1to the Surface, more ſlowly than a Ball of Ebony of the ſame bigneſſe,
ſo that it is manifeſt, that the Ball of Ebony more readily divideth the
water in deſcending, than the other in aſcending; as for Example, let
the Wood be Walnut-tree. Then take a Board of Walnut-tree, like
and equall to that of Ebony of the Antagoniſts, which ſwims; and if
it be true, that this floats above water, by reaſon of the Figure, unable
through its breadth, to pierce the Craſſitude of the ſame, the other of
Wallnut-tree, without all queſtion, being thruſt unto the Bottom, will
ſtay there, as leſs apt, through the ſame impediment of Figure, to
vide the ſaid Reſiſtance of the water. But if we ſhall find, and by
experience ſee, that not only the thin Board, but every other Figure
of the ſame Wallnut-tree will return to float, as undoubtedly we ſhall,
then I muſt deſier my oppoſers to forbear to attribute the floating of
the Ebony, unto the Figure of the Board, in regard that the Reſiſtance
of the water is the ſame, as well to the aſcent, as to the deſcent, and the
force of the Wallnut-trees aſcenſion, is leſſe than the Ebonys force in
going to the Bottom.
ſo that it is manifeſt, that the Ball of Ebony more readily divideth the
water in deſcending, than the other in aſcending; as for Example, let
the Wood be Walnut-tree. Then take a Board of Walnut-tree, like
and equall to that of Ebony of the Antagoniſts, which ſwims; and if
it be true, that this floats above water, by reaſon of the Figure, unable
through its breadth, to pierce the Craſſitude of the ſame, the other of
Wallnut-tree, without all queſtion, being thruſt unto the Bottom, will
ſtay there, as leſs apt, through the ſame impediment of Figure, to
vide the ſaid Reſiſtance of the water. But if we ſhall find, and by
experience ſee, that not only the thin Board, but every other Figure
of the ſame Wallnut-tree will return to float, as undoubtedly we ſhall,
then I muſt deſier my oppoſers to forbear to attribute the floating of
the Ebony, unto the Figure of the Board, in regard that the Reſiſtance
of the water is the ſame, as well to the aſcent, as to the deſcent, and the
force of the Wallnut-trees aſcenſion, is leſſe than the Ebonys force in
going to the Bottom.
Nay, I will ſay more, that if we ſhall conſider Gold in compariſon
of water, we ſhall find, that it exceeds it in Gravity almoſt twenty times,
ſo that the Force and Impetus, wherewith a Ball of Gold goes to the
Bottom, is very great. On the contrary, there want not matters, as
Virgins Wax, and ſome Woods, which are not above a fiftieth part leſs
grave than water, whereupon their Aſcenſion therein is very ſlow, and
a thouſand times weaker than the Impetus of the Golds deſcent: yet
notwithſtanding, a plate of Gold ſwims without deſcending to the
Bottom, and, on the contrary, we cannot make a Cake of Wax, or thin
Board of Wood, which put in the Bottom of the Water, ſhall reſt there
without aſcending. Now if the Figure can obſtruct the Penetration,
and impede the deſcent of Gold, that hath ſo great an Impetus, how
can it chooſe but ſuffice to reſiſt the ſame Penetration of the other
ter in aſcending, when as it hath ſcarce a thouſandth part of the Impetus
that the Gold hath in deſcending? Its therefore, neceſſary, that that
which ſuſpends the thin Plate of Gold, or Board of Ebony, upon the
water, be ſome thing that is wanting to the other Cakes and Boards of
Matters leſs grave than the water; ſince that being put to the Bottom,
and left at liberty, they riſe up to the Surface, without any obſtruction:
But they want not for flatneſs and breadth of Figure: Therefore, the
ſpaciouſneſſe of the Figure, is not that which makes the Gold and Ebony
to ſwim.
of water, we ſhall find, that it exceeds it in Gravity almoſt twenty times,
ſo that the Force and Impetus, wherewith a Ball of Gold goes to the
Bottom, is very great. On the contrary, there want not matters, as
Virgins Wax, and ſome Woods, which are not above a fiftieth part leſs
grave than water, whereupon their Aſcenſion therein is very ſlow, and
a thouſand times weaker than the Impetus of the Golds deſcent: yet
notwithſtanding, a plate of Gold ſwims without deſcending to the
Bottom, and, on the contrary, we cannot make a Cake of Wax, or thin
Board of Wood, which put in the Bottom of the Water, ſhall reſt there
without aſcending. Now if the Figure can obſtruct the Penetration,
and impede the deſcent of Gold, that hath ſo great an Impetus, how
can it chooſe but ſuffice to reſiſt the ſame Penetration of the other
ter in aſcending, when as it hath ſcarce a thouſandth part of the Impetus
that the Gold hath in deſcending? Its therefore, neceſſary, that that
which ſuſpends the thin Plate of Gold, or Board of Ebony, upon the
water, be ſome thing that is wanting to the other Cakes and Boards of
Matters leſs grave than the water; ſince that being put to the Bottom,
and left at liberty, they riſe up to the Surface, without any obſtruction:
But they want not for flatneſs and breadth of Figure: Therefore, the
ſpaciouſneſſe of the Figure, is not that which makes the Gold and Ebony
to ſwim.
And, becauſe, that the exceſs of their Gravity above the Gravity of
the water, is queſtionleſs the Cauſe of the ſinking of the flat piece of
Ebony, and the thin Plate of Gold, when they go to the Bottom,
fore, of neceſſity, when they float, the Cauſe of their ſtaying above
water, proceeds from Levity, which in that caſe, by ſome Accident,
the water, is queſtionleſs the Cauſe of the ſinking of the flat piece of
Ebony, and the thin Plate of Gold, when they go to the Bottom,
fore, of neceſſity, when they float, the Cauſe of their ſtaying above
water, proceeds from Levity, which in that caſe, by ſome Accident,