(1) The knowledge which respecteth the faculties1 of the mind of man is of two kinds — the one respecting his understanding and reason, and the other his will, appetite, and affection; whereof the former produceth position or decree, the latter action or execution. It is true that the imagination is an agent or nuncius in both provinces, both the judicial2 and the ministerial. For sense sendeth over to imagination before reason have judged, and reason sendeth over to imagination before the decree can be acted. For imagination ever precedeth voluntary motion. Saving that this Janus of imagination hath differing faces: for the face towards reason hath the print of truth, but the face towards action hath the print of good; which nevertheless are faces,
“Quales decet esse sororum.”
Neither is the imagination simply and only a messenger; but is invested with, or at least wise usurpeth no small authority in itself, besides the duty of the message. For it was well said by Aristotle, “That the mind hath over the body that commandment, which the lord hath over a bondman; but that reason hath over the imagination that commandment which a magistrate3 hath over a free citizen,” who may come also to rule in his turn. For we see that, in matters of faith and religion, we raise our imagination above our reason, which is the cause why religion sought ever access to the mind by similitudes, types, parables4, visions, dreams. And again, in all persuasions5 that are wrought6 by eloquence7, and other impressions of like nature, which do paint and disguise the true appearance of things, the chief recommendation unto reason is from the imagination. Nevertheless, because I find not any science that doth properly or fitly pertain8 to the imagination, I see no cause to alter the former division. For as for poesy, it is rather a pleasure or play of imagination than a work or duty thereof. And if it be a work, we speak not now of such parts of learning as the imagination produceth, but of such sciences as handle and consider of the imagination. No more than we shall speak now of such knowledges as reason produceth (for that extendeth to all philosophy), but of such knowledges as do handle and inquire of the faculty9 of reason: so as poesy had his true place. As for the power of the imagination in nature, and the manner of fortifying10 the same, we have mentioned it in the doctrine11 De Anima, whereunto most fitly it belongeth. And lastly, for imaginative or insinuative reason, which is the subject of rhetoric12, we think it best to refer it to the arts of reason. So therefore we content ourselves with the former division, that human philosophy, which respecteth the faculties of the mind of man, hath two parts, rational and moral.
(2) The part of human philosophy which is rational is of all knowledges, to the most wits, the least delightful13, and seemeth but a net of subtlety14 and spinosity. For as it was truly said, that knowledge is pabulum animi; so in the nature of men’s appetite to this food most men are of the taste and stomach of the Israelites in the desert, that would fain have returned ad ollas carnium, and were weary of manna; which, though it were celestial15, yet seemed less nutritive and comfortable. So generally men taste well knowledges that are drenched16 in flesh and blood, civil history, morality, policy, about the which men’s affections, praises, fortunes do turn and are conversant17. But this same lumen siccum doth parch18 and offend most men’s watery19 and soft natures. But to speak truly of things as they are in worth, rational knowledges are the keys of all other arts, for as Aristotle saith aptly and elegantly, “That the hand is the instrument of instruments, and the mind is the form of forms;” so these be truly said to be the art of arts. Neither do they only direct, but likewise confirm and strengthen; even as the habit of shooting doth not only enable to shoot a nearer shoot, but also to draw a stronger bow.
(3) The arts intellectual are four in number, divided according to the ends whereunto they are referred — for man’s labour is to invent that which is sought or propounded20; or to judge that which is invented; or to retain that which is judged; or to deliver over that which is retained. So as the arts must be four — art of inquiry21 or invention; art of examination or judgment22; art of custody23 or memory; and art of elocution or tradition.
1 faculties | |
n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 | |
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2 judicial | |
adj.司法的,法庭的,审判的,明断的,公正的 | |
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3 magistrate | |
n.地方行政官,地方法官,治安官 | |
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4 parables | |
n.(圣经中的)寓言故事( parable的名词复数 ) | |
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5 persuasions | |
n.劝说,说服(力)( persuasion的名词复数 );信仰 | |
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6 wrought | |
v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的 | |
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7 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
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8 pertain | |
v.(to)附属,从属;关于;有关;适合,相称 | |
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9 faculty | |
n.才能;学院,系;(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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10 fortifying | |
筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 ); 筑堡于; 增强; 强化(食品) | |
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11 doctrine | |
n.教义;主义;学说 | |
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12 rhetoric | |
n.修辞学,浮夸之言语 | |
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13 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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14 subtlety | |
n.微妙,敏锐,精巧;微妙之处,细微的区别 | |
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15 celestial | |
adj.天体的;天上的 | |
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16 drenched | |
adj.湿透的;充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 );在某人(某物)上大量使用(某液体) | |
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17 conversant | |
adj.亲近的,有交情的,熟悉的 | |
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18 parch | |
v.烤干,焦干 | |
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19 watery | |
adj.有水的,水汪汪的;湿的,湿润的 | |
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20 propounded | |
v.提出(问题、计划等)供考虑[讨论],提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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22 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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23 custody | |
n.监护,照看,羁押,拘留 | |
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