Fare of fome Savages; in the amazing Strength of Maniacks; and in the Conftancy of many in the midft of exquifite Torments. Nay, if there be any other Faculty to be found, which falls not within the former Partition, (fuch as is many Times feen in Divers, who are able to contain Respiration to a Wonder) we would have it referr'd to this Art. And that fuch Things may fometimes be done, is moft manifeft; But the Philofophy, and an dan Inquiry into the Caufes of them, is commonly neglected; for this Reafon we conceive, because Men are perfuaded that fuch Mafteries and Commands over Nature, are obtain'd only, either by a peculiar Aptnefs of fome Men, (which falls not under Rule) or from a long Cuftom, continued even from Childhood, which ufes to be commanded rather than taught. Which tho' it be not altogether true; yet to what purpose fhould we note any Deficiences in thefe Matters? For the Olympick Games are down long fince: And a Mediocrity in thefe Things is enough for Ufe: As for Excellency in them, it ferves for the moft part but for mercenary Oftentation. FOR Arts Voluptuary, the chief Deficiency in them is of Laws to reprefs them. For as it hath been well obferv'd, that while States are rifing and in their Growth, Arts Military flourish; when they are in the Height, Arts Liberal; and when they are in their Declenfion, Arts Voluptuary: So I doubt this Age of the World is fomewhat upon the Defcent of the Wheel, and inclines to Arts Voluptuary: Wherefore let us pafs them over. And thus much of the Knowledge which concerns Man's Body, which is but the Tabernacle of the Mind. CHAP. CHAP. XXI. of MEMORY. De Augmentis Scientiarum. Lib. 5. Cap. 5. W E will divide the Art of Re taining, or of the Cuftody of Knowledge, into two Doctrines : That is, the Doctrine touching the Helps of Memory; and the Doctrine touching the Memory it felf. A Help to Memory is Writing no doubt: And it must by all Means be noted, That Memory, without this Support, would be too weak for more prolix and accurate Matters. Therefore there can hardly be a Thing more useful to Memory, than a fubftantial and learned Digeft of Common Places. Yet I am not ignorant, that the referring those Things we read or learn, in to to Common Places, is reckon'd by fome as a Prejudice to Learning, as retarding the Courfe of Learning, and incouraging the Memory in Idlenefs. Nevertheless, because it is but a counterfeit Bufinefs, to be pregnant and forward in Learning, unless you are withal foI hold the lid, and every way furnish'd ģ Diligence and Pains in collecting Common Pla. ces, to be a Matter of very great Ufe and Certainty in Studying, as that which furniches Plenty to Invention; and contracts the Neverthe Eye of the Judgment to a Point. lefs it is true, that of the Methods and Syntagms of Common Places, that I have chanc'd to fee hitherto, there is none of any Worth; for that in their Titles, they carry the Face of a School rather, than of a World; making Vulgar and Pedantical Divifions, and not fuch as any way penetrate the Marrow and Pith of Things. AS for Memory it felf, That feems to have been inquired into loofely and weakly enough hitherto. An Art indeed there is extant of it: But we are certain, that there may be had both better Precepts for the confirming and encreafing Memory, than that Art comprehends and that a better Practice of that very Art may be contriv'd, than that which is receiv'd. Yet I make no doubt, but that (if -a Man has a Mind to abuse this Art to Oftentation) fome Wonderful and Prodigious Mat ters ters may be perforin'd by it: Nevertheless, for Ufe (as it is managed) it is a barren Thing. However, in the mean Time, I do not tax it with destroying, and over-charging the Natural Memory, (which is commonly objected;) but that it is not dextroufly applied, to lend Affiftance to Memory, in Business, and ferious Affairs. And this we have learn'd (it may be from our Civil Course of Life) not to value Things that make Oftentation of Art, and are of no Ufe. For to repeat inftantly a vaft Number of Names, or Words, upon once hearing, in the fame Order they were delivered; or to pour forth abundance of Verfes upon any Argument extempore; or to touch every Thing that occurs, with fome Satyrical Simile; or to turn all Things ferious into a Jeft, or to elude any Thing by a Contradiction or Cavil, and the like; (where of in the Faculties of the Mind there is a great Store; and which by Wit and Practice may be carried even to a Miracle ;) All these Things, and fuch-like, we make no more Account of, than of the Agilities and Tricks of Rope-Dancers, Tumblers, and Jugglers: For they are in a manner the fame Thing; feeing These abufe the Powers of the Body, and Those the Powers of the Mind; and perchance they may have foinewhat of Strangenefs in them, but little or no Worth. VOL. II. S AS |