II

Natural history, which in its subject (as I said) is threefold, is in its use twofold. For it is used either for the sake of the knowledge of the particular things which it contains or as the primary material of philosophy and the stuff and subject matter of true induction. And it is this latter which is now in hand — now, I say, for the first time; nor has it even been taken in hand till now. For neither Aristotle, nor Theophrastus, nor Dioscorides, nor Gaius Plinius ever set this before them as the end of natural history. And the chief part of the matter rests in this, that they who shall hereafter take it upon them to write natural history should bear this continually in mind — that they ought not to consult the pleasure of the reader, no, nor even that utility which may be derived immediately from their narrations, but to seek out and gather together such store and variety of things as may suffice for the formation of true axioms. Let them but remember this, and they will find out for themselves the method in which the history should be composed. For the end rules the method.