name of the noſethrills. And the noſethrills be ſo called, for that by them wee ſmell, ſauouring and vitall things, and diſcerne betwéene ſwéete and ſtinking. And ſo becauſe ſmellyng remaine to vs by them: they be called noſethrilles, as by the contrary, men blockiſh, careleſſe, vnſkilfull, and ignoraunt, be called, as it were without noſethrills. Conſtantine ſaith, that the noſe hath two holes, that is diuided a ſunder by a manner griſtle bone; and one of theſe two holes, commeth to the hollowneſſe of ye roofe of the mouth: and that other paſſeth to the ſkinnes of the brayne, to drawe the ayre to the brayne, and to bring the ſpirite of féelyng to the noſethrils to make the ſenſe of ſmellyng perfect. The firſt hole is néedfull to put off ſuperfluities, that come from the brayne: & the other to draw ſpirite and breath, and to make perfect the ſmellyng. But properlye to ſpeake, the inſtruments of ſmellyng, be two holow fleſhy peeces, that hang from the noſethrills as it were ſcales that receiue firſt in themſelues the aire that is drawen, and then ſendeth it into the inner part of the brayne. To theſe teates the vtter noſethrilles ſerue drawing in aire, and cloſing it within themſelues, & making it ſubtil, that it be lightlyer and the more perfectlye changed and likened in the lymmes of ſmellyng. A ſinewe commeth from the brayne, and entereth into the ſayd teates of the noſe, and giueth to them the ſpirite of féelyng, as ſaith Conſtantine. Then by meane of the ayre, the noſe draweth in a fumoſitie that ioyneth it ſelfe to the ſpirite of feelyng, the which ſpirite taketh lykeneſſe of that ſmoake, and preſenteth it in the brayne to the gouernment of the ſoule. Therefore Conſtantine ſayeth, that the noſe is needfull to drawe in ayre temperately, to cleanſe and pourge ye braine by ſuiting places, and to temper ye kinde heate in the dennes and chambers of the braine: and alſo to giue perſeueraunce to know ſmokes that be reſolued & diſpearced from what ſubſtaunce it be, whether it ſmell ſwéetely or ſtinke ſeruently. And therefore lib. 12. Ariſtotle ſaith, the wit of ſmellyng is departed, as is the wit of hearing. And except it were ſo, it ſhould not doe the acte and déede of ſmelling, and alſo the witte of ſmellyng ſhould not be, but to draw in ayre in a beaſt yt hath a noſe And this lim, yt noſe, is in the midle of ye formoſt part of the head, and for that kinde ſetteth the noſe in the middes of the three inſtruments of feelyng, as it were the tongue in the ballaunce: for mouing of the breth that is needfull to the other wits. Then gather briefly by theſe things aforeſayd. yt the noſe is a member of office, to knowe and drawe, and to put out ayre, to déeme ſmellyng, to clenſe and to purge ye brain of great ſuperfluityes, to ſerue the ſpirit of feelyng, and by drawing of ayre to open and cloſe the lungs. And therfore as Conſtantine ſaith, the noſethrills bée ſet not euen afore the lungs, but thwart ouer, that the colde aire that other whyle commeth to the lungs ſhould not grieue them: and if duſt or anye other thing entereth with the ayre, it ſhould not annoye the lunges. And alſo as Gregorie ſuper Cantica ſayeth, The Noſe beſeemeth moſt the Face, inſomuch, that if the noſe lacketh, all the other parte of the face is more vngoodly and vnſeemely. The diſpoſition of the noſe ſhould be meane, ſo that it paſſe not due manner in length, breadth and highneſſe. For if the noſthrills be too thin, either too wide: then by great drawing in of aire, they betoken fierceneſſe of heart, and indignation of thought. For by diſpoſition of the members of the bodye, the affections and will of the ſoule are foreſhewed & déemed, as it is ſayd, Iu principio Philoſophiae: For the accidents of ye ſoule be often chaunged according to the accidents of the body as white wine, taketh the lykeneſſe and coulour of a redde glaſſe, that it is poured in. And therefore meanes of diſpoſition betokeneth means of goodneſſe, as the Philoſopher ſaith in libro ſuo In principio ſuper Pronoſtica. Gaien ſaith that the noſe is let of this dooing and working.
And there hée ſayeth alſo, that a ſharpe noſe, and hollowe eyen, &c. through ſtrength of heate that waſteth moyſture.
