visionary, if instead of a rational belief in the testimony of Shakespeare's co-labourers, we are to assume the mythical and miraculous theory of the Baconians.

My object is to present Bacon by his own writings, by his biographers, his acts and his critics; to suggest the conclusions and impressions that these authorities and evidences convey to the mind, and to invite those interested, to an examination of the same data.

The extracts which I have made, and the facts which I have exposed, represent him fairly. He was a man of limited fancy, earthly taste, mechanical imagination, material sense and selfish purpose.

These are not the qualities that anyone attributes to Shakespeare, or that are betrayed in any of his works.

CHAPTER IV.

Bacon as a "soaring angel "—Advice to the person who has incurred the displeasure of his prince-Thrift that follows fawning-Extracts from various essays-Essay on the True Greatness of KingdomsHis attitude toward the civilization of his time.

WHILE

HILE Macaulay heaps every reproach that language permits upon Bacon's character and conduct, he credits him with very different qualities as a student. He says, "The difference between the soaring angel and the creeping snake was but a type of the difference between Bacon the philosopher and Bacon the attorney-general,-Bacon seeking truth and Bacon seeking the seals. Those who survey only one half of his character may speak of him with unmixed admiration or unmixed contempt. In his library all his rare powers were under the guidance of an honest ambition, of an enlarged philanthropy, of a sincere love of truth." I have copied this because I think it unjust to cite that which is so scathing and to omit what qualifies it on the other side.

I

If it is true that Bacon's writings were so pure, while his acts were deserving of "unmixed contempt," then some of the assertions here made may do him injustice. would not presume to dispute the judgment of the great essayist, but I may produce some of these writings in evidence of conclusions not at all in agreement with this idea. One cannot believe in such a dual nature, and cannot understand how a man's out-of-door exploits can be so vile while his studies are so angelic, as naturally the latter is the preparation for the former.

In Bacon's Advancement of Learning there is an article upon the way in which a man should act who wishes to regain the favour of his superior, which follows so closely some of Macaulay's descriptions of his servility as to furnish an instance of what is here meant.

"If the displeasure of great men rise up against thee, forsake not thy place; for pliant behaviour extenuates great offences' (Prov. 29: 11).

"This aphorism shows how a person ought to behave when he has incurred the displeasure of his prince. The precept hath two parts

(1) that the person quit not his post, and (2) that he with diligence and caution apply to the cure as of a dangerous disease. For when men see their prince incensed against them, what through impatience of disgrace, fear of renewing the wound by sight, and partly to let their prince behold their contrition and humiliation, it is usual for them to retire from their office or employ, and sometimes to resign their places and dignities into their prince's hands. But Solomon disparages this method as pernicious. For (1) it publisheth the disgrace too much ; whence both our enemies and enviers are more emboldened to hurt us, and our friends the more intimidated from lending us their assistance. (2) By this means the anger of the prince, which perhaps would have blown over of itself had it not been made public, becomes more fixed; and having now begun to displease the person, ends not but in his downfall. (3) The resigning carries something of ill will with it, and shows a dislike of the times, which adds the evil of indignation to that of suspicion. The following remedies regard the cure: (1) Let him above all things beware how by any insensibility or elation of mind he seems re

gardless of his prince's displeasure or not affected as he ought. He should not compose his countenance to a stubborn melancholy, but to a grave and decent dejection; and show himself in all actions less brisk and cheerful than usual. It may also be for his advantage to use the assistance and mediation of a friend with the prince, seasonably to insinuate with how great a sense of grief the person in disgrace is inwardly affected. (2) Let him carefully avoid even the least occasions of reviving the thing which caused the displeasure, or of giving any handle to fresh distaste and open rebuke. (3) Let him diligently seek all occasions wherein his service may be acceptable to his prince, that he may both show a ready desire of retrieving his past offence, and his prince perceive what a servant he must lose if he quit him. (4) Either let him prudently transfer the blame upon others, or insinuate that the offence was committed with no evil desire, or show that their malice who accused him to the prince aggravated the thing above measure. (5) Lastly, let him in every respect be watchful and intent upon the cure."

It is impossible to read this article and make

t