a - — ee 7_ 
a ea acl cha 
0 SEALY) ; 
VII. 1.) THE SECOND BOOK. — 1II 
; 
philosophy. If then it be true that Democritus said, 
that the truth of nature lieth hid in certain deep mines and 
caves ; and if it be true likewise that the alchemists do so 
much inculcate, that Vulcan is a second nature, and im- 
itateth that dexterously and compendiously which nature 
worketh by ambages and length of time; it were good to 
divide natural philosophy into the mine and the furnace, 
and to make two professions or occupations of natural 
philosophers, some to be pioneers and some smiths; 
some to dig, and some to refine and hammer. And surely 
I do best allow of a division of that kind, though in more 
familiar and scholastical terms; namely, that these be the 
two parts of natural philosophy, the inquisition of causes, 
and the production of effects; speculative, and operative ; 
natural science, and natural prudence. For as in civil 
matters there is a wisdom of discourse, and a wisdom of 
direction; so is it in natural. And here I will make a 
request, that for the latter (or at least for a part thereof) 
I may revive and reintegrate the misapplied and abused 
name of natural magic; which in the true sense is but 
natural wisdom, or natural prudence; taken according to 
the ancient acception, purged from vanity and super- 
stition. Now although it be true, and I know it well, 
that there is an intercourse between causes and effects, 
so as both these knowledges, speculative and operative, 
have a great connexion between themselves; yet because 
all true and fruitful natural philosophy hath a double 
scale or ladder, ascendent and descendent, ascending 
from experiments to the invention of causes, and de- 
scending from causes to the invention of new experi- 
ments; therefore I judge it most requisite that these two 
parts be severally considered and handled. 
2. Natural science or theory is divided into physic and 
