Page:Discourse Concerning the Natation of Bodies.djvu/9

Rh this Weight should descend more than that, or that more than this; and therefore they make an Equilibrium, and their Moments continue of semblable and equall Vertue. The second Principle is; That

AXIOME II.

So that Weights absolutely equall, but conjoyned with Velocity unequall, are of Force, Moment and Vertue unequall: and the more potent, the more swift, according to the proportion of the Velocity of the one, to the Velocity of the other. Of this we have a very pertinent example in the Balance or Stiliard of unequall Arms, at which Weights absolutely equall being suspended, they do not weigh down, and gravitate equally, but that which is at a greater distance from the Centre, about which the Beam moves, descends, raising the other, and the Motion of this which ascends is slow, and the other swift: and such is the Force and Vertue, which from the Velocity of the Mover, is conferred on the Moveable, which receives it, that it can exquisitely compensate, as much more Weight added to the other slower Moveable: so that if of the Arms of the Balance, one were ten times as long as the other, whereupon in the Beames moving about the Centre, the end of that would go ten times as far as the end of this, a Weight suspended at the greater distance, may sustain and poyse another ten times more grave absolutely than it: and that because the Stiliard moving, the lesser Weight shall move ten times faster than the bigger. It ought alwayes therefore to be understood, that Motions are according to the same Inclinations, namely, that if one of the Moveables move perpendicularly to the Horizon, then the other makes its Motion by the like Perpendicular, and if the Motion of one were to be made Horizontally; that then the other is made along the same Horizontall plain: and in summe, alwayes both in like Inclinations. This proportion between the Gravity and Velocity is found in all Mechanicall Instruments: and is considered by Aristotle, as a Principle in his Mechanicall Questions; whereupon we also may take it for a true Assumption, That

AXIOME III.