A Harmony of the OF FRANCIS BACON Viscount St. Alban, Baron Verulam, etc. And after my manner, I alter ever, when I add. So 132-134] 1. Since all parties or sects challenge the pre-eminence of the first 2. That kind is altogether best, whose excellence or pre-eminence 3. That which hath a relation to truth is greater than that which 4. That which keeps a matter safe and entire is good; but what is destitute and unprovided of retreat is bad: for whereas all ability of acting is good, not to be able to withdraw one's self is 5. That which consists of more parts, and those divisible, is greater, and more one than what is made up of fewer: for all things when they are looked upon piece-meal seem greater; when also a plurality of parts more strongly if they be in no certain order; for it then resembles infinity, and hinders the compre- 6. That whose privation (or the want of which) is good, is in itself 138 8. That which a man hath procured by his own default is a greater mischief (or evil): that which is laid upon him by others is a That which is gotten by our own pains and industry is a greater good: that which comes by another man's favour, or by the in- 10. The degree of absolute privation seems greater than the degree of diminution: and again, the degree of inception (or beginning) 160 14. Of Goodness and Goodness of 128664 Iterature as well as Dress has its fashions, its varying modes of expreffing the Taste of the day. Since printed English books have been, one kind of Subject or one Style of writing, rather than all others, has been in favour both with writers and readers: just as it was confonant with the intelligence and movements, the social, political, and religious life of the Age. This Subject or Style has maintained its pre-eminence until fome change in the national life or the advent of some new ftrong writer has created intereft in a fresh topic or occafioned delight through fome new phase of expreffion. So that as time wore on, not only have books multiplied immenfely, but the Literature has vastly increased in species, classes, and kinds of writings. To quote a few late examples. In the last century, the existing style of Effay writing was initiated by Addison and Steele; English Romances of Travel were founded in De Foe's Robinson Crufoe; our earliest modern Novels were written by Richardfon, Fielding, and Goldsmith; and Dr. Johnson compiled the first of our present recognized Dictionaries. Quite recently alfo, we have seen that fungus variety of Fiction-the Senfation Novel-live its day and pafs away. To every thing there is a feason, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.' 2. Within the century fince Caxton had established the use of printing in England, there had come into vogue ALLEGORICAL VERSE in Stephen Hawes' Paftime of Pleasure, which kind of compofition had recently been revived in Spenfer's Faery Queene. Another clafs of poetry, PASTORAL VERSE, had been reprefented by Barclay's Egloges, Spenfer's Shepheardes Calender, Lodge's Phillis, Watfon's Melibaus (in English), and Barnfield's Affectionate Shepheard. The Reforming spirit fometimes had used the lash of SATIRICAL VERSE, as in Roy's Rede me and be nott wrothe, and the many unprinted Ballad Invectives and Complaints that have come down to us. Then Claffical literature had come in like a flood, and there had arifen a fchool of fevere CRITICISM in Greek, Latin, and English, including fuch scholars as Sir J. Cheke, Walter Haddon, and Roger Afcham. Then there had been the almost universal habit among Gentlemen of SONNETTING, of which no one knows the entire exifting remains. Then had arifen the fashion.of PLAYS: Comedies first, arifing out of the Miracle, Mystery, and Morality plays: afterwards Tragedy, in imitation of the Dramas of Seneca. Then had come the fashion of collecting the Sonnets and kindred verse into POETI CAL MISCELLANIES. So much poetry occafioned DISCUSSIONS AND CONTROVERSIES IN THE ART OF POETRY, begun by Gascoigne and which were destined to continue, with hardly a break, beyond the time of Dryden. Soon after came up the EUPHUISTIC OR |