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152 FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES
needs reveal something similar, i.e., it must contain a
play on words. And so it actually does. We have
before us two long lines in English and two in Latin,
which mean almost the same thing, and which we are
supposed to treat in the same manner suggested by
the words of monition :
" This would have done better
in Poesy " :
That the good things, which belong to
Prosperity, are to
be wished ;
but the good things, that belong to Adversity,
admired,
Bona Rerum Secundarum, Optabilia ;
Adversarum, Mirabilia.
are to be
The English lines are rhymed throughout, i.e, t
almost the same words are repeated, only the final
rhyme is wanting. But this were easily remedied, if
we remember and do what " Adversitie" tells us to
do, i.e., if we substitute the word required here,
namely, " fished " for " admired." And if we accord
ingly substitute the word " Captabilia " (catchable,
fishable) which, however drolly formed, is, I feel
sure, the right word, in place of the Latin " Mirabilia,"
the sense of the Latin will also correspond to that of
the English words, while the rhyme is rendered fuller,
and quite in keeping with the character of such as our
ear has become familiar with.
The solution,
through translation of both passages
into rhymed " Poesy" written in long lines, would be
the following verses :
That the good things, which belong to Prosper//)/, are to be
wished;
but the good things, that belong to AdversiVy,
fished. (!).
are to be