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FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES 129
had to assure Bacon by oath, that he would allow a
term of twelve years to elapse after his death, before
publishing the Latin translations of the " Essays."
While basing our research-work upon the English
edition of 1625, we shall, in some instances, be obliged
to refer to the French edition of 1633 and to the Latin
work of 1638.
The very
first
Essay of the 1625 edition is one of
the new Essays of that year. It is headed " Of Truth,"
and these are the two opening sentences :
What is Truth ;
said jesting Pilate ;
And would not stay
for an Answer. Certainly there be, that delight in Giddinesse ;
And count it a Bondage, to fix a Beleefe ; Affecting Free-will
in Thinking as well as in Acting.
The modern reader will be surprised at the large
number of words printed in capitals, and not only
are nouns thus distinguished, but even the word
"Affecting" and the conjunction "And" are printed
in capitals.
Furthermore, the ear of the reader prepared by
what has been said in previous chapters will detect
the short rhyme in " Certain/j/ there be" He will
at once notice that the concluding word of the last
phrase "Acting " rhymes with " PAfecting" To doubt
the accuracy of that rhyme, to maintain that
" Affect
ing-Acting " is an impure rhyme, were to ignore the
fact that three hundred years have elapsed since the
words were penned.
We must therefore admit the fact that the first
sentences of this first
Essay contained a number of
audible rhymes, and that a pleasant rhythm runs
through the opening lines of the Essays.
We might as well draw the reader's attention to the