QVEST. LVII. Of the obiect of Tasting.
THe obiect of the Taste sayth Aristotle in the fourth Chapter of his Booke de Sensu & sensili, is not onely more euident and manifest vnto vs then the O∣dours * 1.1 are, but also then all other Sensible Obiects. The reason we may giue out of the same place of Aristotle, because the Taste is a kinde of Touching, which Sense in a man is more perfect then all the rest.
Now the Obiect of the Taste is that which is Gustabile or Gustile, which wordesigni∣fieth two things, to wit, a Sapour or quality and affection seated in a sapide body, and the body it selfe wherein the Sapour is. But the Sapour is the proper and adequated or pro∣portionable * 1.2 obiect of the Taste, and therefore Aristotle appropriateth the word Gustabile to a Sapour. As sayth he visible est color, sic Gustabile est sapor, as that which is visible is a Colour, so that which is Gustile is a Sapour: as if he should say, that a Gustable body is no way Gustile or to be Tasted, but onely in respect of his Sapour. Yet hee oftentimes puts Gustabile for Sapor; the reason is, because a Sapour hath no existence of it selfe, ney∣ther can it moue the Sense but hath all his being and essence in the mixt body. That ther∣fore which he calleth Gustabile is a mixt body, which in respect of that quality which is cal∣led a Sapour is Gustile or may be Tasted. Not but that a Sapour doeth by it selfe mooue the Sense, but because it cannot subsist without the mixt body, for considered euen with∣out the mixt body it may be sayd to be the obiect of Tast, because it is it alone in the mixt body which moueth that Sense.