LIB. II. 36. 249 



curvata inter pollicem et digitum, exsiliant. Manifes- 

 tum eriim est, hoc non posse imputari aeri se pone cor 

 pus colligenti, quia fons motus est in medio laminae vel 

 calami, non in extremis. 



(7.) Similiter, sit natura inquisita, motus ille rapidus 

 et potens expansionis pulveris pyrii in flammam 21 : 

 uncle tantse moles subvertuntur, tanta pondera emit- 

 tnntur, quanta in cuniculis majoribus, et bombardis 

 videmus. Bivium circa lianc naturam tale est. Aut 

 excitatur iste motus a mero corporis appetitu se dila- 

 tandi, postquam fuerit inflammatum ; aut ab appetitu 

 mixto spiritus crudi, qui rapide fugit ignem, et ex eo 

 circumfuso, tanquam ex carcere, violenter erumpit. 

 Schola autem, et vulgaris opinio tantum versatur circa 

 priorem ilium appetitum. Putant enim homines, se 

 pulchre philosophari, si asserant, flammam ex forma 

 elementi necessitate quadam donari locum ampliorem 

 occupandi, qu.am idem corpus expleverat, cum subiret 

 formam pulveris, atque hide sequi motum istum. In 

 terim minime advertunt, licet hoc verum sit, posito 

 quod flamma generetur, tamen posse impediri flammse 

 generationem a tanta mole, quae illam comprimere et 

 suffocare queat ; ut non deducatur res ad istam neces- 

 sitatem, de qua loquuntur. Nam quod necesse sit fieri 

 expansionem, atque inde sequi emissionem, aut remo- 

 tionem corporis quod obstat, si generetur flamma, recte 



21 The explosive power of Gun- de Natura Rerum,&quot; chap. 9, which 

 powder. Here Bacon s language is is a part of the fragments of the 

 again tinged with the old Scholastic Third Part of the Instauratio. 

 manner of expression, &quot; crudus Spi- Milton illustrates the language of 

 ritus, qui est in Nitro.&quot; His way the Schools. Par. Lost, vi. 478. 

 of accounting for it is absolutely Materials dark and crude 

 wrong, except in so far as Charcoal Qf irituous and nitrous S pume.&quot; 

 is the connecting link between Salt 

 petre and Sulphur. He enlarges on Nitre is the base of many violent 

 his explanation in his &quot; Cogitationes detonating substances. 



