SCIENCE AND LITBEATUKB 49 



and dividing not only the flesh, but also silver and 

 brazen vessels." "Therefore this piercing spirit, 

 like a flame " (how much, in fact, frost is like 

 flame!) "seizing upon those that travel in the snow, 

 seems to burn their outsides, and like fire to enter 

 and penetrate the flesh." There is a spirit of salt, 

 too, and of heat, and of trees. The sharp, acrimo- 

 nious quality of the fig-tree bespeaks of a fierce and 

 strong spirit which it darts out into objects. 



To the ancient philosophers, the eye was not a 

 mere passive instrument, but sent forth a spirit, or 

 fiery visual rays, that went to cooperate with the 

 rays from outward objects. Hence the power of 

 the eye, and its potency in love matters. "The 

 mutual looks of nature's beauties, or that which 

 comes from the eye, whether light or a stream of 

 spirits, melt and dissolve the lovers with a pleasing 

 pain, which they call the bitter-sweet of love." 

 "There is such a communication, such a flame raised 

 by one glance, that those must be altogether un- 

 acquainted with love that wonder at the Median 

 naphtha that takes fire at a distance from the flame." 

 "Water from the heavens," says Plutarch, "is light 

 and aerial, and, being mixed with spirit, is the 

 quicker passed and elevated into the plants by rea- 

 son of its tenuity." Eain- water, he further says, 

 "is bred in the air and wind, and falls pure and 

 sincere. " Science could hardly give an explanation 

 as pleasing to the fancy as that. And it is true 

 enough, too. Mixed with spirit, or the gases of the 

 air, and falling pure and sincere, is undoiibtedly the 



