I. Of Truth THE TABLE. 1625 PAGE 1 3 4 8 9 ... II. Of Death !................................ 1612; enlarged 1625 ..... 10 VI. Of Simulation and Dissimulation ............1625... XI. Of Great Place...... 1612; slightly enlarged 1625... XII. Of Boldness XIV. Of Nobility. .... 1612; rewritten 1625 XV. Of Seditions and Troubles... 1625............. 1612; slightly enlarged 1625 ... 35 XVII. Of Superstition.... 1612; slightly enlarged 1625 XVIII. Of Travel 1625 XIX. Of Empire.......... 1612; much enlarged 1625 XXIII. Of Wisdom for a Man's Self...1612; enlarged 1625... XXIV. Of Innovations 1625 XXVI. Of Seeming Wise... 1612 XXVII. Of Friendship...... 1612; rewritten 1625 XXVIII. Of Expense......... 1597; enlarged 1612; and again ....... again 1625 XXXIII. Of Plantations...... 1625...... XXXIV. Of Riches........ 1612; XXIX. Of the true Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates ...1612; enlarged 1625 XXX. Of Regimen of Health... 1597; enlarged 1612; PAGE 64 71 73 73 XXXII. Of Discourse 1597; slightly enlarged 1612; much enlarged 1625... 78 1625. 80 ...... XXXVI. Of Ambition 1612; enlarged 1625 83 XXXVII. Of Masques and Triumphs ... 1625...... XXXIX. Of Custom and Education... 1612; enlarged 1625 XLII. Of Youth and Age.. 1612; slightly enlarged 1625 1612; slightly enlarged 1625 1612; somewhat altered 1625 94 95 96 1597; much enlarged 1625... 111 LII. Of Ceremonies and Respects... 1597; enlarged 1625 LIII. Of Praise............ 1612; enlarged 1625 ......... LV. Of Honour and Reputation... 1597; omitted Of the Colours of Good and Evil............ LVI. Of Judicature ...... 1612 LVII. Of Anger............1625 LVIII. Of Vicissitude of Things...1625 A Fragment of an Essay of Fame THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE. [1597.] passe TO M. ANTHONY BACON, HIS DEARE BROTHER. LOUING and beloued brother, I do nowe like some that haue an orcharde ill-neighbored, that gather their fruit before it is ripe, to preuent stealing. These fragments of my conceites were going to print: to labour the staie of them had bin troublesome, and subject to interpretation: to let them had beene to adventure the wrong they mought receiue by untrue coppies, or by some garnishment which it mought please any one that should set them forth to bestow vpon them; therefore I held it best discreation to publish them myselfe, as they passed long agoe from my pen, without any further disgrace then the weaknesse of the author. And as I did euer hold, there mought be as great a vanitie in retiring and withdrawing men's conceites (except they bee of some nature) from the world, as in obtruding them: so in these particulars I have played myselfe the inquisitor, and find nothing to my vnderstanding in them contrarie or infectious to the state of Religion or Manners, but rather (as I suppose) medicinable. Only I disliked now to put them out, because they will bee like the late new halfe-pence, which though the siluer were good, yet the peices were small. But since they would not stay with their Master, but would needes trauaile abroade, I haue preferred them to you that are next myselfe; Dedicating them, such as they are, to our loue, in the depth whereof (I assure you) I sometimes wish your infirmities translated upon myselfe, that her Majestie mought haue the seruice of so active and able a mind; and I mought be with excuse confined to these contemplations and studies, for which I am fittest: so commend I you to the preseruation of the Diuine Majestie. From my chamber at Graies Inne, this 30th of Januarie, 1597. Your entire louing brother, FRAN. BACON. TO MY LOUING BROTHER, SIR JOHN CONSTABLE, KNIGHT. My last Essaies I dedicated to my deare brother Master Anthony Bacon, who is with God. Looking amongst my papers this vacation, I found others of the same nature: which if I myselfe shall not suffer to be lost, it seemeth the world will not; by the often printing of the former. Missing my brother, I found you next; in respect of bond, both of neare alliance, and of straight friendship and societie, and particularly of communication in studies; wherein Í must acknowledge myselfe beholding to you. For as my business found rest in my contemplations, so my contemplations ever found rest in your louing conference and judgment. So wishing you all good, I remaine HIS GRACE, LO. HIGH ADMIRAL OF ENGLAND. EXCELLENT Lo. SALOMON saies, a good name is as a precious oyntment; and I assure myselfe such will your Grace's name bee with Posteritie. For your Fortune and Merit both haue been Eminent. And you haue planted Things that are like to last. I doe now publish my Essayes; which of all my other workes, haue beene most Currant; for that, as it seemes they come home to Men's Businesse and Bosomes. I haue enlarged them both in number and weight, so that they are indeed a New Worke. I thought it, therefore, agreeable to my Affection, and Obligation to your Grace, to prefix your name before them both in English and in Latine. For I doe conceiue, that the Latine Volume of them (being in the Vniuersall Language) may last as long as Bookes last. My Instauration I dedicated to the King; my Historie of Henry the Seventh (which I haue now translated into Latine) and my Portions of Naturall History, to the Prince; and these I dedicate to your Grace; Being of the best Fruits, that, by the good Encrease which God gives to my Pen and Labours, I could yeeld. God lead your Grace by the Hand. Your Grace's most obliged and faithfull Seruant, 1625. FR. ST. ALBAN. |