unwinded at large when they come to be used; supplying authorities and examples by reference.. "Formulæ are but decent and apt passages and conveyances of speech, which may serve indifferently for differing subjects; as of preface, conclusion, digression, transition, excusation, &c. For as in buildings there is great pleasure and use in the welloasting of the stair-cases, entries, doors, windows, and the like: so in speech, the conveyances and passages are of special ornament and effect." 1 Of these antitheta, a considerable collection is given in the De Augmentis by way of example. The Analogia Cæsaris contains several examples of these formula. The paper before us seems to belong rather to the former class. The sentences appear to have been written in the first instance consecutively, without any note of the subjects to which they are to be referred. The titles have been added afterwards in the margin. I distinguish them here by Italics. FORMULARIES, PROMUS. 27 Jan. 1595. Against conceyt of difficulty or impossibility. Tentantes ad Trojam pervenere Graii. Atque omnia pertentare. Abstinence and negatives. Qui in agone contendit a multis abstinet. All the comaundmts. negative save two. Curious, busy without judgm', good direction. Parerga; moventes sed nil promoventes, operosities, nil ad sumam. Claudus in via. To give the grownd in bowling. Like tempring with phisike, a good diett much better. Zeal, affectio, alacrity. Omnia possu in eo qui me confortat. Possunt quia posse vident". Exposition of not overweening but overwilling. Goddes presse; voluntaries. 1 Vol. III. p. 412. Detraction. Chester's wytt to deprave, and otherwise not wyse. Hast, impatience. In actions as in wayes the neerest yo fowlest. On the back of the sheet is written "fragments of Elegancyes." The other paper (fo. 108.) bears no date. It is a commencement of a collection of antitheta, the pro and contra being set down in opposite columns, under their proper heads. It is very fairly written in Bacon's own hand, and large blank spaces are left between the several heads, as if for further insertions; yet it seems to have been entirely rejected afterwards, for though some of the questions are handled in the collection of antitheta given in the De Augmentis, none of these sentences are introduced there, or not in the same relation. The ey is the gate of the affection, but the ear of the understanding. Upon quæstio to reward evill wth evill. Noli æmulari in malignantibus. Crowne him with coles. Nil malo qua illos similes esse sui et me mei. Cum perverso perverteris. Yow are not for this world. Upon quæstio whether a mã should speak or forbear speach. Quia tacui inveteraverunt ossa Obmutui et nō aperui os meum quoniã tu fecisti. It is goddes doing. Posui custodiam ori meo cũ consisteret peccator adver sum me. One or two other papers belonging to this bundle I may have occasion to quote hereafter, in connexion with the subjects to which they refer. But there is one which stands by itself, and though not belonging exactly to the class of "Formularies," is curious enough to be worth preserving, and may be allowed in default of a fitter place to come in here. I suppose no man was less given to play than Bacon. But the following sheet of notes (written hastily and carelessly in his own Roman hand) shows that on some occasion or other he had thought a good deal about it. In the catalogue of particular histories, which were to combine into the great Natural and Experimental History that was to serve for the foundation of Philosophy, the 123rd title is Historia Ludorum omnis generis.1 And it may be that he once thought of drawing up directions for the execution of it, or possibly even of doing a portion by way of specimen; as his manner was. Here at any rate is the plan of an elaborate treatise on the subject. PLAY.2 The syn against the holy ghost-termed in zeal by one of the fathers. Cause of oths, quarells, expence and unthriftines: ydlenes and indispositiō of the mynd to labors. 1. Vol. I. p. 410. 2 Harl. MSS. 7017. f. 110. The writing goes down to the very bottom of the first page. Art of forgetting; cause of society, acquaintance, familiarity in frends; neere and ready attendance in servants; recreatio and putting of melancholy. Putting of malas curas et cupiditates. Games of activity and passetyme; of act. of strength, quicknes; quick of ey, hand, legg, the whole moco: strength of arme; legge; of activity, of sleight. Of passetyme onely; of hazard; of play mixt. Of hazard; meere hazard; cunnyng in making ye game: Of playe; exercise of attentio: of memory: of dissimulation: of discrecō. Of many hands or of receyt: of few: of quick returne, tedious ; of præsent judgmt, of uncerten yssue. Severall playes or ideas of play. Frank play, wary play; venturous, not venturous; quick, slowe. Oversight: Dotage: Betts: Lookers on: Judgmt. Groome porter: Christmas: Inventio for hunger1(?). Oddes: stake: sett. He that folowes his losses and giveth soone over at wynnings will never gayne by play. Ludimus incauti studioque aperimur ab ipso. He that playeth not the begynnyng of a game well at tick tack and the later end at yrish shall never wynne. Frier Gilbert. Y lott; earnest in old tyme sport now, as musike out of Church to chambr. I doubt whether this is the right word; but it is more like it than any other I can think of. The writing comes up to the very edge of the paper here, and part of the word is perhaps lost it may possibly have been "hangers on." |
