Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/550

 422 INTERPRETATION OF NATURE. round. They Affirm that that close following and cosmical rolling in fluids is their whirling tendency to become consistent, till at length they reach a state of perfect rest. They deny that the stars are fixed like knots in a board. They deny that eccentric circles, epicycles, and such like crafty devices are realities. They affirm that a magnetic motion, or one having a power to collect matter together, is in full vigour in the stars, by which fire elicits fire, and elevates it. They affirm that, in the firmament of the planets, the bodies of the planets move and revolve quicker than the rest of the heavens in which they are placed, which certainly revolves, but slower. They affirm from that inequality the waves, the undulations, the flowings and ebbings of the ethereal atmosphere of the planets; and from them that various motions are drawn forth. They affirm a necessity in the planets of revolving quicker or slower, according as they may be placed higher or lower in the heavens, and that from the consent of the universe. But at the same time they affirm the languor, resulting from an incitement in their course beyond what nature has prescribed, in the planets both of the greater and lesser orbit. They affirm the following after the sun, from the defective nature of weaker flames, of Venus and Mercury; since even the moving stars, the attendants of Jupiter, have been discovered by Galilaeus. But these are matters of which we, standing as it were in the threshold of natural history, and of philosophy, take a prospective view subjects which, probably, the inquirer will be better qualified to prove, in pro portion to the depth of his researches into natural history. But, again, however, do we enter our protest against this fetter of intellect. In these, as in other matters, we are sure of the correctness of our career, though we be not so persuaded as to the station we are entitled to hold in it. But we have mentioned these topics during our intel lectual journey, lest any one should suppose, that from a wavering judgment, or a destitution ot talent to maintain the position, we had a preference for advocating negative questions. Wherefore, we will retain, as the heavenly na tures are wont to do, (since our treatise is of them,) a dignified constancy. THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS FRANCIS BACON, OF VERULAM, CONCERNING THE INTERPRETATION OF NATURE, OR THE INVENTION OF THINGS AND OF WORKS. FRANCIS BACON thought in this manner. The knowledge whereof mankind is now possessed doth not extend to certainty and magnitude of works. Physicians pronounce many diseases incurable, and often make mistakes, and fail in the treatment of the rest. Alchymists wax old and die in the embraces of hope. The works of that those which human industry has hitherto produced cannot be ascribed to philosophy. He thought also, that in this narrowness of man s power, that is most deplorable at present, and ominous for the future ; that men, contrary to their real interest, strive to rescue ignorance from shame, and to satisfy themselves in this poverty. For, the physician, besides the cautels of practice, (in which there are no small means of defending the credit of his art,) calls in what is, as it were, magicians are transitory and barren. The me chanical arts take but little light from philosophy and do but spin on slowly the little threads of j their own experience. Chance is, without doubt, i a general cautel of art, by turning into a reproacl a oenehcial discoverer of inventions; but one j upon nature the weakness of his art ; and, what that scatters her favours among men in distant art doth not reach, that he discharges from art ages and periods. So he saw well, that the inven- upon nature, as an impossibility; neither can art (ions of man, which we possess, must be counted be condemned, when itself judges. That philo- very imperfect and immature; and that, in the sophy also, out of which the knowledge of phj sic, present state of the sciences, are not now to be which now is in use, is hewn, itself recrives ami expected, except in a great length of time; and cherishes certain positions and opinions, which,