L I B. V. Of the Advancement of Learning, i j^j 



the pure Metal into fumes, and carry it away j fo as there is a Io(s in 

 theMettalj and the raafs which remains through the emillion of the 

 Spirits becomes more obftinate and indurate. Met2 Jfjould therefore 

 remember the mockery o'lyEjofs houfwife^who conceited that by doub- 

 ing her raeafure of Barley, her Hen would daily lay her two eggs: '^^"F- 

 But the Hen grew fat and laid none. It is not altogether fafc to rely 

 upon any Natural experimentjbefore proof be made /»(?//; in a lejfer^and 

 greater ^antitj. 



§ FroditCtion of an Experr/f/etft it of two forts ^ Repetition and Extcn- 

 jlon p namely when the Experiment either is iterated j or driven to a kjnd 

 offiibtilty. Example of Repetition may be this ■■, the fpirit of wine is 

 made of wine once diftilled, and it is much more quick and Hrong 

 than wine it felf 5 willlikewifcthe fpiritit lelfofwinediftiiled, or fub- 

 -limated, proportionably exceed it felf in ftrcngth? But Repetition zV" 

 (bis not without deceit 5 for neither doth the fecond exaltation equal 

 the excels of the firft ; and many times hy iteration of the Experiment 

 after a certain ftate, and height of operation, Nature is fo far from a 

 further progrefiion, as llie rather fills into a relapfe. Wherefore the 

 experiment muft be made with Caution and judgment. So ^icJ^-fihcr 

 in linen, or elfe in the raidft of moulten Lead when it begins to grow 

 cold, the Quick -filver inferted is ftupified, and is no longer fluid 5 

 will the lame ^ickcfdver if it be often ib praftis'd upon, become lb 

 fixt as to be made malleable? The example of extenlion may be this, 

 reater placed upwards, and made penfile^ and by a long nebofaglafe 

 dipt in wine, mixt with water, will unmingle, the water from the 

 wine, the wine leafurely afcending,, and fetlingin the top 5 the water 

 defcending, and (etling in the bottom : Now as wine and water which 

 are two divers bodies are feparate by this device i may the more fubtil 

 parts of wine in like manner, which is an entire body, be leparate from 

 the more grols, that fo there may be a diftillation, as it were, by 

 weight 5 and that there may be found floating in the top, a fubftance 

 neareft to the fpirit of wine, but perchance more delicate ? So the Loid- 

 Itonedraweth Iron folid, and entire, unto it 5 will a piece of a Load- 

 lione, plunged into dilTolv'd parcels and fragments of Iron, allure the 

 Iron unto it, and cover it (elf with it? So the verfor of a A^fariners nee- 

 dle applies h Cclf to the Poles of the world: Doth it do this after the 

 iame manner, and upon the fame confequence whereby Celeftial Bodies 

 move? Namely if you fhould place the Needle in a contrary pofture, 

 that is, in the South -point, and thereftay ita while, and then ceafe 

 your forcing it, and leave it to it felf^ would this Need/c turn it (elf per- 

 chance to the North ^ and .chufe rather to wheel about by the VVeft 

 into its defired natural fite, than by the Eafl ? So gold imhibeth Quick- 

 filver which is contiguous toit^ doth the gold ingulf, and fuck up 

 this Qiiickiilver into it felf without extcnfion of its fubrtance, that it be- 

 comes a Mais more ponderous than gold it felf? So fome men fubmini- 

 fter helps to their memories by fettingup Images and Piftures of Perlbns 

 in certain rooms , would they attain the (ame end, if (fetting afide fucH 

 Images) they^ould effigiate to themfelves an Idea oftheirgeftsand 

 habits. AnflRius much of thePoduftion of an experiment. 



^ The tr.it?Jlation of an experiment is threejold^ cither from N.iture, 

 or chance into Art'-, or from Art, or one Fracttce into another •■} or frovt 



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