136 NATURAL HISTORY. 



much offend ; but in audibles, the grating of a saw, 

 when it is sharpened, doth offend so much, as it 

 setteth the teeth on edge. And any of the harsh 

 discords in music the ear doth straightways refuse. 



276. In visibles, after great light, if you come 

 suddenly into the dark, or contrariwise, out of the 

 dark into a glaring light, the eye is dazzled for a 

 time, and the sight confused ; but whether any such 

 effect be after great sounds, or after a deep silence, 

 may be better inquired. It is an old tradition, that 

 those that dwell near the cataracts of Nilus are 

 strucken deaf: but we find no such effect in can- 

 noniers, nor millers, nor those that dwell upon 

 bridges. 



277. It seemeth that the impression of colour is 

 so weak, as it worketh not but by a cone of direct 

 beams, or right lines, whereof the basis is in the 

 object, and the vertical point in the eye ; so as there 

 is a corradiation and conjunction of beams ; and 

 those beams so sent forth, yet are not of any force to 

 beget the like borrowed or second beams, except it 

 be by reflexion, whereof we speak not. For the 

 beams pass, and give little tincture to that air 

 which is adjacent ; which if they did, we should see 

 colours out of a right line. But as this is in colours, 

 so otherwise it is in the body of light. For when 

 there is a skreen between the candle and the eye, 

 yet the light passeth to the paper whereon one 

 writeth ; so that the light is seen where the body of 

 the flame is not seen, and where any colour, if it 

 were placed where the body of the flame is, would 



