NOVUAI ORGANUM. 377 



others more cognate (though even these cognate bodies are such as 

 have no close sympathy with them), nevertheless immediately embrace 

 these latter, and choose them as preferable ; and seem to set down 

 this union as a gttin (whence we borrow our term), as though they 

 were in need of such bodies. For example : gold or any other metal, 

 in the form of leaves, docs not like the surrounding air. So if it 

 meets with any thick and tangible substance (as a finger, paper, or 

 anything else), it forthwith adheres to it, and is not eagerly torn off. 

 Again, paper, cloth, and the like, do not agree well with the air which 

 is inserted and mingled in their pores. So they easily imbibe water 

 or other liquids, and drive out the air. Again, a piece of sugar, or a 

 sponge soaked in water or wine, even though part of it is left standing 

 out high above the wine or water, nevertheless draws the water or 

 wine gradually upwards. 



And hence may be drawn an excellent rule for opening and dis 

 solving bodies. For, setting aside corrosive and strong waters, which 

 open a way for themselves, if there can be found a body proportioned to 

 and more in harmony and friendship with any solid body than that 

 with which it is at present perforce connected, that body forthwith 

 opens and relaxes itself, and receives the new one into itself, to the 

 exclusion or removal of the former. Nor does this .Motion for dn n 

 operate, or is it possible only, when the bodies are in contact. For 

 electricity (about which Gilbert and his followers have invented such 

 fables), is nothing but a corporeal desire created by a gentle friction, 

 which does not well endure the air, but prefers something tangible, if 

 it be found in its neighbourhood. 



7. Let the seventh Motion be that which we call Motion of Greater 

 Congregation^ by which bodies are carried to masses of a like nature 

 with themselves ; the heavy to the earth, the^ light to the circum 

 ference of the sky. This the School has denoted by the name of 

 Natural Motion, having looked into the matter but slightly ; cither 

 because there was no external motion discernible to produce the 

 motion (wherefore they thought it to be innate and inherent in things 

 themselves), or, maybe, because it never ceases. And no wonder : 

 for heaven and earth are always present, whereas the causes and 

 origins of most other motions arc sometimes absent and sometimes 

 present. Therefore, this motion, because it is never intermittent, but 

 always makes its appearance when others arc intermitted, they call 

 perpetual and proper ; all others they set down as adscititious. This 

 motion, hoxvcver, is in reality sufficiently weak and dull, inasmuch as 

 it is one which (except in bodies of considerable si/e) yields and 

 succumbs to all other motions, so long as they are in operation. And 

 though this motion has so occupied men s thoughts as almost to throw 

 others in the background, yet they know but little about it, and arc 

 involved in many errors concerning it. 



8. Let the eighth Motion be the Motion of Lesser Congregation^ by 

 which the homogeneous parts in any body separate themselves from 

 the heterogeneous, and combine among themselves : by which also 

 entire bodies, from similarity of substance, embrace and cherish each 



