the heart doth the breath. And by the drawing of this aire the braine is temperate and comforted, as the heate of the heart is ſwayed by drawing of the breath. If the vapor be loathſome, ſtinking and corrupt, it corrupteth the ſpirite that is called Animall, and oft bringeth and gendreth peſtilent diſeaſes. And ſo the vertue of ſmellyng is oftentimes letted in doing and in working, ſometime by the euill complection of ye brain, ſametime by too great repletion of rawe and corrupt humours in the ſinewes of ſmellyng, as appeareth in them that haue the poſe and rewme running at the noſthrills. Sometime for euill diſpoſitions of inſtruments of ſmelling, that is when they be too ſtrayte or too wide: the powers ouer ſtraight, the ſmellyng is hindered, and when too open, the braynes is diſtempered. Sometime by ſuperfluous ſtopping of ouergrown fleſh, as in byles: ſometime by infection of poſtumes or of euill and corrupt humours. Sometime by fretting or caruing, that is when the fleſh appeareth as if it were raced with a pin, as commonly in March, the winde choppeth the fleſh of the face and hands, of ſome hot and drye humours, as appeareth in them that haue the canker. And this power of ſmellyng through the ſubtiltie thereof if it be well diſpoſed, comforteth the vertue Animall, & cleanſeth ſuperfluous frō fumoſitie. And contrariwiſe when it is infected or corrupted by any hap, the vertue of ye beaſt is hurt and let in his workings. In lib.12. Ariſtotle ſaith, That the ſenſe of ſmellyng is nought els but drawing in of the aire in a Beaſt that hath a noſe, which is a member ſet in the middle of the other ſenſes, in the formoſt parte of the head, for the helpe of the breath. Euery beaſt that hath lungs, hath a noſe, other ſome beake or bill, in ſtéede of a noſe, in helpe of the breath. Wherefore it appeareth, that the inſtrument of ſmellyng, is not onely in Beaſtes for hightineſſe and fairneſſe, but alſo to make perfect the vertue of the ſpirite, that is called Animalis, and to help and ſtrengthen the vertue of lyfe that is in the heart.
This vertue of ſmellyng is in fourt ſooted beaſts: and ſo by ſmellyng onely, they can diſcerne betweene hearbes good and venemous, & ſpecially in Apes, that know their meat by ſmelling, as wel as by taaſt, or rather better. And this vertue is ſtrongeſt in Hounds, yt which lead onely by the ſmell, follow the vorous or ſteps of beaſts, and by liuelines of ſmellyng finde them out. Alſo ſmelling is in Fowles, and ſpecially in Griphons, the which, as ſaith Ambroſe in Exameron, and Iſidore lib. 12. cap. 6. haue ſo quicke ſmell, that they ſmell carrion ouer or beyond the ſea. In theſe & other works and conditions of kinde, men may wonder of the wiſedome of God, that maketh vs by theſe and by other ſuch things to knowe ſomewhat and to vnderſtande: how by theſe things that be felt and materiall, we ſhall excite the inner dooing of our heart to knowe by lyttle and little the ſpirituall things that be aboue our common intelligence: and that to doe in this work is principally my end and mine intent. And this that is ſaid of the ſmelling ſhall ſuffice.
¶Of the taaſt. Cap. 20.
THe taaſt is properlye a vertue of knowing ſauours[1]. The which taaſt ſenſibly to make perfect theſe cauſales, are neceſſarie, effectiue, materiall, and informatiue, the which are ſpoken of in other ſenſes of perſeueraunce in nature. For the vertue that is called, Animalis, is cauſe efficient doing and making: The cauſe materiall and inſtrumentall is properly the tongue, with his arteries: and that maketh the vertue of taſt perfect. The tongue, touching the complection of the ſubſtaunce thereof is hollow, moyſt, and vnſauourie. It is hollow, to receyue in the hollowneſſe thereof the humors that come of the thing that ſhall be taſted, it is full of holes, to the intent that that is thicke or ſubtill of the thing, that muſt be taſted, maye enter fréely to the ſinewes of the tongue: and that the vertue that draweth ſhould bée more ſtrong to make the dooing perfect.
- ↑ Guſtu.
