‘ed 
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Vilvsq TEE SECOND BOOK. | 123 
transferring and compounding divers experiments the one 
into the other, which kind of invention an empiric may 
manage. Again by the knowledge of physical causes 
there cannot fail to follow many indications and designa- 
tions of new particulars, if men in their speculation will 
keep one eye upon use and practice. But these are but 
coastings along the shore premendo littus tniquum: for 
it seemeth to me there can hardly be discovered any 
radical or fundamental alterations and innovations in 
nature, either by the fortune and essays of experiments, 
or by the light and direction of physical causes. If 
therefore we have reported metaphysic defi- yas. 
cient, it must follow that we do the like of jyagia sive 
natural magic, which hath relation thereunto. Physica 
For as for the natural magic whereof now Operativa 
there is mention in books, containing certain ™¥ 
credulous and superstitious conceits and observations of 
sympathies and antipathies, and hidden proprieties, and 
some frivolous experiments, strange rather by disguise- ' 
ment than in themselves, it is as far differing in truth of 
nature from such a knowledge as we require, as the story 
of King Arthur of Britain, or Hugh of Bourdeaux, differs 
from Czesar’s Commentaries in truth of story. For it is 
manifest that Cesar did greater things de vero than those 
imaginary heroes were feigned to do. But he did them 
not in that fabulous manner. Of this kind of learning 
the fable of Ixion was a figure, who designed to enjoy 
Juno, the goddess of power; and instead of her had 
copulation with a cloud, of which mixture were begotten 
centaurs and chimeras. So whosoever shall entertain 
high and vaporous imaginations, instead of a laborious 
and sober inquiry of truth, shall beget hopes and beliefs 
of strange and impossible shapes. And therefore we may 
oe 
