The Major Works (English Library) (36 page)

But
Nineveh
which Authours acknowledge to have exceeded
Babylon
, was of a longilateralll
⁵³
figure, ninety-five Furlongs broad, and an hundred and fifty long, and so making about sixty miles in circuit, which is the measure of three dayes journey, according unto military marches, or castrensiall mansions.
⁵⁴
So that if
Jonas
entred at the narrower side, he found enough for one dayes walk to attain the heart of the City, to make his Proclamation.
⁵⁵
And if we imagine a City extending from
Ware
to
London
,
⁵⁶
the expression will be moderate of six score thousand Infants,
⁵⁷
although we allow vacuities, fields, and intervals of habitation as there needs must be when the monument of
Ninus
took up no lesse then ten furlongs.

And, though none of the seven wonders, yet a noble peece of Antiquity, and made by a Copy exceeding all the rest, had its principall parts disposed after this manner, that is, the Labyrinth of
Crete
, built upon a long quadrate, containing five large squares, communicating by right inflections, terminating in the centre of the middle square, and lodging of the
Minotaur
, if we conform unto the description of the elegant medall thereof in
Agostino
.
⁵⁸
And though in many accounts we reckon grosly by the square, yet is that very often to be accepted as a long sided quadrate, which was the figure of the Ark of the Covenant, the table of the Shew-bread, and the stone wherein the names of the twelve Tribes were engraved,
⁵⁹
that is, three in a row, naturally making a longilaterall Figure, the perfect quadrate being made by nine.

What figure the stones themselves maintained, tradition and
Scripture are silent, yet Lapidaries in precious stones affect a Table or long square, and in such proportion, that the two laterall, and also the three inferiour Tables are equall unto the superiour, and the angles of the laterall Tables, contain and constitute the
hypothenusæ
, or broader sides subtending.
⁶⁰

That the Tables of the Law were of this figure, general imitation and tradition hath confirmed; yet are we unwilling to load the shoulders of
Moses
⁶¹
with such massie stones as some pictures lay upon them, since ’tis plainly delivered that he came down with them in his hand; since the word strictly taken implies no such massie hewing, but cutting, and fashioning of them into shape and surface; since some will have them Emeralds, and if they were made of the materials of Mount
Sina
, not improbable that they were marble: Since the words were not many, the letters short of seven hundred, and the Tables written on both sides required no such capacity.

The beds of the Ancients were different from ours at present, which are almost square, being framed ob-long, and about a double unto their breadth; not much unlike the
area
, or bed of this Quincuncial quadrate. The single beds of
Greece
were six foot, and a little more in length, three in breadth; the Giant-like bed of
Og
, which had four cubits of bredth, nine and a half in length,
⁶²
varied not much from this proportion. The Funeral bed of King
Cheops
, in the greater Pyramid, which holds seven in length, and four foot in bredth, had no great difformity from this measure; And whatsoever were the bredth, the length could hardly be lesse, of the tyrannical bed of
Procrustes
, since in a shorter measure he had not been fitted with persons for his cruelty of extension.
⁶³
But the old sepulchral bed, or
Amazonian
Tomb in the market-place of
Megara
,
⁶⁴
was in the form of a Lozenge; readily made out by the composure of the body. For the arms not lying fasciated or wrapt up after the
Grecian
manner, but in a middle distention,
⁶⁵
the including lines will strictly make out that figure.

CHAPTER III

Now although this elegant ordination of vegetables, hath found coincidence or imitation in sundry works of Art, yet is it not also destitute of naturall examples,
¹
and though overlooked by all, was elegantly observable, in severall works of nature.

Could we satisfie our selves in the position of the lights above, or discover the wisedom of that order so invariably maintained in the fixed Stars of heaven; Could we have any light, why the stellary part of the first masse, separated into this order, that the Girdle of
Orion
should ever maintain its line, and the two Starres in
Charles
’s Wain never leave pointing at the Pole-Starre, we might abate the
Pythagoricall
Musick of the Spheres, the sevenfold Pipe of
Pan
;
²
and the strange Cryptography of
Gaffarell
in his Starrie Booke of Heaven.
³

But not to look so high as Heaven or the single Quincunx of the
Hyades
upon the head of
Taurus
, the Triangle, and remarkable
Crusero
⁴
about the foot of the
Centaur
; observable rudiments there are hereof in subterraneous concretions, and bodies in the Earth; in the
Gypsum
or
Talcum Rhomboides
, in the Favaginites or honey-comb-stone, in the
Asteria
and
Astroites
, and in the crucigerous
⁵
stone of S.
Iago
of
Gallicia
.

The same is observably effected in the
Julus, Catkins
, or pendulous excrescencies of severall Trees, of Wallnuts, Alders, and Hazels, which hanging all the Winter, and maintaining their Net-worke close, by the expansion thereof are the early foretellers
of the Spring, discoverable also in long Pepper, and elegantly in the
Julus
of
Calamus Aromaticus
, so plentifully growing with us in the first palmes of Willowes, and in the Flowers of Sycamore, Petasites, Asphodelus, and
Blattaria
, before explication.
⁶
After such order stand the flowery Branches in our best spread
Verbascum
, and the seeds about the spicous
⁷
head or torch of
Tapsas Barbatus
, in as fair a regularity as the circular and wreathed order will admit, which advanceth one side of the square, and makes the same Rhomboidall.

In the squamous
⁸
heads of
Scabious, Knapweed
, and the elegant
Jacea Pinea
, and in the Scaly composure of the
Oak-Rose
, which some years most aboundeth. After this order hath Nature planted the Leaves in the Head of the common and prickled Artichoak; wherein the black and shining Flies do shelter them-sleves, when they retire from the purple Flower about it; The same is also found in the pricks, sockets, and impressions of the seeds, in the pulp or bottome thereof; wherein do elegantly stick the Fathers of their Mother.
⁹
To omit the Quincunciall Specks on the top of the Miscle-berry, especially that which grows upon the
Tilia
or Lime-Tree. And the remarkable disposure of those yellow fringes about the purple Pestill of
Aaron
, and elegant clusters of Dragons, so peculiarly secured by nature, with an
umbrella
or skreening Leaf about them.

The Spongy leaves of some Sea-wracks, Fucus, Oaks, in their severall kindes, found about the Shoar, with ejectments of the Sea, are over-wrought with Net-work elegantly containing this order, which plainly declareth the naturality of this texture; And how the needle of nature delighteth to work, even in low and doubtful vegetations.

The
Arbustetum
or Thicket on the head of the Teazell, may be observed in this order: And he that considereth that fabrick so regularly palisadoed,
¹⁰
and stemm’d with flowers of the royall
colour; in the house of the solitary maggot, may finde the Seraglio of
Solomon
,
¹¹
And contemplating the calicular shafts, and uncous disposure
¹²
of their extremities, so accommodable unto the office of abstersion,
¹³
not condemne as wholly improbable the conceit of those who accept it, for the herbe
Borith
.
¹⁴
Where by the way, we could with much inquiry never discover any transfiguration, in this abstemious insect, although we have kept them long in their proper houses, and boxes. Where some wrapt up in their webbs, have lived upon their own bowels, from September unto July.

In such a grove doe walke the little creepers about the head of the burre. And such an order is observed in the aculeous
¹⁵
prickly plantation, upon the heads of several common thistles, remarkably in the notable palisadoes
¹⁶
about the flower of the milk-Thistle; and he that inquireth into the little bottome
¹⁷
of the globe-thistle, may finde that gallant bush arise from a scalpe of like disposure.

The white umbrella or medicall bush of Elder, is an Epitome of this order: arising from five main stemms Quincuncially disposed, and tollerably maintained in their subdivisions. To omit the lower observations in the seminal spike of Mercurie, weld, and Plantane.

Thus hath nature ranged the flowers of Santfoyne, and French honey suckle; and somewhat after this manner hath ordered the bush in
Jupiters
beard, or houseleek; which old superstition set on the tops of houses, as a defensative against lightening, and thunder. The like in Fenny Seagreen or the water Souldier; which, though a militarie name from Greece, makes out the Roman order.

A like ordination there is in the favaginous
¹⁸
Sockets, and
Lozenge seeds of the noble flower of the Sunne. Wherein in Lozenge figured boxes nature shuts up the seeds, and balsame which is about them.

But the Firre and Pinetree from their fruits doe naturally dictate this position. The Rhomboidall protuberances in Pineapples maintaining this Quincuncial order unto each other, and each Rhombus in it selfe. Thus are also disposed the triangular foliations, in the conicall fruit of the firre tree, orderly shadowing and protecting the winged seeds below them.

The like so often occurreth to the curiosity of observers, especially in spicated seeds and flowers, that we shall not need to take in the single Quincunx of Fuchsius in the grouth of the masle fearn, the seedie disposure of Gramen Ischemon, and the trunk or neat Reticulate work in the codde of the Sachell palme.

For even in very many round stalk plants, the leaves are set after a Quintuple ordination, the first leaf answering the fifth, in lateral disposition. Wherein the leaves successively rounding the stalke, in foure at the furthest the compass is absolved,
¹⁹
and the fifth leafe or sprout, returns to the position of the other fift before it; as in accounting upward is often observable in furze, pellitorye, Ragweed, the sproutes of Oaks, and thorns upon pollards, and very remarkably in the regular disposure of the rugged excrescencies in the yearly shoots of the Pine.

But in square stalked plants, the leaves stand respectively
²⁰
unto each other, either in crosse or decussation to those above or below them, arising at crosse positions; whereby they shadow not each other, and better resist the force of winds, which in a parallel situation, and upon square stalkes would more forcibly bear upon them.

And to omit, how leaves and sprouts, which compasse not the stalk, are often set in a Rhomboides, and making long, and short Diagonals, doe stand like the leggs of Quadrupeds when they goe: Nor to urge the thwart enclosure and furdling
²¹
of flowers, and blossomes, before explication, as in the multiplyed
leaves of Pionie; And the Chiasmus
²²
in five leaved flowers, while one lies wrapt about the staminous beards, the other foure obliquely shutting and closing upon each other; and how even flowers which consist of foure leaves, stand not ordinarily in three and one, but two, and two crossewise unto the Stylus;
²³
even the Autumnal budds, which awaite the returne of the sun, doe after the winter solstice multiply their calicular leaves, making little Rhombuses, and network figures, as in the Sycamore and Lilac.

The like is discoverable in the original production of plants, which first putting forth two leaves, those which succeed, bear not over each other, but shoot obliquely or crossewise, untill the stalke appeareth; which sendeth not forth its first leaves without all order unto them; and he that from hence can discover in what position the two first leaves did arise, is no ordinary observator.

Where by the way, he that observeth the rudimental spring of seeds, shall finde strict rule, although not after this order. How little is required unto effectual generation, and in what diminutives the plastick principle
²⁴
lodgeth, is exemplified in seeds, wherein the greater mass affords so little comproduction. In Beanes the leaf and root sprout from the Germen, the main sides split, and lye by, and in some pull’d up near the time of blooming we have found the pulpous sides intire or little wasted. In Acorns the nebb dilating splitteth the two sides, which sometimes lye whole, when the Oak is sprouted two handfuls. In Lupins these pulpy sides do sometimes arise with the stalk in a resemblance of two fat leaves. Wheat and Rye will grow up, if after they have shot some tender Roots, the adhering pulp be taken from them. Beanes will prosper though a part be cut away, and so much set as sufficeth to contain and keep the Germen close. From this superfluous pulp in unkindely, and
wet years, may arise that multiplicity of little insects, which infest the Roots and Sprouts of tender Graines and pulses.
²⁵

In the little nebbe or fructifying principle, the motion is regular, and not transvertible,
²⁶
as to make that ever the leaf, which nature intendeth the root; observable from their conversion,
²⁷
until they attain their right position, if seeds be set inversedly.
²⁸

In vain we expect the production of plants from different parts of the seed, from the same
corculum
²⁹
or little original proceed both germinations; and in the power of this slender particle lye many Roots and sprouts, that though the same be pull’d away, the generative particle with renew them again, and proceed to a perfect plant; And malt may be observed to grow, though the Cummes
³⁰
be fallen from it.

The seminall nebbe hath a defined and single place, and not extended unto both extremes. And therefore many too vulgarly conceive that Barley and Oats grow at both ends; For they arise from one
punctilio
³¹
or generative nebbe, and the Speare sliding under the husk, first appeareth nigh the toppe. But in Wheat and Rye being bare the sprouts are seen together. If Barley unhulled would grow, both would appear at once. But in this and Oatmeal the nebbe is broken away, which makes them the milder food, and lesse apt to raise fermentation in Decoctions.

Men taking notice of what is outwardly visible, conceive a sensible priority in the Root. But as they begin from one part, so they seem to start and set out upon one signall of nature. In Beans yet soft, in Pease while they adhere unto the Cod,
³²
the rudimentall Leafe and Root are discoverable. In the seeds of Rocket and Mustard, sprouting in Glasses of water, when the one is manifest the other is also perceptible. In muddy waters apt to breed
Duckweed
, and Periwinkles, if the first and rudimentall
stroaks
³³
of Duckweed be observed, the Leaves and Root anticipate not each other. But in the Date-stone the first sprout is neither root nor leaf distinctly, but both together; For the Germination being to passe through the narrow Navell and hole about the midst of the stone, the generative germ is faine to enlengthen it self, and shooting out about an inch, at that distance divideth into the ascending and descending portion.

And though it be generally thought that Seeds will root at that end, where they adhere to their Originals, and observable it is that the nebbe sets most often next the stalk, as in Grains, Pulses, and most small Seeds, yet is it hardly made out in many greater plants. For in Acornes, Almonds, Pistachios, Wallnuts, and accuminated
³⁴
shells, the germ puts forth at the remotest part of the pulp. And therefore to set Seeds in that posture, wherein the Leaf and Roots may shoot right without contortion, or forced circumvolution, which might render them strongly rooted, and straighter, were a Criticisme
³⁵
in Agriculture. And nature seems to have made some provision hereof in many from their figure, that as they fall from the tree they may lye in Positions agreeable to such advantages.

Beside the open and visible Testicles of plants, the seminall powers lie in great part invisible, while the Sun findes polypody
³⁶
in stone-wals, the little stinging Nettle, and nightshade in barren sandy High-wayes,
Scurvy-grasse
in
Greeneland
, and unknown plants in earth brought from remote Countries. Beside the known longevity of some Trees, what is the most lasting herb, or seed, seems not easily determinable. Mandrakes upon known account have lived near an hundred yeares. Seeds found in Wilde-Fowls Gizards have sprouted in the earth. The Seeds of Marjorane and
Stramonium
³⁷
carelesly kept, have grown after seven years. Even in Garden-plots long fallow, and digged up, the seeds of
Blattaria
³⁸
and yellow henbane,
after twelve years burial have produced themselves again.

That bodies are first spirits
Paracelsus
could affirm, which in the maturation of Seeds and fruits, seems obscurely implied by
Aristotle
,
³⁹
when he delivereth, that the spirituous parts are converted into water, and the water into earth, and attested by observation in the maturative progresse of Seeds, wherein at first may be discerned a flatuous
⁴⁰
distension of the husk, afterwards a thin liquor, which longer time digesteth into a pulp or kernell observable in Almonds and large Nuts. And some way answered in the progressionall perfection of animall semination, in its spermaticall maturation, from crude pubescency unto perfection. And even that seeds themselves in their rudimentall discoveries, appear in foliaceous surcles,
⁴¹
or sprouts within their coverings, in a diaphonous gellie, before deeper incrassation,
⁴²
is also visibly verified in Cherries, Acorns, Plums.