THE SECOND BOOK 231 



dedicated to professions, and none left free to arts and 

 sciences at large. For if men judge that learning should 

 be referred to action, they judge well; but in this they 

 fall into the error described in the ancient fable ; in which 

 the other parts of the body did suppose the stomach had 

 been idle, because it neither performed the office of motion, 

 as the limbs do, nor of sense, as the head doth ; but 

 yet notwithstanding it is the stomach that digesteth and 

 distributeth to all the rest. So if any man think philosophy 

 and universality to be idle studies, he doth not consider 

 that all professions are from thence served and supplied. 

 And this I take to be a great cause that hath hindered 

 the progression of learning, because these fundamental 

 knowledges have been studied but in passage. For if you 

 will have a tree bear more fruit .than it hath used to do, 

 it is not any thing you can do to the , houghs, but it 

 is the stirring of the earth and putting new mould about 

 the roots that must work it. Neither is it to be forgotten 

 that this dedicating of foundations and dotations to pro- 

 fessory learning hath not only had a malign aspect and 

 influence upon the growth of sciences, but hath also been 

 prejudicial to states and governments. For hence it pro- 

 ceedeth that princes find a solitude in regard of able men 

 to serve them in causes of estate, because there is no 

 education collegiate which is free ; where such as were so 

 disposed might give themselves to histories, modern 

 languages, books of policy and civil discourse, and other 

 the like enablements unto service of estate. 



And because founders of colleges do plant and founders 

 of lectures do water, it followeth well in order to speak of 

 the defect which is in public lectures; namely, in the 

 smallness and meanness of the salary or reward which 

 in most places is assigned unto them ; whether they be 

 lectures of arts, or of professions. For it is necessary 

 to the progression of sciences that readers be of the most 

 able and sufficient men ; as those which are ordained for 

 generating and propagating of sciences, and not for transi- 

 tory use. This cannot be, except their condition and 

 endowment be such as may content the ablest man to 



