CHAP. XLV.
Of Collyries, Unctions, Love-Medicines, and their vertues.
Moreover Collyries, and Unguents, conveying the vertues of things Naturall, and Celeſtiall to our ſpirit, can multiply, tranſmute, transfigure, and transform it accordingly, as alſo tranſpoſe thoſe vertues which are in them into it, that ſo it cannot act only upon its own body, but alſo upon that which is neer it, and affect that by viſible rayes, charmes, and by touching it, with ſome like quality. For becauſe our ſpirit is the ſubtile, pure lucid, airy, and unctuous vapour of the blood; it is therefore fit to make Collyries of the like vapours, which are more ſutable to our ſpirit in ſubſtance, for then by reaſon of their likeneſs, they do the more ſtir up, attract, and tranſform the ſpirit. The like vertues have certain ointments, and other confections. Hence by the touch ſometimes ſickneſs, poiſonings, and love is induced; ſome things, as the hands, or garments being anointed: Alſo by kiſſes, ſome things being held in the mouth, love is induced, as in Virgil we read that Venus prayes Cupid
That when glad Dido hugs him in her lap
At royall feaſts, crown'd with the cheering Grape,
When ſhe imbracing, ſhall ſweet kiſſes give,
Inſpire hid Flame, with deadly bane deceive,
He would ----- -----
Now the ſight, becauſe it perceives more purely, and cleerly then the other ſenſes, and faſtening in us the marks of things more acutely, and deeply, doth moſt of all, and before others agree with the Phantaſtick ſpirit, as is apparent in dreams, when things seen do more often present themselves to us then things heard, or any thing coming under the other ſenſes. Therefore when Collyries transform viſuall ſpirits, that ſpirit doth easily affect the imagination, which indeed being
