CHAPTER XIV

Of the Salamander.

That a Salamander is able to live in flames, to endure and put out fire, is an assertion, not only of great antiquity, but confirmed by frequent, and not contemptible testimony. The _Egyptians_ have drawn it into their Hieroglyphicks, _Aristotle_ seemeth to embrace it; more plainly _Nicander_, _Sarenus Sammonicus_, _Ælian_ and _Pliny_, who assigns the cause of this effect: An Animal (saith he) so cold that it extinguisheth the fire like Ice. All which notwithstanding, there is on the negative, Authority and Experience; _Sextius_ a Physitian, as _Pliny_ delivereth, denied this effect; _Dioscorides_ affirmed it a point of folly to believe it; _Galen_ that it endureth the fire a while, but in continuance is consumed therein. For experimental conviction, _Mathiolus_ affirmeth, he saw a Salamander burnt in a very short time; and of the like assertion is _Amatus Lusitanus_; and most plainly _Pierius_, whose words in his Hieroglyphicks are these: _Whereas it is commonly said that a Salamander extinguisheth fire, we have found by experience, that it is so far from quenching hot coals, that it dieth immediately therein._ As for the contrary assertion of _Aristotle_, it is but by hear say, as common opinion believeth, _Hæc enim (ut aiunt) ignem ingrediens, eum extinguit_; and therefore there was no absurdity in _Galen_, when as a Septical medicine [SN: _A corruptive Medicine destroying the parts like Arsenike._] he commended the ashes of a Salamander; and _Magicians_ in vain from the power of this Tradition, at the burning of Towns or Houses expect a relief from Salamanders.

The ground of this opinion, might be some sensible resistance of fire observed in the Salamander: which being, as _Galen_ determineth, cold in the fourth, and moist in the third degree, and having also a mucous humidity above and under the skin, by vertue thereof it may a while endure the flame: which being consumed, it can resist no more. Such an humidity there is observed in Newtes, or Water-Lizards, especially if their skins be perforated or pricked. Thus will Frogs and Snails endure the Flame: thus will whites of Eggs, vitreous or glassie flegm extinguish a coal: thus are unguents made which protect a while from the fire: and thus beside the _Hirpini_ there are later stories of men that have passed untoucht through the fire. And therefore some truth we allow in the tradition: truth according unto _Galen_, that it may for a time resist a flame, or as _Scaliger_ avers, extinguish or put out a coal: for thus much will many humid bodies perform: but that it perseveres and lives in that destructive element, is a fallacious enlargement. Nor do we reasonably conclude, because for a time it endureth fire, it subdueth and extinguisheth the same, because by a cold and aluminous moisture, it is able a while to resist it: from a peculiarity of Nature it subsisteth and liveth in it.

It hath been much promoted by Stories of incombustible napkins and textures which endure the fire, whose materials are called by the name of Salamanders wool. Which many too literally apprehending, conceive some investing part, or tegument of the Salamander: wherein beside that they mistake the condition of this Animal (which is a kind of Lizard, a quadruped corticated and depilous, that is, without wool, fur, or hair) they observe not the method and general rule of nature; whereby all Quadrupeds oviparous, as Lizards, Frogs, Tortois, Chamelions, Crocodiles, are without hair, and have no covering part or hairy investment at all. And if they conceive that from the skin of the Salamander, these incremable pieces are composed; beside the experiments made upon the living, that of _Brassavolus_ will step in, who in the search of this truth, did burn the skin of one dead.

Nor is this Salamanders wooll desumed from any Animal, but a Mineral substance Metaphorically so called from this received opinion. For beside _Germanicus_ his heart, [SN: Suetonius.] and _Pyrrhus_ his great Toe, [SN: Plutarch.] which would not burn with the rest of their bodies, there are in the number of Minerals some bodies incombustible; more remarkably that which the ancients named _Asbeston_, and _Pancirollus_ treats of in the Chapter of _Linum vivum_. Whereof by art were weaved Napkins, Shirts, and Coats, inconsumable by fire; and wherein in ancient times to preserve their ashes pure, and without commixture, they burnt the bodies of Kings. A Napkin hereof _Pliny_ reports that _Nero_ had, and the like saith _Paulus Venetus_ the Emperour of _Tartary_ sent unto Pope _Alexander_; and also affirms that in some part of _Tartary_ there were Mines of Iron whose filaments were weaved into incombustible cloth. Which rare Manufacture, although delivered for lost by _Pancirollus_, yet _Salmuth_ his Commentator affirmeth, that one _Podocaterus_ a Cyprian, had shewed the same at _Venice_; and his materials were from _Cyprus_, where indeed _Dioscorides_ placeth them; the same is also ocularly confirmed by _Vives_ upon _Austin_, and _Maiolus_ in his Colloquies. And thus in our days do men practise to make long-lasting Snasts for Lamps out of Alumen plumosum; and by the same we read in _Pausanius_, that there always burnt a Lamp before the Image of _Minerva_.