to befall to Spain, if it should break. The great accessions and unions of kingdoms do likewise stir up wars. For when a state grows to an overpower, it is like a great flood that will be sure to overflow. As it hath been seen in the states of Rome, Turkey, Spain, and others. Look when the world hath fewest barbarous peoples, but such as commonly will not marry or generate, except they know means to live (as it is almost every where at this day except Tartary), there is no danger of inundations of people: but when there be great shoals of people which go on to populate, without foreseeing means of life and sustentation 2, it is of necessity that once in an age or two they discharge a portion of their people upon other nations: which the ancient northern people were wont to do by lot : casting lots what part should stay at home, and what should seek their fortunes. When a warlike state grows soft and such effeminate, they may be sure of a war. For commonly states are grown rich in the time of their degenerating; and so the prey inviteth, and their decay in valour encourageth a war. 1 8. As for the weapons, it hardly falleth under rule and observation yet we see even they have returns and vicissitudes. For certain it is, that ordnance was known in the city of the Oxydraces, in India; and was that which the Macedonians called thunder and lightning and magic3. And it is well known that the use of ordnance hath been in China above two thousand years. The conditions of weapons, and their improvements are; first, the fetching afar off; for that outruns the danger: as it is seen in ordnance and muskets. Secondly, the strength of the percussion, wherein Jikewise ordnance do ex Which for who. 2 Sustentation (obsolescent) for maintenance, support. 3 The conjecture, that what the Macedonians called thunder and lightning and magic was no other than artillery is so much the more probable that the same occurred to 'the natives of America. When Columbus first ordered his heavy ordnance to be fired in order to impress the people with the vast power of the Europeans, the rude savages concluded that the Spaniards were children of the sun, who had come, says Robertson," armed with thunder and lightning against their enemies." Fetch (unused) for to strike at a distance. ceed all arietations and ancient inventions. The third is, the commodious use of them: as that they may serve in al weathers; that the carriage may be light and manageable; and the like. 3 9. For the conduct of the war: at the first, men rested extremely upon number: they did put the wars likewise upon main force and valour; pointing days for pitched fields', and so trying it out upon an even match: and they were more ignorant in ranging and arraying their battles". After they grew to rest upon number, rather competent than vast: they grew to advantages of place, cunning diversions, and the like: and they grew more skilful in the ordering of their battles. 8 6 10. In the youth of a state arms do flourish; in the middle age of a state, learning; and then both of them together for a time in the declining age of a state, mechanical arts and merchandise. Learning hath his infancy, when it is but beginning, and almost childish; then his youth, when it is luxuriant and juvenile; then his strength of years, when it is solid and reduced and, lastly, his old age, when it waxeth dry and exhaust 10, but is not good to look too long upon these turning wheels of vicissitude lest we become giddy. As for the philology" of them, that is but a circle of tales, and therefore not fit for this writing. Arietation for battering with a ram. 2 Put for cause to depend. 3 Point (obsolete) for appoint. Pitched fields (unusual) for pitched battles. 5 Battle (antiquated) for body of forces. 6789 His (old) for its. 10 Exhaust for exhausted. "Philology probably for knowledge or accounts, A FRAGMENT OF AN ESSAY OF FAME'. 1. The poets make Fame a monster: they describe her in part finely and elegantly, and in part gravely and sententiously: they say, look how many feathers she hath, so many eyes she hath underneath, so many tongues, so many voices, she pricks up so many ears. 2. This is a flourish2; there follow excellent parables; as that she gathereth strength in going; that she goeth upon the ground, and yet hideth her head in the clouds; that in the daytime she sitteth in a watch-tower, and flieth most by night; that she mingleth things done with things not done; and that she is a terror to great cities; but that which passeth all the rest is, they do recount that the Earth, mother of the giants that made war against Jupiter, and were by him destroyed, thereupon in anger brought forth Fame; for certain it is that rebels, figured by the giants and seditious fames, and libels, are but brothers and sisters, masculine and feminine: but now if a man can tame this monster, and bring her to feed at the hand and govern her, and with her fly other ravening fowl and kill them, it is somewhat worth but we are infected with the style of the poets. To speak now in a sad and serious manner, there is not in all the politics a place less handled, and more worthy to be handled than this of fame : we will therefore speak of these points: what are false fames; and what are true fames; and how they may be best discerned ; how fames may be sown and raised; how they may be spread This portion of an Essay was found among the author's papers after his death and published by his biographer Rawley. ? Flourish (unusual) for ostentation, embellishment. 3 Fames (old) for report. Ravening (unusual) for of prey. 5 Worth for worth while. Handled for treated. and multiplied; and how they may be checked and laid dead'; and other things concerning the nature of fame. Fame is of that force as there is scarcely any great action wherein it hath not a great part, especially in the war. Mucianus undid Vitellius by a fame that he scattered, that Vitellius had in purpose to remove the legions of Syria into Germany, and the legions of Germany into Syria; whereupon the legions of Syria were infinitely inflamed. Julius Cæsar took Pompey unprovided; and laid asleep his industry and preparations by a fame that he cunningly gave out, how Cæsar's own soldiers loved him not; and being wearied with the wars and laden with the spoils of Gaul, would forsake him as soon as he came into Italy. Livia settled all things for the succession of her son Tiberius by continual giving out that her husband Augustus was upon recovery and amendment; and it is a usual thing with the bashaws to conceal the death of the Great Turk from the janizaries and men of war, to save the sacking of Constantinople and other towns, as their manner is. Themistocles made Xerxes king of Persia, post apace out of Græcia3, by giving out that the Græcians had a purpose to break his bridge of ships, which he had made athwart the Hellespont. There be' a thousand such like examples, and the more they are the less they need to be repeated, because a man meeteth with them everywhere therefore let all wise governors have as great a watch and care over fames as they have of the actions and designs themselves. The rest of the Essay of Fame was not finished. 1 Lay dead for kill, destroy. 2 As for that. 3 Undid for ruined. This celebrated militia of Turkey was dissolved in 1826, after having existed precisely five hundred years; for it was founded by Orchan in 1326, Græcia for Greece. Athwart for across. 7 Be for are. END OF BACON'S ESSAYS. TRANSLATION OF THE LATIN QUOTATIONS OF BACON'S ESSAYS AND OF THE EDITOR'S NOTES. 1. 1. Vinum dæmonum, the wine of devils. 2. Note 1. II. "Tis pleasant safely to behold from shore The moving legions mingled in the war : But much more sweet thy labouring steps to guide, (Dryden.) The pomp of death (Lee.) Is far more terrible than death itself. Consider how often you repeat the same things; the desire of death may arise not only from fortitude or misery, but from satiety. Livia, live mindful of our union, and farewell. His powers and bodily strength abandoned Tiberius, not his dissimulation. I am becoming a god, I suppose. |