The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

BooK II. NOVUM ORGANUM. 373
yellowness, weight, ductility, stability, deliques- observed in nature, to other subjects immediately
cence, solution, and the like, and their degrees connected with it, or not very remote from such
and modes, will consider and contrive how to immediate connexion. But the higher and radiunite them in any body, so as to- transform it cal operations upon nature, depend entirely on the
into gold. And this method of operating belongs primary axioms. Besides, even where mnan has not
to primary action. For it is the same thing to the means of acting, but only of acquiring knowproduce one or many simple natures, except that ledge, as in astronomy, (for man cannot act upon,
man is more confined and restricted in his opera- change, or transform the heavenly bodies,) the
tions, if manybe required, on account of the diffi- investigation of facts or truth, as well as the
culty of uniting many natures together. It must, knowledge of causes and coincidences, must be
however, be observed, that this method of operat- referred to those primary and universal axioms
ing (which considers natures as simple, though in that regard simple natures; such as the nature of
a concrete body) sets out from what is constant, spontaneous rotation, attraction, or the magnetic
eternal, and universal in nature, and opens such force, and many others which are more common
broad paths to human power, as the thoughts of than the heavenly bodies themselves. For, let
man can in the present state of things scarcely no one hope to determine the question, whether
comprehend or figure to itself. The second kind the earth or heaven revolve in the diurnal motion,
of axiom (which depends on the discovery of the unless he have first comprehended the nature of
latent process) does not proceed by simple natures, spontaneous rotation.
but by concrete bodies, as they are found in na- 6. But the latent process, of which we speak,
ture, and in its usual course. For instance; sup- is far from being obvious to men's minds, beset
pose the inquiry to be, from what beginnings, in as they now are. For, we mean not the meawhat manner, and by what process gold or any sures, symptoms, or degrees of any process
metal or stone is generated from the original which can be exhibited in the bodies themmenstruum, or its elements, up to the perfect selves, but simply a continued process, which,
mineral: or, in like manner, by what process for the most part, escapes the observation of
plants are generated, from the first concretion of the senses.
juices in the earth, or from seeds, up to the perfect For instance; in all generations and transforplant, with the whole successive motion, and mations of bodies, we must inquire, what is in
varied and uninterrupted efforts of nature; and the act of being lost and escaping, what remains,
the same inquiry be made as to a regularly what is being added, what is being diluted, what
deduced system of the generation of animals is being contracted, what is being united, what is
from coition to birth, and so on of other bodies. being separated, what is continuous, what is
Nor is this species of inquiry confined to the broken off, what is urging forward, what impedes,
mere generation of bodies, but it is applicable to what predominates, what is subservient, and
other changes and labours of nature. For in- many other circumstances.
stance; where an inquiry is made into the whole Nor are these inquiries again to be made in the
series, and continued operation of the nutritive mere generation and transformation of bodies
process, from the first reception of the food, to its only, but in all other alterations and fluctuations,
complete assimilation to the recipient: or into the we must in like manner inquire; what precedes,
voluntary motion of animals, from the first im- what succeeds, what is quick, what is slow,
pression of the imagination, and the continuous what produces and what governs motion, and the
effects of the spirits, up to the bending and mo- like. All which matters are unknown and unattion of the joints; or into the free motion of the tempted by the sciences, in their present heavy
tongue and lips, and other accessories which give and inactive state. For, since every natural act is
utterance to articulate sounds. For all these in- brought about by the smallest efforts, or at least
vestigations relate to concrete or associated na- such as are too small to strike our senses, let no
tures, artificially brought together, and take into one hope that he will be able to direct or change
consideration certain particular and special habits nature, unless he have properly comprehended
of nature, and not those fundamental and general and observed these efforts.
laws which constitute forms. It must, however, 7. In like manner, the investigation and discobe plainly owned, that this method appears more very of the latent confirmation in bodies is no less
prompt and easy, and of greater promise than the new, than the discovery of the latent process and
primary one. form. For, we as yet are doubtless only admitted
In like manner the operative branch, which an- to the antechamber of nature, and do not prepare
swers to this contemplative branch, extends and an entrance into her presence-room. But nobody
advances its operation from that which is usually can endue a given body with a new nature, or
transform it successfully and appropriately into a
* By the recent discoveries in electric magnetism, copper new body, without possessing a complete knowwires, or, indeed, wires of any metal may be transformed
into magnets; the magnetic law or form having been to that ledge of the body so to be changed or transformed.
extent discovered. For he will run into vain, or, at least, into difficult
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