NEW ATLANTIS.
and hi-ttrr, than in vessels or basins. And aiii"iiirst tilt-in vn have u water, which we call Witter of paradise, bring, | ( y that we do to it, made very sovereign for health and prolongation of llfr. " We have also great and spacious houses, where we Imitate and demonstrate meteors; as snow, hail, rain, some artificial rains of bodies, and not of water, thunders, lightnings : also generations of bodies in air ; as frogs, flies, and diverse others. " We have also certain chambers, which we call chambers of health, where we qualify the air as we think good and proper for the cure of divers diseases, and preservation of health. " We have also fair and large baths, of several mixtures, for the cure of diseases, and the restoring of man s body from arefaction : and others, for the confirming of it in strength of sinews, vital parts, and the very juice and substance of the body. " We have also large and various orchards and gardens, wherein we do not so much respect beauty, as variety of ground and soil, proper for divers trees and herbs : and some very spacious, where trees and berries are set, whereof we make divers kinds of drinks, besides the vineyards. In these we practise likewise all conclusions of grafting and inoculating, as well of wild trees as fruit trees, which produceth many effects. And we make by art, in the same orchards and gar dens, trees and flowers to come earlier or later than their seasons ; and to come up and bear more speedily than by their natural course they do. We make them also by art greater much than their nature; and their fruit greater, and sweeter, and of differing taste, smell, colour, and figure, from their nature. And many of tnem we so order, as they become of medicinal use. " We have also means to make divers plants rise by mixtures of earths without seeds ; and likewise to make divers new plants, differing from the vulgar ; and to make one tree or plant turn into another. " We have also parks and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and birds, which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise for dissections and trials ; that thereby we may take light what may be wrought upon the body of man. Wherein we find many strange effects ; as continuing life in them, though divers parts, which you account v t-.il. lie perished, and taken forth; resuscitating of some that seem dead in appearance ; and the like. We try also all poisons and other medicines upon them, as well of chirurgery as physic. By
- irt likewise, we make them greater or taller than
thi ir kind is; and contrariwise dwarf them, and stiy their growth: we make them more fruitful ami bearing than their kind is; and contrariwise barren, and not generative. Also we make them differ in colour, shape, activity, many ways. We find means to make commixtures and copu lations of dill i-rriil kinds, which have produced many new kinds, and them not barren, as the general opinion is. We make a number of kinds of serpents, worms, flies, fishes, of putrefaction ; whereof some are advanced in effect to be perfect creatures, like beasts, or birds ; and have sexes and do propagate. Neither do we this by chance, but we know beforehand, of what matter and commixture, what kind of those creatures will arise. " We have also particular pools, where we make trials upon fishes, as we have said before of beasts and birds. " We have also places for breed and generation of those kinds of worms, and flies, which are of special use : such as are with you your silk-worms and bees. " I will not hold you long with recounting of our brew-houses, bake-houses, and kitchens, where are made divers drinks, breads, and meats, rare, and of special effects. Wines we have of grapes ; and drinks of other juice, of fruits, of grains, and of roots : and of mixtures with honey, sugar, ma- na, and fruits dried and decocted. Also of the tears or woundings of trees, and of the pulp of canes. And these drinks are of sevjeral ages, some to the age or last of forty years. We have drinks also brewed with several herbs, and roots, and spices ; yea, with several fleshes, and white meats; whereof some of the drinks are such as they are in effect meat and drink both : so that divers, especially in age, do desire to live with them, with little or no meat, or bread. And above all, we strive to have drinks of extreme thin parts, to insinuate into the body, and yet without all biting, sharpness, or fretting; insomuch as some of them, put upon the back of your hand, will, with a little stay, pass through to the palm, and yet taste mild to the mouth. We have also waters which we ripen in that fashion as they become nourishing ; so that they are indeed excellent drink ; and many will use no other. Breads we have of several grains, roots, and kernels : yea, and some of flesh and fish, dried ; with divers kinds of leavenings and seasonings : so that some do ex tremely move appetites ; some do nourish so, as di vers do live on them, without any other meat ; who live very long. So for meats, we have some of them so beaten, and made tender, and mortified, yet without all corrupting, as a weak heat of the sto mach will turn them into good chylus, as well as a strong heat would meat otherwise prepared. We have some meats also, and breads and drink*, which taken by men enable them to fast long after : and some other, that used to make the ve>-y flesh of mens bodies sensibly more hard and ton irh. and their strength far greater than other- I wise it would be. I " We have dispensatories, or shops of meo>-
