The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
Whether Lampries have nine eyes, as is received, we durst refer it unto
_Polyphemus_, who had but one, to judge it. An error concerning eyes,
occasioned by the error of eyes; deduced from the appearance of diverse
cavities or holes on either side, which some call eyes that carelessly
behold them; and is not only refutable by experience, but also repugnant
unto Reason. For beside the monstrosity they fasten unto Nature, in
contriving many eyes, who hath made but two unto any Animal, that is,
one of each side, according to the division of the brain; it were a
superfluous inartificial act to place and settle so many in one plane;
for the two extreams would sufficiently perform the office of sight
without the help of the intermediate eyes, and behold as much as all
seven joyned together. For the visible base of the object would be
defined by these two; and the middle eyes, although they behold the same
thing, yet could they not behold so much thereof as these; so were it no
advantage unto man to have a third eye between those two he hath
already; and the fiction of _Argus_ seems more reasonable then this; for
though he had many eyes, yet were they placed in circumference and
positions of advantage, and so are they placed in several lines in
Spiders.
Again, These cavities which men call eyes are seated out of the head,
and where the Gils of other fish are placed; containing no Organs of
sight, nor having any Communication with the brain. [SN: _All
sense is from the brain._] Now all sense proceeding from the brain, and
that being placed (as _Galen_ observeth) in the upper part of the body,
for the fitter situation of the eyes, and conveniency required unto
sight; it is not reasonable to imagine that they are any where else, or
deserve that name which are seated in other parts. And therefore we
relinquish as fabulous what is delivered of _Sternopthalmi_, or men with
eyes in their breast, and when it is said by _Solomon_, A wise mans eyes
are in his head, it is to be taken in a second sense, and affordeth no
objection. True it is that the eyes of Animals are seated with some
difference, but in sanguineous animals in the head, and that more
forward then the ear or hole of hearing. In quadrupedes, in regard of
the figure of their heads, they are placed at some distance; in
latirostrous and flat-bill'd birds they are more laterally seated, and
therefore when they look intently they turn one eye upon the object, and
can convert their heads to see before and behind, and to behold two
opposite points at once. But at a more easie distance are they situated
in man, and in the same circumference with the ear; for if one foot of
the compass be placed upon the Crown, a circle described thereby will
intersect, or pass over both the ears.
[Sidenote: _To what use the nine eyes in a Lamprie do serve._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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