194 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. VL 



The Reprehe»J(on» 



T^HeFallax of this Colour is. Firjiwhcn a»iandoth over-conceive^ or 

 frejudicate of the greatnef of any things comprehending it beyond thz 

 true limits oj Magnitude •-, for then the breaking of it will make it feem lef^ 

 audreSfiJie that falfe opinion, andprefent the obJe6f in its native verity^ 

 and not with amplification. Wherefore if a man be in ficknefs or in pain, 

 the time will feem longer to him without a Clock or an Hour-glalsjthan 

 if it were meafured with them : for if the weary fomenefs, and vexation 

 of a difeafe, make the time feem longer than in truth it is ; yet the com- 

 putation of time reforms that miftake, and makes it (horter than that 

 erroneous opinion conceived it to be. So in a dead Plain (whereof e- 

 ven now we gave a contrary inftance) it fometimes falls out , for though 

 at fir ft the eye preconceiv'd the way fhorter, becaufe it was undivided, 

 yet if upon this fuppofition, an opinion poffefs the imagination of a far 

 ftiorter fpace of ground than it proves to be, thefruftrating of that vain 

 conceit, makes it leem longer than the truth. Therefore if any man 

 defire to humour and fecond the falfe opinion of another, touching the 

 ^re4f«e/of any thing, let him beware of diftributions, and breaking it 

 infeveral confiderations, but let him out of hand extol the matter en- 

 tire and in the grols. Secondly this Colour deceives when the Dijiribufi- 

 on is diliraHedorfcattered, or is not prefented entire, or doth not at once 

 obje£} itfelfto the fight. Therefore if flowers in a Garden be divided 

 into feveralbeds, they will (hew more than if they were all growing in 

 one bed ; fo the Beds be within a plot that they be the objeft of view 

 at once j otherwife, union is of more force in this cafe than fcattered 

 diftribution. Therefore their Revenues feem greater, whofe Lands and 

 Livings lie together in one (hire 5 for if they were difperfed, they would 

 not fall fo ealily within notice and comprehenfion. Thirdly this Colour 

 deceives in rejpei^ of the dignity ofunitj above multitfide ; for aS compofiti- 

 on is afure mark^of deficiency, in particularities feverally confidered^whicb 

 thus pieces out one thing with the addition of another. 



Et qu£ nonprofHntfingula,multaJHvattt, 



Ink. 10. j^nd therefore i'l^jry had chofen the better part 5 Martha, Martha, at' 

 c/ffoj.. tendis adplurima, unumfuficit. Hereupon ^fop, framed the fable of 

 the Fox and the Cat. The Fox bragged what a number offinfts and devi- 

 ces he had to get from the Hounds 5 the Catfaid fiie had but one only way to 

 truji to, which was this 3 fie had a poor fiender faculty in climbing upit. 

 tree: which yet in proof was a furer guard then allVulpone's policies and 

 ftratagems : whereof the proverb grew, multa novit Fulpes, fed Felisu- 

 num magnum, the Fox knows many praftices, but the Cat one fpecial ; 

 one that will help at a dead lift. And in the Moral of this Fable.it 

 it comes likewife to pafs , that a potent and faithful Friend, »• 

 a furer Card at a pinch than all the Plots and Policies of a man's 

 own wit. 



And ihefe (hall fuffice for example : we have an infinite number more 

 of Colours^ of this nature, which we collefted in our youth 5 but 



without 



