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第63章

beacon lights of history-iii-2-第63章

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highest regions of thought; studious and patient all his days; even

when neglected and unrewarded for the transcendent services he

rendered; not as a philosopher merely; but as a man of affairs and

as a responsible officer of the Crown。  Has there ever been; before

or since; such an anomaly in human history;so infamous in action;

so glorious in thought; such a contradiction between life and

teachings;so that many are found to utter indignant protests

against such a representation of humanity; justly feeling that such

a portrait; however much it may be admired for its brilliant

colors; and however difficult to be proved false; is nevertheless

an insult to the human understanding?  The heart of the world will

not accept the strange and singular belief that so bad a man could

confer so great a boon; especially when he seemed bent on bestowing

it during his whole life; amid the most harassing duties。  If it

accepts the boon; it will strive to do justice to the benefactor;

as he himself appealed to future ages; and if it cannot deny the

charges which have been arrayed against him;especially if it

cannot exculpate him;it will soar beyond technical proofs to take

into consideration the circumstances of the times; the temptations

of a corrupt age; and the splendid traits which can with equal

authority be adduced to set off against the mistakes and faults

which proceeded from inadvertence and weakness rather than a

debased moral sense;even as the defects and weaknesses of Cicero

are lost sight of in the acknowledged virtues of his ordinary life;

and the honest and noble services he rendered to his country and

mankind。





Bacon was a favored man; he belonged to the upper ranks of society。

His father; Sir Nicholas Bacon; was a great lawyer; and reached the

highest dignities; being Lord Keeper of the Great Seal。  His

mother's sister was the wife of William Cecil; the great Lord

Burleigh; the most able and influential of Queen Elizabeth's

ministers。  Francis Bacon was the youngest son of the Lord Keeper;

and was born in London; Jan。 22; 1561。  He had a sickly and feeble

constitution; but intellectually was a youthful prodigy; and at

nine years of age; by his gravity and knowledge; attracted the

admiring attention of the Queen; who called him her young Lord

Keeper。  At the age of ten we find him stealing away from his

companions to discover the cause of a singular echo in the brick

conduit near his father's house in the Strand。  At twelve he

entered the University of Cambridge; at fifteen he quitted it;

already disgusted with its pedantries and sophistries; at sixteen

he rebelled against the authority of Aristotle; and took up his

residence at Gray's Inn; the same year; 1576; he was sent to Paris

in the suite of Sir Amias Paulet; ambassador to the court of

France; and delighted the salons of the capital by his wit and

profound inquiries; at nineteen he returned to England; having won

golden opinions from the doctors of the French Sanhedrim; who saw

in him a second Daniel; and in 1582 he was admitted as a barrister

of Gray's Inn; and the following year composed an essay on the

Instauration of Philosophy。  Thus; at an age when young men now

leave the university; he had attacked the existing systems of

science and philosophy; proudly taking in all science and knowledge

for his realm。



About this time his father died; without leaving him; a younger

son; a competence。  Nor would his great relatives give him an

office or sinecure by which he might be supported while he sought

truth; and he was forced to plod at the law; which he never liked;

resisting the blandishments and follies by which he was surrounded;

and at intervals; when other young men of his age and rank were

seeking pleasure; he was studying Nature; science; history;

philosophy; poetry;everything; even the whole domain of truth;

and with such success that his varied attainments were rather a

hindrance to an appreciation of his merits as a lawyer and his

preferment in his profession。



In 1586 he entered parliament; sitting for Taunton; and also became

a bencher at Gray's Inn; so that at twenty…six he was in full

practice in the courts of Westminster; also a politician; speaking

on almost every question of importance which agitated the House of

Commons for twenty years; distinguished for eloquence as well as

learning; and for a manly independence which did not entirely

please the Queen; from whom all honors came。



In 1591; at the age of thirty…one; he formed the acquaintance of

Essex; about his own age; who; as the favorite of the Queen; was

regarded as the most influential man in the country。  The

acquaintance ripened into friendship; and to the solicitation of

this powerful patron; who urged the Queen to give Bacon a high

office; she is said to have replied: 〃He has indeed great wit and

much learning; but in law; my lord; he is not deeply read;〃 an

opinion perhaps put into her head by his rival Coke; who did indeed

know law but scarcely anything else; or by that class of old…

fashioned functionaries who could not conceive how a man could

master more than one thing。  We should however remember that Bacon

had not reached the age when great offices were usually conferred

in the professions; and that his efforts to be made solicitor…

general at the age of thirty…one; and even earlier; would now seem

unreasonable and importunate; whatever might be his attainments。

Disappointed in not receiving high office; he meditated a retreat

to Cambridge; but his friend Essex gave him a villa in Twickenham;

which he soon mortgaged; for he was in debt all his life; although

in receipt of sums which would have supported him in comfort and

dignity were it not for his habits of extravagance;the greatest

flaw in his character; and which was the indirect cause of his

disgrace and fall。  He was even arrested for debt when he enjoyed a

lucrative practice at the courts。  But nothing prevented him from

pursuing his literary and scientific studies; amid great

distractions;for he was both a leader at the bar and a leader of

the House of Commons; and if he did not receive the rewards to

which he felt entitled; he was always consulted by Elizabeth in

great legal difficulties。



It was not until the Queen died; and Bacon was forty…seven years

old; that he became solicitor…general (1607); in the fourth year of

the reign of James; one year after his marriage with Alice Barnham;

an alderman s daughter; 〃a handsome maiden;〃 and 〃to his liking。〃

Besides this office; which brought him L1000 a year; he about this

time had a windfall as clerk of the Star Chamber; which added L2000

to his income; at that time from all sources about L4500 a year;a

very large sum for those times; and making him really a rich man。

Six years afterward he was made attorney…general; and in the year

1617 he was made Lord Keeper; and the following year he was raised

to the highest position in the realm; next to that of Archbishop of

Canterbury; as Lord Chancellor; at the age of fifty…seven; and soon

after was created Lord Verulam。  That is his title; but the world

persists in calling him Lord Bacon。  In 1620; two years after the

execution of Sir Walter Raleigh; which Bacon advised; he was in the

zenith of his fortunes and fame; having been lately created

Viscount St。 Albans; and having published the 〃Novum Organum;〃 the

first instalment of the 〃Instauratio Magna;〃 at which he had been

working the best part of his life;some thirty years;〃A New

Logic; to judge or invent by induction; and thereby to make

philosophy and science both more true and more active。〃



Then began to gather the storms which were to wreck his fortunes。

The nation now was clamorous for reform; and Coke; the enemy of

Bacon; who was then the leader of the Reform party in the House of

Commons; stimulated the movement。  The House began its scrutiny

with the administration of justice; and Bacon could not sta

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