Notes and Queries, Number 186, May 21, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
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Notes and Queries, Number 186, May 21, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
The edition in question, though it traces the great majority of Bacon's
quotations, has left some gleanings to its successors; and I propose now to
call attention to a few passages of the _Advancement of Learning_ which,
after the labours of the late editor, seem still to require further
elucidation. My references are to the pages of the new edition:--
P. 25. "Then grew the flowing and watery vein of Osorius the Portugal
bishop to be in price."
The editor prints _Orosius_ for _Osorius_, and adds this note:
"All the editions have _Osorius_, which, however, must be a mere
misprint. He was not a Portuguese, but a Spaniard, born at Tarragona,
nor indeed ever a bishop. He was sent by St. Augustine on a mission to
Jerusalem, and is supposed to have died in Africa in the earlier part
of the fifth century."
The text of Bacon is quite right. The allusion is not to Paulus Orosius, a
Spaniard, who flourished at the beginning of the fifth century; but to
Jerome Osorio, who was born at Lisbon in 1506, afterwards became Bishop of
Silves, and died in 1580. His works were published at Rome in 1592, in 4
vols. folio. His principal work, _De rebus Emanuelis Virtute et Auspicio
gestis_, which first appeared in 1571, was several times reprinted, and was
translated into French and English. {494}
P. 31. "Time, which is the author of authors."
In _Nov. Org._, i. 84., Time is called "Auctor auctorum, atque adeo omnis
auctoritatis."
P. 34. "But of these conceits Aristotle speaketh seriously and wisely,
when he saith, 'Qui respiciunt ad pauca de facili pronunciant."
The editor does not attempt to trace this passage. Query, If it is not in
Aristotle, where is it to be found?
P. 60. "Ulysses, 'Qui vetulam praetulit immortalitati' is a figure of
those which prefer custom and habit before all excellency."
The editor refers to _Cic. de Orat._, i. 44., where it is said that such is
the love of country,
"Ut Ithacam illam, in asperrimis saxulis, tanquam nidulum, affixam,
sapientissimus vir immortalitati anteponeret."
Another application of the saying is made by Bacon in his Essay VIII., "On
Marriage and Single Life:"
"Grave natures, led by custom, and therefore constant, are commonly
loving husbands, as was said of Ulysses, 'vetulam suam praetulit
immortalitati.'"
The passage in Cicero does not agree with the dictum quoted by Bacon, which
seems to be a reference to the _Odyssey_, v. 136. 208-10.
P. 62. "Claudus in via antevertit cursorem extra viam."
The same proverb is quoted in _Nov. Org._, i. 61.
P. 85. "Omnia mutantur, nil interit"--
from Ovid, _Met._, xv. 165.
Several passages are cited by Bacon from Seneca, which the editor does not
trace. Thus, in p. 146., it is said,--
"Nocet illis eloquentia, quibus non rerum cupiditatem facit, sed sui."
Page 147.,--
"Vere magnum habere fragilitatem hominis, securitatem Dei."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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