The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

394 NOVUM ORGANUM. BooK II.
tant objects, the transmission of impressions from. Flame is an accompanying instance. For, in
spirit to spirit, no less than from body to body, water, air, stone, metal, and many other suband the like. stances, heat is variable, and can approach or
32. From the foregoing remarks, it is clear that retire, but all flame is hot, so that heat always
the five last species of instances (the similar, accompanies the concretion of flame. We have
sincular, deviating, and bordering instances, and no hostile instance of heat. For the senses are
those of power) should not be reserved for the unacquainted with the interior of the earth, and
investigation of any given nature, as the preceding there is no concretion of any known body which
and many of the succeeding instances must, but is not susceptible of heat.
a collection of them should be made at once, in Again, let solidity be the required nature. Air
the style of a particular history; so that they is a hostile instance. For metals may be liquid
may arrange the matter which enters the under- or solid, so may glass; even water may become
standing, and correct its depraved habit, for it solid by congelation, but air cannot become solid
is necessarily imbued, corrupted, perverted, and or lose its fluidity.
distorted by daily and habitual impressions. With regard to these instances of fixed proposiThey are to be used, therefore, as a prepara- tions, there are two points to be observed, which
tive, for the purpose of rectifying and purifying are of importance. First, that if there be no
the understanding, for, whatever withdraws it universal affirmative or negative, it be carefully
from habit, levels and planes down its surface for noted as not existing. Thus, in heat, we have
the reception of the dry and pure light of true observed that there exists no universal negative,
notions. These instances, moreover, level and in such substances at least as have come to our
prepare the way for the operative branch, as we knowledge. Again, if the required nature be
will mention in its proper place, when speaking eternity or incorruptibility, we have no universal
of the practical deductions. affirmative within our sphere, for these qualities
33. In the eleventh rank of prerogative in- cannot be predicated of any bodies below the
stances, we will place accompanying and hostile heavens, or above the interior of the earth.
instances. These are such as exhibit any body Secondly, To our general propositions as to any
or concrete, where the required nature is con- concrete, whether affirmative or negative, we
stantly found, as an inseparable companion, or, should subjoin the concretes which appear to
on the contrary, where the required nature is con- approach nearest to the non-existing substances
stantly avoided and excluded from attendance, as such as the most gentle or least burning flames in
an enemy. From these instances may be formed heat, or gold in incorruptibility, since it approaches
certain and universal propositions, either affirma- nearest to it. For they all serve to show the
tive or negative; the subject of which will be the limit of existence and non-existence, and circumconcrete body, and the predicate the required scribe forms, so that they cannot wander beyond
nature. For particular propositions are by no the conditions of matter.
means fixed, when the required nature is found 34. In the twelfth rank of prerogative instances,
to fluctuate and change in the concrete, either ap- we will class those subjunctive instances, of which
proaching and acquired, or receding and laid we spoke in the last aphorism, and which we are
aside. Hence, particular propositions have no also wont to call instances of extremity or limits;
great prerogative, except in the case of migration, for they are not only serviceable when subjoined
of which we have spoken above. Yet such par- to fixed propositions, but also of themselves and
ticular propositions are of great use, when com- from their own nature. They indicate with suffipared with the universal, as will be mentioned in cient precision the real divisions of nature, and
its proper place. Nor do we require absolute measures of things, and the "how far" nature
affirmation or negation, even in universal propo- effects or allows of any thing, and her passage
sitions, for, if the exceptions be singular or rare, thence to something else. Such are gold in
it is sufficient for our purpose. weight, iron in hardness, the whale in the size
The use of accompanying instances is to nar- of animals, the dog in smell, the flame of gunrow the affirmative of forms. For, as it is nar- powder in rapid expansion, and others of the like
rowed by the migrating instances, where the form nature. Nor are we to pass over the extremes in
must necessarily be something communicated or defect as well as in abundance, as spirits of wine
destroyed by the act of migration, so it is nar- in weight, the touchstone in softness, the worms
rowed by accompanying instances, where the upon the skin in the size of animals, and the
form must necessarily be something which enters like.
into the concretion of the body, or, on the contra- 35. In the thirteenth rank of prerogative inry, is repugnant to it, and one who is well ac- stances, we will place those of alliance or union.
quainted with the constitution or formation of the They are such as mingle and unite natures held
)body, will not be far from bringing to light the to be heterogeneous, and observed and marked as
iorm of the required nature. such in received classifications.
For example: let the required nature be heat. These instances show that the operation and