XV 



TO MR. ANTHONY BACON, 



HIS DEAR BROTHER. 



LOVING and beloved brother, I do now like some that have an orchard 

 ill neighboured, that gather their fruit before it is ripe, to prevent 

 stealing. These fragments of my conceit were going to print : to labour 

 the stay of them had been troublesome, and subject to interpretation ; 

 to let them pass had been to adventure the wrong they might receive 

 by untrue copies, or by some garnishment which it might please any 

 that should set them forth to bestow upon them ; therefore I held it 

 best discretion to publish them myself, as they passed long ago from 

 my pen, without any further disgrace than the weakness of the author ; 

 and as I did ever hold, there might be as great a vanity in retiring and 

 withdrawing men s conceit (except they be of some nature) from the 

 world, as in obtruding them : so in these particulars I have played 

 myself the inquisitor, and finding nothing to my understanding in 

 them contrary or infectious to the state of religion or manners, but 

 rather, as I suppose, medicinable : only I dislike now to put them out, 

 because they will be like the late new half-pence, which though the 

 silver were good, yet the pieces were small ; but since they would not 

 stay with their master, but would needs travel abroad, I have preferred 

 them to you that are next myself ; dedicating them, such as they are, 

 to our love, in the depth whereof, I assure you, I sometimes wish your 

 infirmities translated upon myself, that her majesty might have the 

 service of so active and able a mind ; and I might be with excuse con 

 fined to these contemplations and studies, for which I am fittest : so 

 commend I you to the preservation of the Divine Majesty. 



Your entire loving brother, 



FRANCIS BACON. 



From my Chamber at Gray s Inn, 

 (his jotfiof January, JJQ?. 



