It, v. 4, 66; Rom. ii. 4, 225, appears to regard this use as affected. [3] They say: Virgil, Æneid, iv. 175-90. [6] Flourish: An embellishment. Cf. Hamlet, ii. 2, 91. [6] Parables: The word parable is now narrowed to the parables of the New Testament or similar ones. But the meaning of the word, viz. 'comparison,' entitled it to be used here. [17] Masculine, &c.: See Essay xv. 1. 15. [19] Fly: Used (like fly at in Hamlet, ii. 2, 450) of starting the falcon after its game. [22] The politics: Cf., 'the mathematics,' i.e. the science known as mathematics. The insertion of the Article is a Græcism, τà TOλɩTiká, &C. [23] Place: Used like the Latin locus for a 'topic;' cf. the phrase 'a common-place book.'

P. 106. [26] Sown: See Introduction, p. cxlviii. [30] That-as: Sh. Grammar, Par. 280. [32] Mucianus : Tacitus, Histories, ii. 80. [36] Cæsar: De Bello Civili, i. 6. In this passage Pompey states his opinion; but it is not said that Cæsar had originated it. [41] Livia: Tacitus, Annals, i. 5. [45] Janizaries: See Essay xix. 1. 160, note. [47] Themistocles : North's Plutarch, p. 102. [54] The actions: The is inserted perhaps to indicate that actions are a well-known and essential element in government. See Essay lviii. 1. 12. For the thought, cf. Essay xxxv. 1. 67.

APPENDIX.

EARLY EDITIONS OF THE ESSAYS.

THE first edition of the Essays was published in 1597, as part of a small volume containing, beside the Essays, 'Religious Meditations,' and 'Places of Persuasion and Disuasion.' The Dedication and Table of Contents are subjoined. The date of the dedication (January 1597) would imply-since the civil year then ended on March 24-that the dedication was written at the

end of the year 1597. But Mr. Spedding suggests that the publishers probably followed the 'historical' year beginning on January 1, and not the 'civil' year beginning on March 25. In any case, the Essays were published in January 1597 according to our reckoning, with the following dedication :

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE

To M. Anthony Bacon

his deare Brother.

Louing and Beloued Brother, I doe nowe like some that haue an Orcharde ill neighbored, that gather their fruit before it is ripe, to preuent stealing. These fragments of my conceites were going to print; To labour the staie of them had bin troublesome, and subiect to interpretation; to let them passe had beene to aduēture the wrong they mought receiue by untrue Coppies, or by some garnishment, which it mought please any that should set them forth to bestow upon them. Therefore I helde it best discreation to publish them my selfe as they passed long agoe from my

pen, without any further disgrace, then the weaknesse of the Author. And as I did euer hold, there mought be as great a vanitie in retiring and withdrawing mens conceites (except they bee of some nature) from the world, as in obtruding them: So in these particulars I haue played my selfe the Inquisitor, and find nothing to my understanding in them contrarie or infectious to the state of Religion, or manners, but rather (as I suppose) medicinable. Only I disliked now to put them out because they will bee like the late new halfe-pence, which though the Siluer were good, yet the peeces were small. But since they would not stay with their Master, but would needes trauaile abroade, I haue preferred them to you that are next my selfe, Dedicating them, such as they are, to our loue, in the depth whereof (I assure you) I sometimes wish your infirmities translated uppon my selfe, that her Maiestie mought haue the seruice of so actiue and able a nind, & I mought be with excuse confined to these contemplations & Studies for which I am fittest, so commend I you to the preseruation of the diuine Maiestie. From my Chamber at Graies Inne this 30. of Ianuarie. 1597.

The second edition of the Essays was published in 1612. Bacon intended to have dedicated it to Prince Henry; but, on the death of the Prince, he substituted for the dedication to the Prince (which he had already written) a dedication to his brother-in-law, Sir John Constable, who had married Dorothy Barnham, the sister of Lady Bacon. Both dedications, with the table of contents, are subjoined.

To the most high and excellent Prince Henry, Prince of Wales, D: of Cornwall and Earle of Chester.

Yt may please your H.

Having devided my life into the contemplative and active parte, I am desirous to giue his M, and yor H. of the fruite of both, simple though they be. To write iust Treatises requireth leasure in the Writer, and leasure in the Reader, and therefore are not so fitt, neither in regard of yor H: princely affaires, nor in regard of my continuall service, wch is the cause, that hath made me choose to write certaine breif notes, sett downe rather significantlye, then curiously, wch I have called ESSAIES. The word is late, but the thing is auncient. For Senacaes Epistles to Lucilius, yf one marke them well, are but Essaies,—That is dispersed Meditacons, thoughe conveyed in the forme of Epistles. Theis labors of myne I know cannot be worthie of yor H: for what can be worthie of you. But my hope is, they may be as graynes of salte, that will rather give you an appetite, then offend you with satiety. And although they handle those things wherein both mens Lives and theire pens are most conversant yet (What I have attained, I knowe not) but I have endeavoured to make them not vulgar; but of a nature, whereof a man shall find much in experience, litle in bookes; so as they are neither repeticons nor fansies. But howsoever, I shall most humbly desier yor H: to accept them in gratious part, and so contrive that if I cannot rest, but must shewe my dutifull, and devoted affection to yor H: in theis things wch proceed from my self, I shalbe much more reaay to doe it, in performance ofʻyor princely commaundmente; And so wishing yor H: all princely felicitye I rest.

Yor H: most humble

Servant.

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE

To my loving brother, Sr Iohn Constable Kright.

My last Essaies I dedicated to my deare brother Master Anhony Bacon, who is with God. Looking amongs. my papers