1ture, and which is, in a word, the habitation of all animals, and
the womb of all vegetables?
the womb of all vegetables?
SIMP. Tis this that I would affirm to be the ſubſtance of this
our Globe.
our Globe.
SALV. But in this you do, in my judgment, affirm that which
is not right: for this Earth which is broke up, is ſowed, and is
fertile, is but one part, and that very ſmall of the ſurface of the
Globe, which doth not go very deep, yea, its depth is very ſmall,
in compariſon of the diſtance to the centre: and experience
ſheweth us, that one ſhall not dig very low, but one ſhall finde
matters very different from this exteriour ſcurf, more ſolid, and
not good for the production of vegetables. Beſides the interne
parts, as being compreſſed by very huge weights that lie upon
them, are, in all probability, ſlived, and made as hard as any
hard rock. One may adde to this, that fecundity would be in
vain conferred upon thoſe matters which never were deſigned to
bear fruit, but to reſt eternally buried in the profound and dark
abyſſes of the Earth.
is not right: for this Earth which is broke up, is ſowed, and is
fertile, is but one part, and that very ſmall of the ſurface of the
Globe, which doth not go very deep, yea, its depth is very ſmall,
in compariſon of the diſtance to the centre: and experience
ſheweth us, that one ſhall not dig very low, but one ſhall finde
matters very different from this exteriour ſcurf, more ſolid, and
not good for the production of vegetables. Beſides the interne
parts, as being compreſſed by very huge weights that lie upon
them, are, in all probability, ſlived, and made as hard as any
hard rock. One may adde to this, that fecundity would be in
vain conferred upon thoſe matters which never were deſigned to
bear fruit, but to reſt eternally buried in the profound and dark
abyſſes of the Earth.
SIMP. But who ſhall aſſure us, that the parts more inward
and near to the centre are unfruitful? They alſo may, perhaps,
have their productions of things unknown to us?
and near to the centre are unfruitful? They alſo may, perhaps,
have their productions of things unknown to us?
SALV. You may aſwell be aſſured thereof, as any man elſe,
as being very capable to comprehend, that if the integral bodies
of the Univerſe be produced onely for the benefit of Mankind,
this above all the reſt ought to be deſtin d to the ſole
ces of us its inhabitants. But what beneſit can we draw from
matters ſo hid and remote from us, as that we ſhall never be
ble to make uſe of them? Therefore the interne ſubſtance of
this our Globe cannot be a matter frangible, diſſipable, and
coherent, like this ſuperficial part which we call ^{*} EARTH: but
it muſt, of neceſſity, be a moſt denſe and ſolid body, and in a
word, a moſt hard ſtone. And, if it ought to be ſo, what reaſon
is there that ſhould make you more ſcrupulous to believe that it
is a Loadſtone than a Porphiry, a Jaſper, or other hard
ble? Happily if Gilbert had written, that this Globe is all
pounded within of ^{*} Pietra Serena, or of Chalcedon, the paradox
would have ſeemed to you leſſe exorbitant?
as being very capable to comprehend, that if the integral bodies
of the Univerſe be produced onely for the benefit of Mankind,
this above all the reſt ought to be deſtin d to the ſole
ces of us its inhabitants. But what beneſit can we draw from
matters ſo hid and remote from us, as that we ſhall never be
ble to make uſe of them? Therefore the interne ſubſtance of
this our Globe cannot be a matter frangible, diſſipable, and
coherent, like this ſuperficial part which we call ^{*} EARTH: but
it muſt, of neceſſity, be a moſt denſe and ſolid body, and in a
word, a moſt hard ſtone. And, if it ought to be ſo, what reaſon
is there that ſhould make you more ſcrupulous to believe that it
is a Loadſtone than a Porphiry, a Jaſper, or other hard
ble? Happily if Gilbert had written, that this Globe is all
pounded within of ^{*} Pietra Serena, or of Chalcedon, the paradox
would have ſeemed to you leſſe exorbitant?
The interne parts
of the terreſtrial
Globe muſt of
ceſſity be ſolid.
of the terreſtrial
Globe muſt of
ceſſity be ſolid.
* Or MOULD.
Of which with
the Latin
tour, I muſt once
more profeſſe my
ſelf ignorant.
the Latin
tour, I muſt once
more profeſſe my
ſelf ignorant.
SIMP. That the parts of this Globe more intern are more
compreſſed, and ſo more ſlived together and ſolid, and more
and more ſo, according as they lie lower, I do grant, and ſo
likewiſe doth Ariſtotle, but that they degenerate and become
other than Earth, of the ſame ſort with this of the ſuperficial
parts, I ſee nothing that obliege h me to believe.
compreſſed, and ſo more ſlived together and ſolid, and more
and more ſo, according as they lie lower, I do grant, and ſo
likewiſe doth Ariſtotle, but that they degenerate and become
other than Earth, of the ſame ſort with this of the ſuperficial
parts, I ſee nothing that obliege h me to believe.
SALV. I undertook not this diſcourſe with an intent to prove
demonſtratively that the primary and real ſubſtance of this our
demonſtratively that the primary and real ſubſtance of this our
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