OF BODIES, Chap,XXXII. 335 



thing that knocketh at our gates : and by the great variety of 

 knocks or motions that our braine feeleth (which rifeth from as 

 great a variety of natures in the objects that gaufe them) we are 

 enabled to judge cf the nature and conditions of every thing we 

 converfewithall. 



As for example : he conceiveth light to be nothing elfe but a 

 pcrcuflion made by the illuminant upon the ayre , or upon the 

 ethercall fubftajnce , which he putteth to be mixed with , and to 

 runne through all bodies : which being a continuate medium 

 between the illuminant and our-ienfe ; thepercuiTion upon that, 

 ftriketh alfo our fenfe which he calleth the nerve that reacheth 

 from the place ftrucken (to wit , from the bottome of our eye) 

 unto the braine. Novv,by reafbn of the continuity of this firing 

 or nerve, he conceiveth that the blow which is made upon the 

 outward endof it by the ether, is conveyed by the other end of it 

 to the braine ; that end, firiking the braine in the fame meafiire 

 as the ether f Irucke the other end of it : like the j'acke of a Vir- 

 ginall, which rtriketh the (bunding cord, according as the Mu- 

 iitians hand prefleth upon the <iop. The part of the braine 

 which is thus tf rueken , he fuppofeth to be the fantafie , where 

 he deemeth the fbule doth refide ; and thereby taketh notice 

 of the motion and ob/c& that are without. And what is (aid 

 thusof/ight, to be applied proportionally to the relt of the 

 fcnfes. 



This then is the fumme of Monfieur des Cartes his opinion, 

 which he hath very finely exprefled , with all the advantages 

 that oppofiteexamples , fignificant words , and cleare method 

 can give anto a witty dilcourle. Which yet is but a part of the 

 commendations he deferveth , for what he hath done on this 

 particular. He is over and above all this, the firft that I have ever 

 -met with, who hath publifhed any conceptions of this nature,, 

 whereby to make the operations of fenfe intelligible. Cer- 

 tainely , this praife will ever belong unto him , that he hath 

 given the firft hint offpeaking groundedly , and to the pur- 

 pofe upon this fubjeft , and whofbever fliall carry it any rur- 

 ther ( as what important myftery was ever borne and perfe&ed 

 at once?) muft acknowledge to have derived his light ftora 

 him. 



For mypart, I fhill fo Arre agree with him as to allow mo- 



Cc a tion 



