Considering the large number of quotations from previous writers which
occur in Lord Bacon's works, and especially in his most popular and
generally read works--his _Essays_ and his _Advancement of Learning_--it is
remarkable how little his editors have done for the illustration of his
text in this respect. The French editors of Montaigne's _Essays_, who is
likewise a writer abounding in quotations, have bestowed much care on this
portion of their author's text. The defect in question has, however, been
to a great extent supplied in a recent edition of the _Advancement of
Learning_, published by Mr. Parker in West Strand; and it is to be hoped
that the beginning, so usefully made, may be followed up by similar
editions of other of Bacon's works.
The edition in question, though it traces the great majority of Bacon's
quotations, has left some gleanings to its successors; and I propose now to
call attention to a few passages of the _Advancement of Learning_ which,
after the labours of the late editor, seem still to require further
elucidation. My references are to the pages of the new edition:--
P. 25. "Then grew the flowing and watery vein of Osorius the Portugal
bishop to be in price."
The editor prints _Orosius_ for _Osorius_, and adds this note:
"All the editions have _Osorius_, which, however, must be a mere
misprint. He was not a Portuguese, but a Spaniard, born at Tarragona,
nor indeed ever a bishop. He was sent by St. Augustine on a mission to
Jerusalem, and is supposed to have died in Africa in the earlier part
of the fifth century."
The text of Bacon is quite right. The allusion is not to Paulus Orosius, a
Spaniard, who flourished at the beginning of the fifth century; but to
Jerome Osorio, who was born at Lisbon in 1506, afterwards became Bishop of
Silves, and died in 1580. His works were published at Rome in 1592, in 4
vols. folio. His principal work, _De rebus Emanuelis Virtute et Auspicio
gestis_, which first appeared in 1571, was several times reprinted, and was
translated into French and English. {494}