Discoveries.

 
Dominus
Veru-
lanus.
    One, though hee be excellent, and the chief, is not to bee imitated alone. For never no Imitator, ever grew up to his Author; likenesse is alwayes on this side Truth : Yet there hapn'd, in my time, one noble Speaker, who was full of gravity in his speaking. His language, (where hee could spare, or passe by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man ever spake more neatly, more presly, more weightily, or suffer'd lesse emptinesse, lesse idlenesse, in what hee utter'd. No member of his speech, but consisted of the owne graces : His hearers could not cough, or looke aside from him, without losse. Hee commanded where hee spoke ; and had his Judges angry, and pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections more in his power. The feare of every man that heard him, was, lest hee should make an end.
Scriptorum
Catalogus.

...
    Cicero is said to bee the only wit, that the people of Rome had equall'd to their Empire. Ingenium par imperio. We have had many, and in their severall Ages, (to take in but the former Seculum.) Sir Thomas Moore, the elder Wait; Henry , Earle of Surrey; Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, B. Gardiner, were for their times admirable : and the more, because they began Eloquence with us. Sir Nico: Bacon, was singular, and almost alone, in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths times. Sir Philip Sidney, and Mr. Hooker (in different matter) grew great Masters of wit, and language ; and in whom all vigour of Invention, and strength of judgement met. The Earle of Essex, noble and high ; and Sir Walter Rawleigh, not to be contemn'd, either for judgement, or stile. Sir Henry Savile grave, and truly letter'd ; Sir Edwin Sandes, excellent in both : Lo: Edgerton, and the Chancellor, a grave, and great Orator ; and best, when hee was provok'd. But his learned, and able (though unfortunate) Successor is he, who hath fill'd up all numbers ; and perform'd that in our tongue, which may be compar'd, or preferr'd, either to insolent Greece, or haughty Rome. In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits borne, that could honour a language, or helpe study. Now things daily fall : wits grow downe-ward, and Eloquence growes back-ward : So that hee may be nam'd, and stand as the marke, and [acme] of our language.
Augmentis
scientiarum.

Iulius
Caesar.
Lord S. Al-
bane.

    I have ever observ'd it, to have been the office of a wise Patriot, among the greatest affaires of State, to take care of the Common-wealth of Learning. For Schooles, they are the Seminaries of State : and nothing is worthier the study of a States-man, then that part of the Republicke, which wee call the advancement of Letters. Witnesse the care of Iulius Caesar; who, in the heat of the civill warre, writ his bookes of Analogie, and dedicated them to Tully. This made the late Lord S. Albane entitle his worke, nouum Organum. Which though by the most of superficiall 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 Booke,

Horat: de
art: Poetica.
Qui longum noto scriptori porriget aevum.

    My conceit of his Person was never increased toward him, by his place, or honours. But I have, and doe reverence him for the greatnesse, that was onely proper to himselfe, in that hee seem'd to mee ever, by his worke, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of admiration, that had beene in many Ages. In his adversity I ever prayed, that God would give him strength : for Greatnesse hee could not want. Neither could I condole in a word, or syllable for him ; as knowing no Accident could doe harme to vertue ; but rather helpe to make it manifest.
[@ Jonson, Timber: or, Discoveries (Herford 590-2)]
 


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