book, Of Diet, in the fifth tract, Of fish, saying, "That all meat by how much the more savoury it is, by so much "the better it nourisheth."

And things growing in a soil not dunged, do not so easily putrefie, as those do which grow in a dunged soil.

For (which makes for this purpose) I saw a certain mountain in some part of France, where corn was kept without damage in granaries for six or eight years: For that the nature of the earth alone is much better (than when forced with dung) for bringing forth fruits.

I have also seen in some vineyards, propagated as it were of the same seed and original, and planted but a few paces distance, this to happen, that one produced wine twice as strong and heady as the other; which was from the natural virtue of the ground from whence the vineyard had its nourisment. For there was white marle, which is said to be better than any other for to yield good nourishment, by reason it is always fruitful.

A good air is also to be observed: For herbs and trees, which grow in a good air, are more remote from corruption, and always are of a more vehement, and stronger vir

tue.

And this therefore comes to pass, by reason of the wind, that does there more freely pass and blow upon all things, drying up putrefaction. Whence it is, that Avicenna in his first canon affirms, that plants growing in windy and mountainous places, are of a stronger and more unshaken virtue.

I saw a mountain in the province of the Romans, wherein the air was so pure, and the plants of so great goodness, that discased and infected cattle were in a small space of time cured by them. And the same may be said likewise of animals living in mountainous places.

Thirdly, The distance of the sun doth concur in the generation of plants. For plants that grow in places re

mote

mote from the sun, have their fruit more crude, neither continuing so long without rotting, nor growing so hard as to be defended from putrefaction. Therefore they breed a humcur more obnoxious to corruption. As is manifest in vineyards that are found in some part of the kingdom of France, and in some parts of Germany, whose grapes being laid on the ground, especially in summer time are corrupted. The reason is, because the water being made sowre, is not all turned into wine. And therefore Isaac lays down this as a property of wine, namely, That mere wine mixt with spring-water, which hath no external vapour any way mixt with it, is more powerful and strong, than watrish wine without mixture. Because in watrish wine there is a sowre water; in a strong and (as they call it) vinous wine the sowreness is expelled by the heat of the sun. But a high and frequent boyling of wine, while it is new, will take away that defect; as also hot earth or gravel will help the heat of the sun, deficient through its great distance.

Whence it easily appears, that the presence of the sun eperates much, and that its distance effects much in many things.

For those countries that are farther from the heat and circumgiration of the sun, want many sorts of plants, as olives, figs, pomegranates; and their wines also are not so permanent as in hot countries, where sometimes they are kept for ten years.

Fourthly, We must consider what kind the plant is of; Because, although the three foresaid things concur, if the plant be of a bad kind, they effect or avail nothing.

Which is made manifest in some kind of grapes, that seem fairer to the eye than others; yet wine made thereof is corrupted in a shorter time, nor is it of the like relish, nor of so much Goodness in breeding good humours.

And thus we see the native moisture may be restored, and when almost lost may be renewed by good juices produced of animals and plants.

LINDANAO of verre old ceremonics, how

and must pere fan dog acts on the kettle for Medea, to parbell

98 to 20 Bentatoa tarder years. Ond Met lib. vil

Most Whos de lulow bran the medicine boils,

An1 swelling high, in foamy bubbles toila.

Thers

up of many medicines; although some are of the opinion iis fabulously reported.

From these and from other things, most excellent prince, i may easily appear to your clemency, by what means mea of former time were long-lived, namely,

Because their way of living was more temperate. Because their food and nourishment augmented the nael moisture, and preserved it long from corruption.

There seeths she what th' Emonian vales produce,
Roots, jaices, flowers, and seeds of sovereign use:
Adds stones from oriental rocks bereft,

And others by the ebbing ocean left;
The dew collected e're the dawning springs;
A screech-owl's flesh with her ill-boding wings;
The intrials of ambiguous wolves, that can
Take and forsake the figure of a man;
The liver of a long-liv'd hart: then takes,
The scaly skins of small Cyniphian snikes
A crow's old head and pointed beak were cast
Among the rest, which had nine ages pa t.
These and a thousand more without a nan.e
Were thus prepared by the barbarcus dame,
For humane beneût. Th' ingredients new
She mingles with a wither'd elive bough.
Lo, from the caldron the dry stick receives
First verdure, and a little after leaves;
Forthwith with over-burthening clives Jeckt,
The skipping froth, with under-flames eject,
Upon the ground descended in a dew;

Whence vernal flowers and springing pasture grew.
This seen, she cuts the old man's throat, cut scruis u
His scarce warm blood, and her receipt infus'd,
His mouth or wound suckt in. His beard and head
Black hairs forthwith adorn, the hoary shed.
Pale colcur, morphew, meagre looks remove,
And under rising flesh his wrinkles smooth
His limbs wax strong and lusty. Eson much
Admires his change; himself remembers such
Twice twenty summers past: withal, indu'd
A youthful mind, and both at once renew'.

And

And then, because there was a greater purity of air.

Moreover, because they better knew the properties of things, which guarded the state of the body, that it was not presently dissolved.

The knowledge of which things came imperfect to the Greeks, and so to us.

After we have seen what meats and drinks restore the native moisture, we ought to consider what things they are that defend that moisture, and protect it from dissolution.

CHAP. VIII.

Of those things that defend the natural moisture, when bred, and restrain it from dissolution, and that render it more sincere, when restored.

THINGS that defend the natural moisture from dissolution, and when restor'd, that render it more sincere, are three.

One whereof swims in the sea.

Another is hid in the inmost recesses of the earth.

The

This is coral, which is most certainly bred of a petrifying juice: But whether this juice sprout of it self into a stony shrub; or whether it first take a wooden form and after turn into stone; or whether it penetrate and transmute some dead plant found in the sea-water, and so retain its shape, is altogether doubtful. The reason is, because there are branches of coral found, whose substance partly resembles wood, partly coral. Some report as if there were coral-berries. There is coral of divers colours; but red is the best.

Here gold is meant, which is the most noble and solid of metals, yellow ur, bred of the best digested and fixt principles.