The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CE(NT. X. NATURAL HISTORY. 131
either harbarous words, ofnosense,lest they should 952. It were good, because you cannot discern
disturb theimagination, or words ofsimilitude, that fully of the strength of imagination in one man
may second and feed the imagination; and this; more than another, that you did use the imaginawas ever as well in heathen charms, as in charms tion of more than one, that so you may light upon
of latter times. There are used also Scripture a strong one. As if a physician should tell three
words; for that the belief that religious texts and or four of his patient's servants, that their master
words have power, may strengthen the imagina- shall surely recover.
tion. And for the same reason, Hebrew words, 953. The imagination of one that you shall use,
which amongst us is counted the holy tongue, and such is the variety of men's minds, cannot be althe words more mystical, are often used. ways alike constant and strong; and if the suc949. For the refreshing of the imagination, cess follow not speedily, it will faint and lose
which was the third means of exalting it, we strength. To remedy this, you must pretend to
see the practices of magic, as in images of wax, him, whose imagination you use, several degrees
and the like, that should melt by little and little; of means, by which to operate: as to prescribe
or some other things buried in muck, that should him that every three days, if he find not the sucputrefy by little and little; or the like; for so oft cess apparent, he do use another root, or part of a
as the imaginant doth think of those things, so oft beast, or ring, &c., as being of more force: and if
doth he represent to his imagination the effect of that fail, another; and if that, another, till seven
that he desireth. times. Also you must prescribe a good large
950. If there be any power in imagination, it is time for the effect you promise; as if you should
less credible that it should be so incorporeal, and tell a servant of a sick man that his master shall
immateriate a virtue, as to work at great distances, recover, but it will be fourteen days ere he findeth
or through all mediums, or upon all bodies: but it apparently, &c. All this to entertain the imathat the distance must be competent, the medium gination, that it waver less.
not adverse, and the body apt and proportionate. 954. It is certain, that potions, or things taken
Therefore if there be any operation upon bodies into the body; incenses and perfumes taken at
in absence by nature, it is like to be conveyed the nostrils; and ointments of some parts, do
from man to man, as fame is; as if a witch, by naturally work upon the imagination of him
imagination, should hurt any afar off, it cannot be that taketh them. And therefore it must needs
naturally; but by working upon the spirit of greatly co-operate with the imagination of him
some that cometh to the witch; and from that whom you use, if you prescribe him, before he
party upon the imagination of another; and so do use the receipt for the work which he desireth,
upon another; till it come to one that hath resort that he do take such a pill, or a spoonful of liquor;
to the party intended; and so by him to the party or burn such an incense; or anoint his temples,
intended himself. And although they speak, or the soles of his feet, with such an ointment or
that it sufficeth to take a point, or a piece of the oil: and you must choose, for the composition of
garment, or the name of the party, or the like; yet such pill, perfume, or ointment, such ingredients
there is less credit to be given to those things, as do make tle spirits a little more gross or muddy;
except it be by working of evil spirits. whereby the imagination will fix the better.
The experiments, which may certainly demon- 955. The body passive, and to be wrought
strate the power of imagination upon other bodies, upon, I mean not of the imaginant, is better
are few or none: for the experiments of witchcraft wrought upon, as hath been partly touched, at
are no clear proofs; for that they may be by some times than at others: as if you should prea tacit operation of malign spirits: we shall scribe a servant about a sick person, whom you
therefore be forced, in this inquiry, to resort to have possessed that his master shall recover,
new experiments; wherein we can give only di- when his master is fast asleep, to use such a root,
rections of trials, and not any positive experi- or such a root. For imagination is like to work
ments. And if any man think that we ought to better upon sleeping men, than men awake; as
have stayed till we had made experiment of some we shall show when we handle dreams.
of them ourselves, as we do commonly in other 956. We find in the art of memory, that images
titles, the truth is, that these effects of imagina- visible work better than other conceits: as if you
tion upon other bodies have so little credit with would remember the word philosophy, you shall
us, as we shall try them at leisure: but in the more surely do it, by imagining, that such a man,
mean time we will lead others the way. for men are best places, is reading upon Aristotle's
951. When you work by the imagination- of Physics; than if you should imagine him to say,
another, it is necessary that he, by whom you 6; I'll go study philosophy." And therefore this
work, have a precedent opinion of you that you observation would be translated to the subject we
can do strange things; or that you are a man of now speak of: for the more lustrous the imaginaart, as they call it; for else the simple affirmation tion is, it filleth and fixeth the better. And thereto another, that this or that shall be, can work fore I conceive, that you shall, in that experiment
but a weak impression in his imagination. whereof we spake before, of binding of thoughts,