But even for
that point of estate and means, I partly lean to Thales' opinion,
That a philosopher may be rich if he will. Thus your Lordship seeth
how I comfort myself; to the increase whereof I would fain please
myself to believe that to be true which my Lord Treasurer writeth;
which is, that it is more than a philosopher morally can disgest.
But without any such high conceit, I esteem it like the pulling out
of an aching tooth, which, I remember, when I was a child, and had
little philosophy, I was glad of when it was done. For your
Lordship, I do think myself more beholding to you than to any man.
And I say, I reckon myself as a _common_ (not popular but
_common_); and as much as is lawful to be enclosed of a common, so
much your Lordship shall be sure to have.--Your Lordship's to obey
your honourable commands, more settled than ever."
It may be that, as Bacon afterwards maintained, the closing sentences of
this letter implied a significant reserve of his devotion.
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