download PDF version: 47.1MB - Global Grey

FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES 147
Perfidious or Neglecting Friends." But the Latin ver
sion it is that emphasises the thought which Bacon had
"
in his mind :
Magnus Dux Florentiae Cosmus, acutissimum
telumvibravit in Amicos perfidos, aut incuriosos "
(The great Cosimo, Duke of Florence, hurled (shook) a
very sharp spear (dart) at faithless or neglectful friends).
The next Essay, also new in 1625, is of the greatest
importance in many respects. In it Bacon uses Latin
quotations more freely and more boldly than any
where else. He changes the plain prose of an old
Roman into profusely rhymed modern Latin verse.
He also points in direct words to what he has done.
And he writes vexing-rhymes and draws attention to
them. And the facts which those vexing-rhymes
reveal to us, constitute one of his chief confessions.
And how does all this come about ? First, let us see
what the Essay says. It begins with the following words
Of Adversitie.
IT was a high speech of Seneca, (after the manner of the
Stoickes) That the good things, which belong to Prosperity,
are to be wished ;
but the good things, that belong to Adversity,
are to be admired. Bona Rerum Secundarum, Optabilia;
Adversarum, Mirabilia. Certainly if Miracles, be the Com
mand over Nature, they appeare most in Adversity. It is yet
a higher speech of his, then the other, (much too high for a
Heathen)
It is true greatnesse, to have in one, the Frailty of
a Man, and the Security of a God. Vere magnum, habere
Fragilitatem Hominis, Securitatem Dei. This would have done
better in Poesy where Transcendences
;
are more allowed.
The above sentences clearly contain two quotations
from Seneca, both of which are treated alike in that
the English rendering precedes the Latin words them
selves. The Latin words, did we say
? Are those
really Seneca's words ?