OF BODIES. Chap.XXXVi. 977 



doubt and refolve, without any difcourfing. In the like manner 

 it fareth with the heart of a beaft (whpfe motions do fteere the 

 reft of the body) when it beateth betwixt hope and feare, or be- 

 tween any other two contrary paflflonj , without requiring any 

 other principles from whence to deduce k, then thofewehave 

 already explicated. 



But now to fpeafcc of their invention ; I muft confefle , that ? . 

 among feveralJ of them, there appeared} fo much cunning in Concerning 

 laying of their plots (which when they have compafled. they the invention 

 feem to grow careleflfc,and to unbend their intention, as having ^ beafts"' 

 obtained what with earncitneflethey defired) that one might 

 think they wrought by dehgne.andhada ditfmd: view of an endj 

 for the effecting ofwhich,,they ufed dilcourie to choofe the like- 

 lieft meanes. 



To this purpofe the fubtilties of the fox are of moft note. 

 They fay he ufeth to lie as if he were dead ; thereby to make 

 hennes and duckes come boldly to him. That in the ni^ht when 

 his body is unfeen, He vyill fix his eyes, open-poultry, and fo make 

 them come downe to him from their rooft. That to rid him* 

 felfe of the fleas that afHid him in the fummer, he will finke his 

 body by little and little into the water , while the fleas creep up 

 to his head (to fave thcmfelves from drowning) and from 

 thence to a bough he holdeth in his mouth ; and will then 

 fvvimme away , leaving them there. That to cofen the badger 

 of his earth , he will pifle in it $ as knowing that the raake 

 fhiell of his urine , will drive the other cleanlier beaft to quit 

 it. That when dogges are clofe upon him ., and catching at 

 him, he will pifle upon his taile, and By firking that up and 

 downe t . will endeavour (you may beleeve) to make their eyes 

 fmart , and fo retard their purluit , that he may eicape from 

 them. 



And there arc particular fiories, that exprefle yet more cun- 

 ning then all thefe : as of a fox, that being fore hunted, hanged 

 himfelfe by the teeth among dead verminein a warren ; un- 

 til! the dogges were pafled by him, and had loft him. Of ano^ 

 ther, that in like dilf refle , would take into his mouth a broome 

 bufti growing upon a fteepe cJhfe on the fide hand neere 

 his denne ( which had another way to it , eafie enough of ac- 

 cefle ) and by hclpe of that , would feciurc caft himlcife into 



hi* > 



