286 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



come by the same inspiration that gave the substance. 

 Unto this part of knowledge touching the soul there be 

 two appendices ; which, as they have been handled, have 

 rather vapoured forth fables than kindled truth ; Divina- 

 tion and Fascination. 



Divination hath been anciently and fitly divided into 

 artificial and natural ; whereof artificial is when the mind 

 maketh a prediction by argument, concluding upon signs 

 and tokens ; natural is when the mind hath a presention 

 by an internal power, without the inducement of a sign. 

 Artificial is of two sorts ; either when the argument is 

 coupled with a derivation of causes, which is rational ; or 

 when it is only grounded upon a coincidence of the effect, 

 which is experimental : whereof the later for the most part 

 is superstitious; such as were the heathen observations 

 upon the inspection of sacrifices, the flights of birds, the 

 swarming of bees ; and such as was the Chaldean Astro- 

 logy, and the like. For artificial divination, the several 

 kinds thereof are distributed amongst particular know- 

 ledges. The Astronomer hath his predictions, as of 

 conjunctions, aspects, eclipses, and the like. The Physician 

 hath his predictions, of death, of recovery, of the accidents 

 and issues of diseases. The Politique hath his predictions ; 

 O urbem venalem, et cito perituram, si emptorem invenerit! 

 which stayed not long to be performed, in Sylla first, and 

 after in Caesar. So as these predictions are now imper- 

 tinent, and to be referred over. But the divination which 

 springeth from the internal nature of the soul, is that 

 which we now speak of; which hath been made to be 

 of two sorts, primitive and by influxion. Primitive is 

 grounded upon the supposition that the mind, when it is 

 withdrawn and collected into itself and not diffused into 

 the organs of the body, hath some extent and latitude of 

 prenotion ; which therefore appeareth most in sleep, in 

 extasies, and near death ; and more rarely in waking 

 apprehensions ; and is induced and furthered by those 

 abstinences and observances which make the mind most to 

 consist in itself. By influxion, is grounded upon the con- 

 ceit that the mind, as a mirror or glass, should take 



