The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

478 HISTORY OF LIFE AND DEATH.
3. The first breeding of creatures is ever mate- lived, for it shows that nature finished her periods
rial, either to their hurt or benefit. And, there- by larger circles.
fore, it stands with reason, that the lesser cornm- 10. Milder creatures are not long-lived, as the
pression, and the more liberal alimentation of the sheep and dove; for choler is as the whetstone
young one in the womb, should confer much to and spur to many functions in the body.
iong life. Now, this happens when either the 11. Creatures whose flesh is more duskish,
young ones are brought forth successively, as in are longer lived than those that have white flesh;
birds; or when they are single birth, as in crea- for it showeth that the juice of the body is more
tares bearing but one at a burden. firm, and less apt to dissipate.
4. But long bearing in the womb makes for 12. In every corruptible body quantity maketh
length of life three ways. First, for that the much to the conservation of the whole; for a
young one partakes more of the substance of the great fire is longer in quenching, a small portion
mother, as hath been said. Secondly, that it of water is sooner evaporated, the body of a tree
comes forth more strong and able. Thirdly, that withereth not so fast as a twig. And, therefore,
it undergoes the predatory force of the air later. generally, (I speak it of species, not of indiviBesides, it shows that nature intendeth to finish duals,) creatures that are large in body are longer
their periods by larger circles. Now, though lived than those that are small, unless there be
oxen, and sheep, which are borne in the womb some other potent cause to hinder it.
about six months, are but short-lived, that happens for other causes. X.limnentation or Nourlishment; acnd the way *f
5. Feeders upon grass and mere herbs are but Nourishing.
short livers, and creatures feeding upon flesh, or
To the fourth article. The history.
seeds, or fruits, long livers, as some birds are.
As for harts, which are long-lived, they take the 1. Nourishment ought to be of an inferior
one-half of their meat (as men use to say) from nature, and more simple substances than thle
above their heads; and the goose, besides grass, thing nourished. Plants are nourished with
findeth something in the water and stubble to the earth and water, living creatures with
feed upon. plants, man with living creatures. There are
6. We suppose that a good clothing of the also certain creatures feeding upon flesh, and
body maketh much to long life; for it fenceth man himself takes plants into a part of his
and armeth against the intemperances of the air, nourishment; but man and creatures feeding
which do wonderfully assail and decay the body; upon flesh are scarcely nourished with plants
which benefit birds especially have. Now, that alone; perhaps fruit or grains, baked or boiled,
sheep, which have so good fleeces, should be so may, with long use, nourish them; but leaves, or
short-lived, that is to be imputed to diseases, plants, or herbs, will not do it, as the order of
whereof that creature is full, and to the bare eat- Foliatanes showed by experience.
ing of grass. 2. Over-great affinity or consubstantiality of
7. The seat of the spirits, without doubt, is the nourishment to the thing nourished, proveth
principally the head, which, though it be usually not well; creatures feeding upon herbs touch no
understood of the animal spirits only, yet this is flesh; and of creatures feeding upon flesh, few of
all in all. Again, it is not to be doubted but the them eat their own kind. As for men which are
spirits do most of all waste and prey upon the cannibals, they feed not ordinarily upon man's
body, so that when they are either in greater flesh, but reserve it as a dainty, either to serve
plenty, or in greater inflammation and acrimony, their revenge upon their enemies, or to satisfy
there the life is much shortened. And, therefore, I their appetite at some times. So the ground is
conceive a great cause of long life in birds to be best sown with seed growing elsewhere, and
the smallness of their heads in comparison of men do not use to graft or inoculate upon the
their bodies; for even men, which have very great same stock.
heads, I suppose to be the shorter livers. 3. By how much the more the nourishment is
S. I am of opinion that carriage is, of all other better prepared, and approacheth nearer in likemotions, the most helpful to long life, which I ness to the thing nourished, by so much the more
also noted before. Now, there are carried water- are plants more fruitful, and living creatures in
fowls upon the water, as swans; all birds in better liking and plight; for a young slip or cion
their flying, but with a strong endeavour of their is not so well nourished if it be pricked into the
limbs; and fishes, of the length of whose lives ground, as if it be grafted into a stock agreeing
we have no certainty. with it in nature, and where it finds the nourish9. Those creatures which are long before they ment already digested and prepared; neither (as
come to their perfection, (not speaking of growth is reported) will the seed of an onion, or some
in stature only, but of other steps to maturity, as such like, sown in the bare earth, bring forth so
nan puts forth, first, his teeth, next, the signs of large a fruit as if it be put into another onion,
puberty, then his beard, and so forward,) are long- which is a new kind of grafting into the root or