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FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES 193
exacted by the Royal Court in those days. We
would quote but one sentence conveying
idea as a passage we met with in the first
Essay :
the same
The Colours, that shew best by Candlelight, are ; White,
Carnation, and a Kinde of Sea-Water-Greene.
On the one hand, this short sentence shows us what
care and thought was bestowed upon the lighting and
blending of colours on the English Court Stage (only
the public theatre performed its plays in the open air
and in daylight)
; while, on the other hand, the word
ing of the above passage clearly proves that we were
not wrong in stating that the word " Candlelights "
(Taedae, Lucernaeque nocturnae),
contained in the
passage written in praise of theatrical art (Essay i),
referred to the lighting of the stage. In the one case,
the idea is
expressed that Masques show best in
as the diamond shows best in varied
Candlelight,
lights ; in the other, the colours are named which
show best in candlelight on the stage
:
Masques . . . Candlelights
varied lights.
. . . sheweth best in
1st Essay.
Of Masques
. . . The Colours, that shew best by
Candlelight.
37th Essay.
The next Essay, " Of Nature in Men," was already
contained in the 1612 edition. Most of it is
rhymed.
We would, however, only quote the passage added in
1625, as it contains an independent, a separate idea,
perfect in itself, and cast in a special form of verse :
farre ;
But let not a Man trust his Victorie over his Nature too
For Nature will lay buried a great Time, and yet revive,
upon the Occasion or Temptation.
Like as it was with Aesopes
Damosell, turned from a Catt to a Woman ;
who sate very
demurely, at the Boards End,
till a Mouse ranne before her.
N