1livered, as they are things Mathematical, abſtract and ſeparate
from Senſible Matter, I believe, that when they come to be apply
ed to Matters Phyſical and Natural, they will not exactly comply
with theſe Rules.
from Senſible Matter, I believe, that when they come to be apply
ed to Matters Phyſical and Natural, they will not exactly comply
with theſe Rules.
SALV. It is not in my power, nor, as I believe, do you deſire,
that I ſhould make that viſible which is inviſible; but as to ſuch
things as may be comprehended by our Senſes, in regard that you
have inſtanced in Gold, do we not ſee an immenſe extenſion to
be made of its parts? I know not whether you may have ſeen the
Method that Wyer-drawers obſerve in diſgroſſing Gold Wyer:
which in reality is not Gold, ſave only in the Superficies, for the
internal ſubſtance is Silver; and the way of diſgroſſing it is this.
They take a Cylinder, or, if you will, Ingot of Silver, about half
a yard long, and about three or four Inches thick, and this they
gild or over-lay with Leaves of beaten Gold, which, you know,
is ſo thin that the Wind will blow it to and again, and of theſe
Leaves they lay on eight or ten, and no more. So ſoon as it is
gilded, they begin to draw it forth with extraordinary force, ma
king it to paſs thorow the hole of the Drawing Iron, and then
reiterate this forceable diſgroſsment again and again thorow holes
ſucceſſively narrower, ſo that, after ſeveral of theſe diſgroſments,
they bring it to the ſmalneſs of the hair of a womans head, if not
ſmaller, and yet it ſtill continueth gilded in its Superficies or out
ſide: Now I leave you to conſider to what a fineneſs and diſtenſi
on the ſubſtance of the Gold is brought.
that I ſhould make that viſible which is inviſible; but as to ſuch
things as may be comprehended by our Senſes, in regard that you
have inſtanced in Gold, do we not ſee an immenſe extenſion to
be made of its parts? I know not whether you may have ſeen the
Method that Wyer-drawers obſerve in diſgroſſing Gold Wyer:
which in reality is not Gold, ſave only in the Superficies, for the
internal ſubſtance is Silver; and the way of diſgroſſing it is this.
They take a Cylinder, or, if you will, Ingot of Silver, about half
a yard long, and about three or four Inches thick, and this they
gild or over-lay with Leaves of beaten Gold, which, you know,
is ſo thin that the Wind will blow it to and again, and of theſe
Leaves they lay on eight or ten, and no more. So ſoon as it is
gilded, they begin to draw it forth with extraordinary force, ma
king it to paſs thorow the hole of the Drawing Iron, and then
reiterate this forceable diſgroſsment again and again thorow holes
ſucceſſively narrower, ſo that, after ſeveral of theſe diſgroſments,
they bring it to the ſmalneſs of the hair of a womans head, if not
ſmaller, and yet it ſtill continueth gilded in its Superficies or out
ſide: Now I leave you to conſider to what a fineneſs and diſtenſi
on the ſubſtance of the Gold is brought.
Gold in the gilding
of Silver is drawn
forth and diſgroſ
ſed immenſly.
of Silver is drawn
forth and diſgroſ
ſed immenſly.
* Or Thumb
breadths.
breadths.
SIMP. I do not ſee how it can be inferred from this Experi
ment, that there may be a diſgroſment of the matter of the Gold
ſufficient to effect thoſe wonders which you ſpeak of: Firſt, For
that the firſt gilding was with ten Leaves of Gold, which make a
conſiderable thickneſs: Secondly, howbeit in the extenſion and
diſgroſment that Silver encreaſeth in length, it yet withall dimi
niſheth ſo much in thickneſs, that compenſating the one dimenſi
on with the other, the Superficies doth not ſo enlarge, as that for
overlaying the Silver with Gold, the ſaid Gold need to be reduced
to a greater thinneſs than that of its firſt Leaves.
ment, that there may be a diſgroſment of the matter of the Gold
ſufficient to effect thoſe wonders which you ſpeak of: Firſt, For
that the firſt gilding was with ten Leaves of Gold, which make a
conſiderable thickneſs: Secondly, howbeit in the extenſion and
diſgroſment that Silver encreaſeth in length, it yet withall dimi
niſheth ſo much in thickneſs, that compenſating the one dimenſi
on with the other, the Superficies doth not ſo enlarge, as that for
overlaying the Silver with Gold, the ſaid Gold need to be reduced
to a greater thinneſs than that of its firſt Leaves.
SALV. You much deceive your ſelf, Simplicius, for the en
creaſe of the Superficies is Subduple to the extenſion in length, as
I could Geometrically demonſtrate to you.
creaſe of the Superficies is Subduple to the extenſion in length, as
I could Geometrically demonſtrate to you.
SAGR. I beſeech you, both in the behalf of my ſelf, and of
Simplicius, to favour us with that Demonſtration, if ſo be you
think that we can comprehend it.
Simplicius, to favour us with that Demonſtration, if ſo be you
think that we can comprehend it.
SALV. I will ſee whether I can, thus upon the ſudden, recall
it to mind. It is already manifeſt, that that ſame firſt groſs Cylin
der of Silver, and the Wyer diſtended to ſo great a length are two
equal Cylinders, in regard that they are the ſame Silver; ſo that
it to mind. It is already manifeſt, that that ſame firſt groſs Cylin
der of Silver, and the Wyer diſtended to ſo great a length are two
equal Cylinders, in regard that they are the ſame Silver; ſo that