Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/245

 under small bulk contain much matter, should have narrower places assigned them, leaving the more spacious to the more ra•ified) and there being dead of hunger, and resolved into Earth, would form a new little Globe, with that little water, which at that time was among the clouds. It might be also, that those matters as not beholding the light, would not perceive the Earths departure, but like blind things, would descend according to their usual custom to the centre, whither they would now go, if that globe did not hinder them. And lastly, that I may give this Philosopher a less irresolute answer, I do tell him, that I know as much of what would follow upon the annihilation of the Terrestrial Globe, as he would have done that was to have followed in and about the same, before it was created. And because I am certain he will say, that he would never have been able to have known any of all those things which experience alone hath made him knowing in, he ought not to deny me pardon, and to excuse me if I know not that which he knows, touching what would ensue upon the annihilation of the said Globe: for that I want that experience which he hath. Let us hear if he have any thing else to say.

There remains this figure, which represents the Terrestrial Globe with a great cavity about its centre, full of air; and to shew that Graves move not downwards to unite with the Terrestrial Globe, as Copernicus saith, he constituteth this stone in the centre; and demandeth, it being left at liberty, what it would do; and he placeth another in the space of this great vacuum, and asketh the same question. Saying, as to the first: Lapis in centro constitutus, aut ascendet ad terram in punctum aliquod, aut non. Si secundum; falsum est, partes ob solam sejunctionem à toto, ad illud moveri. Si primum; omnis ratio & experientia renititur, neque gravia in suæ gravitatis centro conquiescent. Item si suspensus lapis, liberatus decidat in centrum, separabit se à toto, contra Copernicum: si pendeat, refragatur omnis experientia, cùm videamus integros fornices corruere. (Wherein he saith:) The stone placed in the centre, either ascendeth to the Earth in some point, or no. If the second, it is false that the parts separated from the whole, move unto it. If the first; it contradicteth all reason and experience, nor doth the grave body rest in the centre of its gravity. And if the stone being suspended in the air, be let go, do descend to the centre, it will separate from its whole, contrary to Copernicus: if it do hang in the air, it contradicteth all experience: since we see whole Vaults to fall down.

I will answer, though with great disadvantage to my self, seeing I have to do with one who hath seen by experience, what these stones do in this great Cave: a thing, which for my part I have not seen; and will say, that things grave have an exi-