CItAt*. It.] IMPORTAKCB OP MmUTB INQUIRIES. 81 



a deeper disclosure of nature. Nor should men scrui>le 

 examining into these things, in order to discover tnith : tlie 

 sun, though it passes through dirty places, yet remains as 

 pure as before. Those narrations, however, which have a 

 tincture of superstition, should be kept separate, and un- 

 mixed with others, that are merely natural. But the 

 relations of religious prodigies and miracles, as being either 

 false or supernatural, are unfit to enter into a history of 

 nature. 



As for the history of nature wrought or formed, we have 

 some collections of agriculture and manual arts, but com- 

 monly with a rejection of familiar and vulgar experiments, 

 which yet are of more service in the interpretation of nature 

 than the uncommon ones : an inquiry into mechanical 

 matters being reputed a dishonour to learning ; unless such 

 as appear secrets, rarities, and subtilties. This supercilious 

 arrogance, Plato justly derides in his representation of the 

 dispute between Hippias and Socrates touching beauty. 

 Socrates is represented, in his careless manner, citing first an 

 example of a fair Adrgin, then a fine lioi-se, then a smooth pot 

 curiously glazed. This last instance moved Hippias's choler, 

 who said, '• Were it not for politeness' sake, I would disdain to 

 dispute with any that alleged such low and sordid examj^les.'* 

 Whereupon Socrates replied, '• You have reason, and it be- 

 comes you well, being a man so sprucely attired, and so ti-im 

 in your shoes." '^ And certainly the truth is, that they are not 

 the highest instances that always afford the securest infor- 

 mation ; as is not unaptly expressed in the tale so common 

 of the philosopher,^^ who, while he gazed upwards to the stars, 

 fell into the water. ^ For had he looked down, he miglit have 

 discovered the stars in the water ; but looking up to heaven, 

 he could not see the water in the stars ; for mean and small 

 things often discover great ones, better than g:eat can dis- 

 cover the small ; and therefore Aristotle observes, " That tht 

 nature of everything is best seen in its smallest portions.""* 

 Whence he seeks the nature of a commonwealth, first in a 

 family ; and so the nature of the world, and the policy 

 thereof must be sought in mean relations and small portions. 



• Plato, Hipp. Maj. iii. 291. • Thales ; see Plato, Tlieaet. I 174. 

 « Laertius, "Lii^ of Thales." «> Arist. Polit. i. and Phys. L 



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