1it into a Ball, and thruſt it unto the Bottom of the water; and
faſten to it as much Cork, or other light matter, as juſt ſerveth to
raiſe it, and draw it towards the Surface: for afterwards changing
the ſame Wax into a thin Cake, or into any other Figure, that
ſame Cork ſhall raiſe it in the ſame manner to a hair.
faſten to it as much Cork, or other light matter, as juſt ſerveth to
raiſe it, and draw it towards the Surface: for afterwards changing
the ſame Wax into a thin Cake, or into any other Figure, that
ſame Cork ſhall raiſe it in the ſame manner to a hair.
This ſilenceth not my Antagoniſts, but they ſay, that all the
diſcourſe hitherto made by me little importeth to them, and that it
ſerves their turn, that they have demonſtrated in one only
cular, and in what matter, and under what Figure pleaſeth them,
namely, in a Board and in a Ball of Ebony, that this put in the
water, deſcends to the Bottom, and that ſtays atop to ſwim:
and the Matter being the ſame, and the two Bodies differing in
thing but in Figure, they affirm, that they have with all perſpicuity
demonſtrated and ſenſibly manifeſted what they undertook; and
laſtly, that they have obtained their intent. Nevertheleſs, I believe,
and thinke, I can demonſtrate, that that ſame Experiment proveth
nothing againſt my Concluſion.
diſcourſe hitherto made by me little importeth to them, and that it
ſerves their turn, that they have demonſtrated in one only
cular, and in what matter, and under what Figure pleaſeth them,
namely, in a Board and in a Ball of Ebony, that this put in the
water, deſcends to the Bottom, and that ſtays atop to ſwim:
and the Matter being the ſame, and the two Bodies differing in
thing but in Figure, they affirm, that they have with all perſpicuity
demonſtrated and ſenſibly manifeſted what they undertook; and
laſtly, that they have obtained their intent. Nevertheleſs, I believe,
and thinke, I can demonſtrate, that that ſame Experiment proveth
nothing againſt my Concluſion.
And firſt, it is falſe, that the Ball deſcends, and the Board not:
for the Board ſhall alſo deſcend, if you do to both the Figures, as
the words of our Queſtion requireth; that is, if you put them both
into the
for the Board ſhall alſo deſcend, if you do to both the Figures, as
the words of our Queſtion requireth; that is, if you put them both
into the
The words were theſe. That the Antagoniſts having an opinion, that
the Figure would alter the Solid Bodies, in relation to the deſcending
or not deſcending, aſcending or not aſcending in the ſame Medium, as
v. gr. in the ſame water, in ſuch ſort, that, for Example, a Solid that
being of a Sphericall Figure, ſhall deſcend to the Bottom, being reduced
into ſome other Figure, ſhall not deſcend: I holding the contrary, do
affirm, that a Corporeall Solid Body, which reduced into a Sphericall
gure, or any other, ſhall go to the Bottom, ſhall do the like under whatſoever
other Figure, &c.
the Figure would alter the Solid Bodies, in relation to the deſcending
or not deſcending, aſcending or not aſcending in the ſame Medium, as
v. gr. in the ſame water, in ſuch ſort, that, for Example, a Solid that
being of a Sphericall Figure, ſhall deſcend to the Bottom, being reduced
into ſome other Figure, ſhall not deſcend: I holding the contrary, do
affirm, that a Corporeall Solid Body, which reduced into a Sphericall
gure, or any other, ſhall go to the Bottom, ſhall do the like under whatſoever
other Figure, &c.
Ariſtotles own Definition of place, to be placed, importeth to be
vironed by the Superficies of the Ambient Body, therefore, then
ſhall the two Figures be in the water, when the Superficies of the
water, ſhall imbrace and inviron them: but when the Adverſaries
ſhew the Board of Ebony not deſcending to the Bottom, they put it
not into the water, but upon the water, where being by a certain
pediment (as by and by we will ſhew) retained, it is invironed, part
by water, and part by air, which thing is contrary to our agreement,
that was, that the Bodies ſhould be in the water, and not part in
water, and part in air.