NOVUM ORGANUM. 293 



certain special subjects, we are in possession of far truer, and, as we 

 think, more certain, and even more profitable results, than are as yet 

 attained (\\hich we have brought together in the fifth part of our 

 Installation), yet we are propounding no universal or complete theory, 

 for the time does not seem yet to have arrived for so doing. And 

 further, we have no hope that our life may be prolonged so as to 

 complete the sixth part of the Instauration (which is set apart for 

 Philosophy, as discovered by the legitimate interpretation of Nature), 

 but arc satisfied now to employ ourselves soberly and usefully on 

 intermediate subjects, in the meantime scattering the seeds of a purer 

 truth for those that come after us, and performing our part towards 

 the commencement, at least, of the great undertaking. 



cxvii. And as we are not founders of a sect, still less do we make 

 offer or promise of particular results. Hut yet some one may object 

 to us that we, who so often make mention of results, and urge all things 

 in that direction, ought also to show pledges of some ourselves. Hut 

 our method and plan (as we have often stated clearly, and yet like to 

 repeat) is not to draw Results from Results, or Experiments from 

 Epcriments (as do the Empirics), but Causes and Axioms from Results 

 and Experiments, and from those Causes and Axioms again new 

 Results and Experiments fas a legitimate interpreter of Nature). 



And though in our Tables of discovery (which constitute the fourth 

 part of the Instauration), and even in the examples of particulars which 

 we have introduced in thesecond part, and, aboveall, inour observations 

 on History (which has been discussed in the third part of our work), any 

 one possessing even a moderate amount of clear-sightedness and skill 

 will everywhere remark indications and outlines of very many noble 

 results; yet we candidly confess that the Natural History which we have 

 as yet, either out of books or from individual inquiry, is not sufficiently 

 copious and well verified to satisfy or assist legitimate interpretation. 



And so, if there be any one more fitted and better prepared for 

 mechanics, and sagacious in hunting out results, owing to his being 

 exclusively conversant with Experiments, we leave and relinquish to 

 him the labour of choosing out and applying to the production of 

 results many matters of our History and Tables as he finds them on 

 the road, to serve as interest for a time, until the principal can be had. 

 Hut we, in aiming at greater things, condemn all hasty and premature 

 delay over matters like these, which we are often wont to compare to 

 the golden balls of Atalanta. For we do not grasp at golden apples 

 like children, but stake all our hopes on the victory of Art over Nature 

 in the race ; nor are we so impatient as to wish to reap a crop of moss 

 or green corn, but wait for the harvest in its season. 



cxviii. It will doubtless occur to some, after reading our History 

 and Tables of Invention, that there is in the Experiments themselves 

 some uncertainty or error ; and it will therefore, perhaps, be thought 

 that our discoveries rest on false and doubtful principles for their 

 foundation. Hut this is nothing ; for it is necessary that such should 

 be the case in the beginning. It is just as if, in writing or printing, 

 one or two letters should be wrongly separated or combined, which 



