Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

AND HIS SECRET SOCIETY. 255
days. Let them think that even with regard to the Shakespeare
plays only these little-read scientific works of Bacon are
invaluable, explaining or elucidating, as they so often do, the
meaning or original idea of obscure passages, and often enabling
the commentator to trace the thought to some author of
antiquity, or to some observation drawn from " nature's infinite
book of secresy," in which, says the poet, "a little I can
read.
The last scene in The Tempest shows us the philosopher
returning from the " recreative " writing, which relieved the
overflowing of a full brain, to the graver labours aud contemplations
which drew Bacon to the retirement of his " full
poor cell." Play-time was over, and "these things are but
toys.
" Our revels now are ended. These onr actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thiu air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces.
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stafr
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vex'd;
Bear with my weakness ; my old brain is troubled;
Be not disturb'd with my infirmity:
If you be pleased, retire into my cell
And there repose: a turn or two I'll wait,
To still my beating mind,"