SECT.  XLII.  Of the Proportion of Man’s Body.

Such is the body of man in general: for I do not enter into an anatomical detail, my design being only to discover the art that is conspicuous in nature, by the simple cast of an eye, without any science.  The body of man might undoubtedly be either much bigger and taller, or much lesser and smaller.  But if, for instance, it were but one foot high, it would be insulted by most animals, that would tread and crush it under their feet.  If it were as tall as a high steeple, a small number of men would in a few days consume all the aliments a whole country affords.  They could find neither horses nor any other beasts of burden either to carry them on their backs or draw them in a machine with wheels; nor could they find sufficient quantity of materials to build houses proportioned to their bigness; and as there could be but a small number of men upon earth, so they should want most conveniences.  Now, who is it that has so well regulated the size of man to so just a standard?  Who is it that has fixed that of other animals and living creatures, with proportion to that of man?  Of all animals, man only stands upright on his feet, which gives him a nobleness and majesty that distinguishes him, even as to the outside, from all that lives upon earth.  Not only his figure is the noblest, but he is also the strongest and most dextrous of all animals, in proportion to his bigness.  Let one nicely examine the bulk and weight of the most terrible beasts, and he will find, that though they have more matter than the body of a man, yet a vigorous man has more strength of body than most wild beasts.  Nor are these dreadful to him, except in their teeth and claws.  But man, who has not such natural arms in his limbs, has yet hands, whose dexterity to make artificial weapons surpasses all that nature has bestowed upon beasts.  Thus man either pierces with his darts or draws into his snares, masters, and leads in chains the strongest and fiercest animals.  Nay, he has the skill to tame them in their captivity, and to sport with them as he pleases.  He teaches lions and tigers to caress him: and gets on the back of elephants.