THE FIRST BOOK 225 



As for fortune and advancement, the beneficence of 

 learning is not so confined to give fortune only to states 

 and commonwealths, as it doth not likewise give fortune 

 to particular persons. For it was well noted long ago, that 

 Homer hath given more men their livings than either Sylla 

 or Caesar or Augustus ever did, notwithstanding their 

 great largesses and donatives and distributions of lands 

 to so many legions. And no doubt it is hard to say 

 whether arms or learning have advanced greater numbers. 

 And in case of sovereignty, we see that if arms or descent 

 have carried away the kingdom, yet learning hath carried 

 the priesthood, which ever hath been in some competition 

 with empire. 



Again, for the pleasure ,..and deligliLjsf .-knowledge and 

 learning, it far surpasseth all other in nature : for shall the 

 pleasures of the affections so exceed the senses, as much as 

 the obtaining of desire or victory exceedeth a song or a 

 dinner ; and must not of consequence the pleasures of the 

 intellect or understanding exceed the pleasures of the , 

 affections ? We see in all other pleasures there is satiety, 

 and after they be used, their verdure departeth ; which 

 sheweth well they be but deceits of pleasure, and not 

 pleasures ; and that it was the novelty which pleased, 

 and not the quality. And therefore we see that volup- 

 tuous men turn friars, and ambitious princes turn 

 melancholy. But of knowledge there is no satiety, but p ,i 

 satisfaction and appetite are perpetually interchangeable ; 

 and therefore appeareth to be good in itself simply, 

 without fallacy or accident. Neither is that pleasure of 

 small efficacy and contentment to the mind of man, which 

 the poet Lucretius describeth elegantly, 



Suave mart magno, turbantibus aequora ventis, &c. 



4 It is a view of delight (saith he) to stand or walk upon 

 the shore side, and to see a ship tossed with tempest 

 upon the sea; or to be in a fortified tower, and to 

 see two battles join upon a plain. But it is a pleasure 

 incomparable, for the mind of man to be settled, landed, 

 and fprtified. _.in, thfi.^ rpr ta i nty. jgfjri^tk ; and from thence 



