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THis collection of divers questions taken out of Naturall philosophie, and resolved by the authour according to the doctrine of Naturalists, being so cleerely distinguished by it selfe, requireth no long deduction: for that at the very first sight ech question may sufficiently 〈◊〉〈◊〉 understood.
What is the cause that sea water nourisheth no trees?
IS it for the same reason, that it nourisheth no land-creatures? for that a plant according to the opinions of Plato, Anaxagoras and De∣mocritus, is a living creature of the land. For say that it serves for food to plants growing within the sea, as also to fishes, and is to [ 10] them their drinke, yet we must not inferre thereupon, that it feed∣eth trees that be without the sea and upon the land: for neither can it pierce downe to their rootes, it is so grosse, nor rise up in the na∣ture of sappe, it is so heavy. That it is grosse, heavy, and terrestriall, appeereth by many other reasons, and by this especially, for that it beareth up and susteineth both vessels and swimmers more than any other.
Or is it principally for this, that whereas nothing is more offensive and hurtfull to trees than drinesse, the water of the sea is very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ? which is the reason that salt withstandeth pu∣trifaction so much as it doth, and why the bodies of those who are washed in the sea, have in∣continently their skin exeeding dry and rugged. [ 20]
Or rather may it not be, for that oile is naturally an enimy to all plants, causing as many of them as are rubbed or anointed therewith to die? Now the sea water standeth much upon a kinde of sartinesse, and is very uncteous, in such sort that it will both kindle and also increase fire: and therefore we give warning and forbid to throw sea water into flaming fire.
Or is it because the water of the sea is bitter and not potable, by reason (as Aristotle saith) of the burnt earth that is mixed with it? like as lie, which is made by casting fresh water aloft upon ashes: for the running and passing through the said ashes marreth that sweet and potable qua∣lity of the water: as also within our bodies, the unnaturall heats of an ague turne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into cholar. As for those plants, woods or trees, which are said to grow within the red sea, if they doe, certeinly they beare no fruit; but nourished they are by the fresh rivers, which bring in with [ 30] them a deale of mud; an argument heereof is this: for that such grow not farre within the sea but neere unto the land.
What might the reason be, that trees and seeds are nourished better with raine, than any other wa∣ter that they can be watered withall?
IS it for that raine as it falleth, by the dint that it maketh, openeth the ground and causeth litle holes, whereby it pierceth to the rootes, as Laetus saith?
Or is this untrue? and Laetus was ignorant heereof, namely that morish plants and such as grow in pooles, as the reed mace, canes and rushes, will not thrive if they want their kinde [ 40] raines in due season? But true is that which Aristotle saith: That the raine water is all fresh and new made, whereas that of meeres and lakes is old and stale.
Or haply, this carieth more shew and probabilitie, with it than trueth, for certeine it is, that the water of fountaines, brookes, and rivers, come as new and fresh as they: for as Heraclitus saith: It is impossible for a man to enter into one and the same river twice, because new wa∣ter commeth still, and runneth away continually, and yet these nourish lesse than raine wa∣ters.
Is this therefore the reason, because the water from heaven is light, subtile, aireous, and mixed with a kinde of spirit, which by that subtilitie, entreth soone, and is easily caried to the root of plants: and heereupon in the fall it raiseth little bubbles, because of the aire and spirit [ 50] enclosed within.
Or doth raine water nourish more in this regard, that it is sooner altered and overcome by that which it nourisheth; for this is it that we call concoction properly: contrariwise, cruditie and indigestion, when things are so strong and hard that they will not suffer; for such as be thinne, simple, and unsavory, are most easily and soonest altered: of which kinde is raine water, for being engendred as it is in the aire and the winde, it falleth pure and cleane; whereas spring∣ing waters, are like to the earth, out of which they issue, or the places through which they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ,
gathering thereby many qualities, which cause them unwilling to be digested, and more slow to be reduced by concoction, into the substance of that which is to be nourished thereby: on the other side, that raine waters be easie to be changed and transmuted, it appeereth by this; that more subject they are to corruption and putrefaction, than those either of rivers, or of pittes and welles: and concoction seemeth to be a kinde of putrefaction: as Empedocles beareth wit∣nesse saying:
When in vine-wood the water putrifies, It turnes to wine, whiles under barke it lies.
Or rather the truest and readlest reason that can be alledged, is the sweetnesse and holsom∣nesse of raine waters, falling as they doe so presently, so soone as the winde sends them downe: [ 10] and heereupon it is that beasts desire to drinke thereof before any other: yea, and the frogges and paddocks expecting a raine, for joy sing more shrill and merily, ready to receive and en∣terteine that which will season the dead and dormant waters of standing lakes, as being the very seed of all their sweetnesse: for Aratus reckoneth this also for one of the signes of a showre to∣ward, writing thus:
When wretched brood, The adders food, from out of standing lake, (The tad-pole sires, Imeane) desires fresh raine, and loud doth * 1.1 coake. [ 20]
What might be the cause that shepherds and other herdmen give salt unto their sheepe and cattell which they feed?
IS it as most men doe thinke, to the end that they should fall the better to their meat, and so consequently feed fatte the sooner? because the acrimony of salt provoketh appetite, and opening the pores, maketh way unto the nourishment for to be digested and distributed more casily throughout the whole body? in regard whereof the physician Apollonius, the sonne of Herophilus, gave counsell and prescribed leane folke and such as thrived not in their flesh; not [ 30] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sweet wine, thicke gruell, and frumentie, but salt fish out of the pickle, anchoves, powdred meats, and such as were condite in brine: the subtile acrimonie whereof might in maner of setting a peruke for want of haire, serve to apply nutriment through the pores of the body into those parts that need it.
Or rather may it not be for health-sake? in which regard they use their cattell to little salt, thereby to take downe their ranke feeding, and restreine their grossenesse and corpulencie? for such as grow exceeding fatte, are subject to breed diseases: but salt consumeth and dispatch∣eth this fatte; and by this meanes also when they be killed, they are sooner and with greater ex∣pedition flaied, because the fatte which knit and bound the skinne fast to the flesh, is now be∣come more thinne, gentle, and pliable through the acrimony of the salt: besides, the bloud al∣so [ 40] of such as be ever licking of salt, becommeth more liquid; and nothing there is within, that will gather and grow together, in case there be salt mingled therewith.
It may be moreover, that they doe it for to make them more fruitfull and apter for generati∣on; for we see that salt bitches which have beene fed with salt meats, are more hot, apter to goe proud, and sooner with whelpe. And for this cause, those keeles and barges that transport salt, breed greater store of mice, for that they engender the oftener.
How commeth it to passe, that of raine waters, such as fall with thunder and lightning, which there∣upon be called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are better for to water seeds or yong plants, than any other? [ 50]
MAy it not be, because they be full of winde and ventositie, by reason of the trouble and confused agitation of the aire? And the nature of wind and spirit is to stirre the humidi∣tie; and by that meanes doth send it forth and distribute it the better?
Or is it not rather, that heat fighting against colde, is the cause of thunder and lightning in the aire? which is the reason that seldome there is any thunder in winter: but contrariwise, very
often in the Spring and Autumne, for the inconstant and unequall distemperature of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which being supposed, the heat concocting the humiditie, causeth it to be more pleasant and profitable unto the plants of the earth.
Or why may it not be, because it thundreth and lightneth especially and more often in the Spring, than in any other season of the yeere, for the reason before alledged: now the Spring showers and raines are most necessarie for seeds and herbs, against the Summer time: where∣upon those countries wherein there be many good ground showers in the Spring, as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , bring forth plentie of good fruits.
How is it, that there being eight kind of * 1.2 savours, there is no more but onely one of them, to wit, [ 10] saltish, that can not be found naturally in fruits? For as touching the buter savour, the olive hath it at first; and the grape is soure at the beginning: but as these fruits begin to change and grow to their ripenesse, the bitternesse of the olive turneth into a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and unctuous savour, and the sharpe verdure of the grape into a smacke of wine: semblably, the harshnesse in the un∣ripe dates, as also the austere and unpleasant sharpnesse in pomgranats changeth into sweetnesse. As for pomgranats, some there be, as also other apples, which are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soure, and never have o∣ther taste. And as for the sharpe and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 savour, it is ordinarie in many roots and seeds.
IS it for that the salt savor is not primitive not engendred originally, but is rather the corrup∣tion of other primitive savors; and in that regard can not serve to nourish any creature, living [ 20] with grasse or graine? but it is to some in stead of a sauce, because it is a meanes that they should not upon fulnesse either lothe or distaste that which they feed upon.
Or because, that like as they who boile sea water, rid it from that salt, brackish and biting qua∣litie that it hath: so, in those that are hot by nature, the salt savour is dulled and mortified by heat?
Or rather, for that a savour or smacke, according as Plato saith, is a water or juice passing tho∣row the stem or stalke of a plant: but we see that the sea water rūning as thorow a streiner, loseth the saltnesse, being the terrestriall and grossest part that is in it. And hereupon it is, that when as men digge along by the sea side, they meet with springs of fresh and potable water. And many there be, who draw out of the very sea, fresh water and good to be drunke; namely, when it hath [ 30] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thorow certeine vessels of wax, by reason that the terrestriall and saltish parts thereof be streined out. In one word, * 1.3 cley or marle also, yea, and the carrying of sea water in long con∣duct pipes, causeth the same when it is so streined, to be potable, for that there are kept still in them the terrestriall parts, and are not suffered to passe thorow. Which being so, very probable it is that plants neither receive from without forth any salt savour, nor if haply any such qualitie breed in them, doe they transfuse the same into their fruits; for that the conducts of their pores being very small and streight, there can not be transmitted thorow them any grosse or terrestri∣all substance.
Or els we must say, that saltnesse is in some sort a kinde of bitternesse, according as Homer signifieth in these verses: [ 40]
Bitter salt-water at mouth he cast againe, And all therewith his head did drop amaine.
And Plato affirmeth, that both the one and the other savour is abstersive and liquefactive; but the saltish, lesse of the twaine, as that which is not rough: and so it will seeme that bitter differeth from salt in excesse of drinesse, for that the salt savour is also a great drier.
What is the cause, that if folke use ordinarily and continually to goe among yong trees or shrubs full of deaw, those parts of their bodies which do touch the twigs of the said plants, are wont to have a scurfe or mange rise upon their skin? [ 50]
IS it (as Laet us saith) for that the deaw by the subtiltie thereof doth fret and pierce the skin?
Or rather, because like as the blast and mil-deaw is incident to those 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or plants that take wet and be drenched; even so, when the smoothe and tender superficiall parts of the skinne be fretted, scarified, and dissolved a little with the deaw, there ariseth a certeine humour, and fil∣leth the fretted place with a smart and angry scurfe: for lighting upon those parts which have but little bloud, such as be the smalles of the legs and the feet, it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the superficies
of them. Now that there is in deaw a certeine inordinate qualitie, it appeareth by this, that it maketh those who are grosse and corpulent, to be leaner and more spare of bodie: witnesse our women who are given to be fat, and would be fine, who gather deaw with linnen clothes, or els with locks or fleeces of wooll, thinking therewith to take downe and spend their fogginesse, and make themselves more gant and slender.
What is the cause that barges and other vessels in Winter time, go more slowly upon the rivers than at other seasons; but they do not so upon the sea?
WHat say you to this? May it not be, for that the aire of rivers being alwaies grosse and heavy, in Winter is more inspissate by reason of the circumstant cold, and so is an hin∣drance [ 10] to the course of ships?
Or haply this accident is to be imputed to the water of rivers, rather than to the aire about them; for colde driving in and restraining the water, maketh it more heavy and grosse; as we may perceive in water houre-glasses, for the water runneth out of them more leasurely and slowly in winter then in summer. And Theophrastus writeth that in Thracia, neere unto the mount called Pangaeon, there is a fountaine, the water whereof is twice as much heavie in winter than it is in summer, waigh it in one & the same vessell full. That the thicknesse of water maketh a vessell to passe more sluggishly, it may appeare by this, that the barges of the river carry grea∣ter fraights by farre, in winter than in summer: because the water being thicke, is stronger and able to beare more. As for the sea water it cannot be made more thicke in winter, by reason of [ 20] the owne heat, which is the cause that it congealeth not, and if it gather any thickening, it see∣meth to be very slender and little.
What is the reason that we observe, all other waters, if they be mooved and troubled, are the colder, but the sea the more surging and waving, the hotter it is?
IS it because, if there be any heat in other waters, the same is a stranger unto it, and comming from without, and so the motion and agitation thereof doth dissipate and drive the same forth againe: but that heat of the sea which is proper and naturall to it, the windes doe stirre up and augment. That the sea is naturally hot, may evidently be proved by this, that it is so transpa∣rent [ 30] and shining; as also for that it is not ordinarily frozen, heavy though it be and terrestriall.
What should be the cause that in winter the sea water is lesse bitter and brackish in taste?
FOr so (by report) writeth Dionysus the great convaier of conduicts, who in a treatise of that argument, saith that the bitternesse of the sea water is not without some sweetnesse, seeing that the sea receiveth so many and so great rivers: for admit that the sunne doe draw up that which is fresh and potable out of it, because it is light and subtill; that is but from the upper part onely: and withall, it doth more in Summer than in any other season, by reason that in Winter his beames are not so strong to strike, for that his heat likewise is but saint and feeble: [ 40] and so a good portion of the sweetnesse remaining behinde, doth delay that excessive bitter∣nesse and brackishnesse, like a medicine that it hath. And the same befalleth unto river waters, and all other that be potable: for even such in Summer time become worse and more offensive to the raste than in Winter, by how much the heat of the sunne doth resolve and dissipate the light and sweet parts thereof: but in Winter it runneth alwaies new and fresh; whereof the sea cannot chuse but have a good part, as well because it is evermore in motion, as also for that the rivers running into it, be great and impart their fresh water unto it.
What is the reason, that men are wont to powre sea water into their wine vessels, among the wine? [ 50] And the common report goeth that there were sometime certeine mariners and fisher-men who brought with them an oracle, commanding to plunge and dip Bacchus in the sea: And such as dwell farre from the sea, insteed of sea water, put in baked plaster of Zacynthus?
IS it to this end, that the heat thereof should helpe to resist the colde, that it take not away the heart of the wine? Or rather cleane contrary, doth it not weaken the headinesse of wine, by extinguishing the power and strength thereof?
Or it may be, that seeing wine is much subiect to alteration, and will quickly turne, the terre∣striall matter which is cast into it, having a naturall property to restraine, to binde and to stoppe, doth in some sort condensate and stay the waterish and spirituall substance of it. Now the salt together with the sea water, comming to subtiliate and consume that which is superfluous, and naught in the wine, and not the proper substance thereof, keepeth it so, as it will not suffer any strong & evill smell or corruption to be ingendred therin: Besides all the grosse and terrestriall parts of the wine, sticking and cleaving to that which setleth to the bottom, and being drawen downward with it, maketh a residence of the lees and dregges, and by consequence leaveth the rest more cleere, pure, and neat.
What is the cause that those who saile upon the sea, are more sicke in the stomacke, than they that saile upon rivers, yea, though 〈◊〉〈◊〉 weather be faire and the water calme?
IS it for that of all the senses, smelling, and of all passions, feare, causeth men most to be sto∣macke sicke? for so soone as the apprehension of any perrill seiseth upon a man, he trembleth and quaketh for feare, his haire stareth and standeth upright, yea and his belly groweth to be loose. Wheras there is none of all this that troubleth those who saile or row upon the river: for why, the smell is aquainted with all fresh and potable water, neither is the sailing so perillous: whereas upon the sea men are offended with strange and unusuall smelles, yea, and be est∣soones affraid, how faire soever the season be, not trusting upon that which they see present, but [ 20] misdoubting that which may fall out. And therefore little or nothing serveth the calme without, when the minde within is tossed, troubled, and vexed, partly with feare, and in part with distrust, drawing the body into the fellowship of like passions and perturbations.
What is the reason that if the sea be sprinckled aloft with oile, there is to be seene a cleere transpa∣rence together with a calme and tranquility within?
WHether is it (as Aristotle saith) because the winde gliding and glauncing over oile which is smooth and even, hath no power to stirre it, or to make any agitation.
Or, this reason may well carie with it some probability as touching the outward part, and up∣most [ 30] superficies of the sea: but seeing that they also by report, who plunge and dive to the bot∣tome thereof, holding oile within their mouthes, if they spurt the same foorth when they are in the bottome, have a light all about them, and are able to see cleerely in the deepe; a man can∣not attribute the cause thereof unto the gliding over of the wind. See therefore if it may not ra∣ther be, for that the oile by the solidity and thicknesse that it hath, doth drive before it, cut, and open the sea water first, being terrestriall and unequall; which after being returned and drawen together againe into it selfe, there be left still in the mids betweene, certeine little holes which yeeld unto the eies a through-light and transparence.
Or rather is it, for that the aire mingled within the sea, is by reason of heat, naturally light∣some and perspicuous; but when it is troubled and stirred, becommeth unequall and shadowy; [ 40] when as the oile therefore by meanes of solidity commeth to pollish and smooth the said ine∣qualitie, it resumeth againe the owne plainnesse and perspicuity.
What is the reason that fisher mens nets doe rot in Winter rather than in Summer, notwithstan∣ding that all other things putrifie more in Summer than in Winter?
IS it because (as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 supposeth) the heat then beset round about with the circum∣stant colde, giveth place thereto, and therefore causeth the bottome of the sea as well as of the earth, to be the hotter? which is the reason that spring waters be warmer, yea and both lakes [ 50] and rivers doe reike and smoake more in Winter than in Summer, because the heat is kept downe, and driven to the bottome by the colde, which is predominant over it?
Or rather are we to say, that the nets rot not at all, but whensoever they be stiffe congealed with colde which drieth them up, soone broken afterwards they are with the violence of the waves, and so seeme as if they were rotten and putrified indeed; for in more danger they are in colde and frosty weather; and like as strings and sinewes over-stretched doe breake, seeing espe∣cially that the sea in Winter most commonly is troubled, which is the reason that they use to
restreine and thicken them with certeine tinctures, for feare they should be overmuch relaxed and resolved; for otherwise, if it were not for that doubt, being not so died and besmeared all over, they would sooner deceive fishes, because they could not perceive them so soone; for that the colour naturally of the lines and threds resembling the aire, is very meet to deceive with∣in the sea.
What is the reason that the * 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , * 1.5 pray for to have ill inning of their hey?
IS not this the cause, because hey is not well inned wet, or having taken a showre? for mowen downe it is not dry, but while it is greene and full of sappe; and if it take wet withall, it rot∣teth [ 10] incontinently and is marred: whereas contrariwise if standing corne be moistened with * 1.6 raine a little before harvest, it taketh much good against hot southerne windes, which will not suffer the corne to gather and knit in the eare, but cause it to be loose that it cannot eare well by meanes of heat, were it not by the drenching and watering of the ground, the moisture did coole and mollifie the earth.
What is the reason that a fat, strong, and heavy clay ground, beareth wheat best: but contrariwise alight and sandy soile, is better for barley?
MAy not this be a reason, that of all corne, that which is more strong and solide, requireth [ 20] larger food, and the weaker lesse, and more slender nourishment? now it is well knowen that barley is a more feeble and hollow graine than wheat is: in which regard it will not abide and beare plentifull nouriture and strong. An argument and testimonie hereof we may have of that kinde of wheat which is called three-moneth wheat, for that in drier grounds it liketh bet∣ter, and commeth up in greater plenty: the reason is, because it is not so firme and solid as o∣thers, and therefore requireth lesse nutriment: in regard whereof, also it commeth sooner to ripenesse and perfection.
How commeth this common prover be: Sow wheat in durt, and barley in dust?
IS it not as I said before, because wheat is able to overcome more nourishment, but barley [ 30] can not endure much moisture to drench and drowne it?
Or in this respect, that wheat being a stiffe and hard kinde of graine, resembling the nature of wood, doth sooner come and chit within the ground, in case it be well soked and softened with moisture, and therefore liketh better of a wet ground; whereas the drier soile at the first sowing agreeth better with barley, and is more commodious for it, being as it is, a more loose and spungeous kinde of graine.
Or because such a temperature of the ground in regard of the heat, is more proportionable and lesse hurtfull unto barley, being as it is the colder graine?
Or rather, husbandmen are affraid to * 1.7 thrash their wheat upon a dry and sandy floore, be∣cause [ 40] of * 1.8 ants; for soone will they take to that kind of graine in such a place. As for barley, they use lesse to beare it, because the cornes thereof be hard to be caried and recaried from one place to another, they are so bigge.
What is the cause that fishers chuse the haire of stone-horsetailes, rather than of mares, to make their angling lines?
IS it because the male, as in all other parts, so in haire also, is more strong than the female?
Or rather, for that they thinke the haire of mares tailes, drenched and wet as it is ever and anon with their staling, is more brittle and woorse than the other? [ 50]
What is the reason that when the * 1.9 Calamacie fish is seene in the sea, it is a signe of a great tempest?
IS it because all soft and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fishes are very impatient of colde and of foule-weather, they be so bare and naked, and have withall their flesh exceeding tender, as being covered, neither with shell nor thicke skinne, ne yet scale; but contrariwise, having their hardy, gristly, and bony
substance within? which is the reason that all such fishes be called Malacia, as one would say, Soft and tender. For which cause naturally they soone foresee a tempest, and feele colde com∣ming, for that it is offensive unto them: and therefore likewise, when the Poulpe or Polyp run∣neth to land, and catcheth holde of some little rocks, it is a token that there is great winde to∣ward. And for the Calamacie, he leapeth forth for to avoid the colde and the trouble or agitati∣on of the water in the bottome of the sea: for of other soft fishes, his flesh is most tender and ap∣test to be pierced and hurt.
Why doth the Polyp change his colour? [ 10]
IS it according to the opinion of Theophrastus, because it is a fearefull and timorous creature by nature; and therefore when he is troubled or amazed as his spirit turneth, so he altereth withall his colour, even as we men do? whereupon we say in the common proverbe:
The coward, in view Soone changeth hew.
Or may this be a good probable conjecture of the change, but not sufficient, for the resem∣blance? considering that he changeth so, as heresembleth the rocks which he setleth upon. Un∣to which propertie, Pindarus alluded in these verses:
His minde doth alter most mutable, To Poulpe the sea-fish skin semblable; [ 20] Which changeth hue to echthing sutable: To live in all worlds he is pliable.And Theognis:
Put on a minde like Polype fish, and learne so to dissemble: Which of the rocke whereto it sticks, the colour doth resemble.
Also, men usually say, such as surpasse others for cunning and cautelous dealing, studie and practise this: that for to save themselves, and not to be seene or knowen of those about them, they alwaies will be like unto the poulpe, and change their colours, that is to say, their maners [ 30] and behaviour.
Or do they thinke such an one to make use of his colour readily, as of a garment, to change and put on another whensoever he will?
Well then, the poulpe fish himselfe, by his feare may haply give the occasion and begin∣ning of this change and passion; but the principall point of the cause consisteth in something els. And therefore weigh and consider what Empedocles writeth:
Wot well, all mortall things that be, Defluxions havein some degree.
For there passe away continually, many defluxions, not onely from living creatures, plants, earth and sea, but also from stones, brasse and iron: for all things perish and yeeld a smell, in [ 40] that there runneth something alwaies from them, and they weare continually: insomuch as it is thought that by these defluxions are all attractions and insultations: and some suppose their embracings and connexions; others, their smilings: some their impulsions, and I wot not what circumplexions and environments, to be attributed unto such defluxions; and especially from rocks and stones along the sea continually, washed and dashed with the waves, therebe decisions passe of some parcels and small fragments, the which do cleave unto other bodies, and cling a∣bout those which have their pores more strict and close, or els passe thorow such as have the same over rare and open. As for the flesh of the Polype, it is to see to, fistulous and spongeous, like unto hony-combs, apt to receive all such defluxions and decisions from other bodies, when as then he is afraid, his winde goeth and commeth, and withall, shutteth up his bodie, and [ 50] bringeth it together, that he may receive and reteine in the superficies of his skin, the defluxi∣ons that come from that which is next it: for the rivels and wrinckles of his soft skin, which are knit with feare, are in stead of crooke and bending cleies fit to enterteine the defluxions and par∣cels lighting upon them, which scatter not heere and there, but gathering upon the skin, make the superficies thereof to be of semblable colour. And that this is a true cause, it may appeare by one great argument, namely, that neither the Polyp doth resemble in colour all that which is
neere unto it, not the Chamaeleon the white colour; but both the one & the other, such things onely, as the defluxions whereof are proportionate unto their pores and small passages.
What is the cause that the teares of wilde boares be sweet, but of stagges and hinds, saltish and un∣pleasant to the taste?
HEat and colde are the cause of both; for the stagge is colde of nature, but the bore excee∣ding hot and fierie: whereupon it is, that the one fleeth away, the other maketh head, and stands to it when he is assaulted, and then is it most of all that he sheddeth teares, upon a fell [ 10] heart: for when plentie of heat (as I said before) mounteth up unto his eies,
His bristles stare and stand upright, His ardent eyes like fire are bright.and so the humour that distilleth from his eies, is sweet. Others say, that these teares are pressed and wrong out from the bloud being troubled, like as whey from milke: and of this opinion was Empedocles. And forasmuch as the bloud of the wilde bore is blacke and thicke in regard of heat, but that of stags and hinds, thin and waterish, great reason there is that the teares which passe from the one in anger, and the other in feare, should be such as is aforesaid.
What is the reason, that tame swine do farrow often in one yeere, some at one time, and some at ano∣ther; whereas the wilde of that kinde, bring forth pigs but once in the yeere, and all of them in a maner upon the same daies, and those are in the beginning of Summer: whereupon we say in our vulgar proverbe:
The night once past, of wilde sowes farrowing: T'will raine no more be sure, for any thing.
IS it (thinke you) for the plentie they have of meat; as in trueth, fulnesse brings wantonnesse, and of full feeding comes lust of breeding: for abundance of food causeth superfluitie of seed, aswell in living creatures as in plants. As for the wilde swine, they seeke their victuals them∣selves, [ 30] and that with travell and feare: whereas the tame have alwaies store thereof, either natu∣rally growing for them, or els provided by mans industry.
Or is the cause of this difference to be attributed unto the idle life of the one, and the pain∣full labour of the other: for the domesticall and tame are sluggish, and never wander farre from their swineherds: but the other range and rove abroad among the forrests and mountaines, running to and fro, dispatching quickly all the food they can get, and spending it every whit upon the substance of their bodies, leaving no superfluities, expedient for geniture or seed.
Or may it not be, that tame sowes doe keepe company, feed and goe in heards together with their bores, which provoketh their lust, and kindleth the desire to engender: according as Empedocles hath written of men in these verses: [ 40]
The sight of eie, doth kindle lust in brest, Of looking, liking, then loving and the rest.Whereas the wilde, because they live apart, and pasture not together, have no such desire and lust one to another; for their naturall appetite that way is dulled and quenched.
Or rather, that is true which Aristotle saith, namely, that Homer calleth a wilde bore 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as having but one genetorie, for that the most part of them, in rubbing themselves against the trunks and stocks of trees, doe crush and breake their stones.
What is the reason of this usuall speech: that beares have a most sweet hand, and that their flesh is [ 50] most pleasant to be eaten?
BEcause those parts of the body which doe best concoct and digest nourishment, yeeld their flesh most delicate: now that concocteth and digesteth best, which stirreth most, and doth greatest exercise: like as the beare mooveth most this part, for his forepawes he useth as feet to goe and runne withall, he maketh use also of them as of hands to apprehend and catch any thing.
What is the cause that in the spring time wilde beasts are hardly hunted by the sent, and followed by the trace?
IS it for that hounds, as Empedocles saith,
By sent of nosthrils, when they trace Wilde beast, to finde their resting place.doe take hold of those vapours and defluxions which the said beasts leave behind them in the wood as they passe: but in the spring time these are confounded or utterly extinct by many other smels of plants and shrubs, which as then be in their flower, and comming upon the aire that the beasts made, and intermingled therewith, do trouble and deceive the sent of the [ 10] hounds, whereby they are put out and at default, that they cannot truly hunt after them by their trace; which is the reason, (men say) that upon the mountaine Aetna, in Sicilie, there is never any hunting with hounds, for that all the yeere long there is such abundance of flowers, both in hilles and dales, growing as it were in a medow or garden, whereof the place smelleth all over so sweet, that it will not suffer the hounds to catch the sent of the beasts: And verily, there goeth a tale, that Pluto ravished Prosperpina as she was gathering flowers there: in which regard the inhabitants honouring the place with great reverence and devotion, never put up or hunt the beasts that pasture about that mountaine.
What is the reason, that when the moone is at the full, it is very hard for hounds to meet with wilde [ 20] beasts by the trace or sent of the footing?
IS it not for the same cause before alledged, for that about the full moone there is engendred store of deaw: whereupon it is that the poet Aleman calleth deaw the daughter of Jupiter, and the moone in these verses:
Dame Deaw is nourse, whom of god Jupiter And lady Moone, men call the daughter.For the deaw is nothing else but a weake and feeble raine: and why? because the heat of the moone is but infirme: whereof it commeth to passe, that she draweth up vapours indeed from the earth, as doeth the sunne, but not able to fetch them up aloft, not there to comprehend [ 30] them, letteth them fall againe.
What is the cause that in a white or hoarie frost, wilde beasts are hardly traced?
WHether is it for that they being loth for very colde to range farre from their dennes, leave not many marks of their footings upon the ground: which is the reason that at other times they make spare of that prey which is neere unto them, for feare of danger if they should be forced to range farre abroad in Winter, and because they would have ready at hand about them at such an hard season to feed upon.
Or else is it requisit that the place where men doe hunt, have not onely the tracts of the beast to be seene, but also of force to affect the sent of the hounds, and to set their nosthrils a worke; [ 40] but then doe they moove this sense of theirs, when as they are gently dissolved and dilated as it were by heat: whereas the aire if it be extreme colde, congealing as it were the smels, will not suffer them to spread and be diffused abroad, thereby to move the sense: and heereupon it is (as folke say) that perfumes, ointments, and wines, be lesse fragrant and odoriferous in Winter, or in cold weather, than at other times, for the aire being it selfe bound and shut close, doth like∣wise stay within it all sents, and will not suffer them to passe foorth.
What is the cause that brute beasts, so often as they are sicke, or feele themselves amisse, seeke after [ 50] divers medicinable meanes for remedie, and using the same, finde many times helpe? as for example: dogges when they be stomacke sicke, fall to eat a kinde of quitchy grasse, because they would cast and vomit choler; hogges search for craifishes of the river, for by feeding upon them they cure their headach; the tortois is likewise having eaten the flesh of a viper, eateth upon it the her be origan; and the beare when she is full in the stomacke and doth loath all victuals, licketh up pismires with her tongue, which she no sooner hath swallowed downe, but she is wa∣rished, and yet none of all this were they taught, either by experience, or some casuall occasion?
IS it then the smel that mooveth them to seeke these remedies, and like as the hony combes by the odor stirre up the bee: and the flesh of dead carions the vultures, drawing and alluring them a farre of: so the craifishes invite unto them swine, origan the tortoise, and pismires the beare, by certaine sents and fluxions which are accommodate and familiar unto them, without any sense leading them thereto by discourse of reason, and teaching them what is good and pro∣fitable?
Or rather be they the temperatures of the bodies disposed unto sicknesse, that bring unto these creatures such appetites, engendring divers ceremonies, sweetnesses, or other strange & unusu∣all qualities: as we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it ordinary in great bellied women, who during the time that they go with [ 10] childe fall to eat grit & earth with greedinesse? in so much as expert phisitians fore-know by the sundry appetites of their patients, whether they shall live or die, for so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the phisitian doth report, that in the beginning of the Pneumonie or inflamation of the lungs, one patient of his, longing for to eate onions escaped that maladie; and another whose appetite stood to figgs, died for it, of the same disease: for that the appetites follow the temperatures, and the tem∣peratures are proportionate to the diseases.
It standeth therefore to great reason that beasts likewise, such as are not surprised with mor∣tall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , nor sicke to death, have that disposition and temperature, whereby their appetites doe moove and provoke each one to that which is good and holsome, yea and expedient to the cure of their sicknesse.
What is the cause that must or new wine, cotinueth sweet a long time, in case the vessell wherein it is kept be colde round about it?
IS it because the alteration of this sweet savour into the naturall taste of wine, is the very con∣coction of the wine; and colde hindereth the said concoction, which proceedeth from heat
Or contrariwise, because the proper joice and naturall savour of the grape is sweet, for we say that then the grape beginneth to ripen, when it waxeth sweet. Now colde not suffring new wine to exhale, but keeping the kinde heat thereof within, preserveth the said sweetnesse still. And this is the very cause that those who make their vintage in a rainy constitution of the weather, [ 30] doe finde that their new wine wil not worke so wel in the vault, because that such ebullition pro∣ceedeth of heat, and the colde doth restraine and refresh the said heat.
What is the cause that of all savage beasts, the beare doth never lightly gnaw the net and toile with her teeth, whereas wolves and foxes use ordinarily to eate the same?
IS it for that her teeth grow farre within her mouth, in such sort that she cannot get within the cords of the nets, having besides so great and thicke lippes betweene, that they hinder her for catching hold with her said fangs.
Or rather because she having more force in her fore-feet, which she useth in stead of hands [ 40] therewith she doth teare and breake the cords; or else having use both of her pawes and also of her month: she imploieth those to the bursting of the nets, and with her teeth fighteth, and ma∣keth her part good against the hunters. Besides the tumbling and rolling of her body that she doth practise, serveth her in as good stead as any thing else. And therefore seeing her selfe in danger to be taken within the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 many times, casteth her selfe round upon her head, and in∣devoureth that way to escape, rather than either by pawes or fangs to burst the toile.
What is the reason that we woonder not to see any sources or springs of colde water, like as we doe of hot? notwithstanding it is evident that as heat is the cause of these so is colde of the other. [ 50]
FOr we must not say as some holde opinion, that heat indeed is an habitude of it selfe, but colde nothing else but the privation of heat: for it were in truth more woonderfull how that which hath no subsistance, should be the cause of that which hath a beeing. But it seemeth that nature would have us to woonder heereat, onely for the rare sight heereof; and because it is not often seene, therefore we should enquire for some secret cause, and demand how that may be, which is but seldome observed.
But seest thou this starry firmament, So high above and in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vast, In bosom moist of water element, The earth beneath how it encloseth fast,How many strange and woonderfull sights doth it represent unto us in the night season, and what beauty sheweth it unto us in the day time? and the common people woonder at the na∣ture of these things * * As also at the rainebowes, and the divers tinctures formes and pictures of the clouds appeering by day: and how they be adorned with sundry shapes, breaking out of them in maner of bubbles. [ 10]
What is the cause that when vines or other yoong plants, which be ranke of leaves, and otherwise fruitlesse, are said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉?
IS it because that goats in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which are exceding fat, be lesse apt to engender, and hardly for their fatnesse can leape the females. For generative seed is the superfluous excre∣ment of that nourishment which is conglutinate to the substantiall parts of the body. Now when as any living creature or plant is in very good plight and growen grosse, it is an evident signe, that the nouriture is imploied and spent altogether in the maintenance of it selfe, leaving no excrement at all, or the same very small, and not good for generation. [ 20]
What is the reason, that if a vine be sprinkled and drenched with wine, especially that which came of the owne grape it drieth and withereth away?
IS there not the same reason heereof as of the baldnesse in great drinkers, when as the wine by meanes of heat, causeth the moisture to evaporate which should feed the haire of their head?
Or is it not rather, because the very liquor of wine commeth in some sort of putrefaction, according to the verses of Empedocles:
When in vine-wood the water 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , [ 30] It turnes to wine, whiles under barke it lies.When as then a vine commeth to be wet with wine outwardly, it is as much as if fire were put into it, which doth corrupt the naturall temperature of that humour which should nourish it?
Or rather, pure wine, being of an astringent nature, soketh and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the very root, where shutting up and enclosing the pores, it empeacheth the entrance of that sap (by vertue whereof, the vine is woont to bud, burgen, and flourish) that it can not runne to the stocke?
Or may it not be, it is cleane contrary to the nature of a vine, that the liquor which once went out of it, should returne againe into it? for a liquor or humour whiles it is within the plant in the nature of a sap, may well have power to feed the same; but that being departed once from thence, it should joine thereto againe, or become a part thereof, I cannot see how it is possible. [ 40] * 1.10
* * * * * * * * * * *
Why doth the date tree onely of all others arise archwise, and bend upward, when a weight is laide thereupon?
WHether may it not be that the fire and spiritual power which it hath and is predominant in it, being once provoked, and as it were angred, putteth foorth it selfe so much the more, and mounteth upward?
Or because the poise or weight aforesaid forcing the boughes suddenly, oppresseth and kee∣peth [ 50] downe the airie substance which they have, and driveth all of it inward: but the same after∣wards having resumed strength againe, maketh head afresh, and more egerly withstandeth the weight?
Or lastly, the softer and more tender branches not able to susteine the violence at first, so soone as the burden resteth quiet, by little and little lift up themselves, and make a shew as if they rose up against it.
What is the reason that pit-water is lesse nutritive than either that which ariseth out of springs, or falleth downe from heaven?
IS it because it is more colde, and withall hath lesse aire in it?
Or, for that it conteineth much salt therein, by reason of such store of earth mingled there∣with: now it is well knowen, that salt above all other things causeth leannesse.
Or because standing as it doeth still, and not exercised with running and stirring, it getteth a certaine malignant quality, which is hurtfull and offensive to all living creatures drinking thereof; for by occasion of that hurtfull qualitie, neither is it well concocted, nor yet can it [ 10] feed or nourish anything. And verily the same is the very cause that all dead waters of pooles and meares be unholsome, for that they cannot digest and dispatch those harmefull qualities which they borrow of the evill propertie, either of aire or of earth.
Why is the west wind held commonly to be of all other the swiftest, according to this verse of Homer:
Let us likewise bestir our feet, As fast as westerne winds do fleet.
IS it not thinke you, because this winde is woont to blow when the skie is very well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , [ 20] and the aire exceeding cleere and without all clouds; for the thicknesse and impuritie of the aire, doth not (I may say to you) a little impeach and interrupt the course of the winds.
Or rather, because the sunne with his beames striking through a cold winde, is the cause that it passeth the faster away; for whatsoever is drawen in by the refrigerative force of the windes, the same if it be overcome by heat as his enemie, we must thinke is driven and set forward both farther, and also with greater celeritie.
What should be the cause that bees cannot abide smoake?
WHether is it because the pores and passages of their vitall spirits be exceeding streight, [ 30] and if it chance that smoke be gotten into them and there kept in and intercepted, it is enough to stop the poore bees breath, yea and to strangle them quite?
Or is it not the acrimony and bitternesse (thinke you) of the smoke in cause? for bees are de∣lighted with sweet things, and in very trueth they have no other nourishment; and therefore no marvell if they detest and abhorre smoke, as a thing for the bitternesse most adverse and contra∣ry unto them: and therefore hony masters when they make a smoke for to drive away bees, are woont to burne bitter herbes, as hemlock, centaury, &c.
What might be the reason that bees will sooner sting those who newly before have committed [ 40] whoredome?
IS it not because it is a creature that woonderfully delighteth in puritie, cleanlinesse and ele∣gancie? and withall she hath a marvellous quicke sense of smelling: because therefore such uncleane dealings betweene man and woman in regard of fleshly and beastly lust, immoderate∣ly performed, are wont to leave behind in the parties much filthinesse and impurity; the bees both sooner finde them out, and also conceive the greater hatred against them: heereupon it is that in Theocritus the shepherd after a merry and pleasant maner, sendeth Venus away into An∣chises to be well stung with bees, for her adultery; as appeereth by these verses:
Now go thy wate to Ida mount, go to Anchises now, [ 50] Where mightie okes, where banks along of square Cypirus grow, Where hives and hollow truncks of trees, with hony sweet abound, Where all the place with humming noise of busie bees resound.
And Pindarus:
Thou painfull bee, thou pretie creature, Who hony-combs six-angled, as they be, With feet doest frame, false Rhoecus and impure, With sting hast prickt for his 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 .
What is the cause that dogges follow after a stone that is throwen at them, and biteth it, letting the man alone who flang it? [ 10]
IS it because he can apprehend nothing by imagination, nor call a thing to minde: which are gifts and vertues proper to man alone? and therefore, seeing he can not discerne nor con∣ceive the partie indeed that offered him injurie, he supposeth that to be his enemie which see∣meth in his eie to threaten him, and of it he goes about to be revenged?
Or thinking the stone whiles it runnes along the ground, to be some wilde beast, according to his nature he intendeth to catch it first: but afterwards, when he seeth himselfe deceived and put besides his reckoning, he setteth upon the man?
Or rather, doth he not hate the stone and man both alike; but pursueth that onely which is next unto him?
What is the reason that at a certeine time of the yeere, shee woolves doe all whelpe within the com∣passe of twelve daies?
ANtipater in his booke conteining the historie of living creatures, affirmeth, that shee woolves exclude foorth their yoong ones about the time that mast-trees doe shed their blossomes; for upon the taste thereof their wombs open: but if there be none of such blowmes to be had, then their yoong die within the bodie, and never come to light. He saith moreo∣ver, that those countries which bring not foorth oaks and mast, are never troubled nor spoiled with wolves. Some there be who attribute all this to a tale that goes of Latona; who being with childe, and finding no abiding place of rest and safetie by reason of Juno, for the space of [ 30] twelve daies; during which time, the went to Delos, being transmuted by Jupiter into a wolfe, obteined at his hands, that all wolves for ever after might within that time be delivered of their yoong,
How commeth it, that water seeming white aloft, sheweth to be blacke in the bottome?
IS it, for that depth is the mother of darkenesse, as being that which doth dimme and marre the Sunne beames before they can descend so low as it: as for the uppermost superficies of the water, because it is immediatly affected by the Sunne, it must needs receive the white brightnesse of the light; the which Empedocles verily approveth in these verses: [ 40]
Ariver in the bottome seemes, by shade of colour blacke; The like is seene in caves and holes, by depth, where light they lacke.
Or many times the bottome of the sea and great rivers being full of mud, doth by the refle∣xion of the Sunne-beames represent the like colour that the said mud hath?
Or is not more probable, that the water toward the bottome is not pure and sincere, but cor∣rupted with an earthly qualitie, as continually carying with it somewhat of that, by which it run∣neth and wherewith it is stirred; and the same setling once to the bottome, causeth it to be more troubled and lesse transparent? [ 50]
Coaxant. Lat. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 .
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 object of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 as 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , and 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 although I know, we co∣monly attri∣bute 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 : but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as I thinke.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, haply 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 setting.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, some translate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 husband∣men, reading
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hap∣ly it should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 , unlesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 under∣stand it thus, that their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of corne and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 were neere unto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 corne lands.
For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 breed in 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 .
Some take it for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 .
* I finde no more of these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Greeke origi∣nall, or the French tran∣slation, but in one Latine translation it followeth on in this wise,