of desire 

 or victory exceedeth a song or a dinner ? and must not 

 of consequence the pleasures of the intellect or under- 

 standing exceed the pleasures of the affections ? We 

 see in all other pleasures there is satiety, and after they 

 be used, their verdure departeth ; which showeth well 

 they be but deceits of pleasure, and not pleasures : and 

 that it was the novelty which pleased, and not the 

 quality. And therefore we see that voluptuous men 

 turn friars, and ambitious princes turn melancholy. 

 But of knowledge there is no satiety, but satisfaction 

 and appetite are perpetually interchangeable ; and 

 therefore appeareth to be good in itself simply, without 

 fallacy or accident. Neither is that pleasure of small 

 efficacy and contentment to the mind of man, which 

 the poet Lucretius describeth elegantly, 



Suave mari magno, turbantibus aequora ventis, &c. 



' It is a view of delight (saith he) to stand or walk 

 upon the shore side, and to see a ship tossed with 

 tempest upon the sea ; or to be in a fortified tower, 

 and to see two battles join upon a plain. But it is 

 a pleasure incomparable, for the mind of man to be 

 settled, landed, and fortified in the certainty of truth ; 

 and from thence to descry and behold the errors. 



