OR, ENQUIRIES Into very many Received Tenents And commonly presumed Truths.
(6th and last edition, 1672)
The Third Book: Of divers popular and received Tenents concerning Animals,
which examined, prove either false or dubious
Chapter
1. Of the Elephant.
THE first shall be of the Elephant, whereof there generally passeth an opinion
it hath no joints; and this absurdity is seconded with another, that being unable
to lie down, it sleepeth against a Tree; which, the Hunters observing, do saw
it almost asunder; whereon the Beast relying, by the fall of the Tree, falls
also down it self, and is able to rise no more. Which conceit is not the daughter
of later times, but an old and gray-headed error, even in the days of Aristotle,
as he delivereth in his Booke, De incessu Animalium, and stands successively
related by several other Authors: by Diodorus Siculus, Strabo, Ambrose, Cassiodore,
Solinus, and many more. Now herein methinks men much forget themselves, not
well considering the absurdity of such assertions.
For first, they affirm it hath no joints, and yet concede it walks and moves
about; whereby they conceive there may be a progression or advancement made
in Motion without inflexion of parts. Now all progression or Animals locomotion
being (as Aristotle teacheth) performed tractu & pulsu; that is, by drawing
on, or impelling forward some part which was before in station, or at quiet;
where there are no joints or flexures, neither can there be these actions. And
this is true, not onely in Quadrupedes, Volatils, and Fishes, which have distinct
and prominent Organs of Motion, Legs, Wings, and Fins; but in such also as perform
their progression by the Trunk, as Serpents, Worms, and Leeches. Whereof though
some want bones, and all extended articulations, yet have they arthritical Analogies,
and by the motion of fibrous and musculous parts, are able to make progression.
Which to conceive in bodies inflexible, and without all protrusion of parts,
were to expect a Race from Hercules his pillars; or hope to behold the effects
of Orpheus his Harp, when trees found joints, and danced after his Musick.
Again, While men conceive they never lie down, and enjoy not the position of
rest, ordained unto all pedestrious Animals, hereby they imagine (what Reason
cannot conceive) that an Animal of the vastest dimension and longest duration,
should live in a continual motion, without that alternity and vicissitude of
rest whereby all others continue; and yet must thus much come to pass, if we
opinion they lye not down and enjoy no decumbence at all. For station is properly
no rest, but one kind of motion, relating unto that which Physitians (from Galen)
do name extensive or tonical; that is, an extension of the muscles and organs
of motion maintaining the body at length or in its proper figure.
Wherein although it seem to be unmoved, it is not without all Motion; for in
this position the muscles are sensibly extended, and labour to support the body;
which permitted unto its proper gravity, would suddenly subside and fall unto
the earth; as it happeneth in sleep, diseases, and death. From which occult
action and invisible motion of the muscles in station (as Galen declareth) proceed
more offensive lassitudes then from ambulation. And therefore the Tyranny of
some have tormented men with long and enforced station, and though Ixion and
Sisiphus which always moved, do seem to have the hardest measure; yet was not
Titius favoured, that lay extended upon Caucasus; and Tantalus suffered somewhat
more then thirst, that stood perpetually in Hell. Thus Mercurialis in his Gymnasticks
justly makes standing one kind of exercise; and Galen when we lie down, commends
unto us middle figures, that is, not to lye directly, or at length, but somewhat
inflected, that the muscles may be at rest; for such as he termeth Hypobolemaioi
or figures, of excess, either shrinking up or stretching out, are wearisome
positions, and such as perturb the quiet of those parts. Now various parts do
variously discover these indolent and quiet positions, some in right lines,
as the wrists: some at right angles, as the cubit: others at oblique angles,
as the fingers and the knees: all resting satisfied in postures of moderation,
and none enduring the extremity of flexure and extension.
Moreover men herein do strangely forget the obvious relations of history, affirming
they have no joints, whereas they dayly read of several actions which are not
performable without them. They forget what is delivered by Xiphilinus, and also
by Suetonius in the lives of Nero and Galba, that Elephants have been instructed
to walk on ropes, in publick shews before the people. Which is not easily performed
by man, and requireth not only a broad foot, but a pliable flexure of joints,
and commandible disposure of all parts of progression. They pass by that memorable
place in Curtius, concerning the Elephant of King Porus, Indus qui Elephantem
regebat, descendere eum ratus, more solito procumbere jussit in genua, cæteri
quoque (ita enim instituti erant) demisere corpora in terram. They remember
not the expression of Osorius, when he speaks of the Elephant presented to Leo
the tenth, Pontificem ter genibus flexis, & demisso corporis habitu venerabundus
salutavit. But above all, they call not to mind that memorable shew of Germanicus,
wherein twelve Elephants danced unto the sound of Musick, and after laid them
down in the Tricliniums, or places of festival Recumbency.
They forget the Etymologie of the Knee, approved by some Grammarians. They disturb
the position of the young ones in the womb: which upon extension of legs is
not easily conceivable; and contrary unto the general contrivance of Nature.
Nor do they consider the impossible exclusion thereof, upon extension and rigour
of the legs.
Lastly, they forget or consult not experience, whereof not many years past,
we have had the advantage in England, by an Elephant shewn in many parts thereof,
not only in the posture of standing, but kneeling and lying down. Whereby although
the opinion at present be well suppressed, yet from some strings of tradition,
and fruitful recurrence of errour, it is not improbable, it may revive in the
next generation again. This being not the first that hath been seen in England;
for (besides some others) as Polydore Virgil relateth, Lewis the French King
sent one to Henry the third, and Emanuel of Portugal another to Leo the tenth
into Italy, where notwithstanding the errour is still alive and epidemical,
as with us.
The hint and ground of this opinion might be the gross and somewhat Cylindrical
composure of the legs, the equality and less perceptible disposure of the joints,
especially in the former legs of this Animal; they appearing when he standeth,
like Pillars of flesh, without any evidence of articulation. The different flexure
and order of the joints might also countenance the same, being not disposed
in the Elephant, as they are in other quadrupedes, but carry a nearer conformity
unto those of Man; that is, the bought of the fore-legs, not directly backward,
but laterally and somewhat inward; but the hough or suffraginous flexure behind
rather outward. Somewhat different unto many other quadrupedes, as Horses, Camels,
Deer, Sheep, and Dogs; for their fore-legs bend like our legs, and their hinder
legs like our arms, when we move them to our shoulders. But quadrupedes oviparous,
as Frogs, Lizards, Crocadiles, have their joints and motive flexures more analogously
framed unto ours: and some among viviparous, that is, such thereof as can bring
their fore-feet and meat therein unto their mouths, as most can do that have
the clavicles or coller-bones: whereby their brests are broader, and their shoulders
more asunder, as the Ape, the Monkey, the Squirrel and some others. If therefore
any shall affirm the joints of Elephants are differently framed from most of
other quadrupedes, and more obscurely and grosly almost then any, he doth herein
no injury unto truth. But if à dicto secundam quid ad dictum simpliciter,
he affirmeth also they have no articulations at all, he incurs the countroulment
of reason, and cannot avoid the contradiction also of sense.
As for the manner of their venation, if we consult historical experience, we
shall find it to be otherwise then as is commonly presumed, by sawing away of
Trees. The accounts whereof are to be seen at large in Johannes, Hugo, Edwardus
Lopez, Garcias ab horto, Cadamustus, and many more.
Other concernments there are of the Elephant, which might admit of discourse;
and if we should question the teeth of Elephants, that is, whether they be properly
so termed, or might not rather be called horns: it were no new enquiry of mine,
but a Paradox as old as Oppianus. Whether as Pliny and divers since affirm it,
that Elephants are terrified, and make away upon the grunting of Swine, Garcias
ab horto may decide, who affirmeth upon experience, they enter their stalls,
and live promiscuously in the Woods of Malavar. That the situation of the genitals
is averse, and their copulation like that which some believe of Camels, as Pliny
hath also delivered, is not to be received; for we have beheld that part in
a different position; and their coition is made by supersaliency, like that
of horses, as we are informed by some who have beheld them in that act. That
some Elephants have not only written whole sentences, as Ælian ocularly
testifieth, but have also spoken, as Oppianus delivereth, and Christophorus
à Costa particularly relateth; although it sound like that of Achilles
Horse in Homer, we do not conceive impossible. Nor beside the affinity of reason
in this Animal any such intollerable incapacity in the organs of divers quadrupedes,
whereby they might not be taught to speak, or become imitators of speech like
Birds. Strange it is how the curiosity of men that have been active in the instruction
of Beasts, have never fallen upon this artifice; and among those, many paradoxical
and unheard of imitations, should not attempt to make one speak. The Serpent
that spake unto Eve, the Dogs and Cats that usually speak unto Witches, might
afford some encouragement. And since broad and thick chops are required in Birds
that speak, since lips and teeth are also organs of speech; from these there
is also an advantage in quadrupedes, and a proximity of reason in Elephants
and Apes above them all. Since also an Echo will speak without any mouth at
all, articulately returning the voice of man, by only ordering the vocal spirit
in concave and hollow places; whether the musculous and motive parts about the
hollow mouths of Beasts, may not dispose he passing spirit into some articulate
notes, seems a query of no great doubt.