Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

It may, perhaps, seem more extraordinary that in the edition of 1753, which has been followed by

Under Philosophy-Speaking of the advancement of universal justice or the laws of laws, he says, "I propose, if God give me leave, having begun a work of this nature in aphorisms, to propound it hereafter, noting it in the mean time for deficient." In the treatise De Augmentis, considerable progress is made in this projected work, in forty-seven distinct axioms, of which the following is a specimen : Antequam vero ad corpus ipsum legum particularium deveni"amus; perstringemus pancis virtutes et dignitates legum in genere. "Lex bona censeri possit quæ sit intimatione certa, præcepto justa, "executione commoda; cum forma politiæ congrua et generans "virtutem in subditis."

66

In Archbishop Tenison's Baconiana, the progress of this work, and the difference between the De Augmentis and the Advancement is explained. In the conclusion of his observations, he says, "I have "seen a letter, written by certain gentlemen to Dr. Rawley, wherein "they thus importune him for a more accurate version, by his own "hand:-'It is our humble suite to you, and we earnestly solicit you,

[ocr errors]

to give yourself the trouble, to correct the too much defective ""translation of De Augmentis Scientiarum, which Dr. Wats hath set forth. It is a thousand pities, that so worthy a piece should lose its grace and credit by an ill expositor; since those persons, ""who read that translation, taking it for genuine, and upon that presumption not regarding the Latine edition, are thereby robbed "' of that benefit which (if you would please to undertake the busi"'ness) they might receive. This tendeth to the dishonour of that "'noble Lord, and the hindrance of the Advancement of Learning." Of the correctness or incorrectness of these observations, some estimate may be formed from the following specimens.

The Instauratio Magna thus begins:

FRANCISCUS DE VERULAMIO

Translation by Wats.

SIC COGITAVIT.

FRANCIS Lord VERULAM
CONSULTED THUS.

Another Specimen - Advancement of Learning.

We see in all other pleasures there is satiety, and after they be used, their verdure departeth; which sheweth well they be but deceits of pleasure, and not pleasures; and that it was the novelty which pleased, and not the quality; and therefore we see that voluptuous men turn friars, and ambitious men turn melancholy; but

the subsequent editions, the Editor has without any authority, ventured to alter the whole of Lord Bacon's own arrangement of the third and fourth parts of the Instauration. (b)

of knowledge there is no satiety, but satisfaction and appetite, are perpetually interchangeable; and therefore appeareth to be good in itself simply, without fallacy or accident.

Wats's Translation.

In all other pleasures there is a finite variety, and after they grow a little stale, their flower and verdure fades, and departs; whereby we are instructed that they were not indeed pure and sincere pleasures, but shadows and deceits of pleasures; and that it was the novelty which pleased, and not the quality; wherefore, voluptuous men often turn friars, and the declining age of ambitious princes is commonly more sad and besieged with melancholy; but of knowledge there is no satiety, but vicissitude, perpetually and interchangeably returning, of fruition and appetite; so that the good of this delight must needs be simpler, without accident or fallacy.

(b) This will appear by a reference to the following treatises :Historia Ventorum. Historia Densi et Rari. -Historia Gravis et Levis.-Historia Sympathiæ et Antipathie.-Historia Sulphuris, Mercuriæ et Salis. - Historia Vitæ et Mortis.

These different treatises in all the editions previous to the edition of 1753, are sections of the third part of the Instauratio: and the fourth section is only a fragment. In the editions of 1753, and 1778, and 1803, and 1819, they form sections of the fourth part, which appears to be a complete work.

The question is, which arrangement is correct?

In the year 1623, Lord Bacon published his History of Life and Death; the title is, Historia Vitæ et Mortis Sive Titulus Secundus in Historia Naturali Experimentali ad condendam Philosophiam Quæ est Instaurationis Magnæ pars Tertia.

In the year 1679, Archbishop Tenison, who was intimate with Dr. Rawley, Lord Bacon's first and last chaplain as he always describes himself, published his Baconiana, in which there is an outline of the Instauration. He arranges all these sections according to the arrangement of Lord Bacon, and of the "History of Life and Death," he says, this is the sixth section of the third part of the Instauration. This work, though ranked last amongst the six monthly designations, yet was set forth in the second place. His Lordship, as he saith, inverting the order, in respect of the prime use of this argument, in which the least loss of time was by him esteemed very precious; and as to "the fourth part of the Instauration, it passed not beyond the model in the head of the noble author."

In the year 1733, an English edition of the Philosophical Works was published by Dr. Shaw, a great admirer of the philosophy of Lord Bacon, and intimately acquainted with his writings. This edition does not contain the whole works of Lord BaconIt does not contain any of the Latin Philosophical Works, although the preface says, "there has been a difference of opinion as to the merits of Lord Bacon, principally owing to this, that in this country we read only the English, and foreigners only the Latin Works of the Author." - It does not even profess to contain correct translations. The translations are not good of those parts which are attempted to be translated; and the arrangement and titles of various parts are not the works of Lord Bacon, but fancied improvements by the editor (c) Upon the haste in which the octavo edition was printed, it is unnecessary to make any observation.

(c) Dr. Shaw's Preface.

The method observed in thus rendering them into English, is not that of a direct translation; but a kind of open version, &c.

The liberty sometimes taken, not of abridging (for just and perfect writings are incapable of abridgınent,) but of dropping or leaving out some part of the author's writings, may require greater excuse. But this was done to shorten the works, &c.

I subjoin the following specimen of translations :

Advancement of Learning.

The honest and just bounds of observation, by one person upon another, extend no farther but to understand him sufficiently, whereby not to give him offence, or whereby to be able to give him faithful counsel, or whereby to stand upon reasonable guard and caution in respect of a man's self; but to be speculative into another man, to the end to know how to work him, or wind him, or govern him, proceedeth from a heart that is double and cloven, and not entire and inge

nuous.

Dr. Shaw's Translation.

The honest and just limits of observation in one person upon another, extend no farther than to understand him sufficiently so as to give him no offence, or to be able to counsel him or to stand upon reasonable guard and caution with respect to a man's self: but to pry deep into another man, to learn to work, wind, or govern him, proceeds from a double heart.

With the hope to remedy these defects; to rectify the arrangement, and to supply a translation of the whole Instauration, this prospectus is most respectfully submitted to public consideration. " Men," says Lord Bacon, " have entered into a desire of " learning and knowledge, sometimes upon a natu"ral curiosity, and inquisitive appetite: sometimes " to entertain their minds with variety and delight : " sometimes for ornament and reputation: and some" times to enable them to victory of wit and contra"diction; and most times for lucre and profession; " and seldom sincerely to give a true account of their "gift of reason to the benefit and use of man: as if

Specimens of Dr. Shaw's Variation, from Lord Bacon's arrangement and Titles.

The Essays by Dr. Shaw are without any of the dedications; are not the English of Lord Bacon, and are arranged into-1. Moral2. Economical-and 3. Political: which arrangement is not by Lord Bacon, but by Dr. Shaw.

The treatise "De Augmentis," instead of being divided according to Lord Bacon's division into nine books, is divided into twentynine sections, with a title to each section.

Dr. Shaw has divided the Novum Organum into sections. Without enquiring whether the work is or is not susceptible of this division, it is sufficient to say that it is the division of Dr. Shaw, and not of Lord Bacon. It may, perhaps, be worth observing, that in a small 12mo, edition, which was published in 1818, the editor has followed the division of Dr. Shaw, without a continuation of the numbers of Lord Bacon's Aphorisms This will appear by referring to page 13 and 39.

The following are instances of altered titles :

[blocks in formation]

"there were sought in knowledge a couch whereupon to rest a searching and restless spirit; or a " terras for a wandering and variable mind to walk

[ocr errors]

up and down with a fair prospect; or a tower of " state for a proud mind to raise itself upon; ora "fort or commanding ground, for strife and conten"tion; or a shop for profit or sale; and not a rich "store-house for the glory of the Creator, and the " relief of man's estate. But this is that which will " indeed dignify and exalt knowledge, if contempla"tion and action may be more nearly and straightly

[ocr errors]

conjoined and united together than they have been: a conjunction like unto that of the two highest "planets, Saturn, the planet of rest and contemplantion; and Jupiter, the planet of civil society " and action: howbeit, I do not mean, when I speak " of use and action, that end before mentioned of the

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

applying knowledge to lucre and profession: for "I am not ignorant how much that diverteth and " interrupteth the prosecution and advancement of "knowledge, like unto the golden ball thrown before "Atalanta, which, while she goeth aside and stoopeth " to take it up, the race is hindered:

"Declinat cursus, aurumque volubile tollit."

These volumes are not published from the hope of pecuniary gain, but, with a certainty of great expense to the editor, from a desire to complete an edition of Lord Bacon's works worthy of the age in which we live, a desire in which the Editor trusts that the friends of literature will participate, and particularly the admirers of him who left "his name and memory to men's charitable speeches, to foreign nations and the next ages."

« VorigeDoorgaan »