| OCR Text |
Show the Empire of Cu 1 e e thefe myfieries there are innumerable Books both Printed and Written 5 and fe or nonc of the Grandees, butasit wer by obligation betake themfclves to th ftudy of thefe both difiraiing and deftrudive Sciences There isa ftory to be readin the Chinefe Books, of one of their Antient Emperours that was fo intoxicated with this Phrenfie, that wic of his'mortal Life, endeavoure the dange after an unpurchafeabl and hazar iniffiorta]ity ; th manner thus : This Emperour had caufed acertain drink to be prepared by fom deceitful Mafters of this Art ; of whofe rarity and perfeltion he hadfo grear confidence, that he believed whenr he had drunk it, he fhould be immortal : and fro this conceited imagination was not to be difflwaded, nor could any the ftrongef Arguments of his neareft Relations, divert him from his humour At laft one o his Friends {eeing that no Argumentative Ratiocinations would prevail with him came one day to Congratulate the Emperours Health, whofe back being turn'd the Vifitant took the Bowl and drank a good draught; which the over-credulous Emperour perceiving, fell immediately into an extraordinary paflion, at %3 an wncceflary, leaftwif . tended with no lefs reiterated threats of death, for depriving hi Bat the bold attempter an{wered him with an undaunte liquor terms 3 Do yeu {uppofe that you can deprive me of my life, no this Immortal Cap ? {ure ‘twere great madnefs inyou {o to thin hat they do ¢he Chil *means they deli ere hem in a better : A 0cly, ot in private, b inhumanit hat they hav of his immorta €ourage inthef I have drank o ; buc if in trut you can defpoil me thercof, then I aver I have not done any thing amifs; for eithe by participating of your drink I am become cqually Immortal with you, or elf you are equally Mortal with me; if you can take away my life now, Ihave no pradiife fuftaine robbed you of your Immortality but fhall mzke you (ehiblerofth Deceie an Guil wherewith, you are abufed. -The Emperour hearing this, was prefentl pacified, and commended his Friends wifdom for extricating him fo ingenioufl ulelves ; others if the mics, will kill them wiad) great numbe eatheirn the Fields, o no hav ther thoug Bu imagina le Maduef Follya out of the greatef Fantathi confut t endeav ure alway hav tha China Meni wif wapte bette n i fel i i whic mind th o diftemp thi cur t an ftick principle then a fit of raving madnefs ; yet they could never {o hinder this Difeafe from en rang!mg, other while an Countr y whol th over-{p i ead prefen buta head takin o _creafin ones Grea th trouble tha 1s a general Difeaf ern Provinces toward ars Palace are admite ¢ of th fand o | thei yr | whic ¢ 1 Ad8 t 2 d c e nfinitel mu ar ¢ in Chin nto Si]\'fl wherewt k CHAP - |
