Of Travel
by
Francis Bacon
(Essay)
Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of
education; in the elder, a part of experience. He that travelleth into a
country, before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and
not to travel. That young men travel under some tutor, or grave servant, I
allow well; so that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in
the country before; whereby he may be able to tell them what things are worthy
to be seen in the country where they go, what acquaintances they are to seek,
what exercises or discipline the place yieldeth; for else young men shall go
hooded, and look abroad little. It is a strange thing that, in sea voyages,
where there is nothing to be seen but sky and sea, men should make diaries; but
in land travel, wherein so much is to be observed, for the most part they omit
it; as if chance were fitter to be registered than observation: let diaries,
therefore, be brought in use. The things to be seen and observed are, the
courts of princes, especially when they give audience to ambassadors; the
courts of justice, while they sit and hear causes; and so of consistories
ecclesiastic; the churches and monasteries, with the monuments which are
therein extant; the walls and fortifications of cities and towns; and so the
havens and harbours, antiquities and ruins, libraries, colleges, disputations,
and lectures, where any are; shipping and navies; houses and gardens of state
and pleasure, near great cities: armories, arsenals, magazines, exchanges,
burses, warehouses, exercises of horsemanship, fencing, training of soldiers,
and the like: comedies, such where unto the better sort of persons do resort;
treasuries of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, to conclude,
whatsoever is memorable in the places where they go: after all which the tutors
or servants ought to make diligent inquiry. As for triumphs, masks, feasts,
weddings, funerals, capital executions, and such shows, men need not to be put
in mind of them: yet are they not to be neglected. If you will have a young man
to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to gather much, this
you must do; first, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language
before he goeth; then he must have such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the
country, as was likewise said: let him carry with him also some card or book,
describing the country where he travelleth, which will be a good key to his
inquiry; lot him keep also a diary; let him not stay long in one city or town,
more or less as the place deserveth, but not long; nay, when he stayeth in one
city or town, let him change his lodging from one end and part of the town to
another, which is a great adamant of acquaintance; let him sequester himself
from the company of his countrymen, and diet in such places where there is good
company of the nation where he travelleth: let him, upon his removes from one
place to another, procure recommendation to some person of quality residing in
the place whither he removeth, that he may use his favour in those things he
desireth to see or know: thus he may abridge his travel with much profit. As
for the acquaintance which is to be sought in travel, that which is the most of
all profitable, is acquaintance with the secretaries and employed men of
ambassadors: for so in travelling in one country he shall suck the experience
of many: let him also see and visit eminent persons in all kinds, which are of
great name abroad, that he may be able to tell how the life agreeth with the
fame; For quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided; they are
commonly for mistresses, healths, place, and words; and let a man beware how he
keepeth company with choleric and quarrelsome persons, for they will engage him
into their own quarrels. When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the
country where he hath travelled altogether behind him; but maintain a
correspondence by letters with those of his acquaintance which are most worth;
and let his travel appear rather in his discourse than in his apparel or
gesture; and in his discourse let him be rather advised his answers, than
forward to tell stories: and let it appear that he doth not change his country
manners for those of foreign parts; but only prick in some flowers of that he
hath learned abroad into the customs of his own country.
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