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(On) Lord Francis Bacon
Introductory Note
Ben Jonson, after Shakespeare the most eminent writer for the Elizabethan
stage, was born in 1573, and died in 1635. He was the founder of the so-called
"Comedy of Humours," and throughout the reign of James I was the dominating
personality in English letters. A large number of the younger writers were
proud to confess themselves his "sons." Besides dramas of a variety of kinds,
Jonson wrote much lyrical poetry, some of it of the most exquisite quality.
His chief prose work appears in his posthumously published "Explorata, Timber
or Discoveries, made upon men and matter", a kind of commonplace book, in
which he seems to have entered quotations and translations from his reading,
as well as original observations of a miscellaneous character on men and
books. The volume has little or no structure or arrangement, but is impressed
everywhere with the stamp of his vigorous personality. The following passage
on Bacon is notable as a personal estimate of this giant by the man who,
perhaps, approached him in the field of intellect more closely than any other
contemporary.
Dominus Verulamius
Dominus Verulamius^1
[Footnote 1: Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam.]
One, though he be excellent and the chief, is not to be imitated alone;
for never no imitator ever grew up to his author; likeness is always on this
side truth. Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker who was full of
gravity in his speaking; his language, where he could spare or pass by a jest,
was nobly censorious.^1 No man ever spake more neatly, more presly,^2 more
weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No
member of his speech but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not
cough, or look aside from him, without loss. He commanded where he spoke, and
had his judges angry and pleased at his devotion.^3 No man had their
affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was lest he
should make an end.
[Footnote 1: Severe.]
[Footnote 2: Concisely.]
[Footnote 3: Choice, disposal.]
Scriptorum catalogus.^4 - Cicero is said to be the only wit that the
people of Rome had equalled to their empire. Ingenium par imperio. We have had
many, and in their several ages (to take in but the former seculum^5) Sir
Thomas More, the elder Wyatt, Henry Earl of Surrey, Chaloner, Smith, Eliot,
B[ishop] Gardiner, were for their times admirable; and the more, because they
began eloquence with us. Sir Nico[las] Bacon was singular, and almost alone,
in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth`s times. Sir Philip Sidney and Mr. Hooker
(in different matter) grew great masters of wit and language, and in whom all
vigor of invention and strength of judgment met. The Earl of Essex, noble and
high; and Sir Walter Raleigh, not to be contemned, either for judgment or
style; Sir Henry Savile, grave, and truly lettered; Sir Edwin Sandys,
excellent in both; Lo[rd] Egerton, the Chancellor, a grave and great orator,
and best when he was provoked; but his learned and able, though unfortunate,
successor^6 is he who hath filled up all numbers, and performed that in our
tongue which may be compared or preferred either to insolent Greece or haughty
Rome. In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits born
that could honor a language or help study. Now things daily fall, wits grow
downward, and eloquence grows backward; so that he may be named and stand as
the mark and "akun"^7 of our language.
[Footnote 4: Catalogue of writers.]
[Footnote 5: Century.]
[Footnote 6: Bacon.]
[Footnote 7: Acme.]
De augmentis scientiarum.^8 - I have ever observed it to have been the
office of a wise patriot, among the greatest affairs of the State, to take
care of the commonwealth of learning. For schools, they are the seminaries of
State; and nothing is worthier the study of a statesman than that part of the
republic which we call the advancement of letters. Witness the care of Julius
Caesar, who, in the heat of the civil war, writ his books of Analogy, and
dedicated them to Tully. This made the late Lord S[aint] Alban^9 entitle his
work Novum Organum; which, though by the most of superficial men, who cannot
get beyond the title of nominals,^10 it is not penetrated nor understood, it
really openeth all defects of learning whatsoever, and is a book
[Footnote 8: Concerning the advancement of the sciences.]
[Footnote 9: Bacon.]
[Footnote 10: Names of things.]
Qui longum noto scriptori porriget aevum.^11
[Footnote 11: "Which extends to the famous author a long future." - Horace,
Ars. Poet., 346.]
My conceit of his person was never increased toward him by his place or
honors. But I have and do reverence him for the greatness that was only proper
to himself, in that he seemed to me ever, by his work, one of the greatest
men, and most worthy of admiration, that had been in many ages. In his
adversity I ever prayed that God would give him strength; for greatness he
could not want. Neither could I condole in a word or syllable for him, as
knowing no accident could do harm to virtue, but rather help to make it
manifest.
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