214 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. VI. 



Chap. IV. 



t. Two General Afpendices of the Art of Delmerj , Art Criticai. 

 And Pedantical. 



THere remains two Appendices in general , touching the Trdditioh 

 of ^KnoTP ledge j the one Critical^ the other Pedantical. For as the 

 principal part o( Tradition of Knowledge confifteth in writing of Books ; 

 (6 the relative part thereof confifts in reading of Books; but reading 

 is governed and directed, either by the help of Preceptors and Tutors 5 

 or perfeded by every man's particular and proper endeavour and in- 

 duftry : and to this purpole conduce thole two knowledges, whereof 

 we have fpoken. To the Critical part appertains jfirji, an immaculate cor- 

 re&ion and amended edition of approved Authors: Whereby both thet 

 honour of Authors themfelves is vindicated, and a light given to the 

 ftudious Readers. Wherein neverthelefs, the ra(h diligence of fome 

 Writers hath done great prejudice to Studies. For it is the manner of 

 many Criticks, when they fall upon a paffage which they do not under- 

 ftand , prefently to prelume a fault in the Copy. As in that place in 

 Tacitus^ when a certain Colony in the open Senate , claimed the pri- 

 viIedgeofan-<^j(j'/«/«5 Tacitus reports that the reafons they preferred 

 were not much favour'd by the Emperour and the Lords of the Senate 5 

 wherefore the Erabaffadors miftruftingthe iflue ofthe bufinefs, gave a 

 round fumm of mony to Titus f'inius , that he would mediate their 

 caufe, and take upon him the proteftion of their liberties 5 by this 

 means their petition was heard and granted , Turn dignitas & antiquitas 

 Colonic valuit^ faith Tacitus , as if the arguments that Teemed light be- 

 fore , were now made weighty through bribes and corruption. But 

 one of the Criticks, a man of no obfcure note, hath expunged the word 

 Turn, and in ftead thereof^ put in Tantum. And by this perver(e cu- 

 ftomof Critickj, it comes to pafs (as one wifely notethj that themoji 

 corre&ed copies are commonly the leaji cerrcB. Nay, (to (peak truth) un- 

 lefs the Criticks be well skill'd in the knowledges handled in the Books 

 which they let forth, their diligence is with peril and prejudice. Se* 

 condly^their appertains to the Critick^Art, the Expojition, and Explication 

 of Authors^ hy Commentaries, Scholies, Notes, Spici/egies, and the likf. In 

 labours of this kind, that worft difeafe of Criticks hath feis'd on many 5 

 that they blanch and wave many oblcurer paflages ■> and fuch as are 

 plain and perfpicuous, thofe they dwell and expatiate upon, even to a 

 faftidious tedioufnefs 5 and it is notfo much intended, that the Author 

 may be illunainated,as that the Critic\m^' take occafion hereby to glo- 

 rifie him(elf,iti his multiplicious and various learning. It could be efpe- 

 cially wiQied Cakhough this point belongs to Tradition in chief, and 

 tiot to Appendices') that the Writer whith handles obfcure and noble 

 Argumetjrs,- (hould annex his own explications 5 that neither the Text 

 it felf may be broken off, by Digrejjions and Explications •■, and 

 that the Annotations may not depart from the mind and intention of 

 the Writer. Some fuch thing we conceive of Thcon upon Fiiclid. 



Jhirdlv 



