whether of these two worthies Policy and Morality is more beholding. I make no question therefore but this obfervation touching the parallel of their spirits, shall pass current to exceeding ages; that it will be faid of them, as in former times pronounced of Xenophon, and Plato,-Fuere Equales. And for this Book, that I humbly present to your Highness, which fo eminently expreffeth its own perfection, in me it would feem no less a vanity to give it attributes of glory and praise, than if I fhould lend fpectacles to Lynx, or an Eye to Argus Knowing it needless to waste gilding on pure gold, which is ever best valued by its own true touch and luftre. But to descend to myself, that do now lay before your princely cenfure the Tranflation of these excellent and judicious difcourses-fo barely wrapt up in my harsh English phrase, that were by the author fo richly attired in a sweet Latin ftyle; I must therein fly to the fanctuary of your gracious acceptance. In which hope fecuring my doubts, [I] do with all reverence kiss your princely hands: Remaining ever ready to approve myself

Your Highness'

Moft dutiful and devoted fervant,

ARTHUR GORGES.

The Latin Original is dedicated to Robert Cecil Earl of Salisbury, and the following addrefs to the University of Cambridge is fubjoined:

ALMA MATRI

INCLYTE

ACADEMIE CANTABRIGIENSI.

UM fine Philofophiâ me certè nec vivere juvet; meritò vos in magno honore habeo, à quibus mihi ifta vitæ præfidia et folatia fluxuerunt. Itaque hoc nomine, et me, et mea vobis debere profiteor, quo minùs mirum fit, fi vos veftris remunerem ; ut motu naturali redeant à quo traxerint originem. Et tamen nefcio quomodo, rara videntur, " Veftigia vos retrorsùm fpectantia :" Cùm infinita à vobis profecta fint. Nec nimium mihi fumam (ut opinor) fi fperem, propter rerum ufum mediocrem, quod noftrum vitæ genus, et inftitutum neceffariò traxit; nonnullam ad hominum doctorum inventa, per hæc noftra, factam effe acceffionem. Equidem in eâ opinione fum, Contemplationes in Vitam Activam tranflatas, nonnihil novi decoris et vigoris acquirere; et fuppetente uberiore materià, et magis altas

R

fortafsè radices agere, aut certè magis proceras et frondofus evadere. Neque vos (ut arbitror) ipfi noftis quàm latè pateant Veftra, quamque ad multa pertineant. Æquum eft tamen omnia vobis attribui, atque in veftrum honorem cedere, cùm Acceffiones quæque Principiis magnà ex parte debeanNeque verò ab homine occupato, aliquid exquifitum, aut otii miracula et prærogativas requiretis; fed et hoc Amori meo fummo erga vos et veftra, tribuetis ; quòd inter rerum civilium spinas, hac non prorsùs perierint, fed vobis veftra fervata fint. Valete.

tur.

Alumnus Vefter,

amantiffimus

FRA. BACONUS.

iny

HE Antiquities of the first Age (except thofe we find in Sacred Writ) were buried in Oblivion and Silence: Silence was fucceeded by Poetical Fables; and Fables again were followed by the Records we now enjoy. So that the Myfteries and Secrets of Antiquity were diftinguished and feparated from the Records and Evidences of fucceeding Times by the Veil of Fiction, which interpofed itself, and came between thofe Things which Perifhed, and thofe which are Extant. I fuppofe fome I fuppofe fome are of Opinion that Purpofe is to write Toys and Trifles, and to ufurp the fame Liberty in applying, that the Poets affumed in feigning, which I might do (I confess) if I lifted, and with more ferious Contemplation intermix thefe Things to delight either myself in Meditation, or others in Reading. Neither am I ignorant how Fickle and Inconftant a Thing Fiction is, as being fubject to be drawn and wrested any way, and how great the commodity of Wit and Difcourfe is, that is able to apply Things well, yet fo as never meant by the first Authors. But I remember that this Liberty hath

been lately much abused, in that many, to purchase the Reverence of Antiquity to their own Inventions and Fancies, have for the fame Intent laboured to wrest many Poetical Fables. Neither hath this old and common Vanity been used only of late or now and then: for even Chryfippus long ago did (as an Interpreter of Dreams) afcribe the Opinions of the Stoicks to the Ancient Poets; and more fottifhly do the Chymicks1 appropriate the Fancies and Delights of Poets in the Transformation of Bodies, to the Experiments of their Furnace. All these Things, I fay, I have fufficiently confidered and weighed, and in them have feen and noted the general Levity and Indulgence of Men's Wits about Allegories; and yet for all this I relinquifh not my Opinion.

For firft, it may not be that the Folly and Loofenefs of a few should altogether detract from the refpect due to the Parables: for that were a Conceit which might favour of Profaneness and Presumption for Religion itself doth fometimes delight in fuch Veils and Shadows: So that who fo Exempts them, feems in a manner to interdict all Commerce between Things Divine and Human. But concerning Human Wisdom, I do indeed ingenuously and freely confefs that I am inclined to imagine, that under fome of the Ancient Fictions lay couched certain Myfteries and Allegories, even from their first Invention. And I am perfuaded (whether ravished with the Reverence of Antiquity, or because in fome Fables I find fuch fingular Proportion between the Similitude and the Thing fignified; and fuch apt

1i. e. The Alchymifts.