Reducing the Nature

If any skilful Servant of Nature shall bring force to bear on matter, and shall vex it and drive it to extremities as if with the purpose of reducing it to nothing, then will matter finding itself in these straits, turn and transform itself into strange shapes, passing from one change to another till it has gone through the whole circle. (Bacon, Wisdom of the Ancients).

The vexations of art are certainly as the bonds and handcuffs of Proteus, which betray the ultimate struggles and efforts of matter; for bodies will not be destroyed or annihilated rather than that they will turn themselves into various forms (Bacon, DON 171).