Castelli, Benedetto, Of the mensuration of running waters, 1661

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              <s>
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              by the
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              Plebeian
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              Rout. </s>
              <s>Tis true, that he that propoundeth Pro­
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              poſitions far above the reach of common capacity, runneth a
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              great hazard of being very often condemned without further Pro­
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              ceſs, or knowledge of the Cauſe; but yet for all that, the truth
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              is not to be deſerted in moſt weighty affairs, but ought rather to
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              be explained in due place and time with all poſſible perſpicuity;
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              that ſo being well underſtood, and conſidered, it may come after­
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              wards for the Common good to be embraced.</s>
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              <s>This which I ſpeak in general, hath often been my fortune in
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              very many particulars, not onely when I have kept within the
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              bounds of meer ſpeculation, but alſo when I have chanced to de­
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              ſcend to Practice, and to Operations: and your Highneſs know­
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              eth very well what befel me the laſt Summer 1641. when in obe­
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              dience to your Soveraign Command, I did in full Colledge repre­
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              ſent my thoughts touching the ſtate of the Lake of
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              Venice
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              ; for
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              there not being ſuch wanting, who without ſo much as vouch­
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              ſafing to underſtand me, but having onely had an inkling, and
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              bad apprehenſion of my opinion, fell furiouſly upon me, and by
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              violent means both with the Pen and Preſs, full of Gall, did abuſe
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              me in reward of the readineſs that I had expreſt to obey and
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              ſerve them: But I was above meaſure encouraged and pleaſed, to
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              ſee that thoſe few who vouchſafed to hear me, were all either
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              thorowly perſwaded that my opinion was well grounded, or at
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              leaſt ſuſpended their prudent verdict to more mature deliberati­
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              on. </s>
              <s>And though at the firſt bout I chanced to propoſe a thing
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              that was totally contrary to the moſt received and antiquated
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              opinion, and to the reſolutions and conſultations taken above an
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              hundred years ago: Moved by theſe things, and to ſatisfie alſo
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              to the promiſe that I had made of tendering unto them what
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              ſhould farther offer it ſelf unto me touching the ſame buſineſs; I
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              have reſolved to preſent to the Throne of your Highneſs, another
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              Conſideration of no leſs importance, which perhaps at firſt ſight
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              will appear a ſtranger Paradox; but yet brought to the Teſt and
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              Touch-ſtone of experience, it ſhall prove moſt clear and evident.
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              </s>
              <s>If it ſhall be accounted of, ſo that it ſucceedeth to the benefit of
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              your Highneſs, I ſhall have obtained my defire and intent: And
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              if not, I ſhall have ſatisfied my ſelf, and ſhall not have been
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              wanting to the Obligation of your moſt faithful Servant, and na­
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              tive ſubject.</s>
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              <s>That which I propounded in the Mouths paſs, touching the
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              moſt important buſineſs of the Lake, though it did onely expreſ­
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              ly concern the point of the diverſion of the Mouth of the Lake,
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              already made and put in execution; yet it may be underſtood
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              and applyed alſo to the diverſion under debate, to be made of
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              the other five Rivers, and of the
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              Sile
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              in particular.</s>
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