4] 8 NOVUM OKGANUM. L^O<^K ^ 



and scarcely accords with tlie term. For the old age and in- 

 creasing years of the world should in reality be considered a3 

 antiquity, and this is rather the character of our own times than 

 of the less advanced age of the world in those of the ancients ; 

 for the latter, with respect to ourselves, are ancient and elder, 

 with respect to the world modern and younger. And as we 

 expect a greater knowledge of human affairs, and more mature 

 judgment from an old man than from a youth, on account of his 

 experience, and the variety and number of things he has seen, 

 heard, and meditated upon, so we have reason to expect much 

 greater things of our own age (if it knew but its strength and 

 would essay and exert it) than from antiquity, since the world 

 has grown older, and its stock has been increased and accumu- 

 lated with an infinite number of experiments and observations. 



We must also take into our consideration that many objects in 

 nature fit to throw light upon philosophy have been exposed to 

 our view, and discovered by means of long voyages and travels, 

 in which our times have abounded. It would, indeed, be dis- 

 honourable to mankind, if the regions of the material globe, the 

 earth, the sea, and stars, should be so prodigiously developed and 

 illustrated in our age, and yet the boundaries of the intellectual 

 globe should be confined to the narrow discoveries of the 

 ancients. 



With regard to authority, it is the greatest weakness to attri- 

 bute infinite credit to particular authors, and to refuse his own 

 prerogative to time, the author of all authors, and, therefore, of 

 all authority. Por truth is rightly named the daughter of time, 

 not of authority. It is not wonderful, therefore, if the bonds of 

 antiquity, authority, and unanimity, have so enchained the power 

 of man, that he is unable (as if bewitched) to become familiar 

 with things themselves. 



LXXXV. !N"or is it only the admiration of antiquity, authority, 

 and unanimity, that has forced man's industry to rest satisfied 

 with present discoveries, but, also, the admiration of the efiects 

 already placed within his power. For whoever passes in review 

 the variety of subjects, and the beautiful apparatus collected and 

 introduced by the mechanical arts for the service of mankind, 

 will certainly be rather inclined to admire our wealth than to 

 perceive our poverty : not considering tliat the observations of 

 man and operations of nature (which are the souls and first 

 movers of that variety) are few, and not of deep research ; tiie 

 rest must be attributed merely to man's patience, and the deli- 



confonnding two things, which are not only distinct, but affect numau 

 knowledge in inverse proportion, viz^, the experience which terminatea 

 with life, with that experience whicli one century transmits to another 



