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up the parts that are subject to it； no more nor less than the other
appetite we were speaking of； and in like manner； as unseasonably leaves
us； when it thinks fit。 The vessels that serve to discharge the belly
have their own proper dilatations and compressions； without and beyond
our concurrence； as well as those which are destined to purge the reins；
and that which； to justify the prerogative of the will； St。 Augustine
urges； of having seen a man who could command his rear to discharge as
often together as he pleased； Vives； his commentator； yet further
fortifies with another example in his time；of one that could break wind
in tune； but these cases do not suppose any more pure obedience in that
part； for is anything commonly more tumultuary or indiscreet？ To which
let me add； that I myself knew one so rude and ungoverned； as for forty
years together made his master vent with one continued and unintermitted
outbursting； and 'tis like will do so till he die of it。 And I could
heartily wish； that I only knew by reading； how often a man's belly； by
the denial of one single puff； brings him to the very door of an
exceeding painful death； and that the emperor；＇The Emperor Claudius；
who； however； according to Suetonius （Vita； c。 32）； only intended to
authorise this singular privilege by an edict。＇ who gave liberty to let
fly in all places； had； at the same time； given us power to do it。 But
for our will； in whose behalf we prefer this accusation； with how much
greater probability may we reproach herself with mutiny and sedition； for
her irregularity and disobedience？ Does she always will what we would
have her to do？ Does she not often will what we forbid her to will； and
that to our manifest prejudice？ Does she suffer herself； more than any
of the rest； to be governed and directed by the results of our reason？
To conclude； I should move； in the behalf of the gentleman； my client； it
might be considered； that in this fact； his cause being inseparably and
indistinctly conjoined with an accessory； yet he only is called in
question； and that by arguments and accusations； which cannot be charged
upon the other； whose business； indeed； it is sometimes inopportunely to
invite； but never to refuse； and invite； moreover； after a tacit and
quiet manner； and therefore is the malice and injustice of his accusers
most manifestly apparent。 But be it how it will； protesting against the
proceedings of the advocates and judges； nature will； in the meantime；
proceed after her own way； who had done but well； had she endowed this
member with some particular privilege； the author of the sole immortal
work of mortals； a divine work； according to Socrates； and love； the
desire of immortality； and himself an immortal demon。
Some one； perhaps； by such an effect of imagination may have had the good
luck to leave behind him here； the scrofula； which his companion who has
come after； has carried with him into Spain。 And 'tis for this reason
you may see why men in such cases require a mind prepared for the thing
that is to be done。 Why do the physicians possess； before hand； their
patients' credulity with so many false promises of cure； if not to the
end； that the effect of imagination may supply the imposture of their
decoctions？ They know very well； that a great master of their trade has
given it under his hand； that he has known some with whom the very sight
of physic would work。 All which conceits come now into my head； by the
remembrance of a story was told me by a domestic apothecary of my
father's； a blunt Swiss； a nation not much addicted to vanity and lying；
of a merchant he had long known at Toulouse； who being a valetudinary；
and much afflicted with the stone； had often occasion to take clysters；
of which he caused several sorts to be prescribed him by the physicians；
acccording to the accidents of his disease； which； being brought him； and
none of the usual forms； as feeling if it were not too hot； and the like；
being omitted； he lay down； the syringe advanced； and all ceremonies
performed； injection alone excepted； after which； the apothecary being
gone； and the patient accommodated as if he had really received a
clyster； he found the same operation and effect that those do who have
taken one indeed； and if at any time the physician did not find the
operation sufficient； he would usually give him two or three more doses；
after the same manner。 And the fellow swore； that to save charges （for
he paid as if he had really taken them） this sick man's wife； having
sometimes made trial of warm water only； the effect discovered the cheat；
and finding these would do no good； was fain to return to the old way。
A woman fancying she had swallowed a pin in a piece of bread； cried and
lamented as though she had an intolerable pain in her throat； where she
thought she felt it stick； but an ingenious fellow that was brought to
her； seeing no outward tumour nor alteration； supposing it to be only a
conceit taken at some crust of bread that had hurt her as it went down；
caused her to vomit； and； unseen； threw a crooked pin into the basin；
which the woman no sooner saw； but believing she had cast it up； she
presently found herself eased of her pain。 I myself knew a gentleman；
who having treated a large company at his house； three or four days after
bragged in jest （for there was no such thing）； that he had made them eat
of a baked cat； at which； a young gentlewoman； who had been at the feast；
took such a horror； that falling into a violent vomiting and fever； there
was no possible means to save her。 Even brute beasts are subject to the
force of imagination as well as we； witness dogs； who die of grief for
the loss of their masters； and bark and tremble and start in their sleep；
so horses will kick and whinny in their sleep。
Now all this may be attributed to the close affinity and relation betwixt
the soul and the body intercommunicating their fortunes； but 'tis quite
another thing when the imagination works not only upon one's own
particular body； but upon that of others also。 And as an infected body
communicates its malady to those that approach or live near it； as we see
in the plague； the smallpox； and sore eyes； that run through whole
families and cities：
〃Dum spectant oculi laesos； laeduntur et ipsi；
Multaque corporibus transitione nocent。〃
＇〃When we look at people with sore eyes； our own eyes become sore。
Many things are hurtful to our bodies by transition。〃
Ovid； De Rem。 Amor。； 615。＇
so the imagination； being vehemently agitated； darts out infection
capable of offending the foreign object。 The ancients had an opinion of
certain women of Scythia； that being animated and enraged against any
one； they killed him only with their looks。 Tortoises and ostriches
hatch their eggs with only looking on them； which infers that their eyes
have in them some ejaculative virtue。 And the eyes of witches are said
to be assailant and hurtful：
〃Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos。〃
＇〃Some eye； I know not whose is bewitching my tender lambs。〃
Virgil； Eclog。； iii。 103。＇
Magicians are no very good authority with me。 But we experimentally see
that women impart the marks of their fancy to the children they carry in
the womb； witness her that was brought to bed of a Moor； and there was
presented to Charles the Emperor and King of Bohemia； a girl from about
Pisa； all over rough and covered with hair； whom her mother said to be so
conceived by reason of a picture of St。 John the Baptist； that hung
within the curtains of her bed。
It is the same with beasts； witness Jacob's sheep； and the hares and
partridges that the snow turns white upon the mountains。 There was at my
house； a little while ago； a cat seen watching a bird upon the top of a
tree： these； for some time； mutually fixing their eyes one upon another；
the bird at last let herself fall dead into the cat's claws； either
dazzled by the force of its own imagination； or drawn by some attractive
power of the cat。 Such as are addicted to the pleasures of the field；
have； I make no question； heard the story of the falconer； who having
earnestly fixed his eyes upon a kite in the air； laid a wager that he
would bring her down with the sole power of his sight； and did so； as it
was said； for the tales I borrow I charge upon the consciences of those
from whom I have them。 The discourses are my own； and found themselves
upon the proofs of reason； not of experience； to which every one has
liberty to add his own examples； and who has none； let him not forbear；
the number and varieties of accidents considered； to believe that there
are plenty of them； if I do not apply them well； let some other do it for
me。 And； also； in the subject of which I treat； our manners and motions；
testimonies and instances； how fabulous soever； provided they are
possible； serve as well as the true； whether they have really happened or
no； at Rome or Paris； to John or Peter； 'tis still within the verge of
human capacity； which serves me to good use。 I see； and make my
advantage of it； as well in shadow as in substance； and amongst the