2 The Advancement of Learning 



are sequestered) again revived and restored : such a light of 

 nature I have observed in your Majesty, and such a readi- 

 ness to take flame and blaze from the least occasion pre- 

 sented, or the least spark of another's knowledge delivered. 

 And as the Scripture saith of the wisest king. That his heart 

 was as the sands of the sea ; ^ which though it be one of the 

 largest bodies, yet it consisteth of the smallest and finest 

 portions; so hath God given your Majesty a composition of 

 understanding admirable, being able to compass and com- 

 prehend the greatest matters, and nevertheless to touch and 

 apprehend the least; whereas it should seem an impossi- 

 bility in nature for the same instrument to make itself fit for 

 great and small works. And for your gift of speech, I call 

 to mind what Cornelius Tacitus saith of Augustus Caesar : 

 Augusto profluens, et qucB principem deceret, eloquentia fuit} 

 For, if we note it well, speech that is uttered with labour and 

 difficulty, or speech that savoureth of the affectation of art 

 and precepts, or speech that is framed after the imitation of 

 some pattern of eloquence, though never so excellent; all 

 this hath somewhat servile, and holding of the subject. 

 But your Majesty's manner of speech is indeed prince-like, 

 flowing as from a fountain, and yet streaming and branching 

 itself into nature's order, full of facility and felicity, imita- 

 ing none, and inimitable by any. And as in your civil 

 estate there appeareth to be an emulation and contention of 

 your majesty's virtue with your fortune ; a virtuous disposi- 

 tion with a fortunate regiment; a virtuous expectation 

 (when time was) of your greater fortune, with a prosperous 

 possession thereof in the due time ; a virtuous observation of 

 the laws of marriage, with most blessed and happy fruit of 

 marriage; a virtuous and most Christian desire of peace, 

 with a fortunate inchnation in your neighbour princes there- 

 unto: so likewise, in these intellectual matters, there 

 seemeth to be no less contention between the excellency of 

 your Majesty's gifts of nature, and the imiversality and 

 perfection ^ of your learning. For I am well assured that 

 this which I shall say is no amplification at all, but a positive 

 and measured truth; which is, that there hath not been 

 since Christ's time any King or temporal Monarch, which 

 has been so learned in all literature and erudition, divine and 



» I Kings iv. 29. » Tac. A nnal. xiii. 3. 



• Edition 1605 has profection. 



