An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

The Explanation of the Sculptures in the HISTORY of NATURE, Book II.

THE FRONTICEPIECE, represented by a Wo∣man looking behind her, and writing in a Book, which lies on the Back of Time, emblematis'd as before; shewing the nature of History, which is the immediate representation of things past; and by another Figure reviewing the Sun, Moon, Stars, &c. and surrounded with several Beasts, Birds, &c. denoting the generality of things treated of by History.

No VACUUM, Part 1. Chap. 1, 2, 3. fol. 1. The Author having proved it in his Book, 'tis thus represented by the Sculpture, a Boy pouring Liquor out of one Ves∣sel into another, thereby shewing, that as the Air which occupied the lower Vessel is drove out by the heavier Element of Water, it immediately enters into, and fills the upper Vessel; as also by the blowing up of a Mine, the visible effects of the extension and dilatation of Air: The Figures seeming to discourse, represents Philosophers.

SMELLING, Part 2. Chap. 6. fol 35. Represented by a Blood-hound in scent after his Game; by a Woman smelling to a Nosegay; by a Man who seems offended at some unpleasing smell; and by a Woman in a swoon, supported by two others, and one of them holding a Box or Glass of some Scent to her Nose, which seems to reco∣ver her: In prospect a Pack of Hounds in chase of a Fox.

SOUND, Part 2. Chap. 7. fol. 38. Represented by several Musical Instruments lying on the fore-ground; also by a Man ringing a Bell, by another sounding a Trumpet, by another beating a Kettle-Drum, and by a Woman tinkling on a Brass Vessel to a swarm of Bees to hive them, all proper emblems of Sound.

OCCULT QUALITIES, Part 2. Chap. 10. fol. 50. Represented by a Man, seemingly trembling at the sight of a Lion, and hastily running from it; by the terror of a Sheep at the sight of a Wolf; by the seeming tremb∣ling and fear of a Hen and Chickens at the sight of a Kite, and by the hasty flight of a Dove from a Hawk; all the visible effects of qualities proceeding from a Cause admired, but never known.

The BEGINNING or INFANCY of the WORLD, Part 3. Chap. 1. fol. 54. Represented by the Figures of a Savage Man, Woman and Children, who seem to live in those Huts placed in the Woods, having several Ani∣mals about them. The Primitive Times supposed to want the conveniencies of Houses and Apparel, through want of experience.

The SUN, Part 3. Chap. 6. fol. 62. Represented by Phoebus, sitting in his Charriot in the Clouds, drawn by four white Horses, for the reasons before given in the description of the Sun in Glory. The Figures on the lower part are representations of several Men, Women and Animals, bathing themselves (as it were) in those brilliant Rays proceeding from this warm De••ty, Phoe∣bus, and may teach us how pleasant and joyful it is to live in the Sunshine of Heaven.

The MOON, Part 3. Chap. 8. fol. 6••. Represented by the Goddess Diana, she having a Sovereignity of this seeming Ball of Fire, given her by the Poets: At her Back are Dogs pursuing a Stag, the emblem of Hunting, of which she is, by the same Authority, Goddess; and underneath is a Landskip with Deer therein, the Victims offered up to her Divine Recreation.

The PLANETS, Part 3. Chap. 9. fol. 70. Repre∣sented by the Personal Figures of those Heathen Deities from whom they borrow their Names. As Luna, Mercury, Venus, Apollo, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The reason for these Gods and Goddesses being so adorn∣ed, are given in the explanation of the Sculpture, repre∣senting the motion of the Planets: The Child in Sa∣turns Arms, and which he seems to devour, relates to the Story fathered on him by the Poets, that as soon as ever his Coelestial Spouse was brought to Bed, he did eat the Children, to prevent their dethroning him of his Kind∣dom.

The GLOBE and SPHERE of the Earth and Hea∣vens, Part 4. Chap. 1. fol. 81. Represented by the Per∣sonal Figures of those two great Geographers, Ptolomy and Copernicus, the one with a pair of Compasses, taking seemingly the distances of some places, delineated on the Globe of the Earth; and the other holding a Sea Chart, having a pair of Compasses, and the Sphere of the Hea∣vens before him: The Figure seeming as it were to take an Observation, represents the Learned Tycho; on the Table are Charts, &c.

FOUNTAINS and RIVERS, Part 4. Chap. 4. fol. 88. Represented by the Figure of Thame, being an Old Man lying in the Reeds or Osiers, having an Oar in his Right Hand, and leaning his Left Arm on a VVater-Pot; as also by the Figure Isis, being a VVoman sitting on a Rock, having also a VVater-Pot. Thame and Isis are storied to be Man and VVife, and stand as Godfa∣ther and Godmother to that most ample River, vulgarly, Thames, it bearing the name of both, as Thamesis; as also by the Figure of a Nymph of the Rivers and Foun∣tains, named Arethusa, holding a VVater-Pot and Flowers; and by the Figure of a Young Man named Alpheus, having a VVater-Pot and Cornucopia of Flowers, being the Patron of Fountains. The Figures are thus coupled, to shew that the Friendly Commu∣nication between Rivers and Fountains, resemble that between Man and VVoman: The Figure in the Sky, and seeming to press the Clouds, is the emblem of Rain.

The SEA, Part 4. Chap. 5. fol. 90. Represented by Neptune, God of the Sea, drawn in his Charriot by Sea-Horses, having his Trident in his Hand, being his wa∣try Scepter, the Hooks at the ends of it, are to lay hold on his subject Fishes, who fail in their Allegiance: Behind him are the two Figures, holding and seeming to sound through their Sea-Shels, are representations of Tritons, Creatures formed by the Poets to serve his floating Di∣vinity in the nature of Trumpeters. In prospect the Sea with Ships, &c.

The FIRE, Part 4. Chap. 7. fol. 99. Represented by Vulcans Cave, in which the Cyclops (the Journey∣men Blacksmiths of Vulcan) are at work, in making Thunderbolts for Jupiter, who is placed above in the

Clouds, attended as usually with his Eagle, as inspecting the well∣making of his Weapons; and behind the Anvil stands a Forge of Fire, with a Figure seeming to blow it, which causes that Smoak that arises from the Funnel placed by Jupiter; below the Cyclops Feet lie Breast-plates, Helmets, &c. in some measure emblems of Fire, as owning their form and make, to his Power.

EARTHQUAKES and SUBTERRANEAN FIRES, Part 4 Chap. 8. fol. 103. Represented by the Figures of the four windy Gods, Bo∣••••as, Eolus, Auster and Zephirus, each with utmost strength blowing into a Cavity of the Earth, and heaving up of the Rocks, ••which in several places seem to break forth, and thereby throw down Trees and Buildings: At a distance the figures of Men, Women and Chil∣dren affrighted, and running to avoid being buried in Graves of Nature, making the Mountain, whose top breaths flames of Fire, represent Mount Etna; these Convulsions of Nature are thus pro∣perly emblematis'd, it being the general Opinion that they are caus'd by Winds, being inclosed in some cavities of the Earth, who are forced to break the surface to find a passage to their proper center.

The AIR, Part. 4. Chap. 11. fol. 108. Represented by Juno the Monarchess of this Element, with all her Poetical Equipage about her, and attended by her four Handmaids, Iris, Imber, Cometa and Rugida, who all have their Aerial Imployments under her; as 1st. Iris takes care of putting out and taking in the Rainbow. 2dly. Imber disposeth the Rain. 3thly. Cometa placeth the Co∣mets. And 4thly. Rugida destributeth the Dew; all which employ∣ments are exprest by the emblems that each of them bear.

METALS, Part 5. Chap. 1. fol. 113. Represented by the 7. Dei∣ties, who according to the Poets, patronise the 7. Metals; and they are placed in the Clouds: That in the midst is Apollo, or the Sun, holding in his right Hand a wedge of Gold, being the Metal he is said to produce; on his right Hand sits Luna, having a wedge of Silver in her Hand▪ being the Metal that owes its being to her proper bounty; that on the left is Mercury, arm'd and crown'd; he is said to produce Quicksilver by his celeritous Divinity: The four others that appear behind, are likewise said to produce the four other Me∣tals; as Mars, Iron; Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, Brass, Lead and Copper: In the lower part on the ground, are Directors and Diggers of Metals.

The LOADSTONE, Part 5. Chap. 10. fol. 135. Its Virtues and Properties are demonstrated by the three Figures representing three Philosophers, one of whom holds a Knife, with a Needle on the edge; another having the Compass before him, and the other holding a Loadstone at a distance: The Figures of two other Philosophers seemingly discoursing of the magnetick power of this wonderful Stone.

The WINDS, Part 6. Chap. 2. fol. 136. In the Sculpture, Apollo sitting in the Clouds, and pointing to the God of the Winds, Eolus, who sits in the Clouds below him, adorned as before, commanding the four Winds exprest by the four Figures of Boreas, Zephirus, Eo∣lus and Auster, with their proper emblems as before, to discharge their Office; their execution of his Commands are visible in the effects of the Wind upon the seemingly tost and overwhelm'd Ships in the Sea below.

The NYMPHS of the Air, emblems of Clouds, Mist, Snow, Hail, Rain, Dew, &c. Part 6. Chap. 3, 4, 5, 6. fol. 139. 1st. Repre∣sented by two Nymphs of the Air in their proper array, young, beau∣tiful and winged, stretching out their Arms, as gathering together and dilating the Mists. 2ly. The Nymph Nix, scattering of Snow through a Sieve. 3dly. The Nymph Imber, pressing the Clouds to provide Rain. 4thly. The Figure of a Man scattering small Hail out of a Water-Pot; and underneath three Figures, the mid∣dlemost representing Dew, the 2d. Snow, and the 3d. small Hail. In prospect a Landskip covered with a cast of each of their Offices to which they are assigned by the Poets, and therefore may properly be used in Sculpture, it being an attendant of Painting, which is Poema silens.

STORMS and THUNDER, Part 6. Chap. 7. fol. 147. Thunder is represented by Jupiter, preparing to cast▪ his noisie Bolts: and the Storms by Eolus, the God of the Winds, commanding the four Heads who breath out Storms in their Stations, as Boreas in the North, Zephirus in the West, Auster in the South, and Eolus in the East: Below is the true emblem of a Storm, being Ships tost in a rug∣ged Mountanous Sea; the Fires seeming to blaze on the Main Yards of the Ship are two Sea Wills in the Wisp, and made by the Poets, tho' not Gods, yet Godlings of the Sea, and Protectors of Sea••aring-Men, and by them named Castor and Pollux, the names of two Bro∣thers, reported to have been drown'd.

The RAINBOW, Part 6. Chap. 9. fol. 151. A Rainbow proper, surmounted by Iris the Goddess thereof, the Rays of the Sun darting on it; by which, as we conjecture, it receives those beautiful and va∣rious Colours: The Figures below, represent Philosophers as con∣sulting concerning its Nature; and about that Ignis-Fa••uus which appears in the Fields of the Landskips; the representation of a Nyn••h or beautiful Virgin, placed on the Rainbow, took its rise from fan••y, but since hath been attested for reality by a Captain of a Ship, who solemnly asserts his having seen it so.

GARDNING, Part 7. Chap. 1 fol. 156. In the Sculpture, the 1st. Figure is the Goddess Rea, Commandress of the Earth, seated thereon, as her proper Throne, having a Castle on her Head, and a Lion by her Side, emblems of her Strength and Power; next her is Hebe, one of Jupiters Cup-bearers, pouring out Wine on the Earth, as the Tyth due to her producing it; the next Voluntina, who as∣sists the Flower in budding; then Flora, embracing the Plantine-Tree, being consecrated to her, and holding in her Hand a Flower, being Goddess thereof; behind Rea is Virtumnus, holding one Fruit, and eating another; on the lest side of the Tree is Nodinus, holding the Leaves as it buds into Branches: Next is Pros••rpina, who hath the care of the Bud till it is out of the Earth; behind Nodinus is Patelena, holding a Leaf in its full perfection: The reason for thus representing Gardning, arises from the authority of the Poets, who have made all these Gods and Godesses concerned in the prefervati∣on of those Vegteables that adorn it, tho' I suppose they only meant the Garden of the Muses, in which none but they and their Succes∣sors were to be allowed the liberty of walking: In the upper pa••t of the Sculpture, are the representations of Jupiter, Juno, Saturn, Feronia and Luna, in their proper emblems, relating to their several Empires, as before discoursed of, and intimates the necessity of the good will of Heaven, and temperate seasonable Weather to bring the Fruits of the Earth to perfection.

NATURE of ANIMALS, Part 8. Chap. 1. fol. 175. For Ani∣mals begot, they are represented by a Woman suckling her Child, having a Cradle standing by her; their Thirst represented by a Cow a drinking; their Hunger by a Deer grazing, their Action by two little Dogs a playing; their Sleep by a Cat a sleeping; their Wakeful∣ness by a Cock sitting on his Pea••ch, and seeming a Crowing; their Sickness by a Farrier bleeding of a Horse, and their Death by a Horse lying dead.

IMAGINATION, Part 9. Chap. 6. fol. 214. Represented by a Woman in a sendentary posture, having on her Head a pair of Wings, and a Coronet composed of small Figures, which Figures denote the productive faculty of Imagination, and the Wings its swiftness: The Child standing by the Figure of Imagination, partly black partly white, denotes the strength of this Passion, being able (as by this Example appears) to perform those things, which neither Human Wisdom, nor the common way of Natures working could effect: The other Figure having Eyes vailed, and Wings on her Back, represents what Women call longing, 'tis swift as Wings to Desire, and blinded to Reason.

MEMORY, Part 9. Chap. 7. fol. 216. Represented by a Woman, having a Steel Cap on her Head, set with Jewels, denoting the Strength and Riches of this Faculty; she is putting her Finger to her Ear, as the proper Organ by which this Good is received; and in her Hand she holds the Picture of a Man, whom she knows, tho' absent, by the means of Memory; below are the representation of Children conning their Lessons, and of a School▪Mistress, who seems awing them with a Rod; The Statue on Horseback is the represen∣tation of King Charles II. as the properest object to exercise this Noble Faculty of Memory upon.

The Author having asserted in his Discourse of the want of Sense and Knowledge in Brute Animals, that they are nothing more than Machins, moving in their several Stations by Natures Clockwork: His ingenious position is illustrated by the Sculpture that fronts the said Tract. First on the foreground is the Figure of a Woman, being the representation of Daedalus his Wooden Venus, which imitated the Action of a Woman; next in the midst the Figure of a Man, being that Iron Statue, which presented a Petition to the Emperor of Morocco, as taken notice of in the latter end of that Authors Preface to the Reader. On the Right Side of this Figure, is that of a Man with a Drum, which artificially beats on it, and at the same time performs several motions with his Head and Eyes; which Clockwork was shewn in London not long since. Between these aforesaid three Figures, is a Dial and a Dog sitting, which is another piece of Clockwork. At a distance on the second ground, is supposed the Army of Maximilian the Emperour, over whose Head is an Eagle, being the representa∣tion of the Norimberg Eagle, framed by Athanasius Kirchir, which flew over his Head, and accompanied him in his return to the City. Then on a Hill, a Statue of a Man, which saluted the Sun at his rising, with a Hymn Musically composed: And to conclude, a Pidge∣on framed by Architus the Tarentin, which flew in the Air like a living Bird; all which the Author hath taken notice of, to which I refer the Reader.