The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

108 NATURAL HISTORY. CENT. VIII.
teeth also set on edge. So if a man see another turn great saving of the richer metal. I remember to
swiftly and long, or if he look upon wheels that have heard of a man skilful in metals, that a fifturn, himself waxeth turn-sick. So if a man be teenth part of silver incorporated with gold will
upon a high place without rails or good hold, not be recovered by any water of separation, exexcept he be used to it, he is ready to fall: for, cept you put a greater quantity of silver to draw
imagining a fall, it putteth his spirits into the to it the less; which, he said, is the last refuge
very action of a fall. So many upon the seeing in separations. But that is a tedious way, which
of others bleed, or strangled, or tortured, them- no man, almost, will think on. This would be
selves are ready to faint, as if they bled, or were better inquired: and the quantity of the fifteenth
in strife. turned to a twentieth; and likewise with some
little additional, that may further the intrinsic inExperiment solitary touching preservation ofbodies. corporation. Note, that silver in gold will be
796. Take a stockgillyfiower, and tie it gently detected, by weight, compared with the dimenupon a stick, and put them both into a stoop-glass sions; but lead in silver, lead being the weightier
full of quicksilver, so that the flower be covered: metal, will not be detected, if you take so much
then lay a little weight upon the top of the glass the more silver as will countervail the over-weight
that may keep the stick down; and look upon of the lead.
them after four or five days; and you shall find
the flower fresh, and the stalk harder and less Experiment solitary touchingfixation of bodies.
flexible than it was. If you compare it with 799. Gold is the only substance which hath
another flower gathered at the same time, it will nothing in it volatile, and yet melteth without
be the more manifest. This showeth, that bodies much difficulty. The melting showeth that it is
do preserve excellently in quicksilver; and not not jejune, or scarce in spirit. So that the fixing
preserve only, but by the coldness of the quick- of it is not want of spirit to fly out, but the equal
silver indurate; for the freshness of the flower spreading of the tangible parts, and the close
may be merely conservation; which is the more coacervation of them: whereby they have the less
to be observed, because the quicksilver presseth appetite, and no means at all to issue forth. It
the flower; but the stiffness of the stalk cannot xwere good therefore to try, whether glass remolten
be without induration, from the cold, as it seem- do lose any weight. for the parts in glass are
eth, of the quicksilver. evenly spread; but they are not so close as in
gold: as we see by the easy admission of light,
Experiment solitary touching the growth or snul- heat, and cold; and by the smallness of the
tiplying of metals. weight. There be other bodies fixed, which
797. It is reported by some of the ancients, have little or no spirit, so as there is nothing to
that in Cyprus there is a kind of iron, that being fly out; as we see in the stuff whereof coppels
cut into little pieces, and put into the ground, if are made, which they put into furnaces, upon
it he well watered, will increase into greater which fire worketh not; so that there are three
pieces. This is certain, and known of old, that causes of fixation; the even spreading both of the
lead will multiply and increase, as hath been spirits and tangible parts, the closeness of the
seen in old statues of stone which have been put tangible parts, and the jejuneness or extreme
in cellars; the feet of them being bound with comminution of spirits: of which three, the two
leaden bands; where, after a time, there appeared, first may be joined-with a nature liquefiable, the
that the lead did swell; insomuch as it hanged last not.
upon the stone like warts.
Experiment solitary touching the restless natLure of
E xperiment solitary touching the drowning of the things in themselves, and their desire to change.
nmore base metal in the more iprecious. 800. It is a profound contemplation in nature,
798. I call drowning of metals, when that the to consider of the emptiness, as we may call it,
baser Inetal is so incorporated with the more rich or insatisfaction of several bodies, and of their
as it can by no means be separated again; which appetite to take in others. Air taketh in lights,
is a kind of version, though false: as if silver and sounds, and smells, and vapours; and it is
should be inseparably incorporated with gold: or most manifest, that it doth it with a kind of thirst,
copper and lead with silver. The ancient elec- as not satisfied with its own former consistence;
trum had in it a fifth of silver to the gold, and for else it would never receive them in so sudmade a compound metal, as fit for most uses as denly and easily. Water, and all liquors do
gold, and more resplendent, and more qualified hastily receive dry and more terrestrial bodies,
in some other properties; but then that was proportionable: and dry bodies, on the other side,
easily separated. This to do privily, or to make drink in waters and liquors: so that, as it was
the compound pass for the rich metal simple, is well said by one of the ancients, of earthy and
an adulteration or counterfeiting: but if it be done watery substances, one is a glue to another.
arvowedly, and without disguising, it may be a Parchment, skins, cloth, &c., drink in liquors,