NOVUM ORGANUM 401 



point to point, as if involved in infinity. But if he have any 

 preconceived notion, this infinity is separated off, and the 

 range of his memory is brought within closer limits. In the 

 three instances given above, the preconceived notion is clear 

 and determined. In the first, it must be something that agrees 

 with order ; in the second, an image which has some relation 

 or agreement with the fixed common-places ; in the third, words 

 which fall into a verse : and thus infinity is divided off. Other 

 instances will offer another species, namely, that whatever 

 brings the intellect into contact with something that strikes 

 the sense (the principal point of artificial memory), assists the 

 memory. Others again offer another species, namely, what- 

 ever excites an impression by any powerful passion, as fear, 

 wonder, shame, delight, assists the memory. Other instances 

 will afford another species: thus those impressions remain 

 most fixed in the memory which are taken from the mind 

 when clear and least occupied by preceding or succeeding no- 

 tions, such as the things we learn in childhood, or imagine be- 

 fore sleep, and the first time of any circumstance happening. 

 Other instances afford the following species: namely, that a 

 multitude of circumstances or handles assist the memory, such 

 as writing in paragraphs, reading aloud, or recitation. Lastly, 

 other instances afford still another species: thus the things 

 we anticipate, and which rouse our attention, are more easily 

 remembered than transient events; as if you read any work 

 twenty times over, you will not learn it by heart so readily as 

 if you were to read it but ten times, trying each time to repeat 

 it, and when your memory fails you looking into the book. 

 There are, therefore, six lesser forms, as it were, of things 

 which assist the memory: namely i, the separation of in- 

 finity ; 2, the connection of the mind with the senses ; 3, the 

 impression in strong passion ; 4, the impression on the mind 

 when pure ; 5, the multitude of handles ; 6, anticipation. 



Again, for example's sake, let the required nature be taste or 

 the power of tasting. The following instances are constitutive : 

 i. Those who do not smell, but are deprived by nature of that 

 sense, do not perceive or distinguish rancid or putrid food by 

 their taste, nor garlic from roses, and the like. 2. Again, those 

 whose nostrils are obstructed by accident (such as a cold) do not 

 distinguish any putrid or rancid matter from anything sprinkled 

 with rose-water. 3. If those who suffer from a cold blow their 

 noses violently at the very moment in which they have anything 

 fetid or perfumed in their mouth, or on their palate, they in- 

 stantly have a clear perception of the fetor or perfume. These 

 instances afford and constitute this species or division of taste, 

 namely, that it is in part nothing else than an internal smelling, 

 passing and descending through the upper passages of tin* 

 26 



