Here I note, that the Concluſions of Ariſtotle in generall are all
true, but methinks, that he applyeth them to particulars, in which
they have no place, as indeed they have in others, as for Example,
Wax is more eaſily diviſible than Lead, and Lead than Silver,
aſmuch as Wax receives all the terms more eaſiler than Lead, and
Lead than Silver. Its true, moreover, that a little quantity of
ver is eaſlier divided than a great Maſs: and all theſe Propoſitions
are true, becauſe true it is, that in Silver, Lead and Wax, there
is ſimply a Reſiſtance againſt Diviſion, and where there is the
lute, there is alſo the reſpective. But if as well in water as in Air,
there be no Renitence againſt ſimple Diviſion, how can we ſay, that
the water is eaſlier divided than the Air? We know not how to
tricate our ſelves from the Equivocation: whereupon I return to
anſwer, that Reſiſtance of abſolute Diviſion is one thing, and
ſiſtance of Diviſion made with ſuch and ſuch Velocity is another.
But to produce Reſt, and to abate the Motion, the Reſiſtance of
abſolute Diviſion is neceſſary; and the Reſiſtance of ſpeedy
viſion, cauſeth not Reſt, but ſlowneſs of Motion. But that as well
in the Air, as in water, there is no Reſiſtance of ſimple Diviſion, is
manifeſt, for that there is not found any Solid Body which divides
not the Air, and alſo the water: and that beaten Gold, or ſmall
duſt, are not able to ſuperate the Reſiſtance of the Air, is contrary
to that which Experience ſhews us, for we ſee Gold and Duſt to go
waving to and again in the Air, and at laſt to deſcend
wards, and to do the ſame in the water, if it be put therein, and
parated from the Air. And, becauſe, as I ſay, neither the water,
nor the Air do reſiſt ſimple Diviſion, it cannot be ſaid, that the water
reſiſts more than the Air. Nor let any object unto me, the
ple of moſt light Bodies, as a Feather, or a little of the pith of
der, or water-reed that divides the Air and not the water, and from
this infer, that the Ait is eaſlier diviſible than the water; for I ſay
unto them, that if they do well obſerve, they ſhall ſee the ſame
Body likewiſe divide the Continuity of the water, and ſubmerge in
part, and in ſuch a part, as that ſo much water in Maſs would weigh
as much as the whole Solid. And if they ſhal yet perſiſt in their doubt,
that ſuch a Solid ſinks not through inability to divide the water, I will
return them this reply, that if they put it under water, and then let it
go, they ſhall ſee it divide the water, and preſently aſcend with no leſs
celerity, than that with which it divided the Air in deſcending: ſo that
to ſay that this Solid aſcends in the Air, but that coming to the water,
it ceaſeth its Motion, and therefore the water is more difficult to be
divided, concludes nothing: for I, on the contrary, will propoſe them
a piece of Wood, or of Wax, which riſeth from the bottom of the
water, and eaſily divides its Reſiſtance, which afterwards being
true, but methinks, that he applyeth them to particulars, in which
they have no place, as indeed they have in others, as for Example,
Wax is more eaſily diviſible than Lead, and Lead than Silver,
aſmuch as Wax receives all the terms more eaſiler than Lead, and
Lead than Silver. Its true, moreover, that a little quantity of
ver is eaſlier divided than a great Maſs: and all theſe Propoſitions
are true, becauſe true it is, that in Silver, Lead and Wax, there
is ſimply a Reſiſtance againſt Diviſion, and where there is the
lute, there is alſo the reſpective. But if as well in water as in Air,
there be no Renitence againſt ſimple Diviſion, how can we ſay, that
the water is eaſlier divided than the Air? We know not how to
tricate our ſelves from the Equivocation: whereupon I return to
anſwer, that Reſiſtance of abſolute Diviſion is one thing, and
ſiſtance of Diviſion made with ſuch and ſuch Velocity is another.
But to produce Reſt, and to abate the Motion, the Reſiſtance of
abſolute Diviſion is neceſſary; and the Reſiſtance of ſpeedy
viſion, cauſeth not Reſt, but ſlowneſs of Motion. But that as well
in the Air, as in water, there is no Reſiſtance of ſimple Diviſion, is
manifeſt, for that there is not found any Solid Body which divides
not the Air, and alſo the water: and that beaten Gold, or ſmall
duſt, are not able to ſuperate the Reſiſtance of the Air, is contrary
to that which Experience ſhews us, for we ſee Gold and Duſt to go
waving to and again in the Air, and at laſt to deſcend
wards, and to do the ſame in the water, if it be put therein, and
parated from the Air. And, becauſe, as I ſay, neither the water,
nor the Air do reſiſt ſimple Diviſion, it cannot be ſaid, that the water
reſiſts more than the Air. Nor let any object unto me, the
ple of moſt light Bodies, as a Feather, or a little of the pith of
der, or water-reed that divides the Air and not the water, and from
this infer, that the Ait is eaſlier diviſible than the water; for I ſay
unto them, that if they do well obſerve, they ſhall ſee the ſame
Body likewiſe divide the Continuity of the water, and ſubmerge in
part, and in ſuch a part, as that ſo much water in Maſs would weigh
as much as the whole Solid. And if they ſhal yet perſiſt in their doubt,
that ſuch a Solid ſinks not through inability to divide the water, I will
return them this reply, that if they put it under water, and then let it
go, they ſhall ſee it divide the water, and preſently aſcend with no leſs
celerity, than that with which it divided the Air in deſcending: ſo that
to ſay that this Solid aſcends in the Air, but that coming to the water,
it ceaſeth its Motion, and therefore the water is more difficult to be
divided, concludes nothing: for I, on the contrary, will propoſe them
a piece of Wood, or of Wax, which riſeth from the bottom of the
water, and eaſily divides its Reſiſtance, which afterwards being