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224 FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES
(3) The two final sentences in the German editions
(known to Mr. Spedding through the French book, but
incorrectly quoted in his modern " Complete edition ") :
Neque est, quod ullam ei post remotionem, familiaris rei
tenuitatem, quis objicere velit. Constat enim, post hanc, nihil
quicquam horum, quae ad status magnificentiam fecissent, illi
defuisse, sed ita nihilominus vixisse, ut Jovi ipsi de felicitate controversiam
facere velle visus fuerit, Virtutis omnis, Pietatis, Humanitatis,
Patientiae imprimis Exemplum maxime memorabile.
We reproduce the English translations :
(1) But what though his body be mortal, doubtless, his
memory and his works will live, and, in all probability, not
perish until all the theatrical machinery of this globe be
dissolved.
(2) But there were also those who by
all kinds of malevo
lent prosecution, sought, though in vain, to stigmatise the
name of the great hero. For, albeit he had been disposed
of office by the King and by Parliament, this was done from
no other cause than jealousy which was the motive. He
personally consoled himself with those words of the
Scripture: "There is nothing new!" Truly, he shared
the fate of Cicero at the hands of Octavian, of Callisthenes
of whom
at the hands of Alexander, of Seneca under Nero,
history relates that they were banished or put to death or
cast to the lions. However that may be, as such great men
are above all fate, and as their masters usually repent their
deeds later on, so we also know that whenever a particularly
difficult and complicated matter presented itself, King James
is said to have exclaimed : Would my Bacon, my former
Chancellor, had remained with me, how easily
I would
now extricate myself.
(3) Nor is there anybody, who, after his resignation, could
reproach him in any way in private affairs. For it has been
proved that afterwards naught of that was wanting which
had contributed towards the grandeur of his position, but
that, in spite of all, he lived so, that it seemed as though he
would enter into an argument on Fate with Jove himself,
an example of virtue, piety, love of humanity and patience.