414 HISTORY OF 



CANON VII. 



The spirit hath tivo desires, one of multiplying itself, the 

 other of flying forth, and congregating itself with the con- 

 naturals. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



The canon is understood of the liveless spirits ; for as for 

 the second desire, the vital spirit doth most of all abhor 

 flying forth of the body, for it finds no connatural here 

 below to join withal. Perhaps it may sometimes fly to the 

 outward parts of the body, to meet that which it loveth ; 

 but the flying forth, as I said, it abhorreth. But in the 

 liveless spirits each of these two desires holdeth. For to 

 the former this belongeth, every spirit seated amongst the 

 grosser parts dwelleth unhappily ; and, therefore, when it 

 finds not a like unto itself, it doth so much the more labour 

 to create and make a like, as being in a great solitude, and 

 endeavour earnestly to multiply itself, and to prey upon the 

 volatile of the grosser parts, that it may be increased in 

 quantity. As for the second desire of flying forth, and be 

 taking itself to the air, it is certain, that all light things 

 (which are ever moveable) do willingly go unto their likes 

 near unto them, as a drop of water is carried to a drop, 

 flame to flame ; but much more this is done in the flying 

 forth of spirit into the air ambient, because it is not carried 

 to a particle like unto itself, but also as unto the globe of 

 the connaturals. Meanwhile this is to be noted, that the 

 going forth, and flight of the spirit into air is a redoubled 

 action, partly out of the appetite of the spirit, partly out of 

 the appetite of the air, for the common air is a needy thing, 

 and receiveth all things speedily, as spirits, odours, beams, 

 sounds, and the like. 



CANON VIII. 



Spirit detained, if it have no possibility of begetting new 

 spirits, intenerateth the grosser parts. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



Generation of new spirit is not accomplished but upon 

 those things which are in some degree near to the spirit, 

 such as are humid bodies. And, therefore, if the grosser 

 parts (amongst which the spirit converseth) be in a remote 

 degree, although the spirit cannot convert them, yet (as 

 much as it can) it weakeneth, and softeneth, and sub- 

 dueth them, that seeing it cannot increase in quantity, 



