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

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1
But yet for all this, any great Maſs ſwimming in a ſtanding Lake, may
be
moved by any petit force; only it is true, that a leſſer force
ſlowly
moves it: but if the waters Reſiſtance of Diviſion, were in any
manner
ſenſible, it would follow, that the ſaid Maſs, ſhould,
ſtanding
the percuſſion of ſome ſenſible force, continue immoveable, which is

not ſo. Yea, I will ſay farther, that ſhould we retire our ſelves into the
more
internall contemplation of the Nature of water and other Fluids,
perhaps
we ſhould diſcover the Conſtitution of their parts to be ſuch, that
they
not only do not oppoſe Diviſion, but that they have not any thing in
them
to be divided: ſo that the Reſiſtance that is obſerved in moving

through the water, is like to that which we meet with in paſſing through
a
great Throng of People, wherein we find impediment, and not by
difficulty
in the Diviſion, for that none of thoſe perſons are divided
whereof
the Croud is compoſed, but only in moving of thoſe perſons
ways
which were before divided and disjoyned: and thus we find
Reſiſtance
in thruſting a Stick into an heap of Sand, not becauſe any part
of
the Sand is to be cut in pieces, but only to be moved and raiſed. two

manners of Penetration, therefore, offer themſelves to us, one in
whoſe
parts were continuall, and here Diviſion ſeemeth neceſſary; the

other in the aggregates of parts not continuall, but contiguous only, and
here
there is no neceſſity of dividing but of moving only.
Now, I
not
well reſolved, whether water and other Fluids may be eſteemed to
be
of parts continuall or contiguous only; yet I find my ſelf indeed incli­

ned to think that they are rather contiguous (if there be in Naturno
other
manner of aggregating, than by the union, or by the touching of the
extreams
:) and I am induced thereto by the great difference that I ſee >
between
the Conjunction of the parts of an hard or Solid Body, and the

Conjunction of the ſame parts when the ſame Body ſhall be made Liquid
and
Fluid: for if, for example, I take a Maſs of Silver or other Solid
and
hard Mettall, I ſhall in dividing it into two parts, find not only the

reſiſtance that is found in the moving of it only, but an other
greater
, dependent on that vertue, whatever it be, which holds the parts
united
: and ſo if we would divide again thoſe two parts into other two
and
ſucceſſively into others and others, we ſhould ſtill find a like
ance
, but ever leſs by how much ſmaller the parts to be divided ſhall be;
but
if, laſtly, employing moſt ſubtile and acute Inſtruments, ſuch as are
the
moſt tenuous parts of the Fire, we ſhall reſolve it (perhaps) into
laſt
and leaſt Particles, there ſhall not be left in them any longer either
Reſiſtance
of Diviſion, or ſo much as a capacity of being farther
ded
, eſpecially by Inſtruments more groſſe than the acuities of Fire:
what
Knife or Raſor put into well melted Silver can we finde, that will
divide
a thing which ſurpaſſeth the ſeparating power of Fire?

none
: becauſe either the whole ſhall be reduced to the moſt minute
ultimate
Diviſions, or if there remain parts capable ſtill of other Suddi­

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