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

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          <pb o="12" file="0290" n="290" rhead="The Hiſtory of Life and Death."/>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9756" xml:space="preserve">It may be a Poſition, that Creatures which partake more of the ſubſtance of their Mother
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-01" xlink:href="note-0290-01a" xml:space="preserve">2.</note>
            than of their Father are longer-liv’d, as Birds are; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9757" xml:space="preserve">which was ſaid before Alſo that thoſe
              <lb/>
            which have a longer time of bearing in the womb, do partake more of the ſubſtance of their
              <lb/>
            Mother, leſs of the Father, and ſo are longer-liv’d: </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9758" xml:space="preserve">Inſomuch that I am of opinion, that even
              <lb/>
            among ſt Men, (which I have noted in ſome) thoſe that reſemble their Mothers moſt are
              <lb/>
            longeſt-liv’d; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9759" xml:space="preserve">and ſo are the Children of Oldmen begotten of young V Vives, if the Fathers be
              <lb/>
            ſound, not diſeaſed.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9760" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9761" xml:space="preserve">The firſt breeding of Creatures is ever material, either to their hurt or benefit. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9762" xml:space="preserve">And
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-02" xlink:href="note-0290-02a" xml:space="preserve">3.</note>
            therefore it ſtands with reaſon, that the leſſer Compreſſion, and the more liberal Alimenta-
              <lb/>
            tion of the Young one in the womb, ſhould confer much to Long Life. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9763" xml:space="preserve">Now this happens
              <lb/>
            when either the young ones are brought forth ſucceſſively; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9764" xml:space="preserve">as in Birds; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9765" xml:space="preserve">or when they are ſingle
              <lb/>
            Births, as in Creatures bearing but one at a Burthen</s>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9766" xml:space="preserve">But long Bearing in the Womb makes for Length of Life three ways. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9767" xml:space="preserve">Firſt, for that the
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-03" xlink:href="note-0290-03a" xml:space="preserve">4.</note>
            young one partakes more of the ſubſtance of the Mother, as hath been ſaid. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9768" xml:space="preserve">Secondly, that
              <lb/>
            it comes forth more ſtrong and able. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9769" xml:space="preserve">Thirdly, that it undergoes the predatory force of the Air
              <lb/>
            later, Beſides, it ſhews that Nature intendeth to finiſb her periods by larger Circles. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9770" xml:space="preserve">Now
              <lb/>
            though Oxen and Sheep, which are born in the womb about ſix months, are but ſhort-liv’d, that
              <lb/>
            happens for other cauſes.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9771" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9772" xml:space="preserve">Feeders upon Graſs and mere Herbs are but ſoort livers; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9773" xml:space="preserve">and Creatures feeding upon
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-04" xlink:href="note-0290-04a" xml:space="preserve">5.</note>
            Fleſh, or Seeds, or Fruits, long livers, as ſome Birds are. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9774" xml:space="preserve">As for Harts, which are long-liv’d,
              <lb/>
            they take the one half of their meat (as men uſe to ſay) from above their heads; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9775" xml:space="preserve">and the
              <lb/>
            Gooſe, beſides Graſs, findeth ſomething in the water, and stubble to feed upon.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9776" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9777" xml:space="preserve">u e ſuppoſe that a good Cloathing of the Body maketh much to long life; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9778" xml:space="preserve">for it fenceth
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-05" xlink:href="note-0290-05a" xml:space="preserve">6.</note>
            and armeth againſt the intemper ances of the Air, which do wonderfully aſſail and decay the
              <lb/>
            body: </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9779" xml:space="preserve">which benefit Birds eſpecially have. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9780" xml:space="preserve">Now that Sheep, which have ſo good Ft
              <unsure/>
            eeces,
              <lb/>
            ſhould be ſo ſhort-liv’d, that is to be imputed to Diſeaſes, where of that Creature is full, and to
              <lb/>
            the bare eating of Graſs.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9781" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9782" xml:space="preserve">The ſeat of the Spirits, without doubt, is principally the Head; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9783" xml:space="preserve">which though it be uſual-
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-06" xlink:href="note-0290-06a" xml:space="preserve">7.</note>
            ly underſtood of the Animal Spirits onely, yet this is all in all. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9784" xml:space="preserve">Again, it is not to be doubted
              <lb/>
            but the Spirits do moſt of all waſte and prey upon the Body, ſo that when they are either in
              <lb/>
            greater plenty, or in greater Inflamation and Acrimony, there the life is much ſhortned.
              <lb/>
            </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9785" xml:space="preserve">And therefore I conceive a great cauſe of long life in Birds to be the ſmalneſs of their
              <lb/>
            Heads in compariſon of their Bodies; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9786" xml:space="preserve">for even Men which have very great Heads I ſuppoſe
              <lb/>
            to be the ſhorter livers.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9787" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9788" xml:space="preserve">I am of opinion that Carriage is of all other motions the moſt helpful to long life; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9789" xml:space="preserve">which I
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-07" xlink:href="note-0290-07a" xml:space="preserve">8.</note>
            alſo noted before. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9790" xml:space="preserve">Now there are carried Water-fowls upon the water, as Swans; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9791" xml:space="preserve">all Birds
              <lb/>
            in their flying, but with a ſtrong endeavour of their limbs; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9792" xml:space="preserve">and Fiſhes, of the length of
              <lb/>
            wh
              <unsure/>
            oſe live we have no certainty.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9793" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9794" xml:space="preserve">Thoſe Creatures which are long before they come to their perfection (not ſpeaking of
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-08" xlink:href="note-0290-08a" xml:space="preserve">9.</note>
            growth in ſtature onely, but of other ſteps to maturity; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9795" xml:space="preserve">as Man puts forth, firſt, his Teeth,
              <lb/>
            next the ſigns of Puberty, then his beard, and ſo forward) are long liv’d, for it ſhews that
              <lb/>
            Nature finiſhed her Periods by larger Circles,</s>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9796" xml:space="preserve">Milder Creatures are not long-liv’d, as the Sheep and Dove; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9797" xml:space="preserve">for Choler is as the whet-
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-09" xlink:href="note-0290-09a" xml:space="preserve">10.</note>
            ſtone and Spur to many Functions in the Body.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9798" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9799" xml:space="preserve">Creatures whoſe Fleſh is more duskiſh are longer-liv’d than thoſe that have white Fleſh;
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            </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9800" xml:space="preserve">
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-10" xlink:href="note-0290-10a" xml:space="preserve">11.</note>
            for it ſheweth that the juice of the body is more firm, and leſs apt to diſſipate.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9801" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p style="it">
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9802" xml:space="preserve">In every corruptible Body Quantity maketh much to the conſervation of the whole: </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9803" xml:space="preserve">for
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0290-11" xlink:href="note-0290-11a" xml:space="preserve">12.</note>
            a great Fire is longer in quenching, a ſmall portion of Water is ſooner evaporated, the Body
              <lb/>
            of a Tree withereth not ſo faſt as a Twig, And therefore generally (I ſpeak it of Species, not
              <lb/>
            of Individuals) Creatures that are large in body are longer-liv’d than thoſe that are ſmall,
              <lb/>
            unleſs there be ſome other potent cauſe to hinder it.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s9804" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
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