it into a Ball, and thrust it unto the Bottom of the water; and fasten to it as much Cork, or other light matter, as just serveth to raise it, and draw it towards the Surface: for afterwards changing the same Wax into a thin Cake, or into any other Figure, that same Cork shall raise it in the same manner to a hair.
This silenceth not my Antagonists, but they say, that all the discourse hitherto made by me little importeth to them, and that it serves their turn, that they have demonstrated in one only particular, and in what matter, and under what Figure pleaseth them, namely, in a Board and in a Ball of Ebony, that this put in the water, descends to the Bottom, and that stays atop to swim: and the Matter being the same, and the two Bodies differing in nothing but in Figure, they affirm, that they have with all perspicuity demonstrated and sensibly manifested what they undertook; and lastly, that they have obtained their intent. Nevertheless, I believe, and thinke, I can demonstrate, that that same Experiment proveth nothing against my Conclusion.
In Experiments of Natation, the Solid is to be put into, not upon the water.And first, it is false, that the Ball descends, and the Board not: for the Board shall also descend, if you do to both the Figures, as the words of our Question requireth; that is, if you put them both into the water.
The Question of Natation stated.The words were these. That the Antagonists having an opinion, that the Figure would alter the Solid Bodies, in relation to the descending or not descending, ascending or not ascending in the same Medium, as v. gr. in the same water, in such sort, that, for Example, a Solid that being of a Sphericall Figure, shall descend to the Bottom, being reduced into some other Figure, shall not descend: I holding the contrary, do affirm, that a Corporeall Solid Body, which reduced into a Sphericall Figure, or any other, shall go to the Bottom, shall do the like under whatsoever other Figure, &c
Place defined according to Aristotle.But to be in the water, implies to be placed in the water, and by Aristotles own Definition of place, to be placed, importeth to be invironed by the Superficies of the Ambient Body, therefore, then shall the two Figures be in the water, when the Superficies of the water, shall imbrace and inviron them: but when the Adversaries shew the Board of Ebony not descending to the Bottom, they put it not into the water, but upon the water, where being by a certain impediment (as by and by we will shew) retained, it is invironed, part by water, and part by air, which thing is contrary to our agreement, that was, that the Bodies should be in the water, and not part in water, and part in air.
The
