Bacon's Essays/Of Adversitie

by Francis Bacon

V

OF ADVERSITIE

It was an high speech^[1] of Seneca, (after the manner of the Stoickes,) That the good things, which belong to Prosperity, are to be wished; but the good things, that belong to Adversity, are to be admired. Bona Rerum Secundarum, Optabilia; Adversarum, Mirabilia. Certainly, if Miracles be the Command over Nature, they appeare most in Adversity. It is yet a higher speech of his then the other, (much too high for a Heathen,) It is true greatnesse, to have in one^[2] the Frailty of a Man and the Security^[3] of a God. Verè magnum habere Fragilitatem Hominis, Securitatem Dei. This would have done better in Poesy, where Transcendences^[4] are more allowed. And the Poets indeed have beene busy with it; For it is, in effect^[5], the thing which is figured in that Strange Fiction of the Ancient Poets, which seemeth not to be without mystery^[6]; Nay, and to have some approach to a proportionate extent to the State of a Christian: That Hercules, when hee went to unbinde Prometheus, (by whom Humane Nature is represented) sailed the length of the great Ocean in an Earthen Pot or Pitcher; Lively^[7] describing Christian Resolution, that saileth in the fraile Barke of the Flesh thorow the Waves of the World. But to speake in a Meane^[8]. The Vertue of Prosperitie is Temperance; The Vertue of Adversity is Fortitude; which in Morals is the more Heroicall Vertue. Prosperity is the Blessing of the Old Testament; Adversity is the Blessing of the New; which carrieth the greater Benediction, and the Clearer Revelation of God's Favour. Yet even in the old Testament, if you Listen to David's Harpe, you shall heare as many Herselike^[9] Ayres as Carols^[10]; And the Pencill of the holy Ghost hath laboured more in describing the Afflictions of lob then the Felicities of Salomon. Prosperity is not without many Feares and Distastes^[11]; And Adversity is not without Comforts and Hopes. Wee see in Needle-workes and Imbroideries, It is more pleasing to have a Lively^[12] Worke upon a Sad^[13] and Solemne Ground then to have a Darke and Melancholy Worke upon a Lightsome Ground: Iudge, therfore, of the Pleasure of the Heart, by the Pleasure of the Eye. Certainly, Vertue is like pretious Odours, most fragrant, when they are incensed^[14], or crushed: For Prosperity doth best discover^[15] Vice; but Adversity doth best discover Vertue.

 

1. a proud saying
2. at once
3. freedom from care
4. exaggerations
5. in fact
6. a hidden meaning
7. vividly
8. without exaggeration
9. funeral
10. lively strains
11. annoyances
12. bright
13. dark
14. burnt
15. bring to light