126 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



effectual, no more than every straight way is the way 

 to heaven ; but the truth of the direction must precede 

 severity of observance. 



11. For cosmetic, it hath parts civil, and parts 

 effeminate : for cleanness of body was ever esteemed 

 to proceed from a due reverence to God, to society, 

 and to ourselves. As for artificial decoration, it is well 

 worthy of the deficiencies which it hath ; being neither 

 fine enough to deceive, nor handsome to use, nor 

 wholesome to please. 



12. For athletic, I take the subject of it largely, that 

 is to say, for any point of ability whereunto the body 

 of man may be brought, whether it be of activity, or 

 of patience ; whereof activity hath two parts, strength 

 and swiftness ; and patience Ukewise hath two parts, 

 hardness against wants and extremities, and endurance 

 of pain or torment ; whereof we see the practices in 

 tumblers, in savages, and in those that suffer punish- 

 ment. Nay, if there be any other faculty which falls 

 not within any of the former divisions, as in those that 

 dive, that obtain a strange power of containing respira- 

 tion, and the like, I refer it to this part. Of these things 

 the practices are known, but the philosophy which 

 concerneth them is not much inquired ; the rather, 

 I think, because they are supposed to be obtained, 

 either by an aptness of nature, which cannot be taught, 

 or only by continual custom, which is soon prescribed : 

 which though it be not true, yet I forbear to note any 

 deficiencies : for the Olympian games are down long 

 since, and the mediocrity of these things is for use ; 

 as for the excellency of them it serveth for the most 

 part but for mercenary ostentation. 



13. For arts of pleasure sensual, the chief deficience/- 

 in them is of laws to repress them. For as it hath 

 been well observed, that the arts which flourish in 

 times while virtue is in growth, are military ; and 

 while virtue is in state, are liberal ; and while virtue 

 13 in declination, are voluptuary: so I doubt that this 

 age of the world is somewhat upon the descent of the 

 wheel. With arts voluptuary I couple practices jocu- 



