Of Perspectives.
JUST as a Perspective glass carries the sight afar off, so a Trunk, or Pipe, conveys the sound and voyce to the Ear at a great distance. Thus we may perceive, that the Figure of a round Circle hath the nature to gather up, and to draw to a Point all Species whatsoever: for they do not onely gather these from the Brain, but those that come from outward Objects; and the more round Circles there are, the straiter and further the several Species go, and the sharper is the Point, as being bound, not having Liberty to stray forth. That is the reason, that the longer the Perspective is, or the Pipe, or Trunk, the clearer and per∣fecter we see, and hear: for a Pipe, or a hollow Trunk, gathers up the several Letters, and Words, as a Perspective gathers up the several Objects. Besides, the Eye and the Ear are much of the nature of a Burning-glass, which gathers all the loose and scattered Beams of the Sun to a Point, becoming there so strong, being united, as the Reflexion strike upon all Bodies, it meets, and peirceth into whatsoever is Porous: Just so the Reflexions of what the Senses have gathered together, strike upon the Optick Nerve, and peirce into the Brain; and if the Species of Sense were so material as those Species which are drawn from grosser Bodies, the Nose would see a Sent, and the Ear see a Sound, as well as the Eyes see a grosser Object which is pre∣sented to it: But the Matter being Thin, and Aery, the Objects cannot be so soild and substantial, as to make a Figurative Body to last so long as for our gross Senses to see.