An hair will
draw a great
Maſs thorow the
Water; which
proveth, that it
hath no
ance againſt
tranſverſall
viſion.
draw a great
Maſs thorow the
Water; which
proveth, that it
hath no
ance againſt
tranſverſall
viſion.
How ſhips are
moved in the
water.
moved in the
water.
Bodies moved
a certain ſpace in
a certain Time,
by a certain
power, cannot be
moved the
ſame ſpace, and
in a ſhorter time,
but by a greater
power.
a certain ſpace in
a certain Time,
by a certain
power, cannot be
moved the
ſame ſpace, and
in a ſhorter time,
but by a greater
power.
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
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