Introductory Note
Ben Jonson, after Shakespeare the most eminent writer for the Elizabethan stage,
was born in 1573, and died in 1635. He was the founder of the so-called "Comedy of
Humours," and throughout the reign of James I was the dominating personality in
English letters. A large number of the younger writers were proud to confess themselves
his "sons." Besides dramas of a variety of kinds, Jonson wrote much lyrical
poetry, some of it of the most exquisite quality. His chief prose work appears in his
posthumously published "Explorata, Timber or Discoveries, made upon men and
matter", a kind of commonplace book, in which he seems to have entered quotations and
translations from his reading, as well as original observations of a miscellaneous
character on men and books. The volume has little or no structure or arrangement, but is
impressed everywhere with the stamp of his vigorous personality. The following passage on
Bacon is notable as a personal estimate of this giant by the man who, perhaps, approached
him in the field of intellect more closely than any other contemporary.
Dominus Verulamius1
[Footnote 1: Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam.]
One, though he be excellent and the chief, is not to be imitated alone; for never no
imitator ever grew up to his author; likeness is always on this side truth. Yet there
happened in my time one noble speaker who was full of gravity in his speaking; his
language, where he could spare or pass by a jest, was nobly censorious.1 No man
ever spake more neatly, more presly,2 more weightily, or suffered less
emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech but consisted of his
own graces. His hearers could not cough, or look aside from him, without loss. He
commanded where he spoke, and had his judges angry and pleased at his devotion.3
No man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was
lest he should make an end.
[Footnote 1: Severe.]
[Footnote 2: Concisely.]
[Footnote 3: Choice, disposal.]
Scriptorum catalogus.4 - Cicero is said to be the only wit that the people
of Rome had equalled to their empire. Ingenium par imperio. We have had many, and in their
several ages (to take in but the former seculum5) Sir Thomas More, the elder
Wyatt, Henry Earl of Surrey, Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, B[ishop] Gardiner, were for their
times admirable; and the more, because they began eloquence with us. Sir Nico[las] Bacon
was singular, and almost alone, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's times. Sir Philip
Sidney and Mr. Hooker (in different matter) grew great masters of wit and language, and in
whom all vigor of invention and strength of judgment met. The Earl of Essex, noble and
high; and Sir Walter Raleigh, not to be contemned, either for judgment or style; Sir Henry
Savile, grave, and truly lettered; Sir Edwin Sandys, excellent in both; Lo[rd] Egerton,
the Chancellor, a grave and great orator, and best when he was provoked; but his learned
and able, though unfortunate, successor6 is he who hath filled up all numbers,
and performed that in our tongue which may be compared or preferred either to insolent
Greece or haughty Rome. In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits
born that could honor a language or help study. Now things daily fall, wits grow downward,
and eloquence grows backward; so that he may be named and stand as the mark and
"akun"7 of our language.
[Footnote 4: Catalogue of writers.]
[Footnote 5: Century.]
[Footnote 6: Bacon.]
[Footnote 7: Acme.]
De augmentis scientiarum.8 - I have ever observed it to have been the office
of a wise patriot, among the greatest affairs of the State, to take care of the
commonwealth of learning. For schools, they are the seminaries of State; and nothing is
worthier the study of a statesman than that part of the republic which we call the
advancement of letters. Witness the care of Julius Caesar, who, in the heat of the civil
war, writ his books of Analogy, and dedicated them to Tully. This made the late Lord
S[aint] Alban9 entitle his work Novum Organum; which, though by the most of
superficial men, who cannot get beyond the title of nominals,10 it is not
penetrated nor understood, it really openeth all defects of learning whatsoever, and is a
book
[Footnote 8: Concerning the advancement of the sciences.]
[Footnote 9: Bacon.]
[Footnote 10: Names of things.]
Qui longum noto scriptori porriget aevum.11
[Footnote 11: "Which extends to the famous author a long future." - Horace,
Ars. Poet., 346.]
My conceit of his person was never increased toward him by his place or honors. But I
have and do reverence him for the greatness that was only proper to himself, in that he
seemed to me ever, by his work, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of admiration,
that had been in many ages. In his adversity I ever prayed that God would give him
strength; for greatness he could not want. Neither could I condole in a word or syllable
for him, as knowing no accident could do harm to virtue, but rather help to make it
manifest.
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