Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

ESSAY 9

Compare with the beginning of this Essay, Bacon's Natural History, cent. x. exp. 944: "The Affections (no doubt) doe make the Spirits more Powerfull, and Active; And especially those Affections, which draw the Spirits into the Eyes: Which are two: Loue, and Enuy, which is called Oculus Malus. As for Loue, the Platonists, (some of them, goe so farre, as to hold, that the Spirit of the Louer, doth passe into the Spirits of the Person Loued, Which causeth the desire of Returne into the Body, whence it was Emitted: Whereupon followeth that Appetite of Contact, and Coniunction, which is in Louers. And this is obserued likewise, that the Aspects that procure Loue, are not Gazings, but Sudden Glances, and Dartings of the Eye. As for Enuy, that emitteth some Maligne and Poisonous Spirit, which taketh hold of the Spirit of Another; And is likewise of greatest Force, when the Cast of the Eye is Oblique. It hath beene noted also, that it is most Dangerous, when an Enuious Eye is cast vpon Persons in Glory, and Triumph, and Ioy. The Reason whereof is, for that, at such times, the Spirits come forth most, into the Outward Parts, and so meet the Percussion of the Enuious Eye, more at Hand: And therefore it hath beene noted, that after great Triumphs, Men haue beene ill disposed, for some Dayes following. Wee see the Opinion of Fascination is Ancient, for both Effects; Of Procuring Loue; and Sicknesse caused by Enuy: And Fascination is euer by the Eye. But yet if there be any such Infection from Spirit to Spirit, there is no doubt, but that it worketh by Presence, and not by the Eye alone; Yet most forcibly by the Eye."

p. 29 [8] Comp. Reginald Scot's Discouerie of Witchcraft (xv1. 9. p. 485, ed. 1584). "This fascination (saith Iohn Baptista Porta Neapolitanus) though it begin by touching or breathing, is alwaies accomplished and finished by the eie, as an extermination or expulsion of the spirits through the eies, approching to the hart of the bewitched, and infecting the same, &c. Wherby it commeth to passe, that a child, or a yoong man endued with a cleare, whole, subtill and sweet bloud, yeeldeth the like spirits, breath, and vapors springing from the purer bloud of the hart. And the lightest and finest spirits, ascending into the highest parts of the head, doo fall into the eies, and so are from thence sent foorth, as being of all other parts of the bodie the most cleare, and fullest of veines and pores, and with the verie spirit or vapor proceeding thence, is conucied out as it were by beames and streames a certeine fierie force; whereof he that beholdeth sore eies shall haue good experience. For the poison and disease in the eie infecteth the aire next vnto it, and the same proceedeth further, carrieng with it the vapor and infection of the corrupted bloud: with the contagion whereof, the eies of the beholders are most apt to be infected." (10] Mark vii. 22.

p. 30 [17]a kinde of plaie-pleasure: Lat. scenicam quandam voluptatem. [22] Plaut. Stich. 1. 3, 55; Nam curiosus nemo'st quin sit malevolus.

[25] Comp. Antith. 1; Tanta solet esse industria hominum noverum, ut nobiles præ illis tanquam statuæ videantur.

p. 31 [4] Narses (A.D. 472—568), the great general of Justinian, and rival of Belisarius. Agesilaus. "And for the deformitie of his legge, the one being shorter than the other, in the flower of his youth, through his pleasant wit, hee vsed the matter so pleasantly and patiently, that he would merrily mocke himselfe : which maner of merry behauiour did greatly hide the blame of the blemish. Yea further, his life & courage was the more commendable in him, for that men saw that notwithstanding his lamenesse, he refused no paines nor labour." North's Plutarch, Agesilaus, p. 652, ed. 1595. Agesilaus II. was king of Sparta from 398 to 361 B. C. [16] Spartian. Vit. Adrian. 15. [19] Fellowes in office: Lat. college. [25] Lat. quinetiam in aliorum notam hæc Fortunæ collatio magis incurrit. [27] Gen. iv. 5. p. 32 [3] Liberality: Lat. largitioni supra meritum. Rising Lat. cum honoribus cumulantur. Flat: this passage was originally in the Essay "Of Nobility," in the ed. of 1612, where it stands thus; "and Enuy is as the sunne beames, that beate more vpon a rising ground, then vpon a leuell." more deepe, and sober: Lat. magis sanos et sobrios. nentes illud, Quanta patimur.

p. 33 [4] Ingrossing: Lat. Monopolium.

[15] in their [18-20] And Envy...

[29] the [32] Lat. Ca

[5] Tamberlanes. Tamer

lane, or Timour, is said to have been lamed by a shepherd whose sheep he was stealing, and who shot him with arrows in the hip and shoulder. See Ahmed, Vita Timuri, ed. Manger, Vol. 1. p. 18. [23] Lat. quam si callide et quasi furtim se nota subtraḥat. [31] Witchcraft: Lat. Veneficii et incantationis.

[32] The Lot

(Lat. Sors) gave its name to the practisers of witchcraft, Sorcerers, Lat. sortiarii.

P. 34 [12] Lat. instar salubris ostracismi. In this form it occurs in the Antitheta xvi; Invidia in rebus publicis, tanquam salubris ostracismus. [25] Lat. intermiscendo actiones gratas et populares odiosis. p. 35 [4] the State: Lat. Regem, aut Statum ipsum. [12] The same sentence occurs in the Antitheta, and the Historia Vitæ et Mortis. [20] Matt. xiii. 25.

ESSAY IO

This Essay first appeared in the edition of 1612, where it was placed twelfth in order, but was considerably enlarged in 1625. The first part stood thus: "Loue is the argument alwaies of Comedies, and many times of Tragedies. Which sheweth well, that it is a passion generally light, and sometimes extreme. Extreame it may well bee, since the speaking in a perpetuall Hyperbole, is comely in nothing, but Loue."

p. 36 [1] See Antitheta XXXVI; Amori multum debet scena, nihil vita. [2] of Man: omitted in the Latin. [13] "Cleopatra oftentimes vnarmed Antonius, and intised him to her, making him lose matters of great importaunce, and very needefull iourneys, to come and be

dandled with her, about the riuers of Canobus, and Taphosiris." North's Plutarch, Demetrius and Antonius, p. 1010, ed. 1595. [14] Livy III. 33; "In this new state of government, Appius was the man that bare the greatest stroke, he ruled the rost and swaied all the rest, so highly stood he in grace and favour with the people" (Holland's trans. p. 109, ed. 1600). The allusion is to the story of Virginia. [15] Lat. legislatorum inter Romanos principem. [16] Inordinate: Lat. voluptatibus deditus. [21] Lat. abjectum quidem et pusillanimum est illud Epicuri dictum. [22] Seneca, Ep. 1. 7, § 11: quoted also in Adv. of L. 1. 3, § 6; "for it is a speech for a Louer, & not for a wise man: Satis magnum alter alteri Theatrum sumus."

amor.

p. 37 [1] Comp. Antitheta xxXVI; Angusta admodum contemplatio [10] Lat. Neque hæc hyperbole solum modo in locutionis phrasi cernitur. [12] By Plutarch (de adul. et amico, 11; Op. Mor. Ρ. 48 F.); αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ κόλαξ ἕκαστος ὢν πρῶτος καὶ μέγιστος. See also Essay xxvII. p. 112, 1. 26, and LIII. p. 214, 1. 4.

[13] have intelligence: Lat. conspirant. [17] Lat. Recte itaque receptum est illud diverbium. [19] weaknesse: Lat. phrenesis. Amare et sapere vix Deo conceditur; [29] Antith. XVII; Omnes, ut Paris, qui formæ optionem faciunt, prudentiæ et potentiæ jacturam faciunt. [31] quitteth: Lat. nuntium remittit.

[27] Ovid, Her. XVI. 133. Publii Syri Sent. 15.

p. 38 [3] In ed. of 1612; “They doe best that make this affection keepe quarter, and seuer it wholly from their serious affaires and actions of their life." [4] Love: Lat. amores. make it keepe Quarter: Lat. in ordinem redigunt. [7] Lat. turbat omnia. [9-end] I know not... Imbaseth it: added in 1625. [9] This question is illustrated by Montaigne, Essais II. 23. Comp. Arist. Pol. 11. 6, § 6.

ESSAY II

The title of this Essay in the Latin is De Magistratibus et dignitatibus. In the ed. of 1612 it stands eighth in order.

p. 39 [8] loose: Lat. exuere. It seems that the translator here mistook the English. In ed. 1612 it was 'lose.' Comp. Antith. v; Honorum ascensus arduus, statio lubrica, regressus præceps. [14] Cic. Ep. Fam. (ad Marium) vII. 3; "Vetus est enim, ubi non sis qui fueris, non esse cur velis vivere." This quotation was added in 1625. It occurs in the Promus, fol. 11b, where it is correctly ubi &c. triste quiddam et melancholicum. [19] Shadow: Lat. umbram et otium. [19-21] Like.. Scorne: added in 1625.

Lat.

p. 40 [1] Comp. Antith. vII; Qui in honore sunt, opinionem mutuentur oportet, ut seipsos heatos putent. [14] Seneca, Thyest. 11. 401. [18] Comp. Antith. vII; Honores dant fere potestatem earum rerum, quas optima conditio est nolle, proxima non posse. [24] Lat. sine munere aliquo publico et potestate. [25] and good Works: added in 1625. [27] the same: 'merit,' in ed. of 1612. [28] 'can be in any measure,' in ed. of 1612. [29] Gen. i. 31. Bacon again quotes

from memory, for his Latin does not correspond with that of any version I have consulted.

p. 41 [2] Lat. num non melius inceperis quam perstiteris. [3-7] Neglect..avoid added in 1625. [7] therfore added in 1625. without Braverie: Lat. absque elatione tui ipsius. [15] Lat. contende ut quæ agis pro potestate tanquam regulis quibusdam cohibeantur, ut hominibus tanquam digito monstres. Course: courses' in MS. [17] and peremptorie: added in 1625. [18] Lat. quid sit quod agas diligenter expone. [19] Right: 'rights' in ed. 1612. [22] Lat. quam ut quæstiones de iis cum strepitu suscites et agites. feriour Places: the Lat. adds, tibi subordinatorum. [26] Advices: 'intelligence' in ed. of 1612. [29] accept of: Lat. allicias et recipias. [30] Lat. in auctoritate utendâ et exercendâ.

[23] In

[10-14] Therefore [11] declare: Lat. declares et inculces.

[16] to close [17] Lat. [21] Comp.

P. 42 [1] In ed. of 1612, "do not only bind thine owne hands, or thy seruants hands that may take; but bind the hands of them that should offer." [5] Lat. prædicata et ex professo. ..steale it: added in 1625. [14] Lat. servus gratiosus et apud dominum potens. Corruption: added in 1625. close omitted in Lat. invidiam et malevolentiam parit illa, nihil inde metens. Adv. of L. 11. 23, § 5; where Bacon remarks upon the same verse of the Proverbs: "Here is noted that a iudge were better be a briber, then a respecter of persons: for a corrupt Iudge offendeth not so lightly as a facile." [25] Prov. xxviii. 21. [27] ἀρχὴ τὸν ἄνδρα deíkvvow: attributed by some to Pittacus of Mitylene, by others to Solon. Aristotle (Mor. v.) quoted it in the name of Bias. Epaminondas (Plut. Præc. Civ. xv. 2) varied it; où μóvov ý άexý tòv ávdpa deíkvvoir, áλλà κaì áρxyv ávýp. (Adagia, p. 226; ed. Grynæus, 1629). The saying also occurs in Guicciardini (Maxims, 72; Eng. tr.), and at the conclusion of his History. Magistratus virum indicat, in the Promus, fol. 76. [29] Tac. Hist. 1. 49. [31] Tac. Hist. 1. 50:

quoted again in Adv. of L. II. 22, § 5, where it is introduced with, "Tacitus obserueth how rarely raising of the fortune mendeth the disposition." [33] of Sufficiencie: Lat. de arte imperatoria.

[34] an assured Signe: Lat. signum luculentissimum. p. 43 [2] Comp. Antitheta v; Virtutis, ut rerum aliarum, rapidus motus est ad locum, placidus in loco: est autem virtutis locus honos. [4] Comp. Adv. of L. II. 10, § 1: "So that it is no maruaile, though the soule so placed, enioy no rest, if that principle be true, that Motus rerum est rapidus extra locum, Placidus in loco." In the Promus already referred to, fol. 86, there is this note; Augustus rapide ad locum leniter in loco." and calme: omitted in MS. [6] in Authoritie: Lat. in honore adepto. [7-end] All Rising..another Man: added in 1625. [8] to side a Mans selfe: Lat. alteri parti adhærere. Here again the translator seems to have missed the point. [18] Lat. in quotidianis sermonibus aut conversatione privatâ.

[ocr errors]

ESSAY 12

[3] Cic. de Orat. III. 56, § 213;

P. 44 [1] Lat. tritum est dicterium. de clar. Orat. 38; Orat. 17. Quintilian (x1. 3) substitutes pronunciatio for actio. Archdeacon Hare has some remarks upon this anecdote in Guesses at Truth, pp. 147-151, 2nd series, 2nd ed. 1848. histrionis potius virtus censenda est quam oratoris.

[10] Lat. [18] Antith. XXXIII; Quid actio oratori, id audacia viro civili; primum, secundum, tertium.

P. 45 [1] Lat. captivos ducit eos.

mocratiis.

[5] in Popular States: Lat. in De

[23] I have been unable to trace any foundation for this story of Mahomet. The saying is a common Spanish proverb and appears in Bacon's Promus, or Common-place book, fol. 20 b, as follows; Se no va el otero a Mahoma vaya Mahema al otero. But, singularly enough, in a letter from Antonio Perez to the Earl of Essex, it is quoted in exactly the converse form: "Tu videris quo id modo fiet, an ego ad templum, an, ut solebant loqui Hispani Mauri, si no puede yr Mahoma a Lotero (i.e. al otero), venga Lotero (i.e. el otero a Mahoma, templum cum aliqua occasione huc se conferat." Antonii Perezii ad Comitem Essexium..epistolarum centuria una. Norimb. 1683, ep. 14, p. 18. I am indebted for this reference to the Rev. J. E. B. Mayor, Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge.

p. 46 [2] Lat. vultum enim tunc nanciscitur in se reductum sed deformiter. [6] Lat. sed audaces, quando tale quidpiam illis contingit, attoniti hærent. [11] Hence the proverb, 'Who so bold as blind

Bayard?'

ESSAY 13

P. 47 [1] Lat. ut sit affectus qui hominum commoda studeat et bene velit. [3] And: 'for' (1612). [4] is a little too light: Lat. levius aliquanto est atque angustius. [5] Habit: Lat. affectum et habitum. [7] and Dignities of the Minde: added in 1625. [8] Lat. cum sit ipsius divinæ naturæ adumbrata quædam effigies et character. [9] Man: Lat. homo animalis. [11] Goodnesse: Lat. boni

tas moralis. [13] p. 48 [6] The desire..committed: added in 1625. [19] Lat. quæ, si benefaciendi materiâ aut occasione destituta, non inveniat quo se exerceat in homines, defleclet certe in brutas animantes.

p. 48 [2] Leg. Turc. epist. quat. ep. III. p. 133, ed. 1605. Bacon's memory was here at fault. The offender was a Venetian goldsmith who delighted in fowling, and had caught a goatsucker, or some such bird, about the size of a cuckoo and nearly of the same colour. Its bill when open would admit a man's fist. The goldsmith, by way of a joke, fixed the bird alive over his door, with a stick in its mouth to keep the beak distended. The Turks were enraged, seized the man, dragged him before a judge, and with difficulty allowed him to escape. In the Latin translation the correct version is given. Adeo ut, (referente Busbequio) Aurifex quidam Venetus, Byzantii agens, vix furorem populi effugerit, quod avis cujusdam, rostri oblongi, fauces inserto

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »