Section 83

Chap. VII.
Hew J oft may fee in the dart^ what is light without bj reafon of Torches,
X7 Y^E may demonflrate the fame without the light of the Sun, not without won- der. Torches, or lights lighted onpurpofe in Chambers, we may fee in another dark Chamber what is done , by fitting things as I laid : but the light mull not If rike upon the hole, for it will hinder the operation ; for it is a fecond light that carries the Images. 1 will not conceal at laft a thing that is full of wonder and mirth, becaufe I am fain upon this difcourfe,
That by night an Image may feem to hang it* a Chamber,
In a tempeftuous night the Image of any thing may be reprefented hanging in the middle of the Chamber, that will terrific the beholders. Fit the Image before the bole, that you defire to make to ieem hanging in the Air in another Chamber that is dark ; let there be many Torches lighted round about. In the middle of the dark Chamber, place a white (heet, or fome folid thing, that may receive the Image fent in : for the fpe&ators that fee not the (heet, will fee the Image hanging ia the mid- dle of the Air, very clear, not without fear and terror , eipccially if the Artificer be ingenious.
Chap. VIII.
How without a Glafs or reprefentation of any other thing, an Image may feem to hang
in the Air,
B
Efore I part from this Image hanging in the Air, t will (hew how yon may make the Images of all things feem to hang in the Air, which will be a wonder of wonders ; chiefly being done without the apparition of a Glafs, or a vifible Object. But firftwe will examine what the Antients writ of this matter. One V 'itellio de- fcribesrhe bufinefs after his fa(hion,thus: Fallen the fegmcntof a Cylinder inthc middle of the houfe , fet upon a Table, or Stool, that it may glance perpendicularly
up-
^66 Natural Magick. TBook^if.
upon the ground; then place your eye at tame hole or chink that is fomewhat di- stant from the Glafs, and let it be fixed , that it may not move here and there : over againft the Glafs break the wall , and make it like to a window : let it be Pyramidal in fhape , and let the (harp point be within , acd the bafis without , as men ule to do , when a Pi&urc or any Image is placed for the eye to look upon ; but let it be refle&cd on by the fuperfictes of the Pyramidal Glafs , that the Piaure placed with- out, which ycur eye cannot fee through the hole, may feem to hang pendulous in the Air; which will caufe admiration to behold. A Pyramidal Con vex-gUfs will do the fame , if you fit it fo that it may reprelenr the fame Image. It may be done alfo by a Sphaerical Convex and Concave. But the matter promifeth more in the Frontifpiece written upon it , then it will performe in the conclufion. Wherefore the Image will be feen without the Glafs , but by the means of the Glafs ; fo that the thing beheld in the Glafs, will feem to be without it. But he is foully miftaken here, as in other places. He had faid betrer, by a Cylinder of Cryftal : For as a pillar ic would make an irradiation outwardly, yet it would be worfe feen than in the pillar, as I fhall fhew. But I fhall difcover what I purpofed always to conceal ;
That neither the Objeti nor Cjlafs may be feent yet the Image fhall feem to hang aloney fen'
Anions in the middle of the Chamber ; And walking about, you fhall behold the Image everywhere. But is fuchathing fit to be difcovered to the people ? fhall I do fuch an unworthy Aft ? Ahlmy pen falls out of my hand. Yet my defire to help pofterity,overcomes ; for perhaps from this gleaning as it were, greater and more admirable inventions may be produced. Let it be fo : get not a Spherical Cylinder, or Convex difle&ion of a Pyramidal Concave, the portion of which fegment is cot known ; but let it be that which may defcend upon his right Angle by a half Cyiinderand a fquare , and is parted by an oblique Angle. Of two parts it muft be received pendulous, and beneath in the half of its diameter it is conveyed from the middle. Let all the windows of the houfe be fhut: Hop all the chinks , that the light may not come in beneath. In that place where the fpcftacle is prepared, if the Sun or Moonbeams fall in, the whole fhew is fpoiled. So place the beams of the Image that are beaten back , that the head of it may by repercuffion fall right upon the earth. So will the vifible Objeft that ccmes^ by reper. uffion, be reflected above and beneath; It will follow thefafhionof the firft Glafs : let a Brafs or Mirble Table be fo placed upon it , as we faid ; and left the light falling from the window fliould light upon the plain Cylinder , and the crooked Glafs, it mu ^ be Hopped by a fhutter of a hands-breath, that is three times as broad as the hole ; for it will break forth every way : You fhall cover the appari- tion, that the Image may be fitted very deep, that there may feem to be a pit : as the beams meet, let the fpc&atorcome, who cannot be in any great miftake. Bnt cover vour fight r und,that the Glafs offend not your eye. Then is the Image feen, and it fhall not apprar above the Table, where the falling of theCathetus will cut the line of fight through the Centre of the Glafs. I could open the matter no plainer, I have done what I could : I know he that can underfiand it,will rejoyce very much.
Chap. IX.
Mixtures of Glaffes^and divers apparitions of Images.
NOw will I try to make a Glafs, wherein many diverfities of Images fhall appear : and though fuch a one be hard to make, yet it will recompence all by the di- vcrfity of Imagec, and the benefit of it. If then you would
Maty a CjUfs that fiallreprefefit much diverfity of Images. Take a great or fniaH circle , as you would have your Glafs , and here and there cut off two parts of the circumference, one to the quantity of a Pentagon, the other of a Hexagon , as is clear in the Mathematicks : let the arch of the Pentagon be made hollow with fome table, or Iron, that it may exaftly receive it into it, and may feem
to
Of ftrange (jlajjes. ^6y
to be cut out of itjbuc the fide of the Hexagon fhal be contrary to thi?,for the quanti- ty of that muft be received by a Convex Table , that the arch of it may fo flick forth : Then take a foil of Wax or Lead, of a convenient thicknefs,thac exceeds the breadth of the arch of the Hexagon , and in length exceeds therri both : Then crook this plate fo, that it may exactly ftand in the hollow of the wood , that there be no ipace or chink left betweenthem; then let the Convex luperficies that is preferved prt> minent , be applied inwardly, according to ihe breadth of it ; .that the form of the Concavity may not be againft the Convexity , but that the terne plate may receive both portions without impediment : Having thus made your model,m3keycur Glafs of fteel , or offome other mixture, as I ftiall (hew you • and when it is poiifhed,k will fhew you many diverfites of Image?. Firft,the righr parts will fhew right, and the left the left , whereas the nature of plain Glaflcs , is to fhew the right fide as left, and the left fide as right : and if ycu go backwards , the Image will (eem pro- portionable, and will come forward: if you come more towards the Convex fupcr- ficies, the Image will fhew ugly ; and the necreryoucomei the uglier will it fhew, and be more like a horfes head. If ycu incline the Glafs, that will incline too ; and by varying the Glafs, and the fituation of it, you fhall perceive divers variations; . fometimes the head down , and the heels up ; and you fhall fee many other things that I think not needful to relate now: for being placed on a voluble fet , that ic may fhew both parts before and behind , the fpe&ator of hirafclf may fee all things. We may
Make a Glafs out of a!/,
that in that alone all Images may be feen , that are feen in all : many mouths ; feme- times greater, fcmetim.es lefs, fometimes right, fometimes left, (bene neerer, feme far- ther off, feme equidiftanr. If a crooked be fet in cnc place , in another a Concave, and a plain one in the middle, you (hall fee great diverfity of Image-. Thefe are
The operations of a Convex Cylindrical Glafs. When your face is agiinft it, the more deformed it appears in length > the more ugly it is for flecdrrnefs : if the length of it cut the face ovcrthwart, it fhews a low pref- fed down face like a Frogs, that you fhall fee nothing but the teeth t almofl the fame way, as yen fhall fee it in a Sword , or any other long and polifhed fteel : if you in- cline it forward, the forehead will appear very great, the chin fmall and fknder like a horfes. But contrary to thefe are
The operations of Cylindrical Concave- glares.
If you look into the Concave, you fhall fee more Images of the fame thing, imitating the laid Glafs. If you fet your eye to the Centre, you fhall fee it all the breadth of the Glafs ; fo your forehead , mcuth , and the reft. If you turn fuch a Glafs, thac it may cut your face broad-ways , you fhall prefently fee your head inverted, and the reft that I related in the Concave-glafs.
the operations of a Pjramtdal Glafs turned,
are thefe : You fhall fee a fharp forehead, and a large chin. Bur the contrary way, a long forehead, with a very long nofe. In a Concave you fhall behold many face?, if according to the concavity you fit many portions of plain G affes : for one looking into it, fhall find them as manv as there are Glafies, and all moving alike j and again, ✓what Glafs foevcritbe^ if it be not plain, it fhall fhew always different frGm the Image.
CHAP*
Natural Magick. "Bool^ ij.
Chap. X. Of the effetts of a Lsnticular Cryftal.
MAny are the operations of a Lenticular Cryftal , and I thick not fit to pafs them over in filence. For they are Concaves and Convexes. The fame cf- fc&.> are iu ipe^acies, which are mo \ neceffaty for the ufe of mans life ; whereof no man yet hath sitijn'd the tffe&s, nor yet the rcafons of them. But of theie more at Urge in our Opiicks. That no fpace may be empty, I (hail touch fomc things here ; I call Lenticular*, portions of circles compared together, of Concaves and Convexes. I will firftfhew
How with a Convex Cryftal I enticular to kindle fire.
A Convex Lenticular kindleth fire mcft violently , andfooner, and more forcibly then a Concave-glafs : I gave the re a ions in my Opticks. For being held againft the Sun, when the be.- m > meet in the oppofite part , it will kindle fire it is oppofite to, melt Lead , and fire Metals. Moreover, if you will
By night five light afar ojf with a Lenticular Cryftal, Set a Candle a little behind the point of burning, fo it will caft parallels a very great way to theoppofue parr, that you may fee men pafs the ftreets, and all things done int2hamb:rs that are far from you. The fame way as I faid of a Concave-glafs , we may
In a darkjnight read a letter by a Lenticular Cryftal :
Put the letter behind the Glafs , againft the Stars or Candles a great way from you ; whpre the beams meet , the words that are oppcfite wiJl be clearly leen in a dark ni-;ht, and the Chamber (hut. But that which follows , will afford you a principle
tar better for your confederation : Namely,
By a Lenticular Cryftal to fee things that are far ojf^as tf they were clofe by. For fetting your eye in the Centre of it behind the Lenticular , you are to look upon a thing afar (ft , and it will (hew lb neer, that you will think you touch it with your hand : You (hall fee the clothes colours, mens face*, and know your friends a great way frcm you. It is the fame
To read an Epiftle a great way off with a Lenticular Cryftal. For if you fee your eye in the fame place, and the Epiftle be it ajuftdiftance, the Utters will ieem fo great , that you may read them perfectly . Butifyou inclinethc Lenticular to behold the EpiHle obliquely , the letters will fcem fo great, that you may read thtm above twenty paces oft. And if you know how to multiply Lecticu- lars, I fear rot but fot a hundred paces you m^y fee the fmalleft letter, that from one to another the Chara-ffers will be made greater : a weak fight muft ulc Ipe&adcs fit for it. He that can fit this well, hath gain'd no fmall fecrct. We may
Do the fame more perfettly with a Lenticular Cryftal. Co-cavel.enticulars will make one fee moft clearly things that are afar off » but Con- vexes, things neer hand ; fo you may ufe them as your light requires. With a Con- cu-e you fhail fee fmall things afar oft, very clearly j with a Convex, things neeret to be greater, bu' more obfcurely : if you know hew to fit them both together , you fhtll fee both things afar off, and things neer hand, both greater and clearly. I have much hclpe ! iome of my friend s,who law things afar off, weakly ; and what was neer, cocfulcdly,that they might fee all things clearly. If you will, you may
By a Convex Lenticular Cryflal fee an Image hanging in the Air.
If yen put the thing to be feen behind thcLeoiicular,that it nay pafs thorow the Cen- tre,
Of jlrange (jlajfes. ^69
tre, and let your eyes in the oppofite pare, you fhaii fee the Image between the Glafs and your eyes ; and if you fet a paper agaioft it, you fhall fee it clearly : fo that a lighted Candle will fecm to burn upon the Paper. But
By a Concave Lenticular to defer ibe ccm[endicujljr how long and bread things are. A Painter may do it with great commodity, and proportion : for by oppolui.cn to a Concave Lenticular , thofe things that ate in a great Piain arc contracted into a fmiil compals by it ; fo that a Painter thac beholds it, may with little labour and skill, draw them all proportionably and exactly; but to leave nothing concerning fpe£U- cles, Iwiilfhew
How a thing may appear multiplied^
Amongft fports that are carried abour, a fpe&acle is Gf no fmall account : that Glafs Icllrument we put to our eyes, to fee the better with. For of thofe things that de- lude the %ht, there can be no better wsy invented, then by the medium ; for that being changed, all things are changed. Wherefore prepare that of very folid thick Glafs, that it may be the better worked by awheel into proportions : wherefore fit it into many Forms and Angles, whereby we defire to multiply any thing : but in the middle of them, let the Angles be Pyramidal, and let it agree with the fight ; that from divers Fcrms, Images may be retracted to the eyes , that they cannot difcerri the truth. Being cow made of divers fuperficies , fet ihemtoyour eyes ; and if you look upon any mans face hard- by, yen will think you fee Argus, one that is all Eyes. If bis noie, you fhall fee nothing but rofe; fo his hands, fingers, arm?, that you fhall fee no man , but Briaretu the Poet, faigned to have have an hundred hands. If you look upon Money, you fhall fee many for cne , that you cannot touch it wiih your hands, but it will often deceive you } and it is better to pay with it then to receive. If you fee a Galley afar off,you will think it is a fleet of war : If a Sculdier walks, that it is an Army marching. And thus are things doubled , and men ieem to have two faces, and two bodies, Thus are there divers ways to fee, that one thing may feem to be another : and all thefe things will be evident to thofe that feek and enquire after them by tryal.
Chap. XI.
Of Spectacles whereby one may fet very far, beyond imagination,
I Will not omit a thing admirable and exceeding ufeful ; how blcarc-ey'd people may fee very far , and beyond that one would believe. I fpake of Pletcmies Glafs, or rather fpc&aclc , whereby for fix hundred miles he faw the enemies fhips coming ; and I fhall attempt to fhew hew that might be done, that we may know our friends fome miles t ff , and read the fmallcft letters at a great diftance, which can hardly be feen. A thing needful for mans ufe, and grounded upon the Opticks. And this may be d ^ne very cafily;but the matter is not fo to be publifhcd too eafily ; yet perfpe* dive will make it clear. Let the tfrongeft fight be in the Centre of the Glafs, where it fhall be made,andall the Sun beams are moft powerfully difperft, and unite not,but in the Centre of the forefaid Glafs : in the middle of it, where diameters crofsone the other, there is the concourfeof them all. Thus is a Concave pillar-Glafs made with fides cquidiPanr. : but let it be fitted by thofe Sections to the fide with one ob- lique Angle: but obtufe Angled Triangles, or right Angled Triangles muft be cut here and there with crofs lines, drawn from the Centre, andfo will the fpe&aclebe made that is profitable for that ufe I fpeak of.