Bacon, Francis, Sylva sylvarum : or, a natural history in ten centuries

Table of contents

< >
< >
page |< < (171) of 389 > >|
    <echo version="1.0RC">
      <text xml:lang="en" type="free">
        <div xml:id="echoid-div766" type="section" level="1" n="32">
          <pb o="171" file="0205" n="205"/>
        </div>
        <div xml:id="echoid-div866" type="section" level="1" n="33">
          <head xml:id="echoid-head48" xml:space="preserve">NATURAL
            <lb/>
          HISTORY</head>
          <head xml:id="echoid-head49" xml:space="preserve">Century IX.</head>
          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7259" xml:space="preserve">IT is certain, That all Bodies whatſoever, though they
              <lb/>
              <note position="right" xlink:label="note-0205-01" xlink:href="note-0205-01a" xml:space="preserve">Experiments
                <lb/>
              in Conſort,
                <lb/>
              touching
                <lb/>
              Perception in
                <lb/>
              Bodies Inſen-
                <lb/>
              ſible, tending
                <lb/>
              to Natural
                <lb/>
              Divination or
                <lb/>
              Subiil Tryals.</note>
            have no Senſe, yet they have Perception: </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7260" xml:space="preserve">For when
              <lb/>
            one Body is applied to another, there is a kinde of Electi-
              <lb/>
            on, to embrace that which is agreeable, and to exclude
              <lb/>
            or expel that which is ingrate: </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7261" xml:space="preserve">And whether the Body
              <lb/>
            be alterantor altered, evermore a Perception precedeth
              <lb/>
            Operation; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7262" xml:space="preserve">for elſe all Bodies would be alike one to an-
              <lb/>
            other. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7263" xml:space="preserve">And ſometimes this Perception in ſome kinde
              <lb/>
            of Bodies is far more ſubtilthen the Senſe; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7264" xml:space="preserve">ſo that the Senſe is but a dull thing
              <lb/>
            in compariſon of it. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7265" xml:space="preserve">We ſee a Weather-glaß will finde the leaſt difference of
              <lb/>
            the Weather in Heat or Cold, when Men finde it not. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7266" xml:space="preserve">And this Perception
              <lb/>
            alſo is ſometimes at diſtance, as well as upon the touch; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7267" xml:space="preserve">as when the Load-
              <lb/>
            ſtone draweth Iron, or Flame fireth Naphtha of Babylon a great diſtance off.
              <lb/>
            </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7268" xml:space="preserve">It is therefore a ſubject of a very Noble Enquiry, to enquire of the more ſubtil
              <lb/>
            Perceptions; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7269" xml:space="preserve">for it is another Key to open Nature, as well as the Senſe, and
              <lb/>
            ſometimes better: </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7270" xml:space="preserve">And beſides, it is a principal means of Natural Divination; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7271" xml:space="preserve">
              <lb/>
            for that which in theſe Perceptions appeareth early, in the great effects
              <lb/>
            cometh long after. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7272" xml:space="preserve">It is true alſo, that it ſerveth to diſcover that which is
              <lb/>
            hid, as well as to foretel that which is to come, as it is in many ſubtil Tryals: </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7273" xml:space="preserve">
              <lb/>
            As to try whether Seeds be old or new, the Senſe cannotinform; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7274" xml:space="preserve">but if you
              <lb/>
            boil them in Water, the new Seeds will ſprout ſooner. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7275" xml:space="preserve">And ſo of Water,
              <lb/>
            the taſte will not diſcover the beſt Water; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7276" xml:space="preserve">but the ſpeedy conſuming of it,
              <lb/>
            and many other means which we have heretofore ſet down, will diſcover it. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7277" xml:space="preserve">
              <lb/>
            So in all Phyſiognomy, the Lineaments of the Body will diſcoverthoſe Natural
              <lb/>
            Inclinations of the Minde, which Diſſimulation will conceal, or Diſcipline
              <lb/>
            will ſuppreſs. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s7278" xml:space="preserve">We ſhall therefore now handle onely thoſe two Perceptions
              <lb/>
            which pertain to Natural Divination and Diſcovery, leaving the handling </s>
          </p>
        </div>
      </text>
    </echo>
Impressum