NATURAL HISTORY. 



alike constant and strong ; and if the success follow 

 not speedily, it will faint and lose strength. To re 

 medy this, you must pretend to him, whose imagina 

 tion you use, several degrees of means, by which to 

 operate : as to prescribe him that every three days, if 

 he find not the success apparent, he do use another 

 root, or part of a beast, or ring, &c. as being of more 

 force ; and if that fail, another ; and if that, another, 

 till seven times. Also you must prescribe a good 

 large time for the effect you promise ; as if you should 

 tell a servant of a sick man that his master shall 

 recover, but it will be fourteen days ere he findeth it 

 apparently, &c. All this to entertain the imagina 

 tion that it waver less. 



954. It is certain, that potions, or things taken 

 into the body ; incenses and perfumes taken at the 

 nostrils ; and ointments of some parts, do naturally 

 work upon the imagination of him that taketh 

 them. And therefore it must needs greatly co-operate 

 with the imagination of him whom you use, if 

 you prescribe him, before he do use the receipt for 

 the work which he desireth, that he do take such a 

 pill, or a spoonful of liquor ; or burn such an incense ; 

 or anoint his temples, or the soles of his feet, with 

 such an ointment or oil : and you must choose, for 

 the composition of such pill, perfume, or ointment, 

 such ingredients as do make the spirits a little more 

 gross or muddy ; whereby the imagination will fix 

 the better. 



955. The body passive, and to be wrought upon, 

 I mean not of the imaginant, is better wrought upon, 

 as hath been partly touched, at some times than at 



