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condition, namely, that they never deceive or fall short. For as they 

 are applied not for the purpose of producing any result, but only of 

 unfolding some natural cause, they equally satisfy our intention, in 

 whatever way they turn out, by putting an end to the inquiry. 



c. But not only is a greater abundance of Experiments to be sought 

 for and procured, and that of a different kind from what has as yet 

 been found, but also quite a different method, order, and process of 

 continuing and carrying forward Experience, must be introduced. For 

 vague Experience following only itself (as has been said above) is a 

 mere groping, and rather stupefies men than informs them. But when 

 Experience shall proceed by a certain law, in order and without 

 interruption, we may hope something better of the Sciences. 



ci. But when there is brought to hand and made ready such an 

 abundant material for Natural History and Experience as is required 

 for intellectual or philosophical operations, yet is the Intellect in 

 nowise competent to act upon these materials spontaneously and by 

 the aid of memory alone ; no more than a man can hope by the aid of 

 memory alone to retain and make himself master of the computation 

 of an almanac. And yet up to this time meditation has had a greater 

 share in discovery than writing, nor has Experience as yet been made 

 literate ; but no discovery can be satisfactory without writing. And 

 when that comes into use, and Experience is at length made literate, 

 better hopes may be entertained. 



cii. And again, now that there is so great a number and, as it were, 

 host of particulars, and these so scattered and diffused as to distract 

 and confuse the Intellect, we cannot hope much from the skirmishing 

 and light movements and sallies of the Intellect, unless there be an 

 arrangement and reduction to order of those things which belong to 

 the subject under inquiry, by means of suitable, well-disposed, and, as 

 it were, living tables of discovery ; and the mind be applied to the aids 

 already prepared and digested which these tables give us. 



ciii. But when the store of particulars has been in due order set 

 before our eyes, we must not at once pass on to the investigation and 

 discovery of new particulars and results, or, at least, if we do so, we 

 must not rest there. For we do not deny that when all the Experiments 

 of all the Arts have been collected and digested, and have been brought 

 within the knowledge and judgment of one man, many new discoveries 

 advantageous to man s life and condition may be made by transferring 

 the Experiments of one Art to others, under the guidance of that very 

 Experience which we call literate : yet small results are to be expected 

 from so doing : but greater may be looked for from the new light of 

 Axioms, which, being educed by a certain way and rule from these 

 particulars themselves, shall again indicate and point out new particu 

 lars. For the road does not lie in a single plane, but ascends and 

 descends ; first ascending to Axioms, and then descending to Results. 



civ. And yet the Intellect must not be allowed to leap and fly off 

 from particulars to remote and, as it were, most general Axioms (such 

 as the Principles, as they call them, of Arts and Things), and from 

 their incontrovertible truth prove and work out middle Axioms ; but 



