Lib. V. Of the Advancement ofLearnin(j. i c i 



tion^ but com[nixt5together much more. But this experiment is clear 

 of it felf, notwithftanding here may covertly a fallacy lie hid, (as 

 there may in all other effects, and conclufions where Axioms are wan- 

 ting) li' the Copulation be made of things which work after a different, 

 and as it were, repugnant manner. And fo much for CopnUtion of Ex- 

 periment. 



§ There remain the Chances^ or Fortunes of Experiment. This is alto-- 

 get her an irrational^ and as it rvcre^ apajfionate manner of experimenting^ 

 when you have a mind to try a conclttflon not for that any reafon, or other 

 Experiment indncethyoH to it , but only becaufe the lil^e rvas never attempted 

 before. Yet I do not know whether or no, in this kind, there may not 

 lie hid feme fecret of great u(e, if you try Nature every way. For the 

 wonders of Nature commonly lie out of the high road, and beaten 

 paths 5 fo as the very abfurdity of an attempt may fbmetimes be pro- 

 iperous. But if reafon go along with this practice ; that is, that it is evi- 

 dent that fuch an Experiment was never yet tried 5 and yet there is 

 great reafon why it (hould be attempted ; then it is a choice Experiment , 

 and (earcheth the very bofom of Nature. For Example : In the opera- 

 tion of Fire upon fome Natural Body, one or other of thele elTefts hi- 

 therto ever comes to paft ; as that either fomething flies out, (as flame 

 and fume in ordinary burning fewelj or at leaft there is made a local 

 feparation of Parts, and that for fbme diftance 3 asinDiftillation where 

 the Lees fettle, the vapours, after they haveplay'd about, are gather- 

 ed into receptacles : But no man ever yet made trial of an imprifon'd 

 DiftiIIation,for (b we may call it: And it feems very probable,that if the 

 force of heat immur'd with in the Cloifters of a Body, do Co great mat- 

 ters,and work fuch alterations ; and yet without lofs, or manumiffion to 

 the Body 5 that then this Proteus of Matter, fetter 'd, as it were, with 

 Manacles, may in time be forced to many transformations, if fo be, that 

 the heat be fb tempered 5 and intermutually chang'd, that the vellela 

 be not broken. For this operation is like that of the womb, where 

 the heat works without emiffion, or feparation of any part of the Bo- 

 dy, fave that in the Matrix, there is conjoyn'd Alimentation 5 but for 

 verfion, the thing is the fame. Thefe are the fortunes, or adventures of 

 Experiment. In the mean time^ We give this advice, touching Experi- 

 ments of this Nature 5 that no man be difcouraged, or confounded ^ 

 if the Experiments which he puts in pradiice anfwer not his expectati- 

 on 3 For what fuccecds pleafeth morcj but what fucceeds not, many times in- 

 forms no Icfs. And this ought ever to be remembred (which we of^ 

 ten prefs) that Experimcnta Lucifer a Experiments of Light, anddi/cove- 

 ry^ ought for a time to be much more enquired after, than Experiment a 

 fruciifera. Experiments of ufe and pra^ice. And thus much of Literate 

 Experience, which (as we havefaid before) is rather a fagacity, and a 

 hunting fcent, than a Science. 



fj Nowftr the Novum Organum, we fay nothing, nor give any fore- 

 tafl thereof j being we have projefted in our minds, by the affiflance 

 of the Divine favour, to make a perfeft entire work of that fubjeftj 

 feeing it is a matter of higher confequence, than all the relf. 



CAP. 



