Hecontinuedtopleadhispatron’scausewiththeQueenaslongashethoughtthatbypleadingthatcausehemightservehimself。Nay，hewentfurther;forhisfeelings，thoughnotwarm，werekind;hepleadedthatcauseaslongashethoughtthathecouldpleaditwithoutinjurytohimself。ButwhenitbecameevidentthatEssexwasgoingheadlongtohisruin，Baconbegantotrembleforhisownfortunes。Whathehadtofearwouldnotindeedhavebeenveryalarmingtoamanofloftycharacter。Itwasnotdeath。Itwasnotimprisonment。ItwasthelossofCourtfavour。Itwasthebeingleftbehindbyothersinthecareerofambition。ItwasthehavingleisuretofinishtheInstauratioMagna。TheQueenlookedcoldlyonhim。Thecourtiersbegantoconsiderhimasamarkedman。Hedeterminedtochangehislineofconduct，andtoproceedinanewcoursewithsomuchvigourastomakeupforlosttime。Whenoncehehaddeterminedtoactagainsthisfriend，knowinghimselftobesuspected，heactedwithmorezealthanwouldhavebeennecessaryorjustifiableifhehadbeenemployedagainstastranger。HeexertedhisprofessionaltalentstoshedtheEarl’sblood，andhisliterarytalentstoblackentheEarl’smemory。
Itiscertainthathisconductexcitedatthetimegreatandgeneraldisapprobation。WhileElizabethlived，indeed，thisdisapprobation，thoughdeeplyfelt，wasnotloudlyexpressed。Butagreatchangewasathand。ThehealthoftheQueenhadlongbeendecaying;andtheoperationofageanddiseasewasnowassistedbyacutementalsuffering。ThepitiablemelancholyofherlastdayshasgenerallybeenascribedtoherfondregretforEssex。
Butwearedisposedtoattributeherdejectionpartlytophysicalcauses，andpartlytotheconductofhercourtiersandministers。
TheydidallintheirpowertoconcealfromhertheintrigueswhichtheywerecarryingonattheCourtofScotland。Butherkeensagacitywasnottobesodeceived。Shedidnotknowthewhole。Butsheknewthatshewassurroundedbymenwhowereimpatientforthatnewworldwhichwastobeginatherdeath，whohadneverbeenattachedtoherbyaffection，andwhowerenowbutveryslightlyattachedtoherbyinterest。Prostrationandflatterycouldnotconcealfromherthecrueltruth，thatthosewhomshehadtrusted，andpromotedhadneverlovedher，andwerefastceasingtofearher。Unabletoavengeherself，andtooproudtocomplain，shesufferedsorrowandresentmenttopreyonherhearttill，afteralongcareerofpower，prosperity，andglory，shediedsickandwearyoftheworld。
Jamesmountedthethrone:andBaconemployedallhisaddresstoobtainforhimselfashareofthefavourofhisnewmaster。Thiswasnodifficulttask。ThefaultsofJames，bothasamanandasaprince，werenumerous;butinsensibilitytotheclaimsofgeniusandlearningwasnotamongthem。Hewasindeedmadeupoftwomen，awitty，well—readscholar，whowrote，disputed，andharangued，andanervous，drivellingidiot，whoacted。IfhehadbeenaCanonofChristChurchoraPrebendaryofWestminster，itisnotimprobablethathewouldhaveleftahighlyrespectablenametoposterity;thathewouldhavedistinguishedhimselfamongthetranslatorsoftheBible，andamongtheDivineswhoattendedtheSynodofDort;andthathewouldhavebeenregardedbytheliteraryworldasnocontemptiblerivalofVossiusandCasaubon。
Butfortuneplacedhiminasituationinwhichhisweaknesscoveredhimwithdisgrace，andinwhichhisaccomplishmentsbroughthimnohonour。Inacollege，mucheccentricityandchildishnesswouldhavebeenreadilypardonedinsolearnedaman。Butallthatlearningcoulddoforhimonthethronewastomakepeoplethinkhimapedantaswellasafool。
BaconwasfavourablyreceivedatCourt;andsoonfoundthathischanceofpromotionwasnotdiminishedbythedeathoftheQueen。
Hewassolicitoustobeknighted，fortworeasonswhicharesomewhatamusing。TheKinghadalreadydubbedhalfLondon，andBaconfoundhimselftheonlyuntitledpersoninhismessatGray’sInn。Thiswasnotveryagreeabletohim。Hehadalso，toquotehisownwords，"foundanAlderman’sdaughter，ahandsomemaiden，tohisliking。"Onboththesegrounds，hebeggedhiscousinRobertCecil，"ifitmightpleasehisgoodLordship，"tousehisinterestinhisbehalf。Theapplicationwassuccessful。
Baconwasoneofthreehundredgentlemenwho，onthecoronation—
day，receivedthehonour，ifitistobesocalled，ofknighthood。Thehandsomemaiden，adaughterofAldermanBarnham，soonafterconsentedtobecomeSirFrancis’slady。
ThedeathofElizabeth，thoughonthewholeitimprovedBacon’sprospects，wasinonerespectanunfortunateeventforhim。ThenewKinghadalwaysfeltkindlytowardsLordEssex，and，assoonashecametothethrone，begantoshowfavourtotheHouseofDevereux，andtothosewhohadstoodbythathouseinitsadversity。EverybodywasnowatlibertytospeakoutrespectingthoselamentableeventsinwhichBaconhadbornesolargeashare。ElizabethwasscarcelycoldwhenthepublicfeelingbegantomanifestitselfbymarksofrespecttowardsLordSouthampton。
Thataccomplishednobleman，whowillberememberedtothelatestagesasthegenerousanddiscerningpatronofShakspeare，washeldinhonourbyhiscontemporarieschieflyonaccountofthedevotedaffectionwhichhehadbornetoEssex。Hehadbeentriedandconvictedtogetherwithhisfriend;buttheQueenhadsparedhislife，and，atthetimeofherdeath，hewasstillaprisoner。
AcrowdofvisitorshastenedtotheTowertocongratulatehimonhisapproachingdeliverance。WiththatcrowdBaconcouldnotventuretomingle。Themultitudeloudlycondemnedhim;andhisconsciencetoldhimthatthemultitudehadbuttoomuchreason。
HeexcusedhimselftoSouthamptonbyletter，intermswhich，ifhehad，asMr。Montaguconceives，doneonlywhatasasubjectandanadvocatehewasboundtodo，mustbeconsideredasshamefullyservile。Heownshisfearthathisattendancewouldgiveoffence，andthathisprofessionsofregardwouldobtainnocredit。"Yet，"sayshe，"itisastrueasathingthatGodknoweth，thatthisgreatchangehathwroughtinmenootherchangetowardsyourLordshipthanthis，thatImaysafelybethattoyounowwhichIwastrulybefore。"
HowSouthamptonreceivedtheseapologieswearenotinformed。ButitiscertainthatthegeneralopinionwaspronouncedagainstBaconinamannernottobemisunderstood。Soonafterhismarriageheputforthadefenceofhisconduct，intheformofaLettertotheEarlofDevon。Thistractseemstoustoproveonlytheexceedingbadnessofacauseforwhichsuchtalentscoulddosolittle。
ItisnotprobablethatBacon’sDefencehadmucheffectonhiscontemporaries。Buttheunfavourableimpressionwhichhisconducthadmadeappearstohavebeengraduallyeffaced。Indeeditmustbesomeverypeculiarcausethatcanmakeamanlikehimlongunpopular。Histalentssecuredhimfromcontempt，histemperandhismannersfromhatred。Thereisscarcelyanystorysoblackthatitmaynotbegotoverbyamanofgreatabilities，whoseabilitiesareunitedwithcaution，goodhumour，patience，andaffability，whopaysdailysacrificetoNemesis，whoisadelightfulcompanion，aserviceablethoughnotanardentfriend，andadangerousyetaplacableenemy。Wallerinthenextgenerationwasaneminentinstanceofthis。IndeedWallerhadmuchmorethanmayatfirstsightappearincommonwithBacon。TothehigherintellectualqualitiesofthegreatEnglishphilosopher，tothegeniuswhichhasmadeanimmortalepochinthehistoryofscience，Wallerhadindeednopretensions。ButthemindofWaller，asfarasitextended，coincidedwiththatofBacon，andmight，soto，speak，havebeencutoutofthatofBacon。Inthequalitieswhichmakeamananobjectofinterestandvenerationtoposterity，theycannotbecomparedtogether。
Butinthequalitiesbywhichchieflyamanisknowntohiscontemporariestherewasastrikingsimilaritybetweenthem。
Consideredasmenoftheworld，ascourtiers，aspoliticians，asassociates，asallies，asenemies，theyhadnearlythesamemerits，andthesamedefects。Theywerenotmalignant。Theywerenottyrannical。Buttheywantedwarmthofaffectionandelevationofsentiment。Thereweremanythingswhichtheylovedbetterthanvirtue，andwhichtheyfearedmorethanguilt。Yet，evenaftertheyhadstoopedtoactsofwhichitisimpossibletoreadtheaccountinthemostpartialnarrativeswithoutstrongdisapprobationandcontempt，thepublicstillcontinuedtoregardthemwithafeelingnoteasilytobedistinguishedfromesteem。ThehyperboleofJulietseemedtobeverifiedwithrespecttothem。"Upontheirbrowsshamewasashamedtosit。"
Everybodyseemedasdesiroustothrowaveilovertheirmisconductasifithadbeenhisown。Clarendon，whofelt，andwhohadreasontofeel，strongpersonaldisliketowardsWaller，speaksofhimthus:"Thereneedsnomoretobesaidtoextoltheexcellenceandpowerofhiswitandpleasantnessofhisconversation，thanthatitwasofmagnitudeenoughtocoveraworldofverygreatfaults，thatis，sotocoverthemthattheywerenottakennoticeoftohisreproach，viz。，anarrownessinhisnaturetothelowestdegree，anabjectnessandwantofcouragetosupporthiminanyvirtuousundertaking，aninsinuationandservileflatterytotheheightthevainestandmostimperiousnaturecouldbecontentedwith……Ithadpowertoreconcilehimtothosewhomhehadmostoffendedandprovoked，andcontinuedtohisagewiththatrarefelicity，thathiscompanywasacceptablewherehisspiritwasodious，andhewasatleastpitiedwherehewasmostdetested。"Muchofthis，withsomesoftening，might，wefear，beappliedtoBacon。TheinfluenceofWaller’stalents，manners，andaccomplishments，diedwithhim;
andtheworldhaspronouncedanunbiassedsentenceonhischaracter。Afewflowinglinesarenotbribesufficienttopervertthejudgmentofposterity。ButtheinfluenceofBaconisfeltandwilllongbefeltoverthewholecivilisedworld。
Lenientlyashewastreatedbyhiscontemporaries，posterityhastreatedhimmorelenientlystill。Turnwherewemay，thetrophiesofthatmightyintellectarefullinfew。WearejudgingManliusinsightoftheCapitol。
UnderthereignofJames，Bacongrewrapidlyinfortuneandfavour。In1604hewasappointedKing’sCounsel，withafeeoffortypoundsayear;andapensionofsixtypoundsayearwassettleduponhim。In1607hebecameSolicitor—General，in1612
Attorney—General。HecontinuedtodistinguishhimselfinParliament，particularlybyhisexertionsinfavourofoneexcellentmeasureonwhichtheKing’sheartwasset，theunionofEnglandandScotland。Itwasnotdifficultforsuchanintellecttodiscovermanyirresistibleargumentsinfavourofsuchascheme。HeconductedthegreatcaseofthePostNatiintheExchequerChamber;andthedecisionofthejudges，adecisionthelegalityofwhichmaybequestioned，butthebeneficialeffectofwhichmustbeacknowledged，wasinagreatmeasureattributedtohisdexterousmanagement。WhileactivelyengagedintheHouseofCommonsandinthecourtsoflaw，hestillfoundleisureforlettersandphilosophy。ThenobletreatiseontheAdvancementofLearning，whichatalaterperiodwasexpandedintotheDeAugmentis，appearedin1605。TheWisdomoftheAncients，aworkwhich，ifithadproceededfromanyotherwriter，wouldhavebeenconsideredasamasterpieceofwitandlearning，butwhichaddslittletothefameofBacon，wasprintedin1609。InthemeantimetheNovumOrganumwasslowlyproceeding。Severaldistinguishedmenoflearninghadbeenpermittedtoseesketchesordetachedportionsofthatextraordinarybook;and，thoughtheywerenotgenerallydisposedtoadmitthesoundnessoftheauthor’sviews，theyspokewiththegreatestadmirationofhisgenius。SirThomasBodley，thefounderofoneofthemostmagnificentofEnglishlibraries，wasamongthosestubbornConservativeswhoconsideredthehopeswithwhichBaconlookedforward，tothefuturedestiniesofthehumanraceasutterlychimerical，andwhoregardedwithdistrustandaversiontheinnovatingspiritofthenewschismaticsinphilosophy。YetevenBodley，afterperusingtheCogitataetVisa，oneofthemostpreciousofthosescatteredleavesoutofwhichthegreatoracularvolumewasafterwardsmadeup，acknowledgedthatin"thoseverypoints，andinallproposalsandplotsinthatbook，Baconshowedhimselfamaster—workman";
andthat"itcouldnotbegainsaidbutallthetreatiseoverdidaboundwithchoiceconceitsofthepresentstateoflearning，andwithworthycontemplationsofthemeanstoprocureit。"In1612aneweditionoftheEssaysappeared，withadditionssurpassingtheoriginalcollectionbothinbulkandquality。NordidthesepursuitsdistractBacon’sattentionfromaworkthemostarduous，themostglorious，andthemostusefulthatevenhismightypowerscouldhaveachieved，"thereducingandrecompiling，"tousehisownphrase，"ofthelawsofEngland。"
Unhappilyhewasatthatverytimeemployedinpervertingthoselawstothevilestpurposesoftyranny。WhenOliverSt。JohnwasbroughtbeforetheStarChamberformaintainingthattheKinghadnorighttolevyBenevolences，andwasforhismanlyandconstitutionalconductsentencedtoimprisonmentduringtheroyalpleasureandtoafineoffivethousandpounds，Baconappearedascounselfortheprosecution。Aboutthesametimehewasdeeplyengagedinastillmoredisgracefultransaction。Anagedclergyman，ofthenameofPeacham，wasaccusedoftreasononaccountofsomepassagesofasermonwhichwasfoundinhisstudy。Thesermon，whetherwrittenbyhimornot，hadneverbeenpreached。Itdidnotappearthathehadanyintentionofpreachingit。Themostservilelawyersofthoseserviletimeswereforcedtoadmitthatthereweregreatdifficultiesbothastothefactsandastothelaw。Baconwasemployedtoremovethosedifficulties。Hewasemployedtosettlethequestionoflawbytamperingwiththejudges，andthequestionoffactbytorturingtheprisoner。
ThreejudgesoftheCourtofKing’sBenchweretractable。ButCokewasmadeofdifferentstuff。Pedant，bigot，andbruteashewas，hehadqualitieswhichboreastrong，thoughaverydisagreeableresemblancetosomeofthehighestvirtueswhichapublicmancanpossess。Hewasanexceptiontoamaximwhichwebelievetobegenerallytrue，thatthosewhotrampleonthehelplessaredisposedtocringetothepowerful。Hebehavedwithgrossrudenesstohisjuniorsatthebar，andwithexecrablecrueltytoprisonersontrialfortheirlives。ButhestoodupmanfullyagainsttheKingandtheKing’sfavourites。Nomanofthatageappearedtosolittleadvantagewhenhewasopposedtoaninferior，andwasinthewrong。But，ontheotherhand，itisbutfairtoadmitthatnomanofthatagemadesocreditableafigurewhenhewasopposedtoasuperior，andhappenedtobeintheright。Onsuchoccasions，hishalf—suppressedinsolenceandhisimpracticableobstinacyhadarespectableandinterestingappearance，whencomparedwiththeabjectservilityofthebarandofthebench。Onthepresentoccasionhewasstubbornandsurly。Hedeclaredthatitwasanewandhighlyimproperpracticeinthejudgestoconferwithalaw—officeroftheCrownaboutcapitalcaseswhichtheywereafterwardstotry;andforsometimeheresolutelykeptaloof。ButBaconwasequallyartfulandpersevering。"Iamnotwhollyoutofhope，"saidheinalettertotheKing，"thatmyLordCokehimself，whenIhaveinsomedarkmannerputhimindoubtthatheshallbeleftalone，willnotbesingular。"AftersometimeBacon’sdexteritywassuccessful;andCoke，sullenlyandreluctantly，followedtheexampleofhisbrethren。ButinordertoconvictPeachamitwasnecessarytofindfactsaswellaslaw。Accordingly，thiswretchedoldmanwasputtotherack，and，whileundergoingthehorribleinfliction，wasexaminedbyBacon，butinvain。Noconfessioncouldbewrungoutofhim;andBaconwrotetotheKing，complainingthatPeachamhadadumbdevil。Atlengththetrialcameon。Aconvictionwasobtained;butthechargesweresoobviouslyfutile，thattheGovernmentcouldnot，forveryshame，carrythesentenceintoexecution;andPeacham，wassufferedtolanguishawaytheshortremainderofhislifeinaprison。
AllthisfrightfulstoryMr。Montagurelatesfairly。Heneitherconcealsnordistortsanymaterialfact。ButhecanseenothingdeservingofcondemnationinBacon’sconduct。Hetellsusmosttrulythatweoughtnottotrythemenofoneagebythestandardofanother;thatSirMatthewHaleisnottobepronouncedabadmanbecauseheleftawomantobeexecutedforwitchcraft;thatposteritywillnotbe...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：