erculean stone[280].

ANA. Well, well, I know it well, it was found out in Ida, in the year of
the world ---- by one Magnes, whose name it retains, though vulgarly
they call it the Adamant.

MEN. When he had hanged this adamant in a cord, he comes back, and gives
fire to the touchhole: now the powder consumed to a void vacuum--

HEU. Which is intolerable in nature, for first shall the whole machine
of the world, heaven, earth, sea, and air, return to the misshapen house
of Chaos, than the least vacuum be found in the universe.

MEN. The bullet and drop-shot flew most impetuously from the fiery
throat of the culverin; but, O, strange, no sooner came they near the
adamant in the cord, but they were all arrested by the serjeant of
nature, and hovered in the air round about it, till they had lost the
force of their motion, clasping themselves close to the stone in most
lovely manner, and not any one flew to endanger the mark; so much did
they remember their duty to nature, that they forgot the errand they
were sent of.

ANA. This is a very artificial lie.

MEN. Nam, believe it, for I saw it, and which is more, I have practised
this device often. Once when I had a quarrel with one of my lady
Veritas' naked knaves, and had 'ppointed him the field, I conveyed into
the heart of my buckler an adamant, and when we met, I drew all the
foins of his rapier, whithersoever he intended them, or howsoever I
guided mine arm, pointed still to the midst of my buckler, so that by
this means I hurt the knave mortally, and myself came away untouched, to
the wonder of all the beholders.

ANA. Sirrah, you speak metaphorically, because thy wit, Mendacio, always
draws men's objections to thy forethought excuses.

HEU. Anamnestes, 'tis true, and I have an addition to this, which is to
make the bullet shot from the enemy to return immediately upon the
gunner. But let all these pass, and say the worst thou canst against me.

ANA. I say, guns were found out for the quick despatch of mortality; and
when thou sawest men grow wise, and beget so fair a child as Peace of so
foul and deformed a mother as War, lest there should be no murder, thou
devisedst poison.

MEN. Nay, fie, Nam, urge him not too far.

ANA. And last and worst, thou foundest out cookery, that kills more than
weapons, guns, wars, or poisons, and would destroy all, but that thou
invented'st physic, that helps to make away some.

HEU. But, sirrah, besides all this, I devised