DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORK 27 



Our natural history is not designed so much to please 

 by its variety, or benefit by gainful experiments, as to afford 

 light to the discovery of causes, and hold out the breasts to 

 philosophy; for though we principally regard works, and 

 the active parts of the sciences, yet we wait for the time 

 of harvest, and would not reap the blade for the ear. We 

 are well aware that axioms, rightly framed, will draw after 

 them whole sheaves of works: but for that untimely and 

 childish desire of seeing fruits of new works before the 

 season, we absolutely condemn and reject it, as- the golden 

 apple that hinders the progress. 



With regard to its collection; we propose to show na 

 ture not only in a free state, as in the history of meteors-, 

 minerals, plants, and animals; but more particularly as she 

 is bound, and tortured, pressed, formed, and turned out of 

 her course by art and human industry. Hence we would 

 set down all opposite experiments of the mechanic and lib 

 eral arts, with many others not yet formed into arts; for the 

 nature of things is better discovered by the torturings of art, 

 than when they are left to themselves. Nor is it only a his 

 tory of bodies that we would give; but also of their cardinal 

 virtues, or fundamental qualities; as- density, rarity, heat, 

 cold, etc., which should be comprised in particular histories. 



The kind of experiments to be procured for our his 

 tory are much more subtile and simple than the common; 

 abundance of them must be recovered from darkness, and 

 are such as no one would have inquired after, that was not 

 led by constant and certain tract to the discovery of causes; 

 as being in themselves of no great use, and consequently not 

 sought for their own sake, but with regard to works: like 

 the letters of the alphabet with regard to discourse. 



In the choice of our narratives and experiments we hope 

 to have shown more care than the other writers of natural 

 history; as receiving nothing but upon ocular demonstra 

 tion, or the strictest scrutiny of examination; and not 

 heightening what is delivered to increase its miraculous- 

 ness, but thoroughly purging it of superstition and fable. 



