The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CENT. IX. NATURAL HISTORY. 109
though themselves be entire bodies, and not corn- bodies is not violent: for it is many times reci
minuted, as sand and ashes, nor apparently procal, and as it were with consent. Of the cause
porous: metals themselves do receive in readily of this, and to what axiom it may be referred, constrong waters; and strong waters likewise do sider attentively; for as for the petty assertion,
readily pierce into metals and stones: and that that matter is like a common strumpet, that destrong water will touch upon gold, that will not sireth all forms, it is but a wandering notion.
touch upon silver, and e converse. And gold, Only flame doth not content itself to take in any
which seemeth by the weight to be the closest and other body, but either to overcome and turn anmost solid body, doth greedily drink in quicksil- other body into itself, as by victory; or itself to
ver. And it seemeth, that this reception of other die, and go out.
CENTURY IX.
xer~iments in consort touching perception in be- | comitants, you may judge of the effect to follow:
7- t 1- 0 * and the like may be said of discovery; but we
dies insensible, tending to natural divinatio or and the like may be said of discovery; but we
tie ourselves here to that divination and discovery
susbtile trials.
subtile trials. chiefly, which is caused by an early or subtile
IT is certain, that all bodies whatsoever, though perception.
they have no sense, yet they have perception: for The aptness or propension of air, or water, to
when one body is applied to another, there is a corrupt or putrefy, no doubt, is to be found before
kind of election to embrace that which is agree- it break forth into manifest effects of diseases,
able, and to exclude or expel that which is ingrate; blastings, or the like. We will therefore set
and whether the body be alterant, or altered, ever- down some prognostics of pestilential and unmtore a perception precedeth operation; for else wholesome years.
all bodies would be alike one to another. And 801. The wind blowing much from the south
sometimes this perception, in some kind of bodies, without rain, and worms in the oak-apple, have
is far more subtile than the sense; so that the been spoken of before. Also the plenty of frogs,
sense is but a dull thing in comparison of it: we grasshoppers, flies, and the like creatures bred of
see a weather-glass will find the least difference putrefaction, doth portend pestilential years.
of the weather, in heat, or cold, when men find it 802. Great and early heats in the spring, and
not. And this perception also is sometimes at namely in May, without winds, portend the same;
distance, as well as upon the touch; as when the and generally so do years with little wind or
loadstone draweth iron, or flame fireth naphtha of thunder.
Babylon, a great distance off. It is therefore a 803. Great droughts in summer lasting till tosubject of a very noble inquiry, to inquire of the wards the end of August, and some gentle showmore subtile perceptions: for it is another key to ers upon them, and then some dry weather again,
open nature, as well as the sense, and sometimes do portend a pestilent summer the year following:
better. And, besides, it is a principal means of for about the end of August all the sweetness of
natural divination; for that which in these per- the earth, which goeth into plants and trees, is
ceptions appeareth early, in the great effects exhaled, and much more if the August be dry, so
cometh long after. It is true also, that it serveth that nothing then can breathe forth of the earth
to discover that which is hid, as well as to foretell but a gross vapour, which is apt to corrupt the
that which is to come, as it is in many subtile air: and that vapour, by the first showers, if they
trials; as to try whether seeds be old or new, the be gentle, is released, and cometh forth abundantsense cannot inform; but if you boil them in ly. Therefore they that come abroad soon after
water, the new seeds will sprout sooner: and so those showers, are commonly taken with sickof water, the taste will not discover the best ness: and in Africa, nobody will stir out of doors
water; but the speedy consuming of it, and many after the first showers. But if the showers come
other means, which we have heretofore set down, vehemently, then they rather wash and fill the
will discover it. So in all physiognomy, the earth, than give it leave to breathe forth presently.
lineaments of the body will discover those natu- But if dry weather come again, then it fixeth and
ral inclinations of the mind which dissimulation continueth the corruption of the air, upon the first
will conceal, or discipline will suppress. We showers begun; and maketh it of ill influence,
shall therefore now handle only those two percep- even to the next summer; except a very frosty
tions, which pertain to natural divination and winter discharge it, which seldom succeedeth
discovery; leaving the handling of perception in such droughts.
other things to be disposed elsewhere. Now it 804. The lesser infections, of the small-pox,
is true, that divination is attained by other means; purple fevers, agues, in the summer precedent.
as if you knowv 4e causes, if you know the con- and hovering all winter, do portend a great pesti
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