946. Erasmus, and a few Italian Proverbs 99. Erasmus''Ad.'-Of Work, how to undertake it-Stum- bling-Hooking-Persevering-Oracles-Omens. 996. Erasmus' 'Ad.'-Of Vain Hopes, Vain Labour, &c.- 100. Erasmus' 'Ad.'-Of Versatility-Chameleon-Proteus- - 100b, 101. Erasmus' Ad.'-Cream of Nectar-Charon's Fare-The 101b, 102. French and Italian Proverbs 103, 104. English Proverbs from Heywood, and Erasmus' 'Ad.' 1046. Quotations from Virgil's En.' and Ovid's Ars. Am.' on the Art of Poetry - Sounds-Style-Difficulties - Words well weighed-Iteration-Great Things and Small-Alternate Verses-Shrubs and Trees-Gabbling like a Goose-Truth in Jest-Business-Play-Servile 105. Quotations from Horace's 'Sat.'-A few (Ovid) on Ridi- 1056. Virgil's En.'-Fury- Dying for one's Country-Fate- Degenerate Fear-Fame-Lovers-Women furious- 106. Hope in Ourselves-Chances of War-Feigned Tears- -Fear is cruel, &c. 108. Upon Impatience of Audience-Upon question to Reward 110. Play-Expense-Idleness Society-Friends-Servants- Recreation-Games of Activity, of Skill, of Hazard Forms of Morning and Evening Salutation-Notes on 114. Formularies, January 27, 1595-Of Possibilities and Im- 'Colours of Good and Evil... 1186. Colours of Good and Evil'-The Future-The Past- 1176. Col. G. and E.'-Excuses-Too much, too little. 118. Miscellaneous Entries; some on Hope, Imagination, Fear; 122. Virgil and other Latin sentences-What our Enemies wish -Treacherous Gifts Desire for Battle - Treachery- Blame-Praise-Second Husband-Neutrality early-Erring with Danger to One's Self-Keeping a Retreat Human Accidents-Privation-Satiety-Means to the End-Meeting or Avoiding Labour-Fruition- 123. 'Col. G. and E.'-Of Praise-Qualities-Virtues--Race 1236. Col. G. and E.'-Latin sentences--Of the Bent of Nature-- Ignoble Minds-The Greater contains the Less-Great Desires-Prudent Choice-Creation and Preservation- Consequences Types Surpassing Things Desirable 124. Col. G. and E.'-Of Hidden Things-Experience-No Re- B. English Proverbs in Heywood's 'Epigrams' and in the Plays 517 C. French Proverbs alluded to in the Plays but not in the 'Promus' 523 FRANCIS BACON'S 'PROMUS' ILLUSTRATED BY PASSAGES FROM SHAKESPEARE. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. THE following pages contain a transcript of some notes made by Sir Francis Bacon about the years 1594 to 1596 (some, perhaps, earlier) which are preserved in the British Museum, but have not hitherto been deemed worthy of publication in a complete form. These MSS. form part of the Harleian Collection, in which they are catalogued, but without any further description, as Formularies and Elegancies (No. 7,017). They consist of fifty sheets or folios, numbered from 83 to 132.1 Some of these folios are headed with descriptive titles -Promus, Formularies, Analogia Cæsaris, &c., but most of them bear neither title nor date, in consequence of which it is not easy to decide upon the exact period at which this collection was commenced or ended. Unfortunately, there is no record of whence Lord Harley had the MSS. 7,017, for his secretary, Mr. Wanley, seems to have died before he had completed more than two-thirds of his descriptive catalogue; but there is no doubt that the notes are (with the exception of a collection of French proverbs which conclude the series) in Bacon's well 'The numbering of the Harleian Collection has been retained in the present arrangement, which accordingly begins at folio 83. Many of the sheets are covered with notes on both sides. B |