1reaſon for the introducing of it: If by pluoking away a piece
of Loadſtone from the whole natural maſſd, it were deprived of
the faculty of following it, as it did, whilſt it was unitedy thereto,
ſo that it is thereby deprived of the revodution about the
ſal centre of the Terreſtrial Globe, it might Chaply, with
what greater probability be thought by ſome, that the ſaid
net was to appropriate to it ſelf a new converſion about its
cular centre; but if it do no leſſe, when ſeparated, than when
conjoyned, continue always to purſue its firſt, eternal, and
ral courſe, to what purpoſe ſhould we go about to obtrude upon
it another new one?
of Loadſtone from the whole natural maſſd, it were deprived of
the faculty of following it, as it did, whilſt it was unitedy thereto,
ſo that it is thereby deprived of the revodution about the
ſal centre of the Terreſtrial Globe, it might Chaply, with
what greater probability be thought by ſome, that the ſaid
net was to appropriate to it ſelf a new converſion about its
cular centre; but if it do no leſſe, when ſeparated, than when
conjoyned, continue always to purſue its firſt, eternal, and
ral courſe, to what purpoſe ſhould we go about to obtrude upon
it another new one?
An
ble effect admired
by Gilbertus in the
Loadſtone.
ble effect admired
by Gilbertus in the
Loadſtone.
SAGR. I underſtand you very well, and this puts me in mind
of a Diſcourſe very like to this for the vanity of it, falling from
certain Writers upon the Sphere, and I think, if I well
ber, amongſt others from Sacroboſco, who, to ſhew how the
lement of Water, doth, together with the Earth, make a
pleat Spherical Figure, and ſo between them both compoſe this
our Globe, writeth, that the ſeeing the ſmall ^{*} particles of water
ſhape themſelves into rotundity, as in the drops, and in the dew
daily apparent upon the leaves of ſeveral herbs, is a ſtrong
gument; and becauſe, according to the trite Axiome, there is
the ſame reaſon for the whole, as for the parts, the parts affecting
that ſame figure, it is neceſſary that the ſame is proper to the
whole Element: and truth is, methinks it is a great overſight
that theſe men ſhould not perceive ſo apparent a vanity, and
ſider that if their argument had run right, it would have
ed, that not only the ſmall drops, but that any whatſoever greater
quantity of water ſeparated from the whole Element, ſhould be
duced into a Globe: Which is not ſeen to happen; though indeed
the Senſes may ſee, and the Underſtanding perceive that the
lement of Water loving to form it ſelf into a Spherical Figure
about the common centre of gravity, to which all grave
dies tend (that is, the centre of the Terreſtrial Globe) it
therein is followed by all its parts, according to the Axiome;
ſo that all the ſurfaces of Seas, Lakes, Pools, and in a word,
of all the parts of Waters conteined in veſſels, diſtend
themſelves into a Spherical Figure, but that Figure is an arch
of that Sphere that hath for its centre the centre of the
reſtrial Globe, and do not make particular Spheres of
ſelves.
of a Diſcourſe very like to this for the vanity of it, falling from
certain Writers upon the Sphere, and I think, if I well
ber, amongſt others from Sacroboſco, who, to ſhew how the
lement of Water, doth, together with the Earth, make a
pleat Spherical Figure, and ſo between them both compoſe this
our Globe, writeth, that the ſeeing the ſmall ^{*} particles of water
ſhape themſelves into rotundity, as in the drops, and in the dew
daily apparent upon the leaves of ſeveral herbs, is a ſtrong
gument; and becauſe, according to the trite Axiome, there is
the ſame reaſon for the whole, as for the parts, the parts affecting
that ſame figure, it is neceſſary that the ſame is proper to the
whole Element: and truth is, methinks it is a great overſight
that theſe men ſhould not perceive ſo apparent a vanity, and
ſider that if their argument had run right, it would have
ed, that not only the ſmall drops, but that any whatſoever greater
quantity of water ſeparated from the whole Element, ſhould be
duced into a Globe: Which is not ſeen to happen; though indeed
the Senſes may ſee, and the Underſtanding perceive that the
lement of Water loving to form it ſelf into a Spherical Figure
about the common centre of gravity, to which all grave
dies tend (that is, the centre of the Terreſtrial Globe) it
therein is followed by all its parts, according to the Axiome;
ſo that all the ſurfaces of Seas, Lakes, Pools, and in a word,
of all the parts of Waters conteined in veſſels, diſtend
themſelves into a Spherical Figure, but that Figure is an arch
of that Sphere that hath for its centre the centre of the
reſtrial Globe, and do not make particular Spheres of
ſelves.
The vain
mentation of ſome
to prove the
ment of Water to
be of a Spherical
ſuper ficies.
mentation of ſome
to prove the
ment of Water to
be of a Spherical
ſuper ficies.
SALV. The errour indeed is childiſh; and if it had
been onely the ſingle miſtake of Sacroboſco, I would eaſily
have allowed him in it; but to pardon it alſo to his
mentators, and to other famous men, and even to Ptolomy
been onely the ſingle miſtake of Sacroboſco, I would eaſily
have allowed him in it; but to pardon it alſo to his
mentators, and to other famous men, and even to Ptolomy
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