of modern astronomy ! And how can any reasonable'' 

 subscribe thereto, till this difficulty is removed I 



9. There is no need to speak particularly of those 

 other qualities, hardness, softness ; firmness, fluidity ; 

 Irittleness, toughness', roughness, smoothness, density, 

 rarity - } -regidity, flexibility ; compressibility, elasticity. 

 What each of tiiese is, we know well, without any ela- 

 borate definition ; and in general we kiiow, that they 

 all arise frotn the various iigure, situation and texture of 

 the particles whereof bodies consist. But farther than 

 this we know not. What particular shape, texture, or 

 situation, is requisite ill each case, is a matter of mere' 

 conjecture, 



10. Those of which we' are not able to give any ra- 

 tional account, have often been termed occult 'qualities^ 

 Among these is usually ranked that smyptithy, which is 

 observed in things distant from each other. So onions; 

 in the granary sprout, while others sprout in the garden, 

 So nothing is more common, than that if yon throw a 

 mulberry or strawberry at a woman with child, the 

 child has the mark of one or the other, on Uie same' 

 part which was struck witft it. Aiid these marks grow 

 green, yellow and red every year, just as those fruits do 

 in the garden ; and when the season of them is past, 

 these subside, and vanish away. So women startled by 

 a sudden sight of the moon, have stamped the figure of- 

 the moon on their children ; and this figure increased" 

 or decreased just as the moon did. Opposite to this, is' 

 that amazing antipathy, Which somethings appear to 

 have naturally for each other, Instances of which are 

 found, not only in men, but in animals, if not in plant* 

 also. 



Before we attempt to account for any of these things, 

 \Y should take care to be well asswred of the fact. For 

 many of them are generally believed and vehemently 

 ^asserted,, which yet never had any being. Hence 

 others run into the opposite extreme, roundly denying 

 whatever they cannot account for. The middle way is 



