4 i2 GREA T IttSTA VRA T1ON. 



the time of harvest, and would not reap the blade for the ear. . We are 

 well aware that axioms, rightly framed, will draw after them whole 

 sheaves of works : but for that untimely and childish desire of seeing 

 fruits of new works before the season, we absolutely condemn and 

 reject it, as the golden apple that hinders the progress. 



With regard to its collection ; we propose to show nature not only 

 in a free state, as in the history of meteors, minerals, plants, and 

 animals ; but more particularly as she is bound, and tortured, pressed, 

 formed, and turned out of her course by art and human industry. 

 Hence we would set down all opposite experiments of the mechanic 

 and liberal arts, with many others not yet formed into arts ; for the 

 nature of things is better discovered by the torturings of art, than 

 when they are left to themselves. Nor is it only a history of bodies 

 that we would give ; but also of their cardinal virtues, or fundamental 

 qualities ; as density, rarity, heat, cold, &c., which should be comprised 

 in particular histories. 



The kind of experiments to be procured for our history are much 

 more subtile and simple than the common ; abundance of them must be 

 recovered from darkness, and are such as no one would have inquired 

 after, that was not led by constant and certain tract to the discovery 

 of causes ; as being in themselves of no great use, and consequently 

 not sought for their own sake, but with regard to works : like the 

 letters of the alphabet with regard to discourse. 



)* In the choice of our narratives and experiments we hope to have 

 shown more care than the other writers of natural history ; as receiving 

 nothing but upon ocular demonstration, or the strictest scrutiny of 

 examination ; and not heightening what is delivered to increase its 

 miraculousness, but thoroughly purging it of superstition and fable. 

 Besides this, we reject, with a particular mark, all those boasted and 

 received falsehoods, which by a strange neglect have prevailed for so 

 many ages, that they may no longer molest the sciences. For as the 

 idle tales of nurses do really corrupt the minds of children, we cannot 

 too carefully guard the infancy of philosophy from all vanity and super 

 stition. And when any new or more curious experiment is offered, 

 though it may seem to us certain and well founded ; yet we expressly 

 add the manner wherein it was made; that, after it shall be understood 

 how things appear to us, men may beware of any error adhering to 

 them, and search after more infallible proofs. We, likewise, all along 

 interpose our directions, scruples, and cautions ; and religiously guard 

 against phantoms and illusions. 



Lastly, having well observed how far experiments and history distract 

 the mind ; and how difficult it is, especially for tender or prejudiced 

 persons, to converse with nature from the beginning, we shall con 

 tinually subjoin our observations, as so many first glances of natural 

 history at philosophy ; and this to give mankind some earnest, that 

 they shall not be kept perpetually floating upon the waves of history ; 

 and that when they come to the work of the understanding, and the 

 explanation of nature, they may find all things in greater readiness. 

 This will conclude the third part. 



