"_Antiquitas sæculi juventus mundi._"--Mr. Craik in his admirable little
work on _Bacon; his Writings and his Philosophy_, after quoting the
paragraph containing this fine aphoristic expression, remarks that,
"From the manner in which it is here introduced as a Latin
phrase, there would seen to be some reason for doubting whether
it be an original thought of Bacon's. It has much the appearance
of some aphorism or adage of the schools." (Vol. ii. p. 55.)
Mr. Craik adds in a note,
"A friend, however, who, if we were to name him, would be
recognised as one of the first of living authorities on all
points connected with the history of learning and philosophy,
informs us that he feels certain of having never met with the
expression or the thought in any writer previous to Bacon."
In Basil Montagu's edition of _The Advancement of Learning_ it is marked
as a quotation. Query. Has the expression, or the thought, been traced
to any writer previous to Bacon?