For men of present spirits, and of greater wits than study, do please more in the things they invent, than in those they bring. And I have heard fome of them compelled to speak, out of neceffity, that have fo infinitely exceeded themfelves, as it was better, both for them and their auditory, that they were fo furprized, not prepared. Nor was it fafe then to cross them, for their adverfary, their anger made them more eloquent. Yet thefe men I could not but love and admire, that they returned to their studies. They left not diligence (as many do) when their rashness profpered; for diligence is a great aid, even to an indifferent wit: when we are not contented with the examples of our own age, but would know the face of the former. Indeed, the more we confer with, the more we -profit by, if the perfons be chofen.

One, though he be excellent, and the chief, is not to be imitated alone: for no imitator ever grew up to his author; likeness is always on this fide truth. Yet there happened in my time one noble Speaker, who was full of gravity in his fpeaking. His language (where he could fpare, or pass by a jest) was nobly cenforious. No man ever fpake more neatly, more preftly, more weightily, or fuffered lefs emptiness, lefs idlenefs, in what he uttered. No member of his speech, but confifted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough, or look afide from H

him,

him, without lofs. He commanded where he fpeke; and had his judges angry and pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every mau that heard him, was, left he fhould make an end.

Cicero is faid to be the only wit, that the peo ple of Rome had equalled to their empire. Ingenium par imperio. We have had many, and in their feveral ages, (to take in but the former Seculum) Sir Thomas More, the elder Wiat, Henry Earl of Surry, Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, B. Gardiner, were for their times admirable; and the more, because they began eloquence with us. Sir Nicolas Bacon was fingular, and almost alone, in the beginning of Queen Eliza beth's time. Sir Philip Sidney, and Mr. Hooker, (in different matter) grew great masters of wit and language, and in whom all vigour of invention, and ftrength of judgment met. The Earl of Effix, noble and high; and Sir Walter Rawleigh, not to be contemned, either for judgment or ftyle; Sir Henry Savile, grave, and truly lettered; Sir Edwin Sandys, excellent in both; Lord Egerton, the chancellor, a grave and great orator; and beft, when he was provoked. But his learned and able (though unfortunate) Succeffor, is he who hath filled up all numbers, and performed that in our tongue, which may he compared, or preferred, either to infolent Greece,

or haughty Rome. In fhort, within his view," and about his times, were all the wits born, that could honour a language, or help ftudy. Now things daily fall: Wits grow downward, and Eloquence grows backward: fo that he may be named, and stand as the mark and any of our language.

I have ever obferved it to have been the office of a wife patriot, among the greatest affairs of the State, to take care of the Common-wealth of Learning. For fchools, they are the Seminaries of state; and nothing is worthier the study of a ftatefman, than that part of the Republick, which we call the Advancement of Letters. Witness the care of Julius Cæfar, who in the heat of the civil war writ his books of Analogy, and dedicated them to Tully. This made the late Lord St. Alban entitle his work, Novum Organum: which though by the moft of fuperficial men, who cannot get beyond the title of Nominals, it is not penetrated, nor understood; it really openeth all defects of learning whatsoever, and is a book,

Qui longum noto fcriptori porriget avum.

My conceit of his perfon was never increased toward him by his place, or honours: but I have, and do reverence him, for the Greatness that was only proper to himself, in that he H 2 feemed

feemed to me ever, by his work, one of the greatest men, and moft worthy of admiration, that had been in many ages. In his adverfity I ever prayed, that God would give him strength; for Greatness he could not want. Neither could I condole in a word or fyllable for him; as knowing no accident could do harm to virtue, but rather help to make it manifeft.

There cannot be one colour of the mind, another of the wit. If the mind be ftaid, grave, and compofed, the wit is fo; that vitiated, the other is blown and deflowered. Do we not fee, if the mind languish, the members are dull? Look upon an effeminate perfon; his very gate confeffeth him. If a man be fiery, his motion is fo; if angry, 'tis troubled and violent. So. that we may conclude, wherefoever manners and fashions are corrupted, language is. It imitates the publick riot. The excess of feafts. and apparel are the notes of a fick ftate; and the wantonnefs of language, of a fick mind.

Poetry and Picture, are arts of a like nature; and both are bufy about imitation. It was excellently faid of Plutarch, Poetry was a fpeaking picture, and Picture a mute poefy. For they both invent, feign, and devife many things, and accommodate all they invent to the ufe and fervice of Nature. Yet of the two, the pen is more noble than the pencil. For that can fpeak to the understanding; the other, but to the fenfe.

They

They both behold pleasure and profit, as their common object; but fhould abstain from all bafe pleasures, left they should err from their end: And while they seek to better mens minds, destroy their manners. They both are born Artificers, not made. Nature is more powerful in them than ftudy.

Whofoever loves not Picture, is injurious to truth; and all the wifdom of Poetry. Picture is the invention of Heaven; the most antient, and most a-kin to Nature. It is itself a filent work and always of one and the fame habit: Yet it doth fo enter, and penetrate the inmoft affection (being done by an excellent artificer) as fometimes it overcomes the power of speech and oratory. There are divers graces in it; fo are there in the artificers. One excels in caré, another in reason, a third in eafiness, a fourth in nature and grace. Some have diligence and comeliness; but they want majefty. They can express a human form in all the graces, fweetnefs, and elegancy; but they miss the authority. They can hit nothing but smooth cheeks; they cannot exprefs roughness or gravity. Others afpire to truth fo much, as they are rather lovers of likeness than beauty. Zeuxis and Parrhafius, are faid to be contemporaries: The firft, found out the reafon of lights and fhadows in picture: The other more fubtlely examined the lines.