ioo BACON 



ical causes, but only by the discovery of forms. Since, there- 

 fore, we have set down as wanting that part of metaphysics 

 which treats of forms, it follows that natural magic, which is 

 relative to it, must also be wanting. 



We here understand magic in its ancient and honorable 

 sense among the Persians it stood for a sublimer wisdom, 

 or a knowledge of the relations of universal nature, as may be 

 observed in the title of those kings who came from the East 

 to adore Christ. And in the same sense we would have it sig- 

 nify that science, which leads to the knowledge of hidden forms, 

 for producing great effects, and by joining agents to patients 

 setting the capital works of nature to view. The common nat- 

 ural magic found in books gives us only some childish and su- 

 perstitious traditions and observations of the sympathies and 

 antipathies of things, or occult and specific properties, which 

 are usually intermixed with many trifling experiments, admired 

 rather for their disguise than for themselves ; but as to the truth 

 of nature, this differs from the science we propose as much as 

 the romances of Arthur of Britain, Hugh of Bordeaux, or other 

 imaginary heroes, do from the Commentaries of Caesar in truth 

 of narration. Caesar in reality performed greater things, though 

 not by romantic means, than such fabulous heroes are feigned 

 to do. This kind of learning is well represented by the fable of 

 Ixion,& who, thinking to enjoy Juno, the goddess of power, em- 

 braced a cloud, and thence produced centaurs and chimeras; 

 for so those who, with a hot and impotent desire, are carried 

 to such things as they see only through the fumes and clouds 

 of imagination, instead of producing works, beget nothing but 

 vain hopes and monstrous opinions. This degenerate natural 

 magic has also an effect like certain sleepy medicines which 

 procure pleasing dreams ; for so it first lays the understanding 

 asleep, by introducing specific properties and occult virtues 

 whence men are no longer attentive to the discovery of real 

 causes, but rest satisfied in such indolent and weak opinions ; 

 and thus it insinuates numberless pleasing fictions, like so many 

 dreams. 



And here we may properly observe, that those sciences which 

 depend too much upon fancy and faith, as this degenerate 

 magic, alchemy, and astrology, have their means and their 

 theory more monstrous than their end and action. The con- 

 version of quicksilver into gold is hard to conceive, though it 



