Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana, or, A fabrick of science natural, upon the hypothesis of atoms founded by Epicurus repaired [by] Petrus Gassendus ; augmented [by] Walter Charleton ...

SECT. II.

* 1.1FRom this General Disquisition into the Reasons of All Sympathy, and Ant••pat••y, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most of those Proprieties, which by Ph••lo∣sophers are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as stupendious and Abscon••ite, are u••u••lly refer∣red; we must ••••vance to the Consideration of Part••cular inst••n••es, that by the Solution of Singula••s, we may afford the gre••ter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to mens Curi••sity, and ••••ve so many Oppo••tunities of examining t••e Verisimili∣ty of our former Thesis, that all such Effects, the knowledge of w••ose causes is generally 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of, are produced by Sub••••a••tial and Explicable Means. An•• in order her••unto, we shall, according to the method of the no less 〈◊〉〈◊〉 than Judicious ••racastorius (de Sympath. & Antipath. Rerum) Distin••u••sh All Occult ••ualities into General, and Special; sub∣dividing the Generall into (1) the Conspiration of the Parts ••f the Uni∣verse, and (2) the I••flux of Caelestial upon Sublunary Bodies: and the Speciall into such as Concern (1) Inanimates, (2) Insensibles, (3) Sen∣sibles.

* 1.2To the FIRST GENERAL ORDER, viz. the Conspiration and Harmony of all Parts of the Universe, Philosophers unanimously ad∣scribe the Avoidance of Vacuity; whereupon many are the Secrets, that are presumed to ensue, as the Ascention of Heavy, Descent of Light Bodies, the Sejunction of Congenerous and Sociable Natures, the Conjunction and Union o•• ••iscordant and Unsociable, and the like Irregular and Prae∣posterous Effects. But, as for all these Secrets, we have long since de∣clared them to be no Secrets but the most ordinary and manifest operations of Nature. ••or, in our Ex••mination and Solution of all the Apparences in the late 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Experiment of introducing a Vacuum in a Tube, by Wa∣ter or Quick-silver, invented by Torri••••ius; we have at large proved, that Nature ••••th not abhor any but Sensible, or Coacervate Emptiness: nor that neither 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or upon the necessity of an absolute Plenitude of all places ••n the ••niverse; but by Accident only, and that either in respect of the natural Confluxibility of the parts of Fluid Bodies, such as Aer and Water, which causeth them with great velocity to flow into the parts of Space ••e••erted by a body passing thorow them; or of the Repugnancie of admitting tw•• bodies into one and the same place, at the same time, their Solidity prohibiting the penetration of ones dimensions by the other. Wherefore, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no man henceforth account the Conspiration of the Parts of the Universe, to be an Occult Quality; or so much stand amazed at all or any of th••••e Phaenomena, which arise from Natures Aversion from Va∣cuity 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as if they had some Extraordinary Lawes and Constitutions particularly o••dained for their production, and belonged to some higher Oeconomy th••n that, according to which she regulates her Common Active and Passive Principles.

To the SECOND,* 1.3 viz. the Influx of Caelestial upon Sublunary Bodies, innumerable are the Effects, which the Fraud of some, the Ad∣miration of many, and the Credulity of most have confidently imputed: and therefore it cannot be expected, we should, in this place, so much as Enumerate the one Half, much less insist upon them All. Sufficient it is, to the Acquitance of our praesent Debt, that we select the most conside∣rable among them, and such as seem Capital and Comprehensive of all the rest. As for the Power and Influence of the Stars, of which Astrologers talk such wonders, and with such pride and ostent••t••on; truly, we have Reason to assure us, that our Cognation and Subjection to those ra••iant Bodies, is not so great as that not only All the Actions, Fortunes, and Accidents of Particular men, but even the Warres, Peace, Mutations, Subversions of whole Empires, Nations, States, and Provinces should depend upon their Smiles or Frowns: as if All Occurrents on the theatre of our Lower Orb, were but the orderly and necessary Effects of the Prae∣scriptions and Consignations of the Superior Orbs; or as if there were no Providence Divine, no Liberty of Mans Will.

(2) As for the Reciprocation, or Afflux and Reflux of the Sea,* 1.4 so generally fathered upon the Influx and Motion of the Moon, which doth herself suffer the like Ebbs and Floods of her borrowed Light; tis well known, how Seleucus of old, and Galilaeus of late, have more ful∣ly and roundly deduced it from the motion ascribed to the Earth. And though we should allow this great Phaenomenon to depend upon the se∣veral Adspects or Phases of the Moon, yet is there no necessity to drive us to the subterfuge of any Occult and Immaterial Influence from her wax∣ing and waning Light: since the System of Des Cartes in Princip. Philo∣seph. part. 4. page 22. •• doth much more satisfactorily make it out, from the Elliptical Figure of the Sphere, wherein the Moon moves; as will soon appear to the Examiner.

(3) As for the Diurnall Expansion, and Conversion of the Helio∣trope toward the Sun;* 1.5 though great notice hath been taken thereof by the Ancients, and most of our Modern Advancers of the Vanities of Natural Magick (who will have every Plant to retain to some one of the Planets, by some secret Cognation, and peculiar sympathie.) have laboured to heighten it to the degree of a Wonder: yet can we not con∣ceive the Effect to be so singular, nor that any such Solemne Reason need be assigned thereunto. For, every mans observation may certifie him, that all Marygolds, Tulippa's, Pimpernell, Wartwoort, Mallow Flowers, and indeed most other Flowers, so long as they are in their Vigour and Pride, use to Open and Dilate toward noon and somewhat Close and recontract themselves after Sun set. And the Cause (surely) is only the Warmth of the Suns Rayes, which discussing the Cold and Moisture of the praecedent Night (whereby the Leaves were loaden towards the bot∣tom, or in the bowle of the Flower, and so made to rise more upright and conjoyn their tops) and somewhat Exsiccating the Flower, make the pe∣destalls of its leaves more flaccid, so that they seem to expand and un∣fold themselves, and incline more outwards, meerly by reason of their want of strength to sustain themselves in an erect and concentrical posture: for alwayes the hotter the Day, the greater is the Expansion. Likewise,

as for the Flowers Conversion to, or Confronting the Sun in all its pro∣gress above the horizon, wherein our Darksom Authors of Magick Na∣tural, principally place the Magnale; the Cause thereof is so far from be∣ing more obscure than, that it is the very same with that of its Expansi∣on. For, as the Sun running his race from East to West, doth every mo∣ment vary the points of his Rayes vertical incidence upon the stalk which supports the Flower, and upon the leaves thereof; so must the whole Flower incline its head and wheel about accordingly: those parts of the stalk upon which the rayes are more perpendicular, and so the heat more intense, becoming more dry and flaccid, and so less able to support the bur∣then of the ••••ower, than those, which suffer only from the obli••n••, re∣flected and weaker beams. Notwithstanding this Solution, if any Champi∣on of secret Magnetism shall yet defend this Circulation to be a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Heliotrop••, to which no other Flower can praetend; and that this So∣lar Plant discovers it Amours to the Sun, by not only disclosing its rejoycing head and b••som at the praesence, and wrapping them up again in the mantle of its owne disconsolate and languishing leaves, during the absence of its Lover, but also by facing him all day long: lest He should insult, upon an apprehension, that our theory is at a loss, we shall tell him, in a word; that that Propriety, which he supposeth, must consist only in such a peculiar Contexture and Disposition of the particles, which compose its Leaves, as makes them more sit to receive, and be moved, and their spiritual and most subtle parts to be in a manner Circulated by the Rayes of the Sun, than the Leaves of any other Flower whatever. As in the Organ of Smelling, there is a certain Peculiar Contexture of its insensible Component Parti∣cles, which renders it alone capable of being moved and affected by Odours, that have no influence nor activity at all upon the Eye, Eare, or other Or∣gan of Sense.

* 1.6(4) Great things have been spoken also of the Garden Claver, which bareth its bosom, and hideth the upper part of its stalk, whenever the Sun shines hot and bright upon it: but, this doubtless) hath the same Cause, as the Former, the Hiding of the stalk being nothing but an over-expansion of the Leaves, which by reason of the violent ardour of the Sun, grow more faint and flaccid, and so less able to support themselves.

* 1.7(5) A Fifth Secret, found in the Catalogue of Caelestial Influxes, is the Crowing of the House-Cock, at certain and periodical times of night and day, and more especially soon after midnight, and about day break: for, most esteem it an Occult Propriety, and all our Crollians and such as promote the dreams of Signatures and Sydereal Analogies, reckon the Cock a cheif Solar Animal, for this reason alone; as if his Phansy received some magnetique touches and impressions from the Sun, which made him pro∣clame his A••vent into our Hemisphere, and like a faithful Watch or Clock, measure out the severall stages in its race. Great enquiry also hath been made after the Cause hereof, in all ages, and various Conceptions enter∣tained concerning it. Some with lofty and Rhetorical Discourses en∣devouring to persuade, that Nature intended this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (as Plu••arch 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it) or Gallicinium, as an Alarme to rouse up sluggish man from the dull armes of sleep, and summon him to the early Contem∣plation of her Works; as Pliny (Natural. Histor. lib. 10. cap. 21.)

Others ascribing it to a Desire of Venery in this Animal, arising from the turgescence and stimulation of his sperm, at certain periods; as Erasmus, who is therefore worthily and sufficiently derided by Scaliger (Exercit. 239) Others assigning it to an Appetite of Aliment, inva∣ding and exciting after determinate intervalls; as Cardan. And others alleaging we (nor themselves) know not what peculiar influence of the Sun, causing a suddain mutation, or Evocation of the Spirits and blood of the Cock, which were Concentred by sleep; as Caelias Rhodigi∣nus (lib. 16. Antiq. Lection. cap. 13.) But, All these Great Clerks seem to have graspt the ear, and catched at shadowes. For (1) it may be doubted, that all Cocks, in one and some meridian, doe not Crow at the same times of night or day; and that no Cock doth ob∣serve set and punctual times of Crowing; both which are praesumed: and whoever shall think it worth the loss of a nights sleep, as we have done, to observe the Crowing of sundry Cocks in some Country Vil∣lage, where the Houses stand scatteringly and far asunder, so that the Cocks cannot awake each other; will, perhaps, more than doubt of ei∣ther. (2) It is, as Natural, so Familiar to the Cock, so often as his Ima∣gination is moved by a copious and fresh afflux of Spirits to his Brain, to rowze up himself, clapp his wings, and sound his trumpet as well at noon, after noon, and at other times of day and night, upon seve∣ral occasions; as when he hath escaped some late danger, obtained a victory, found some treasury of grain, compressed his mistress, and the like; as if his joy were not complete, till he had communicated the tidings thereof to his Wives and Neighbours, by the elevation of his gladsome and triumphat voice. (3) May we not allowe the Cock to have his set times of Sleeping and Waking, as well as all other Living Creatures, that live suo jure, and according to the Aphorisms of their Specifical Constitutions, and regiment of their proper Archaea's; and likewise most Men, who live healthfully and orderly, keeping to con∣stant hours for labour, meat, rest and sleep? (4) What need is there that we should have recourse to such a far-fetcht (and never brought home) Cause, as that of a Secret Commerce, and peculiar Sympathy betwixt this Fowl and the Sun in the other Hemisphere; when we have a more probable and manifest one, neerer hand; viz. The suddain in∣vasion of the Cock, by encreased Cold soon after midnight? For, when the Sun hath made some sensible advance in the lower world, beyond the Nadir point or midnight circle, and hasteneth toward our East; He moves and drives along before him into our horizon, the (formerly) quiet and cold Aer of the Night: which invading the Cock, disturbs him from his rest, during which his Heat is retired inward, and awakens him on the suddain: so that rowzing up himself, exciting his courage, and dif∣fusing his Spirits again into his members, to oppose that Cold, and per∣haps also to prevent his falling from the perch; he stands up, clappeth his wings against his sides, and chants a cheerfull Paean to himself and Roost∣fellowes, celebrating his safety and conquest with the loud musick of his throat.

* 1.8(6) A sixth notable Secret, appertaining to the same Classis, is that of the Encrease of the Substance of Shell Fish, of the Brains in Coneys, and of the Marrow in the bones of most Land Animalls, as the moon approacheth her Full; and the Decrease of them again, as her Light decreaseth toward her New. But, laying aside all Lunar Magnetism, Immaterial Influxes, and the like Toyes put into Great Words; we take it, the Phaenomenon may be well enough solved, by referring it meerly to the Moons great Humidity; at least, if those vast Duskish spots, apparent in her Orb, be her moist Element, carrying some analogy to our Seas, as the most and best of our Modern Astronomers have believed, and upon grounds almost de∣monstrative, and wholly irrefutable. For, insomuch as the Rayes of the Sun, in greater abundance falling upon the face of the Moon, toward and at her Full, than in her Wane, are accordingly more abundantly reflect∣ed from thence upon our Terraqueous Globe, bringing along with them no sparing Tincture of the Moons Moisture; so that the Light which is Reflected from the Oceans in the moon, being more moist than warm, must needs be more Prolifical, Generative, and praedisposed to the Nutri∣tion of Animals: and that in the New of the Moon no such plentiful Ab∣duction of her moisture can be expected, because fewer of the Suns Rayes are, at that time, Reflected from her Orb to ours; why should it be thought so strange, that either Aquatile, or Terrestrial Animals should be nourish∣ed more plentifully at the Full, than New of the Moon? Especially since it is no praecarious, nor novell Assertion, that the Light coming from the Moon, ••s tincted with Humidity, as being reflected from the Wa∣tery as well as solid parts of her Orb; Experience having frequently de∣monstrated, that the Calorifick Rayes not only of the Sun, but even of our terrestrial and culinary Fires, being trajected through various Li∣quors, and other Catoptricall bodies, or reflected from them, doe imbibe and carry off much of their Virtues, and become thereby impraegnate, so as to be praedisposed to the production of sundry noble Effects, such spe∣cially as relate to the Alteration, Germination, Pullulation, and Gene∣ration of Vegetables and Animals, both Aquatile, and Terrestrial. Ne∣vertheless, in case this Cause assigned seem somewhat Remote and ob∣scure, we shall alleage Another, sufficiently verisimilous to ease men of their wonder, at the Fullness of the Shell Fish in the Full moon, and their Leane•••• in the New; and that is the Encrease of the Tides of the Sea, which ascending higher upon the shoars, at the Full moon, and wash∣ing down m••re of Mudd, Slime and Saltness from thence, afford greater plenty of A••••ment to all Shell Fish: which delight in, and thrive best up∣on such k••nd of food, and are observed therefore to frequent foul and slimy shoa••••, and yet neerer and neerer to land, as the Tides rise higher and higher, and again remove farther and farther off, as the tides sink lower and lower.

* 1.9(7) To this Classis also belongs the Famous Selenites, or Moon-Geeme, a certain praecious stone, found only in Arabia, as Dioscorides (lib. 5. cap. 110.) delivers: whose rare and singular Faculty is this, that it repraesents the Moon in all her several Dresses of Light, or Apparences, encreasing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lustre exactly as she encreaseth hers, and proportionately losing it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Relations be true, which have been made thereof by Authors of the highest form for Credit, namely Pliny (lib. 36. cap. 10.) S. Au∣gustin

(de Civit. D. lib. 21. cap. 5.) Zanardus (de Univers. Element quaest. 53.) Nichol. Caussinus (lib. 11. Symbol 5••.) ••oh. Daniel Mylius (Ba∣silicae Chymic. lib. 5. cap 28.) and many modern Mineralogists. Now, for the Reason of this Rarity, in all liklihood, it must be if not the very same, yet Cousin German to that of the former. Because, it is very proba∣ble, that some certain portion of a thin, fluid and subtle matter (we may conceive it to be Hydrargycal, or relating to Quicksilver, since all the forenamed Authors describe the stone to be White and Candent of Co∣lour.) wherein the Lustre of the stone doth mostly consist, doth suffer some Alteration, according to the more and less of the Lunar Light in∣cident upon it; and is respectively Circulated through the looser or less compacted parts of the stone, after the same manner as the more subtle and spiritual parts of some Flowers are Circulated by the rayes of the Sun; the particular Configuration and Contexture of its insensible par∣ticles being such, as dispose to that Circulation, upon the influx of the Moons Light.

In the Inventory of SPECIAL Sympathies and Antipathies,* 1.10 the First Division Concerns INANIMATE Natures; and among such the first place belongs to the Attraction of I••on by the Loadstone the second to the Attraction of Straws and other small and light bodies by Amber and othe Electrique••: but such is the singular Excellency of the Forme, that it not only deserves, but challengeth a singular Chapter to its Disquisition; and the Rea••on of the other we have plainly, thou 〈…〉〈…〉, in the precaedent Section, the Consideration of the Wayes and Instru∣ments of all Attraction Natural, in the General, impelling us upon the Anticipation thereof.

In the Third,* 1.11 we are to examine the secret Amity of Gold and Quick∣silver, of Brass and Silver; which is so manifest, that whenever Gol•• ••s dissolved in Chrysulea or Aqua R••gis, and the Spirit or Dissolution of Quicksilver superadded thereto, the subtile E••fluvia streaming from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 particles of the Gold, will instantly lay hold of, and at distance attract and firmly embrace the particles of the Quicksilver, into which the Dissolving liquor hath subtiliated it; and in like manner, when Brass and Silver are dissolved in the same Aqua Fortis, their particles are observed to 〈…〉〈…〉 to concorporation, though the Spirits issuing from them, are not potent enough to perform an Attraction, while the Metals remain entire and in the mass. These Effects we conceive may well be referred to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cor∣respondency or Compossibility betwixt the Figures of the insensible par∣ticles, of which the Emissions from the Gold, and Brass consist and those of the pores, inequalities, and fastnings in the superfices of the Granules of the Dissolved Quicksilver, and Silver: but what those Figures are on each part, is above our hopes of determination; nor can we afford the Curious any other light for Conjecture in this true Abstrusity, but what himself may perceive to arise to him by Reflection from the Reasons, we shall hereafter give, for the Attraction of Iron by a Loadstone. In the mean while, we praesent Him, for Diversion of his Scrutiny, with a short and opportune COROLLARY.

* 1.12Delightful it is, and indeed Admirable to behold the Granules of Gold and Silver, though much more ponderous than those of the Aqua Regis, and Aqua Fortis, to be notwithstanding held up, and constantly kept in a floating and elevated posture by them. And yet, in all likelihood the Salt dissolved in those Corrosive Waters, must be the Sole Cause of that strange Effect. For, the Salts which are plentifully dissolved in those Li∣quors, by a kind of mutual Cohaesion of their insensible particles support∣ing each other from the bottom to the top of the Glass, or other contain∣ing vessel; doe sustain and bear up the Granules of the Metals which they have Corroded and Embraced. And this seems the more probable from hence; that if common Water, impraegnate with a few dropps of Oyle of Tartar (that Great instrument of Separation) be superinfused upon those Tinctures, the Granules of the dissolved Metals suddainly disengage them∣selves from the arms of the Corroding Salts, and sink to the bottom: the fresh Water yet father dissolving those Salts, and giving them fuller Flui∣dity; so that becoming more Attenuate, they lose their mutual Cohaesi∣on, and so their power of supporting; and tis well known, that Salt wa∣ter will beare up such bodies, as will hardly swim in fresh. And this we take to be the General Reason of all sorrs of Praecipitation, practised either by Chymists, or common Refiners of Metals: the Oyle of Tartar thereto con∣ducing no otherwise, than meerly as it serves to the farther Attenuation of the Salt Armoniack and other Corrosive Salts formerly dissolved in the strong Waters.

* 1.13(4) To the Fourth, we assign the Attraction of a Less Flame by a Greater; according to the erroneous Dialect of the People: for, really it is rather the Extension of a Greater Flame to the Fewel of a Less. For, the heat of a Greater Flame being proportionately more intense and diffusive, extends it self to the pabulum or nourishment of the less, where the same is situate within the Sphere of its power: and thence it comes to pass, that the Great∣er burning more strongly, by reason of that addition or augmentation of its fewel, doth more and more dilate it self that way, till at length it becomes wholly united to the Less. Which unexamining heads not understanding, have imputed to a certain Attractive faculty in the Greater Flame, depend∣ing upon the Identity of the two Natures, or more praecisely, the same Nature in two Divisions and many have rackt their brains to erect subtle Discourses thereupon, as if they wanted other Opportunities to exercise their Learn∣ing, and entertain their Curiosity.

* 1.14(5) To the Fifth belongs the supposed Attraction of Flame by Naphtha of Babylon, at distance; which is also improperly accounted an Attraction: for the Flame of its own accord flyeth to, and layeth hold of the Naphtha; and the Cause of that Involation is only this. From the body of the Naph∣tha there is emitted in round a certain fat and unctuous, and so soon inflam∣mable Halitus, o•• steam, which being extended to the borders of some flame posited at convenient distance, and thereby kindled in the extreme of its Sphere, becomes enflamed all along the Rayes, and they burning, soon bring home the flame to the body of the Naphtha, from which they are emitted, in a continued ••luor.

(6) Next to this,* 1.15 Philosophers usually place the Attraction of Water by a Spunge; wherein they are as much mistaken as in either of the two last. For, the Ascention of Water into the pores of a spunge, so placed as to touch only the superfice of it, comes not from any Appetite of At∣traction, or Suction inhaerent in the Spunge, as is generally praesumed and affirmed; but onely from the Depression, or downward impulse of the water by the swelling and sensibly dilating spunge; and the manner of that series of motions is thus. The skirts or lowest parts of the spunge, touching the superfice of the Water, immediately imbibe some parts of it into its pores, and becoming thereby dilated and tumid, press down the subjacent Water to such a proportion as responds to the quantity of their owne expansion; so that as they are more and more dilated by the admis∣sion of more and more parts of Water into their Cells or Receptaries, it must be, that the Water being more and more depressed toward the bot∣tom, must rise higher and higher on the sides of the Spunge, and insinuate it self into other and other pores successively, till the whole spunge be filled. Manifest it is by Experience, that if Water or any other Liquor, when it is though never so gently pressed in the superfice, find any the smallest Chinks in the body pressing it; it doth instantly rise up in round, and insinuate it self into those pores or Chinks, the sides thereof in a manner sustaining it, and so praeventing its relapse or efflux. This we cannot but observe, when we dip the nose of our Pen into ink; the small Cleft or slit in the lowest part of the Quill, assisting the Assent of the ink into the hollow thereof, and carrying up so much of it, as the mutual Coherence of its parts will permit: for, if we dipp the point of a Pen, which hath no slit, into a standish, we shall observe no such plenti∣ful Assent of ink; there being no support or fastnings for it on each side of the nose, and so no obstacles to its relapse and sudden efflux. And, as for the Reason, Why Water Ascends, when it meets with any body, that is Dry, Filamentous or Fibrous, and full of pores or Chinks, such as a Spunge, Cloth, Pen, &c. it may be most fully explained by the In∣stance of a Syphon, or Pump.

Take a Pipe of Lead, of the figure of a Carpenters Squire,* 1.16 whose one arme is longer then the other (such our Wine Coopers exhaust their Buts of Wine withal) and immerse the shortest into a Cistern of Water, so as it may come very neer the bottom, and yet the longer arme rest upon the margin of the Cistern, in a dependent or declining posture, then with your mouth suck forth the Aer contained in the cavity of the pipe: and you shall observe the Water quickly to follow on the heels of the Aer, and flow in full stream out of the Cistern through the pipe, without ceasing till all the Water, that covers the shortest arme of the pipe, and so hinders the ingress of the aer into its ori∣fice, be exhausted. Of this the Cause is only, that as your Cheeks are inflated and distended by the Aer, which upon exsuction comes rushing into your mouth, doe strongly move and impell the ambient aer; so doth that, receding, move and impell the neighbouring aer, and that again moves and impels the next, till the impulse be propagated to the surface of the Water in the Cistern: and the Water being thus depressed in the superfice, riseth up into the Cavity of the pipe, which the extracted Aer had newly deserted and left unpossessed; nor doth it thenceforth cease

to ascend and flow in a continued stream through the pipe, until all be ex∣hausted. Because, how much of Water flows through the pipe, exact∣ly so much of Aer is, by impulsion, Circulated into the place thereof; the last round of aer wanting any other place to receive it, but what it provides for its self in the Cistern, by depressing the water yet remaining therein: and thus the Circulation once begun, is continued, till all the Water hath past through the pipe.

* 1.17Upon the same Cause, or some other so like it, as tis no ease matter to discriminate them, doth that kind of Percolation of Liquors, and espe∣cially of Aqua Calcis, depend, which is made by a long piece of Woollen Cloth, whose one end lies in the Liquor, and other hangs over the brim of the vessel that contains it. For, the Liquor gently ascends and creeps along the filaments of the Cloth, because, being though but very lightly prest in it superfice by the same, it doth proportionately ascend in round, to deliver it self from that pressure; and by that motion impelling the incumbent Aer upwards, it causeth the same to Circulate and depress the surface of the Liquor, and so makes it rise by insensible degrees higher and higher along the hairs and threads of the Cloth, till at length it arrive at the highest part thereof resting upon the margin of the vessel; and thence it slides down the decline or propendent half of the Cloth, and falls down into the Recipient, by dropps. And this Motion is Continued till all the Liquor hath passed the Percolatory, leaving the faeces adhaerent to the fibres of the same: each drop impelling the Ambient Aer, and driving it in round, or by a Periosis, upon the surface of the Water, so long as any remains in the vessel. And this, we conceive, may suffice to any mans Comprehension of the Reason of the Repletion of a Spunge, by Water Ascending (not Attracted) into its Cavities or Pores.

* 1.18(7) Another eminent Secret of Sympathy, belonging to the same Division, is that Consent betwixt two Lutestrings, that are Aequisone: (for Unisone is hardly proper); which is thus experimented. Take 2 Lutes, or V••••s, and their treble, mean, or base strings being tuned to an Equality of Sounds, lay one of them upon a table, with the strings upward, with a small short straw equilibrated upon the Aequi∣son string: and then strike the Aequison string of the other instrument, and you shall observe, both by the leaping off of the straw, and the visi∣ble trembling of the string, whereon it was imposed, that it shall partici∣pate of the motions of the string of the other instrument percussed; all the other Dissonous strings, as wholly unconcerned in the motion im∣prest, remaining unmoved. The like also will be, if the Diapason or Eighth to that string be percussed, either in the same Lute or Vial, or other lying by: but, in none of these, the Consent is discernable by any report of sound, but meerly by motion. And yet the Cause of this Sympathy is not so very obscure, but the dullest Pythagorean might soon have discovered it to be only this; that the percussed string doth suffer a certain number of Diadroms, or Vibrations, and impress the like determinate motions upon the Aer: which lighting upon another string of equal Contexture and Extension with the for∣mer percussed, doth impress the same motions thereupon, and impell and repell it so correspondently, as to make it suffer an equal number

of Diadroms. Nor doth the Aer hinder it in its several Reciprocati∣ons or alternate excurses and recurses; because the percussed string makes all its alternate excurses and recurses, at and in the same time, as the untoucht string doth, and so impels the Aer alternately to the contrary side thereof. But, that agitated Aer which falls upon a string of a diffe∣rent degree of extension, and so necessarily of a different tone; though it impress various insensible strokes thereupon, yet are those impressed strokes such as mutually check and oppose each other, i. e. the Ex∣curses hinder the Recurses: and therefore the string remains unmoved, at least as to the sense. Likewise, the Consent of another string, which makes that Consonance, which Musicians call a Diapason or Eighth, to that which is percussed by the hand, ariseth only from hence; that the Excurses and Recurses of the string percussed by the hand, do not at all clash with, nor perturb and confound the Excurses and Recurses of the string moved immediately only by the Aer, but are Coincident and Syn∣chronical to them, and observe the same periods; and so both agree in their certain and frequent intervals: more particularly, in an Eight, every single Diadrom of the longer and more lax string, is coincident to every second, fourth, sixth, &c. Diadrom of the shorter or more tense string. Nay farther, if the two strings be Consonous though but in the less per∣fect Consonance of a Fifth; yet shall the sympathy hold, and manifest it self (which is not commonly observed) by the tremulation of the un∣touched string, that is tuned to a Fifth: because their Diadroms are not wholly confused, each single diadrom of the longer or lower string, being coincident to every third, sixth, ninth, &c. diadrom of the shorter or more tense string. But if the two strings be Dissonous, the sympathy fails; be∣cause the Excurses and Recurses agree not in any of their Intervals or Peri∣ods, but perturb and confound each other; as may be more fully understood from our praecedent Discourse of the Reason of Consonances and Dissonances Musical.

(8) Nor is it the Inaequality of Tension,* 1.19 disparity of Longitude and Mag∣nitude, or Non-coincidence of the Vibrations in their several periods, that alone make Two strings Discordant; for, if we admit the common tradi∣tion of Naturalists, where an Instrument is strung with some strings made of Sheeps, and others of Woolfs Guts intermixed, the best hand in the World shall never make it yeeld a perfect Consonance, much less play an harmoni∣ous tune thereupon. And the Cause, doubtless, is no other than this; that the strings made of a Woolfs Guts are of a different Contexture from those made of a Sheeps; so that however equally both are strained and ad∣justed, yet still shall the Aer be unequally percussed and impelled by them, and consequently the sounds created by one sort, confound and drown the sounds resulting from the other. To leave you in the less uncertainty concern∣ing this, it is commonly observed, that from one and the same string, when it is not of an Uniforme Contexture throughout, but more close, even, and firme in some parts than in others (all such our Musicians call False strings) there doe alwayes result various and unequal sounds: the close, even and firm parts yeelding a smart and equal sound, the lax and uneven yeeld∣ing a dull, flat and harsh; which two different sounds at the same time created, confound and drown each other, and consequently where such a string is playd upon in Consort, it disturbs the whole Concent or Har∣mony. It is further observed also, that the Musick of an Harp

doth infect the musick of a Lute, and other softer and milder instru∣ments with a kind of Asperity and Indistinction of Notes: which Asperity seems to arise from a certain kind of Tremor, peculiar only to the Chords of that Instrument. The like also hath been reported of other scarce Con∣sortive Instruments, such as the Virginalls and Lute, the Welsh Harp and Irish, &c.

But you'll Object, perhaps, that the Discordance of Woolves and Sheeps Gutlings seemeth to arise rather from some Formal Enmity, or inhaerent Antipathy betwixt the Woolf and Sheep: because it hath been affirmed by many of the Ancients, and questioned by very few of the Moderns, that a Drum bottomed with a Woolfs skin, and headed with a Sheeps, will yeeld scarce any sound at all; nay more, that a Wolfs skin will in short time prey upon and consume a Sheeps skin, if they be layed neer toge∣ther. And against this we need no other Defense than a downright ap∣peal to Experience, whether both those Traditions deserve not to be listed among Popular Errors; and as well the Promoters, as Authors of them to be exiled the society of Philosophers: these as Traitors to truth by the plotting of manifest falsehoods; those as Ideots, for beleiving and admiring such fopperies, as smell of nothing but the Fable; and lye open to the contradiction of an easy and cheap Experi∣ment.

* 1.20(9) Nor can we put a greater value upon the Devouring of all other Birds Feathers by those of the Eagle commixt with them; though the Author of Trinum Magicum hath bin pleased to tell us a very formall and con∣fident story thereof: because we have no Reason to convince us, that the Eagle preys upon other Fowls, out of an Antipathy or Hatred, but rather out of Love and Convenience of Aliment; and though there were an Enmity betwixt the Eagle and all his feathered subjects, during life, yet is there no necessity that Enmity should survive in the scat∣tered peices of his Carcass, especially in the Feathers (that are but one degree on this side Excrements) which is praesumed to consist cheifly in the Forme; since those Proprieties which are Formal, in Animals, must of necessity vanish upon the destruction of the Forme, from whence they result. Thus Glow-worms project no lustre after death; and the Torpedo, which stupefies at distance, while alive, produceth no such effect though topically applied, after death: for there are many Actions of Sensible Creatures, that are mixt, and depend upon their vital form, as well as that of mistion: and though they seem to retain unto the Body, doe yet immediately depart upon its Dis∣union.

In the SECOND Division of Special Occult Qualities, viz. such as are imputed to Vegetables,* 1.21 the First that expects our Consideration, is the so frequently mentioned and generally conceded Sympathy, or mutually beneficial Friendship betwixt some certain Plants, as betwixt Rew, and the Figg-tree, the Rose and Garlick, the Wild Poppy and Wheat; all which are observed to delight and flourish most in the neighbourhood of each o∣ther, and our skilful Gardners use to advance the growth and fructifica∣tion of the one, by planting its favourite neer it. Concerning this, there∣fore, we advertise; that men are mistaken not only in the Cause, but

Denomination also of this Effect: supposing a secret Friendship where is none, and imputing that to a certain Cognation, or Sympathy, which seems to proceed from a manifest Dissimilitude and Antipathy betwixt Di∣vers Natures. For, wherever two Plants are set together, whereof the one, as being of a far Different, if not quite Contrary Nature, and so re∣quiring a different kind of nourishment, doth substract and assimilate to its self such a juice of the earth, as would otherwise flow to the other, and deprave its nourishment, and consequently give an evil tincture to its Fruit and Flowers: in this case, Both Plants are reciprocally the remote Cause of the Prosperity each of other. And thus Rew, growing neer the roots of the Figg-tree, and attracting to its self the Rank and Bitter moisture of the earth, as most agreeable to its owne nature; leaveth the Milder and Sweeter for the aliment of the Fig tree, and by that means both assisteth the procerity of the Tree, and Meliorateth the Fruit thereof. Thus also Garlick, set neer to a Rose tree, by consuming the Foetid juice of the ground, and leaving the more Odorate and benigne to pass into the roots of the Rose tree; doth both farther the Growth and Germination thereof, and encrease the Sweetness of it Flowers. But, as for the Amity betwixt the Wild Poppy and Wheat, we should refer it to another Cause, viz. the Qualification of the ground by the tincture of the Wheat, so as to prae∣pare it for the Generation and growth of the Wild Poppy; not by substra∣ction of Disagreeing moisture, but by Enriching the Soyle, or impraeg∣nating it with a fertility, determinate to the production of some sorts of weeds, and chiefly of that. For, most certain it is, that there are certain ••orn-flowers, which seldom or never spring up but amongst Corn, and will hardly thrive, though carefully and seasonably set in other places: such are the Blew-bottle, a kind of yellow single Marygold, and the Wild-Poppy.

(2) This discovered, we need not search far after the Reasons of those Antipathies, which are reported to be between the Vine and Cole-woort,* 1.22 the Oke and Olive, the Brake and Reed, Hemlock and Rew, the Shrub called our Ladies Seal (a certain Species of Bryony) and the Cole-woort, &c. which are presumed to be so odious each to other, from some secret Con∣trariety of their respective Forms, that if any two of them, that are Ene∣mies, be set neer together, one or both will die. For, the truth is, all Plants, that are great Depraedators of the moisture of the earth, defraud others that grow neer them, of their requisite nourishment, and so by de∣grees impoverishing, at length destroy them. So the Colewoort, is an enemy not only to the Vine, but any other Plant dwelling neer it; be∣cause it is a very succulent and rank Plant, and so exhausts the fattest and most prolifical juice of the ground. And if it be true, that the Vine will avoid the Society of the Colewoort, by Averting its trunck and branches from it; this may well be only in respect of its finding less nourish∣ment on that side: for, as the Lord St. Alban hath well observed, though the root continue still in the same place and position, yet will the Trunk alwayes bend to that side, on which it nourisheth most. So likewise the Oke and Olive, being large trees of many roots, and great spenders of moisture, doe never thrive well together: because, the stronger in Attraction of juice, deceives and starves the weaker. Thus Hem∣lock is a dangerous neighbour to Rew; because, being the Ranker Plant of the two, and living upon the like juice, it defrauds it of sufficient

sustenance, and makes it pine away for penury. And the like of the rest.

* 1.23(3) But what shall we think of that semiconjugall Alliance betwixt the Male and Female Palme trees, which is so strong and manifest, that the Femal, which otherwise would languish, as if she had the Green sickness, and continue b••rren; is observed to prosper, and load her fruitful boughs, with braces of Dates; when she enjoys the Society of the Male: nay, to extend her arms to meet his embraces, as if his masculine influence were necessary not only to her impregn••tion, and the maturity of her numerous issue; but even to her own health and welfare? Why, truly, we cannot better expound this dark Riddle of Nature, than by having recourse to some Corpore••l Emanations, deradiated from the male, which is the stronger and more spriteful plant, to the Female, which is the weaker, and wants an Accession of heat and spirits. For, far enou••h fr••m i••probable it is, that such ••••anation may contain much of the Males S••minal and fru••t••••••ing vir••••••; and it hath been avouched by freq••••nt Experiments, that the blossoms and Flowers of the Male being dried and poudered, and inspersed upon the branches of the Female, are no less eff••ctual to her Comfort and Fertility, than the Vicinity of the Male himself. We are told▪ indeed, by Heredotus, and from his own strict observation that the Male Palm pro••uceth yearly a Dwa••fish sort of Dates, which being unca∣pable of maturi•••• and perfection, men use therefore to gather early, and bind them on the loaden branches of the Female: that there corrupting, and breeding a kind of small volant In••ect, resembling our G••ats which the Natives 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ps••••e, though Theophrastus seems to appropriate th••t name only to those Fiyes, th••t are a spont••neous pro••uction out of the immature fruit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Wilde Figg tree, suffering putrefaction•• that they may advance the Growth and Maturity of her fruit▪ not by any secret in∣fluence, but the ••an••••est Voracity of those Insects, which continually prey∣ing upon the ripening fruit, both open the top•• o•• them, an•• so make way for the rayes o•• the Sun to enter more freely and deeply into their substance, and ••uck out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the luxuriant crude and watery juice, leav••ng the 〈…〉〈…〉 ••nctu••us to the more easie digestion and assim••••••t••on of the ••ormerly ••••••rcharged Seminal V••rtue of the Plant This, we con∣fess, is ••••ce an•• ••••••usible, but not totally satisfactory▪ because it extends only to the Re••••on of the Males remote Assistance of the Female, in the maturat••••n of her Fruit; leaving us still to enquire, Why she herself re∣mains in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••nd pining condition, unless she enjoys the Society and in∣vigorating 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Male; and why she inclines her amorous boughs toward his, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Neighbourhood were a kind of Divorce, and no∣thing less tha•• absolute Union could satisfie her Affection. And what we h••ve heres••••••, of the Sympathy betwixt the Male and Female Palms, will not lose a ••rain of its Verisimility, when our Reader shall please to accomodate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Explanation of the Cause of the like Amity be∣twixt the ••ig ••ree, and Caprificus or Wild Fig tree: of which Pliny (lib. 15. cap. 19.) ••••lates the very same story, as Herodotus doth of the Palms.

(4) This puts us in mind of the great Sympathy betwixt Vine and Wine,* 1.24 expressed from its Grapes, and immured in Hoggheads, though at the di∣stance of many miles. For, it seems most convenient, that it is from the like Diffusion of subtle Emanations, imbued with the Seminal tincture of the Vine, that Wines stored up in deep Cellars, in the same Country where they grew (for, in England, whither all wines are transported over sea, no such Effect hath been observed: the Remove being too large to admit any such Transmission of influence from the transmarine Vineyards to our Cel∣lars) become sick, turbid, and musty in the Cask, at the same time the Vines Flower and Bud forth: and again recover their former Clearness and Spirit, so soon as that season is past. And, that this Conjecture may seem to smell the less of Phansy, we desire you to consider, through what large tracts of Aer even the Odours (Exhalations much less Subtile and Diffusive, than those we conceive emitted from Vines to Wines) of many Aromaticks are usually diffused, in serene weather; especially in respect of such Persons, and Bruit Animals, as are exquisite in their sense of smelling. Hath it not been observed, that the Flowers of Oranges have transmitted their odours perfect and strong, from great Gardens to the nostrils of Mariners, many leagues off at Sea: nay, so far, that some Sailers have discovered land by the smell of them, when their longest Perspectives could not reach it? Doe not we frequently observe, that Ravens will scent a Carcass, at m••ny miles distance; and fly directly to it by the Chart of a favourable wind? Nay, are not there good Historians that assure us, that Eagles in Italy, have some∣time received an invitation by the nose, to come and feast on the dead bo∣dies of men, in Africa?

Here, since we are occasionally fallen upon the large Diffusion of some Odours, especially to sage and unpraepossessed Noses;* 1.25 we shall take the ad∣vantage of that Hint, to advertise you of a Vulgar Error, viz. that Waters distilled of Orange Flowers and Roses, become wholly Inodorous, and Phleg∣matick, at the time of the Blooming and Pride of those Flowers upon their trees. For, really those distilled Waters are not in themselves, during the season of the Flowers, from which they were extracted, less fragrant than at other times: but, because in the season of those Flowers, they diffuse their odours so plentifully through the Aer, and praepossess the nostrils, as that the odours of the Waters, being somewhat less quick and strong, are less perceived, than at other times, when the Aer is not imbued with the stronger and fresher odours, nor the olfactory Nerves praeoccupied. And this may be inferred from hence; that when the season of those ••lowers is past, and the smelling organ unoccupied; the Waters smell as fragrant as ever. For, as to the Assuefaction of the sense of smelling, to particular odours, good or bad, we need not say much of that: since Experience doth daily confirme, that the sense is scarce moved and affected by the same odour, though closely praesented, after Custom hath once strongly imbued it with the same.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Art. 1. Th•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Qualit•••• (re¦pu••ed) ••ccult.
• * 1.2

  Art. 2. Natures 〈…〉〈…〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or C••••••piration of all parts of the Universe; no Occult Qua∣l••ty.
• * 1.3

  Art. 3. The 〈…〉〈…〉 of mans will.
• * 1.4

  Art. 4. The Afflux and Reflux of the s••a, inderiva∣tive from any immaterial In∣flux of the Moon.
• * 1.5

  Art. 5. 〈…〉〈…〉 of 〈…〉〈…〉 and ••••nversion of ••he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and other Flowers.
• * 1.6

  Art. 6. Why Garden Claver hide••h it s••alk, in the heat of the day.
• * 1.7

  Art. 7. Why the 〈…〉〈…〉 usu∣ally 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soon after mid∣night; and at break o•• day.
• * 1.8

  Art. 8. Why Shell∣fish growe fat, in the Full of the moon, and lean again at the New.
• * 1.9

  Art. 9. Why the Selenites re∣sembles the Moon in all not several A••∣spects.
• * 1.10

  Art. 10. Why the 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.11

  Art. 11. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.12

  Art. 12. A COROL∣LARY. Why the Gra∣nules of Gold and Silver, though much more pond∣rous then those of the Aqua Regis and Aqua For∣tis, wherein they are dis∣solved, are yet held up, and kept floating by them.
• * 1.13

  Art. 13. The Cause of the Attraction of a Less Flame by a Greater.
• * 1.14

  Art. 14. The Cause of the Inv••••ation of flame to Naphtha, at distance.
• * 1.15

  Art. 15. Of the Ascenti∣on of Water in∣to the pores of a Spunge.
• * 1.16

  Art. 16. The same il∣l••strated by the example of a Syphon.
• * 1.17

  Art. 17. The reason of the Percolation of Liquors, by a cloth whose one end lieth in the liquor, and other hangs over the brim of the vessel, that contains it.
• * 1.18

  Art. 18. The reas•••• of the 〈…〉〈…〉, that ar•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.19

  Art. 19. The reason of the Discent be∣twixt Lute∣strings of sheeps Guts, and those of Woolfs.
• * 1.20

  Art. 20. The tradition of the Con∣suming of all Feathers of Foul, by those of the Eagle; exploded.
• * 1.21

  Art. 21. Why some certain Plants befriend, and advance the growth and fruitfulness of others, that are their neigh∣bours.
• * 1.22

  Art. 22. Why s••me Plants thrive 〈…〉〈…〉 of some others.
• * 1.23

  Art. 23. The ••••ason of the great Frie••dship be∣twix•• the Male and Fe∣ma••e Palm-trees.
• * 1.24

  Art. 24. Why all ••••ines grow ••ick and turbid, during the sea••on wherein th•• Vines Fl••wer and Bud.
• * 1.25

  Art. 25. That the ••••∣stilled waters of Orange flow∣ers, and Roses, doe not take any thing of their fragran∣cy, during ••he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of those 〈◊〉〈◊〉; as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vulgarly be∣lieved.