Galilei, Galileo - Discourse concerning the natation of bodies

Galilei, Galileo, Discourse concerning the natation of bodies, 1663

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goes to the bottom, if it be filled with water; of which he in the fol
lowing Chapter, which is the 30 of the fifth Book copiouſly diſcourſ
eth: but I (ſpeaking alwayes without diminution of his ſingular
Learning) dare in defence of Archimedes deny this experiment, being
certain that a piece of Wood which by its nature ſinks not in Water,
ſhall not ſinke though it be turned and converted into the forme of a
ny Veſſell whatſoever, and then filled with Water: and he that would
readily ſee the Experiment in ſome other tractable Matter, and that is
eaſily reduced into ſeveral Figures, may take pure Wax, and ma
king it firſt into a Ball or other ſolid Figure, let him adde to it ſo
much Lead as ſhall juſt carry it to the bottome, ſo that being a graine
leſs it could not be able to ſinke it, and making it afterwards into
the forme of a Diſh, and filling it with Water, he ſhall finde that with
out the ſaid Lead it ſhall not ſinke, and that with the Lead it ſhall de
ſcend with much ſlowneſs: & in ſhort he ſhall ſatisfie himſelf, that the
Water included makes no alteration. I ſay not all this while, but that
its poſſible of Wood to make Barkes, which being filled with water,
ſinke; but that proceeds not through its Gravity, encreaſed by the
Water, but rather from the Nailes and other Iron Workes, ſo that
it no longer hath a Body leſs grave than Water, but one mixt of Iron
and Wood, more grave than a like Maſſe of Water. Therefore let
Signor Buonamico deſiſt from deſiring a reaſon of an effect, that is
not in nature: yea if the ſinking of the Woodden Veſſell when its full
of Water, may call in queſtion the Doctrine of Archimedes, which
he would not have you to follow, is on the contrary conſonant and a
greeable to the Doctrine of the Peripateticks, ſince it aptly aſſignes a
reaſon why ſuch a Veſſell muſt, when its full of Water, deſcend to the
bottom; converting the Argument the other way, we may with
ſafety ſay that the Doctrine of Archimedes is true, ſince it aptly agre
eth with true experiments, and queſtion the other, whoſe Deducti
ons are faſtened upon etroneouſs Concluſions. As for the other point
hinted in this ſame Inſtance, where it ſeemes that Benonamico under
ſtands the ſame not only of a piece of wood, ſhaped in the forme of a
Veſſell, but alſo of maſſie Wood, which filled, ſcilicet, as I believe, he
would ſay, ſoaked and ſteeped in Water, goes finally to the bottom
that happens in ſome poroſe Woods, which, while their Poroſity is re
pleniſhed with Air, or other Matter leſs grave than Water, are Maſ
ſes ſpecificially leſs grave than the ſaid Water, like as is that Viall of
Glaſs whileſt it is full of Air: but when, ſuch light Matter depart
ing, there ſucceedeth Water into the ſame Poroſities and Cavities,
there reſults a compound of Water and Glaſs more grave than a like
Maſs of Water: but the exceſs of its Gravity conſiſts in the Matter
of the Glaſs, and not in the Water, which cannot be graver than it
ſelf: ſo that which remaines of the Wood, the Air of its Cavi

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