1weight, there could not be another ſuch-a-one in the World: So
that if its length (for example) were Centuple to its thickneſſe,
there cannot be found another Launce of the ſame Matter, that
being in length Centuple to its thickneſſe, ſhall be able to ſuſtain
it ſelf preciſely, as that did, and no more: for all that are bigger
ſhall break, and the leſſer ſhall be able, beſides their own, to ſuſtain
ſome additional weight. And this that I ſay of the State of bear
ing it ſelf, I would have underſtood to be ſpoken of every other
Conſtitution, and thus if one Tranſome bear or ſuſtain the force
often Tranſomes equal to it, ſuch another Beam cannot bear the
weight of ten that are equal to it. Now be pleaſed, Sir, and you
Simplicius to obſerve, how true Concluſions, though at the firſt
ſight they ſeem improbable, yet never ſo little glanced at, do depoſe
the Vailes which obſcure them, and make a voluntary ſhew of their
ſecrets nakedly, and ſimply. Who ſees not, that a Horſe falling
from a height of three or four yards, will break his bones, but a
Dog falling ſo many yards, or a Cat eight or ten, will receive no
hurt; nor likewiſe a Graſhopper from a Tower, nor an Ant thrown
from the Orbe of the Moon? Little Children eſcape all harm in
their falls, whereas perſons grown up break either their ſhins or
faces. And as leſſer Animals are in proportion more robuſtious,
and ſtrong than greater, ſo the leſſer Plants better ſupport them
ſelves: and I already believe, that both of you think, that an Oake
two hundred foot high could not ſupport its branches ſpread like
one of an indifferent ſize; and that Nature could not have made
an Horſe as big as twenty Horſes, nor a Giant ten times as tall as a
Man, unleſſe ſhe did it either miraculouſly, or elſe by much alte
ring the proportion of the Members, and particularly of the Bones,
enlarging them very much above the Symetry of common Bones.
To ſuppoſe likewiſe, that in Artificial Machines, the greater and
leſſer are with equal facility made, and preſerved, is a manifeſt Er
rour: and thus for inſtance, ſmall Spires, Pillars, and other ſolid
figures may be ſafely moved, laid along, and reared upright, with
out danger of breaking them; but the very great upon every ſini
ſter accident fall in pieces, and for no other reaſon but their own
weight. And here it is neceſſary that I relate an accident, worthy
of notice, as are all thoſe events that occur unexpectedly, eſpecial
ly when the means uſed to prevent an inconvenience, proveth in
fine the moſt potent cauſe of the diſorder. There was a very great
Pillar of Marble laid along, and two Rowlers were put under the
ſame neer to the ends of it; it came into the mind of a certain In
gineer ſome time after, that it would be expedient, the better to
ſecure it from breaking in the midſt through its own weight, to
put under it in that part yet another Rowler: the counſel ſeemed
generally very ſeaſonable, but the ſucceſſe demonſtrated it to be
that if its length (for example) were Centuple to its thickneſſe,
there cannot be found another Launce of the ſame Matter, that
being in length Centuple to its thickneſſe, ſhall be able to ſuſtain
it ſelf preciſely, as that did, and no more: for all that are bigger
ſhall break, and the leſſer ſhall be able, beſides their own, to ſuſtain
ſome additional weight. And this that I ſay of the State of bear
ing it ſelf, I would have underſtood to be ſpoken of every other
Conſtitution, and thus if one Tranſome bear or ſuſtain the force
often Tranſomes equal to it, ſuch another Beam cannot bear the
weight of ten that are equal to it. Now be pleaſed, Sir, and you
Simplicius to obſerve, how true Concluſions, though at the firſt
ſight they ſeem improbable, yet never ſo little glanced at, do depoſe
the Vailes which obſcure them, and make a voluntary ſhew of their
ſecrets nakedly, and ſimply. Who ſees not, that a Horſe falling
from a height of three or four yards, will break his bones, but a
Dog falling ſo many yards, or a Cat eight or ten, will receive no
hurt; nor likewiſe a Graſhopper from a Tower, nor an Ant thrown
from the Orbe of the Moon? Little Children eſcape all harm in
their falls, whereas perſons grown up break either their ſhins or
faces. And as leſſer Animals are in proportion more robuſtious,
and ſtrong than greater, ſo the leſſer Plants better ſupport them
ſelves: and I already believe, that both of you think, that an Oake
two hundred foot high could not ſupport its branches ſpread like
one of an indifferent ſize; and that Nature could not have made
an Horſe as big as twenty Horſes, nor a Giant ten times as tall as a
Man, unleſſe ſhe did it either miraculouſly, or elſe by much alte
ring the proportion of the Members, and particularly of the Bones,
enlarging them very much above the Symetry of common Bones.
To ſuppoſe likewiſe, that in Artificial Machines, the greater and
leſſer are with equal facility made, and preſerved, is a manifeſt Er
rour: and thus for inſtance, ſmall Spires, Pillars, and other ſolid
figures may be ſafely moved, laid along, and reared upright, with
out danger of breaking them; but the very great upon every ſini
ſter accident fall in pieces, and for no other reaſon but their own
weight. And here it is neceſſary that I relate an accident, worthy
of notice, as are all thoſe events that occur unexpectedly, eſpecial
ly when the means uſed to prevent an inconvenience, proveth in
fine the moſt potent cauſe of the diſorder. There was a very great
Pillar of Marble laid along, and two Rowlers were put under the
ſame neer to the ends of it; it came into the mind of a certain In
gineer ſome time after, that it would be expedient, the better to
ſecure it from breaking in the midſt through its own weight, to
put under it in that part yet another Rowler: the counſel ſeemed
generally very ſeaſonable, but the ſucceſſe demonſtrated it to be