1ved at the Air, ſtayeth there, and hardly toucheth it; whence I may
aswell ſay, that the water is more eaſier divided than the Air
aswell ſay, that the water is more eaſier divided than the Air
Archimed. De
Inſident, humi lib.
2. prop. 1.
Inſident, humi lib.
2. prop. 1.
I will not on this occaſion forbear to give warning of another
lacy of theſe perſons, who attribute the reaſon of ſinking or ſwimming
to the greater or leſſe Reſiſtance of the Craſſitude of the water againſt
Diviſion, making uſe of the example of an Egg, which in ſweet water
goeth to the bottom, but in ſalt water ſwims; and alledging for the
cauſe thereof, the faint Reſiſtance of freſh water againſt Diviſion, and
the ſtrong Reſiſtance of ſalt water But if I miſtake not, from the ſame
Experiment, we may aswell deduce the quite contrary; namely, that
the freſh water is more denſe, and the ſalt more tenuous and ſubtle,
ſince an Egg from the bottom of ſalt water ſpeedily aſcends to the
top, and divides its Reſiſtance, which it cannot do in the freſh, in whoſe
bottom it ſtays, being unable to riſe upwards. Into ſuch like
ities, do falſe Principles Lead men: but he that rightly Philoſophating,
ſhall acknowledge the exceſſes of the Gravities of the Moveables and
of the Mediums, to be the Cauſes of thoſe effects, will ſay, that the
Egg ſinks to the bottom in freſh water, for that it is more grave than
it, and ſwimeth in the ſalt, for that its leſs grave than it: and ſhall
without any abſurdity, very ſolidly eſtabliſh his Concluſions.
lacy of theſe perſons, who attribute the reaſon of ſinking or ſwimming
to the greater or leſſe Reſiſtance of the Craſſitude of the water againſt
Diviſion, making uſe of the example of an Egg, which in ſweet water
goeth to the bottom, but in ſalt water ſwims; and alledging for the
cauſe thereof, the faint Reſiſtance of freſh water againſt Diviſion, and
the ſtrong Reſiſtance of ſalt water But if I miſtake not, from the ſame
Experiment, we may aswell deduce the quite contrary; namely, that
the freſh water is more denſe, and the ſalt more tenuous and ſubtle,
ſince an Egg from the bottom of ſalt water ſpeedily aſcends to the
top, and divides its Reſiſtance, which it cannot do in the freſh, in whoſe
bottom it ſtays, being unable to riſe upwards. Into ſuch like
ities, do falſe Principles Lead men: but he that rightly Philoſophating,
ſhall acknowledge the exceſſes of the Gravities of the Moveables and
of the Mediums, to be the Cauſes of thoſe effects, will ſay, that the
Egg ſinks to the bottom in freſh water, for that it is more grave than
it, and ſwimeth in the ſalt, for that its leſs grave than it: and ſhall
without any abſurdity, very ſolidly eſtabliſh his Concluſions.
Therefore the reaſon totally ceaſeth, that Ariſtotle ſubjoyns in the
Text ſaying; The things, therefore, which have great breadth remain
above, becauſe they comprehend much, and that which is greater,
is not eaſily divided. Such diſcourſing ceaſeth, I ſay, becauſe its not
true, that there is in water or in Air any Reſiſtance of Diviſion;
ſides that the Plate of Lead when it ſtays, hath already divided and
penetrated the Craſſitude of the water, and profounded it ſelf ten or
twelve times more than its own thickneſs: beſides that ſuch Reſiſtance
of Diviſion, were it ſuppoſed to be in the water, could not rationally
be affirmed to be more in its ſuperiour parts than in the middle, and
lower: but if there were any difference, the inferiour ſhould be the
more denſe, ſo that the Plate would be no leſs unable to penetrate
the lower, than the ſuperiour parts of the water; nevertheleſs we ſee
that no ſooner do we wet the ſuperious Superficies of the Board or
thin Piece of Wood, but it precipitatly, and without any retenſion,
deſcends to the bottom.
Text ſaying; The things, therefore, which have great breadth remain
above, becauſe they comprehend much, and that which is greater,
is not eaſily divided. Such diſcourſing ceaſeth, I ſay, becauſe its not
true, that there is in water or in Air any Reſiſtance of Diviſion;
ſides that the Plate of Lead when it ſtays, hath already divided and
penetrated the Craſſitude of the water, and profounded it ſelf ten or
twelve times more than its own thickneſs: beſides that ſuch Reſiſtance
of Diviſion, were it ſuppoſed to be in the water, could not rationally
be affirmed to be more in its ſuperiour parts than in the middle, and
lower: but if there were any difference, the inferiour ſhould be the
more denſe, ſo that the Plate would be no leſs unable to penetrate
the lower, than the ſuperiour parts of the water; nevertheleſs we ſee
that no ſooner do we wet the ſuperious Superficies of the Board or
thin Piece of Wood, but it precipitatly, and without any retenſion,
deſcends to the bottom.
Text 45.
I believe not after all this, that any (thinking perhaps thereby to
defend Aristotle) will ſay, that it being true, that the much water
ſiſts more than the little, the ſaid Board being put lower deſcendeth,
becauſe there remaineth a leſs Maſs of water to be divided by it:
cauſe if after the having ſeen the ſame Board ſwim in four Inches of
water, and alſo after that in the ſame to ſink, he ſhall try the ſame
Experiment upon a profundity of ten or twenty fathom water, he
ſhall ſee the very ſelf ſame effect. And here I will take occaſion to
defend Aristotle) will ſay, that it being true, that the much water
ſiſts more than the little, the ſaid Board being put lower deſcendeth,
becauſe there remaineth a leſs Maſs of water to be divided by it:
cauſe if after the having ſeen the ſame Board ſwim in four Inches of
water, and alſo after that in the ſame to ſink, he ſhall try the ſame
Experiment upon a profundity of ten or twenty fathom water, he
ſhall ſee the very ſelf ſame effect. And here I will take occaſion to