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FRANCISCVS BACON BARO DE VERVLAM sti. ALB. VIC

SEV NOTIORIBVS TITVLIS

SCIENTIARVM LVMEN FACVNDIE LEX

SIC SEDEBAT.

QVI POSTQVAM OMNIA NATVRALIS SAPIENTIÆ

ET CIVILIS ARCANA EVOLVISSET

NATVRE DECRETVM EXPLEVIT

COMPOSITA SOLVANTVR

ANO DNI. M.DC.XXVI.

ETATS: LXVI.

TANTI VIRI

MEM:

THOMAS MEAVTYS

SVPERSTITIS CVLTOR

DEFVNCTI ADMIRATOR

H.P

PREFACE BY LORD BACON.

JULIUS CAESAR did write a collection of apophthegms,

as appear in an epistle of Cicero; so did Macrobius a consular man. I need say no more for the worth of a writing of that nature. It is pity Cæsar's book is lost: for I imagine they were collected with judgment and choice; whereas that of Plutarch and Stobæus, and much more the modern ones, draw much of the dregs. Certainly they are of excellent use. They are mucrones verborum, pointed speeches. "The words of the wise are as goads," saith Solomon. Cicero prettily calleth them salinas, salt-pits, that you may extract salt out of, and sprinkle it where you will. They serve to be interlaced in continued speech. They serve to be recited upon occasion of themselves. They serve if you take out the kernel of them, and make them your own. I have for my recreation among more serious studies, collected some few of them:* therein fanning the old, not omitting any, because they are vulgar, (for many vulgar ones are excellent good;) nor for the meanness of the person, but because they are dull and flat; and adding many new, that otherwise would have died.

*This collection his lordship made out of his memory, without turning to any book.

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