The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

BOOK II. NOVUM ORGANUM. 409
pressure. We poured water into it through an In the explosion of several cannon at once,
aperture, which we afterwards closed with melted (which are sometimes heard at the distance of
lead, as soon as the globe was filled with water, thirty miles,) the sound of those nearest to the
so that the whole became perfectly solid. We spot, is heard before that of the most distant.
next flattened the two opposite sides with a heavy Even in sight, (whose action is most rapid,) it is
hammer, which necessarily caused the water to clear that a definite time is necessary for its exoccupy a less space, since the sphere is the solid ertion, which is proved by certain objects being
of greatest content; and when hammering failed, invisible from the velocity of their motion, such
from the resistance of the water, we made use of as a musket ball. For the flight of a ball is too
a mill or press, till at last the water, refusing to swift to allow an impression of its figure to be
submit to a greater pressure, exuded, like a fine conveyed to the sight.
dew, through the solid lead. We then computed This last instance, and others of a like nature,
the extent to which the original space had been have sometimes excited in us a most marvellous
reduced, and concluded that water admitted such doubt, no less than whether the image of the sky
a degree of compression when constrained by and stars is perceived as at the actual moment of
great violence. its existence, or rather a little after, and whether
The more solid, dry, or compact bodies, such there is not (with regard to the visible appearance
as stones, wood, and metals, admit of much less, of the heavenly bodies) a true and apparent time,
and, indeed, scarcely any perceptible compression, as well as a true and apparent place, which is
or expansion, but escape by breaking, slipping observed by astronomers in parallaxes.* It apforward, or other efforts; as appears in bending peared so incredible to us, that the images or
wood, or steel for watch-springs, in projectiles, radiations of heavenly bodies could suddenly be
hammering, and many other motions, all of which, conveyed through such immense spaces to the
together with their degrees, are to be observed sight, and it seemed that they ought rather to be
and examined in the investigation of nature, transmitted in a definite time. That doubt, howeither to a certainty, or by estimation, or compari- ever, (as far as regards any great difference beson, as opportunity permits. tween the true and apparent time,) was subse46. In the twenty-second rank of prerogative quently completely set at rest, when we consider
instances, we will place the instances of the the infinite loss and diminution of size as regards
course, which we were also wont to call water the real and apparent magnitude of a star, cccainstances; borrowing our expression from the sioned by its distance, and at the same time ohwater hour-glass, employed by the ancients in- served at how great a distance (at least sixty
stead of those with sand. They are such as miles) bodies which are merely white can ibe
measure nature by the moments of timne, as the suddenly seen by us. For there is no doubt, that
last instances do by the degrees of space. For the light of heavenly bodies not'only far surpass
all motion or natural action takes place in time, the vivid appearance of white, but even the light
more or less rapidly, but still in determined mo- of any flame (with which we are acquainted) in
ments, well ascertained by nature. Even those the vigour of its radiation. The immense velocity
actions which appear to take effect suddenly, and of the bodies themselves, which is perceived in
in the, twinkling of an eye, (as we express it,) are their diurnal motion, and has so astonished thinkfound to admit of greater or less rapidity. ing men, that they have been more ready to believe
In the first place, then, we see that the return in the motion of the earth, renders the motion of
of the heavenly bodies to the same place, takes radiation from them (marvellous as it is in its
place in regular times, as does the flood and ebb rapidity) more worthy of belief. That which has
of the sea. The descent of heavy bodies towards weighed most with us, however, is, that if there
the earth, and the ascent of light bodies towards were any considerable interval of time between
the heavenly sphere, take place in definite times, the reality and the appearance, the images would
according to the nature of the body, and of the often be interrupted and confused by clouds
medium through which it moves. The sailing formed in the mean time, and similar disturbances
of ships, the motions of animals, the transmission of the medium. Let this suffice with regard to
of projectiles, all take place in times, the sums the simple measures of time.
of which can be computed. With regard to heat, It is not merely the absolute, but still more the
we see that boys in winter bathe their hands in relative measure of motions and actions which
the flame without being burned; and conjurors, by must be inquired into, for this latter is of great
quick and regular movements, overturn vessels use and application. We perceive that the flame
filled with wine or water, and replace them with- of fire-arms is seen sooner than the sound is heard,
out spilling the liquid, with several similar in- although the ball must have struck the air before
stances. The compression, expansion, and erup- the flame, which was behind it, could escape: the
tion of several bodies, takes place more or less reason of which is, that light moves with greater
rapidly, according to the nature of the body, and * This is a singular approximation to Reemer's discovery of
its motion, but still in definite moments. time being required for the propagation of light.
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