Philosophy! the great and only heir Of all that human knowledge which has been Unforfeited by man’s rebellious sin, Though full of years he do appear, (Philosophy! I say, and call it He, 5 For whatsoe’er the painter’s fancy be, It a male virtue seems to me) Has still been kept in nonage till of late, Nor managed or enjoyed his vast estate. Three or four thousand years, one would have thought, 10 To ripeness and perfection might have brought A science so well bred and nursed, And of such hopeful parts, too, at the first; But oh! the guardians and the tutors then, (Some negligent, some ambitious men) 15 Would ne’er consent to set him free, Or his own natural powers to let him see, Lest that should put an end to their authority. That his own business he might quite forget, They’ amused him with the sports of wanton wit; 20 With the deserts of poetry they fed him, Instead of solid meats to’ increase his force; Instead of vigorous exercise they led him Into the pleasant labyrinths of ever-fresh discourse: Instead of carrying him to see 25 The riches which do hoarded for him lie In Nature’s endless treasury, They chose his eye to entertain (His curious, but not covetous, eye) With painted scenes and pageants of the brain. 30 Some few exalted spirits this latter age has shown, That laboured to assert the liberty (From guardians who were now usurpers grown) Of this old minor still, captived Philosophy; But ’twas rebellion called, to fight 35 For such a long-oppressèd right. Bacon, at last, a mighty man! arose, Whom a wise King and Nature chose Lord Chancellor of both their laws, And boldly undertook the injured pupil’s cause. 40