248 ADVAKCEMENT Ol* LEARNING. [BOOK VI 



whence, in general, natural things are preferred to artificial, 

 because incapable of imitation ; for whatever is imi table 

 seems common, and in every one's power. 3. The thingg 

 that proceed from felicity seem free gifts unpurchased by 

 industry, but those acquired by virtue seem bought : whence 

 Plutarch said elegantly of the successes of Timoleon (an 

 extremely fortunate man), compared with those of his con- 

 temj)orarie3 Agesilaus and Epaminondas, " that they were 

 like Homer's verses, and besides their other excellencies, ran 

 peculiarly smooth and natural." 4. Because what happens 

 unexpectedly is more acceptable, and enters the mind with 

 gi'eater pleasure ; but this effect cannot be had in thing8 

 procured by our own industry. 



XII. — What consists of many divisible parts is greater, and more one than 

 what consists of fewer ; for all things when viewed in their parts seem 

 greater, whence also a pliorality of parts shows bulky ; hut a plurality 

 of parts has the stronger effect, if they lie in no certain order, for thus 

 they resemble infinity and prevent comprehension. 



This sophism appears gross at first sight ; for it is not 

 plurality of parts alone, without majority, that makes the 

 total greater; yet the imagination is often carried away, and 

 the sense deceived with this colour. Thus to the eye the 

 road upon a naked plain may seem shorter, than where there 

 are trees, buildings, or other marks, by which to distinguish 

 and divide the distance. So when a monied man divides his 

 chests and bags, he seems to himself richer than he was ; and 

 therefore a way to amplify anything is to break it into 

 several parts, and examine them separately. And this 

 makes the greater show, if done without order; for confusion 

 shows things more numerous than they are. But matters 

 ranged and set in order appear more confined, and prove 

 that nothing is omitted ; whilst such as are represented in 

 confusion not only appear more in number, but leave a sus- 

 picion of many more behind. 



This colour deceives, — 1. if the mind entertain too great 

 an opinion of anything; for then the breaking of it will 

 destroy that false notion, and show the thing really as it is, 

 without amplification. Thus if a man be sick or in pain, the 

 time seems longer without a clock than with one ; for though 

 the irksomeness of pain makes the time seem longer than 

 it is, yet the measuring it corrects the error, and shows it 



