Page:A trip to the moon (IA triptomoon00mcde).pdf/77

 my Art. Accordingly I took the Liquor, and plac'd it in a Glass Vessel over the Fire: This Vessel I cover'd with three Folds of fine Linnen, and over it plac'd a Retort, to receive the Liquor as it shou'd be carried up in Vapours: After it had remain'd for the Space of three Hours over a gentle Fire, I perceiv'd that the Liquor was entirely forc'd into the Retort; and then I took it off to cool. When I had separated the Vessels, I saw the Colour (with no small Joy) sticking to the Linnen: This I artfully took from it, and laid it by, to be preserv'd for a Rarity, which I will presently shew you.

Perhaps you may wonder how a Body may be depriv'd of all Colour; or how Colour, which is only a Property of Body, can subsist without a Body; but this is not to be marvell'd at, when you consider that it is as possible for a Property to subsist without a Body, as for nothing to have any Property. Yet some have affirm'd that nothing hath Properties, when they say that a Shadow is a Nigrum Nihil, or a Black Nothing. When I had effected this, I brought my Performance to my Master, who was very much delighted with it.

From that Time I was no longer kept in Ignorance of the most mysterious Part of his Art: I was first sworn to observe certain Articles, and then instructed in many Niceties of Art: I was taught to gather Lightening, and preserve it for Use; to make wholesome Bread of Hail-Stones, and Tarts of driven Snow; to make Clocks of Radishes, and Buff-Belts of Nut-Shells; with many other Things too tedious to recount. In short, I was taught to act Impossibilities, and find out Things that never had a Being. Thus I became a useful Servant to an indulgent Master, who reposed more Confidence in me, than in any of his Domesticks; and, in his