230 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



so this excellent liquor of knowledge, whether it descend 

 from divine inspiration or spring from human sense, would 

 soon perish and vanish to oblivion, if it were not preserved 

 in books, traditions, conferences, and places appointed, 

 as universities, colleges, and schools, for the receipt and 

 comforting of the same. 



The works which concern the seats and places of learn- 

 ing are four ; foundations and buildings, endowments with 

 revenues, endowments with franchises and privileges, insti- 

 tutions and ordinances for government ; all tending to 

 quietness and privateness of life, and discharge of cares 

 and troubles ; much like the stations which Virgil pre- 

 scribeth for the hiving of bees : 



Principle sedes apibus statioque petenda, 

 \l tf 1 * Quo neque. sit vends aditus, &c. 



The works touching books are two : first libraries, 

 which are as the shrines where all the relics of the ancient 

 saints, full of true virtue and that without delusion or 

 imposture, are preserved and reposed; secondly, new 

 editions of authors, with more correct impressions, more 

 faithful translations, more profitable glosses, more diligent 

 annotations, and the like. 



The works pertaining to the persons of learned men 

 (besides the advancement and countenancing of them in 

 general) are two : the reward and designation of readers in 

 sciences already extant and invented ; and the reward and 

 designation of writers and inquirers concerning any parts 

 of learning not sufficiently laboured and prosecuted. 



These are summarily the works and acts, wherein the 

 merits of many excellent princes and other worthy person- 

 ages have been conversant. As for any particular com- 

 memorations, I call to mind what Cicero said, when he 

 gave general thanks ; Difficile non aliquem, mgratum 

 quenquam praeterire. Let us rather, according to the 

 Scriptures, look unto that part of the race which is 

 before us than look back to that which is already attained. 



First therefore, amongst so many great foundations of 

 colleges in Europe, I find it strange that they are all 



