The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

126 NATURAL HISTORY. CENT. X.
which work by the universal configuration and credit or reject upon improbabilities, until there
sympathy of the world; not by forms, or celestial hath passed a due examination. This is the syminfiuxes, as is vainly taught and received, but by pathy of individuals; for as there is a sympathy
the primitive nature of matter, and the seeds of of species, so it may be there is a sympathy of
things. Of this kind is, as we yet suppose, the individuals: that is, that in things, or the parts
working of the loadstone, which is by consent of things that have been once contiguous or
with the globe of the earth; of this kind is the entire, there should remain a transmission of
motion of gravity, which is by consent of dense virtue from the one to the other: as between the
bodies with the globe of the earth: of this weapon and the wound. Whereupon is blazed
kind is some disposition of bodies to rotation, abroad the operation of unguentem tell: and so
and particularly from east to west: of which of a piece of lard, or stickl of elder, &c., that if
kind we conceive the main float and refloat part of it be consumed or putrefied, it will work
of the sea is, which is by consent of the uni- upon the other part severed. Now we will purverse, as part of the diurnal motion. These im- sue the instances themselves.
materiate virtues have this property differing
from others; that the diversity of the medium Experiments in consort touching emission of spirits
hindereth them not; but they pass through all in vapour or exhalation, odour-like.
mediums, yet at determinate distances. And of 912. The plague is many times taken without
these we shall speak, as they are incident to se- manifest sense, as hath been said. And they reveral titles. port, that where it is found, it hath a scent of the
908. The fifth is, the emission of spirits; and smell of a mellow apple; and, as some say, of
this is the principal in our intention to handle May-flowers: and it is also received, that smells
now in this place; namely, the operation of the of flowers that are mellow and luscious, are ill
spirits of the mind of man upon other spirits: and for the plague, as white lilies, cowslips, and bythis is of a double nature, the operations of the acinths.
affections, if they be vehement, and the operation 913. The plague is not easily received by such
of the imnaogination, if it be strong. But these two as continually are about them that have the
are so coupled, as we shall handle them together; plague; as keepers of the sick, and physicians;
for when an envious oramorous aspect doth infect nor again by such as take antidotes, either inthe spirits of another, there is joined both affection ward, as mithridate, juniper-berries, rue, leaf and
and imagination. seed,&c., or outward, as angelica, zedoary, and
909. The sixth is, the influxes of the heavenly the like, in the mouth; tar, galbanum, and the
bodies, besides these two manifest ones, of heat like, in perfume; nor again by old people, and
and light. But these we will handle where we such as are of a dry and cold complexion. On
-handle the celestial bodies and motions. the other side, the plague taketh soonest hold of
910. The seventh is, the operations of sym- those that come out of afresh air, and of those that
pathy, which the writers of natural magic have are fasting, and of children; and it is likewise
brought into an art or precept: and it is this; noted to go in a blood, more than to a stranger.
that if you desire to superinduce any virtue or 914. The most pernicious infection, next the
disposition upon a person, you should take the plague, is the smell of the jail, when prisoners
living creature in which that virtue is most enmi- have been long, and close, and nastily kept;
nent, and in perfection; of that creature you whereof we have had in our time experience twice
must take the parts wherein that virtue chiefly is or thrice; when both the judges that sat upon the
collocated: again, you must take those parts in the jail, and numbers of those that attended the busitime and act when that virtue is most in exer- ness or were present, sickened upon it, and died.
iese: and then you must apply it to that part of Therefore it were good wisdom, that in such
man wherein that virtue chiefly consisteth. As cases the jail were aired before they be brought
if you would superinduce courage and fortitude, forth.
take a lion or a cock; and take the heart, tooth, 915. Out of question, if such foul smells be
or paw of the lion; or the heart or spur of the made by art, and by the hand, they consist chiefly
cock: take those parts immediately after the lion of man's flesh or sweat putrefied; for they are not
or tile cock have been in fight, and let them be those stinks which the nostrils straight abhor and
worn upon a man's heart or wrist. Of these, and expel, that are most pernicious; but such airs as
such like sympathies, we shall speak under this have some similitude with man's body: and so
present title. insinuate themselves, and betray the spirits.
911. The eighth and last is, an emission of There may be great danger in using such compoimmateriate virtues, such as we are a little doubt- sitions, in great meetings of people within
Iill to propound, it is so prodigious; but that it is houses; as in churches, at arraignments, at plays
so constantly avouched by many; and we have and solemnities, and tile like: for poisoning of
set it down as a law to ourselves, to examine air is no less dangerous than poisoning of water,
thingFs tb the bottom; and not to receive upon *which hath been used by the Turks in the wars