Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/391

 Then you are one of those it seems that hold the Magnetick Phylosophy * William Gilbert.

I am for certain, and think that all those that have seriously read his Book, and tried his experiments, will bear me company therein; nor should I despair, that what hath befallen me in this case, might possibly happen to you also, if so be a curiosity, like to mine, and a notice that infinite things in Nature are still conceal'd from the wits of mankind, by delivering you from being captivated by this or that particular writer in natural things, should but slacken the reines of your Reason, and mollifie the contumacy and tenaceousnesse of your sense; so as that they would not refuse to hearken sometimes to novelties never before spoken of. But (permit me to use this phrase) the pusillanimity of vulgar Wits is come to that passe, that not only like blind men, they make a gift, nay tribute of their own assent to whatsoever they find written by those Authours, which in the infancy of their Studies were laid before them, as authentick by their Tutors, but refuse to hear (not to say examine) any new Proposition or Probleme, although it not only never hath been confuted, but not so much as examined or considered by their Authours. Amongst which, one is this, of investigating what is the true, proper, primary, interne, and general matter and substance of this our Terrestrial Globe; For although it never came into the mind either of Aristotle, or of any one else, before William Gilbert to think that it might be a Magnet, so far are Aristotle and the rest from confuting this opinion, yet neverthelesse I have met with many, that at the very first mention of it, as a Horse at his own shadow, have start back, and refused to discourse thereof, and censured the conceipt for a vain Chymæra, yea, for a solemn madnesse: and its possible the Book of Gilbert had never come to my hands, if a Peripatetick Philosopher, of great fame, as I believe, to free his Library from its contagion, had not given it me.

I, who ingenuously confesse my self to be one of those vulgar Wits, and never till within these few dayes that I have been admitted to a share in your conferences, could I pretend to have in the least withdrawn from those trite and popular paths, yet, for all that, I think I have advantaged my self so much, as that I could without much trouble or difficulty, master the roughnesses of these novel and fantastical opinions.

If that which Gilbert writeth be true, then is it no opinion, but the subject of Science; nor is it new, but as antient as the Earth it self; nor can it (being true) be rugged or difficult, but plain and easie; and when you please I shall make you feel the same in your hand, for that you of your self fancy it to