i/ 1 B. V. Of the Advancement of Learning, 167 



ty rcprcfent theface^ rather of a School, than of the world'-, exhibiting VhU 

 gar and Pedantical Diviftons, andnotfuch as anyway penetrate the Alarporo 

 and nth of things. * 



k As for Memory it felf^ that in my Judgement hitherto hath been 

 looftly, and weakly inquired into. There is indeed an Art extant of 

 it 5 but we are certain that there may be had both better Precepts for 

 the confirming and increafing Afc«?(?rj'3 than that Art comprehendeth 5 

 and a better praftice of that Art may be fet down , than that which 

 is receiv'd. Neither do we doubt (if any man have a mind to abufe 

 this Art to ofbentation) but that many wonderful and prodigious Mat- 

 ters maybe performed by it. But for u(e (as it is now managed) it is 

 a barren thing. Yet this in the mean time we do not tax it withal, that 

 it doth fupplant, or furcharge Natural Memory (as commonly is objedl- 

 ed) but that it is not dexteroully applied to lend afliftance to M^emory 

 in bufinefi, and ferious occafions. And we have learned this (it may 

 be from our praftiied Courle in a civil Calling) that whatlbever makes 

 oftentation of Art, and gives no aifurance of ule, v/e efteem as as no- 

 thing worth. For to repeat on the fudden a great number of names or 

 words, upon once hearing, in the fame order they were delivered 5 or 

 to pour forth a number ofverles upon any argument extempore-^ or 

 to tax every thing that falls out in (bme fatyrical fimile^or the turning of 

 every thing to a Jefl: ^ or the eluding of every thing by a contradifti- 

 on or cavil , and the like 5 whereof in the faculties of the mind there 

 is a great ftore ; and fuch as by wit and praftice may be exalted to a. 

 great degree of wonder. All thefe and the like, we make no more efti- 

 mation of, than we do of the agilities and tricks of Tumblers, Buffoons 

 and Juglers. For they arealmoft all one thing, feeing thele abufe the 

 Powers of the Body, thefe the Powers of the Mind j and perchance 

 they may have (bme ftrangenefs in them j but little or no worthinels. 



If. I'his Art of Memory is built upon two Inienlxons^rrctiotion and Ent' 

 blem.'WQ call Trenotion a Frecifion ofendlefs Invelfigation^fov when a man 

 Would recal any thing to Memory, if he have no Prenotion or Preception 

 <!jf thathe feeketh, he (earcheth indeed,and taketh pains, rounding this 

 way and that way, as in a maze of infinity. But if he have any certain 

 Prenotion, prefently that which is infinite is difcharged and cut off^ and 

 the queftioning of the Adcmory is brought within a more narrow com- 

 pa(s •■) as in the hunting of a Fallow Deer within the Park. Therefore 

 it is evident, that the Method helps the Memory , for Prenotion fuggefteth 

 that it muft agree with order. So verfes are fooner gotten by heart 

 than Profe j for if a man make a doubtful ftand at a word , Prenotion 

 prompts him that the word which agrees with the verfe, muft be of 

 fuch a Nature. And this Prenotion is the firft part of Artificial Memo- 

 ry. For in Memory Ariiji'cialwe have places digefted and provided be- 

 fore hand : But we make Images extempore, according as the prefent 

 fhall require. But Prenotion doth admonifh that the Image muft be 

 fiich as hath fomerefemblance with the place -^ this is that v>'hich a- 

 wakethj and in fome fort muniteth the Memory in the chafe of what w^ 

 feek. 



§ Emblem deduceth conceptions inteUe&ttal to Images fen fiblc, and that 

 which isfenfiblc^ more forcibly jirikes the Memory , and is more enfUy im^ 

 trintedj than that vphicb is inteUe&ual. So we fee that even the Memo- 



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