I B. I. Of the Adancement of Learning. 



nature demonftrative, and what are conjectural ; and propounds as 

 well, the u(e of diftindions, and exceptions, as the ftability of rules and 

 principles. 



§. Be it again, that karrting Mijleadi and wrejleth mens mindt ^ rehe- 

 ther by dijproportion^ or dijjimilitude of examples, I know not, yet I know 

 well, that it unfoldeth, and laies open as well the force of circumftances, 

 as the errors ofcomparifbns, and the cautions of applications, fo that 

 in all thele it doth more reftifie mens minds, then pervert them. And 

 thele remedies Le<ir«;»^ doth every way convey and infinuate by the 

 quick penetration, and forcible variety of examples. Let a man look 

 into the errors o^ Clement VII, fo lively delcribed by Guicciardine^who 

 lerved under him •■, or into the errors and waverings o^ Cicero, painted 

 to the life by his own penfill, in his Epijiles to Atticns, and he will fly a 

 pace from being inconftant and irrefolute in his defigns. Let him look 

 into the errors of Phocion, and he will beware how he be obftinate or 

 inflexible. Let him read the fable oft Ixion^ audit will difpel vapo- 

 rous hopes and fuch like fumes and clouds. Let him behold C^/^the 

 Second, and he will never be one of the Antipodes^ to tread oppofite to 

 the prefent world. 



^ Now for the conceit. That learning JJwttld be a friend to Jloth, and 

 Jfjould orefpread the mind with afxoeet Jlnmber ofrepofe and retirednefs ; it 

 were a ftrange thing, if that which accuftometh the mind to a perpe- 

 tual agitation, fhould be the Tatronefs to Jlothfulnefs : whereas con- 

 trariwife it may be truly affirmed , that no kind of men love bufinels 

 for it felf, but thofe that are Learned '■, for other Perfons love affairs 

 and bufinefifor the Profit^ as hirelings the work, for the wages , others 

 for Honor, for while they are in Aftion, they live in the eyes of men and 

 refrelh their reputation, which othewile would wear , others for Power 

 and the PrivHedges of Fortune, that they may pleafure their friends, and 

 difpleafure their foes 5 others that they may exercife fame faculties 

 Tpherein they take a pride , and in this imagination , entertain their 

 thoughts in a good humour and pleafing conceit towards themfelves; 

 others to advance other ends : fo that as it is (aid of untrue valours, that 

 fbme mens valours are in the eyes of thofe that look on, (b the induftry 

 and courage of thefe men feems to aim at this, that other may applaud 

 them, or they hugg themfelves in the contemplation of their own de- 

 fignments ; only Z-e^rwe^/ «??» love bufinefs and imployment, as aftions — 

 agreeable to nature, and no lefi healthful to the mind than exercife "is to 

 the body^taking pleafure in the Aftion itfelf,and not in the purchafe:fo 

 that, of all men living, they are the moft indefatigable , if it be to- 

 wards any bufinefs, which can repleniOi and detain the mind according 

 to the dignity thereof. And if there be found fbme laborious in read- 

 ing and ftudy, and yet idle in bufinefs, and aftion, this grows not from 

 learning., but from fome weaknefs or fbftnefs of body or mind, fuch as 

 Seneca fpeaks of, ^idam (faith he) tarn funt umbratiles ut putent in controv; 

 twrbido effe qnicquid in luce eji. Well may it be, that fuch a point of ''t>- ■<• 

 a mans nature may make him give himfelf to learning,but it is not learn- '°^' 

 ing that breeds, or implants any fuch point in his nature. But if any 

 man notv^thftanding refblvedly maintaineth, that Learning ta^es up too 

 much time which might otherwife be better imployed , I anfwer , that no 

 man can be lb ftraitned and oppreft with bufinefs, and an aftive courfe 



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