Anfw. Because Nature withdraws the Blood from the exterior to the more noble and inward Parts of the Body; even as fuch, who have loft the Power and Command of the Field, or Campaign, retreat to their Garrifons and Caftles, the beft fenc'd and fortify'd: For 'tis the Blood that caufes that Vermeile and blufhing Colour in the Face, which being withdrawn, Palenefs enfues. Queft. Why do we sweat in the Face (more than any other part of the Body) altho' it be kept uncover'd? Anfw. Because it is more moift, as its Hairynefs demonftrates; and that the Brain, which is very moist, being inclos'd within the Head, difcharges it felf on all fides, by divers Paffages. Add to this, that 'tis the Nature of Humidity to defcend; it is there more evident and apparent, than in the lower parts of the Body. Queft. Why is it, that grafted Trees bear better Fruit than favage ones; and thofe that are twice, are better than fuch who have been but once grafted? Anfw. Becaufe Nature perceiving fome Delect, endeavours to repair it by a better and more ample Nourishment: So that the Tree being incis'd, or cut for to be grafted, it fends as much Aliment as is neceffary, and of the beft, to the part incis'd; by which it is fo much the more fortify'd and fitted to produce better Fruits. Queft. Why do Flowers flourish and open in the Morning, and are contracted and hut at Night? Anfw. "Tis because that the Nature of Heat is to dilate and open, and the Nature of Cold to contract and fhut; fo that the Sun by its Heat makes them to open and flourish. And the Sun being fet, they are contracted and fhut, by the Cold of the following Night. Queft. Why is Blood alone of all Humours red? Anfw. Because it has its Colour from the Liver, that makes it fo. Queft. Why does Man alone, of all other Animals, bleed at the Nofe, being neither hurt nor beaten? Anfw. Because he has more Brains than any other Creature, according to the proportion of his Body, by means whereof more Moisture proceeds; infomuch that the Veins are forc'd (being fill'd with fo much Excrements which do mingle with the Blood) to discharge that which is moft fubtile by the Noftrils, near to which the Veins are confin'd to the Brain. For as Ariftotle fays, that Blood which is avoided by the Noftrils, being corrupted by the mixture of other Excrements, renders it felf more fubtile than if it were intire. And as it is more fubtile and attenuated, it runs out therefore more eafily, being thrust by that which is more grofs and thick. The true Caufe then is, that the more foft and fupple Bodies being prefs'd and thrust back, by fuch Bodies as are more hard and firm, they do do yield not at their Level, but in raifing and lifting up. For example; If with our Foot we strike a Heap of Mud, it will rife up and accumulate it felf on high, rather than recoil. But you'll fay, this proceeds from its Humidities: In anfwer to which (we fay) do as much unto a Heap of Sand, and the fame thing will happen: So then Water de fcending from its Source from a high and eminent Place, the Flux of the hindmoft Water doth inceffantly thrust forward that part which is before; which is the cause that finding Refiftance and Hindrance in its Course, and that which is pretended being not able to penetrate, or make the Bodies that it meets to yield unto it, it is forc'd by that which follows it to raise and mount, unless there be fome means left for it to expand and extend it felf. Forafmuch, as it being a liquid Body, Extenfion and Diffufion are natural unto it and its Defcent also be cause of its Heavinefs, and its Afcent because of its Violence, being contrary unto it; extends and diffufes it felf at large, and fooner and more eafily descends, than it furmounts the Hindrances that it meets withal in its Courfe. But fuppofe, that Water be inclos'd (as in Pipes of Lead) that it cannot diffuse it felf; nevertheless, we ought not to limit its Afcent to the height of the place of its Source: But this depends on the Force, Impulfion, and Weight of the Body that thrufts from behind, it and of that which refifts from before. For if the Impulfion, and Weight of a Body prefs'd from behind, is more feeble than the Refiftance of a Body which is before, the Water will not mount fo high, as if the Impulfion and Weight of the Body, preffing from behind, did furmount, and (if we may fo fay) force that which refifts from before. This may be obferv'd by Experience in the Pipes of Fountains, in which they make the Water to rife as high as they please by the Artifice of Weights. But enough of this. We have been a little the longer on this Question, that we might destroy the popular Error propos'd in it, and by the way to establish the true Cause. Queft. How comes it to pass, that cafting from on high (in a perpendicular Line, and right Line) a Beam, or other piece of Wood equally thick, into the Water, the lower-end thereof that first enters the Water, will fooner come up again upon the Water, before the higher-end fhall come to the bot tom? Anfw. 'Tis certain, that Wood is a Body which contains inclos'd in it much Air: The Nature of which is, to be above the Water, by reafon whereof being thruft by Violence under the Water, it arifes above it by its Nature, in lefs time than the Violence (which is accidental to it) has made it to fink. Queft. Wherefore is it, that a piece of Wood thrown from high to low into the Water, together with Q a piece of Lead, Stone, or any other hard and folid Body of the fame weight, both defcending and falling at the fame time on the Water, and yet the Lead, or a Stone will fink, and the Wood will fwim? Anfw. Tho' Wood will not remain funk in the Water, but fwim on the Top thereof, because it is Aerial, and the place of Air is above the Water; the others will fink, because they are Terreftrial and Aquatick: but in the Air the Wood will defcend as swift as either, because the Air, as all other Elements, except Fire, do weigh in their natural place. Queft. Why does a Bladder full of Wind, thrust by force under the Water, afcend fuddenly again on the top thereof? Anfw. Because the Air, or Wind wherewith it is fill'd, returns to its natural Place, which is above the Water. Queft. Why does a Dog excel all other Creatures in smelling? Anfw. 'Tis because in proportion to his Body, he has the Nerve of that Senfe more large than any other Animal; but Man, on the contrary, has it very little, by reafon whereof he cannot fmell fo well. Queft. Why does a Dog alone, of all other Animals, remain attach'd to the Bitch after Capulation, being not easily to be feparated? Anfw. Alexander Aphroditius faith, Prob. 75. it is because the Bitch has the Paffages of Nature very ftrait; and the Yard of the Dog fwelling within by the Ebullition of the Spirits, it is difficult after Copulation to withdraw it. Queft. How comes it, that they who fleep profoundly, (as most Labourers do) are seldom troubled with Dreams, or if they have Dreams they feldom remember 'em? Anfw. The Reason in one word is, that their Senses are altogether benum'd. Queft. Wherefore are not the Dreams made before we wake in the Morning, fo irregular, as those we have in our first Sleep? Anfw. Because the Brain in the Morning is not fo loaden with the Fumes of the Supper's Digeftion. Queft. Wherefore is it, that if we presently fall asleep after Meals, we dream not fuddenly after Sleep has feiz'd us? Anfw. Because the too great quantity of Fumes and Vapours, which then ascend from the Stomach to the Brain, hinders the Images of things being represented to our interior Senfes. Queft. Wherefore do those things we dream of, feem to us much more great than naturally they are? Anfw. Because the Senfes being lull'd afleep, being not able nicely to judge of the Objects, have recourse to those things that are more grofs, and more fenfible of the fame kind. And fo a Man will feem a Giant; a thing indifferently hot will feem to burn; a little fweet Flegm falling down the Throat, will feem Sugar; fmall Noife in the Ears will feem to be Cannons. a Queft; Queft. Wherefore are our Dreams in Autumn, more turbu. lent and confus'd, than those we have in other Seafons of the Year? An/w. 'Tis because of the eating of Fruits which are full of Humidity, which boiling in the Stomach, do fend great quantity of Fumes to the Head; which mingling with the Spirits, do produce ftrange and confus'd Illufions. Queft. Why are not Fishes fubject to many Maladies, as Terreftrial Creatures are? Anfw. 'Tis because they are in an Element more pure than the Earth: For the Earth is much more compos'd of mix'd Bodies than the Water. Queft. Why cannot those who are fick of a Dropfy, altho' full of Waters and Humours, quench their Thirst by drinking? Anfw. 'Tis because they digeft not their Drink, (even when they are feverish) it becomes hot, falt, and mordicant, which makes 'em to have an unextinguishable Thirft. And tho' their Belly be full of Water and Humidity, which finds no vent, for want of other Diftribution, the other parts of the Body become dry, and from this Drought proceeds their extreme Thirst. Quett. Wherefore do the Bodies of drown'd Perfons return again upon the Water, fome Days after; and particularly, as fome have obferv'd, on the Ninth Day? Anfw. Some fay, that Nine Days after the Body is drown'd and funk under Water, the Gall breaks, and the bitter Liquor thereof contain'd therein, being evacuated, the Bo dy rifes upon the Water. Others hold that the Gall breaks not, but that all the Parts of the Body being made rare and thin by the Wetnefs of the Water, and the grofs Humours evacuated, it becomes fupple, and fwims on the Water fome days after 'tis drown'd. But it feems to be rather, from the Cause of Winds engender'd in the Films, or Membranes, which cover the Inteftines of the Belly, (call'd by the Phyficians, Omen tum and Peritoneum) as the exceffive fwelling of their Bellies does demonftrate; for all Corruption is gender'd of Heat, and Heat diffolving Humidity, Winds are engender'd: Which reafon is fubtilly related by Cordan. Quest. Wherefore is it, that the drown'd Bodies of Men Swim on their Backs, and those of Women on their Bellies? Anfw. To attribute this, as fome have done, to the Providence of Nature, willing to cover the modeft Parts of one Sex more than the other, feems to be a modeft, but a light Reafon and therefore it may better be faid, that the Caufe is from the difference of the Parts of the one from the other. For Women have the Veffels of the Body, before, more ample, large, and capacious than Men have, as the natural Parts and Paffages for the Urine: Which is the Reafon they are lefs fubject to the Stone, c. Befides, that their Breafts being fpongeous, become season'd with much Water; which do prefs Q2 down downward, and aggravate the lower parts of their Bodies: it being certain, that the moft heavy parts tend downwards. On the contrary, Men have their Shoulders more great and large than Women, and the Bones and Connection of the Vert. more firm, by reafon of which thofe Parts tend downward. Befides, they have the Organs, and Paffage of the Voice, and the Breathing more large (as it may appear by the Deepness and Strength of their Voice) which being fill'd with Air, it lifts up the fore-part of their Bodies, their Face towards Heaven, and their Back towards the Water. Queft. Wherefore do Drunkards feem fometimes to fee doubly the fame object? : Anfw. 'Tis because that Humidity doth diverfly affect the Mufcles of the Eyes, infomuch that one is more clos'd than the other; or elfe, according to the Philofopher, the reafon is, that it feems to thofe who are drunk, that all things turn round, because their Brain is troubled by reafon of which for one only Object, they think they fee two or more. For 'tis certain, that a Body turn'd round with quick nefs does not feem one, but many; because it returns fuddenly, and reprefents it felf often to our fight. Quest. Why is it, that those who have drank a great quantity of Wine, are afterwards very thirsty? Anfw. Because Wine taken immoderately over heats the Body, by which adventitious and ftrange Heat it makes it defire moift and cold things, fuch as Drink. Quest. Wherefore are fuch, who are too much charg'd with Wine and Meat, indifpos'd in Venus's Combats? Anfw. 'Tis because their Digeftion and Concoction is tardily, and not eafily made; by which means they are furnish'd with little Seed: and that which was in the Body before, is not fo apt to move, because the Body is bound, and conftipated by the too much repletion of Meat and Drink, and the natural Heat fo much imploy'd in the Concoction thereof. Quest. Wherefore are Labourers fooner drunk, than thofe that live a fedentary and lazy Life? Anfw. Becaufe Labourers are ordinarily dry and thirfty, Labour and Exercife drying up their Humours; but those that are fedentary and lazy, their Bodies being more humid, do thirft lefs: and altho' they fhould make fome excess in drinking, their Bodies would not fo eafily be foak'd and imbu'd as if they were dry; fo that they discharge more by Urine, and are less drunk. Quest. Wherefore do Drunkards weep cafily? Anfw. Because they have their Head full of Fumes and Vapours, which contracted together, do difcharge themselves by running out at the Eyes, on the leaft occafion or trouble, real or imaginary. Queft. Why have Drunkards ordinarily their Eye-lids very red? Anfw. Because the Fumes of the Wine, which afcend from the Stomach to the Head, partaking of the natural Heat of the |