Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/392

 be a Ghost, and stand in fear of that which hath nothing in it of dreadfull, like as a little child doth fear the Hobgoblin, without knowing any more of it, save the name; as that which besides the name is nothing.

I should be glad to be informed, and reclaimed from an errour.

Answer me then to the questions that I shall ask you. And first of all, Tell me whether you believe, that this our Globe, which we inhabit and call Earth, consisteth of one sole and simple matter, or else that it is an aggregate of matters different from each other.

I see it to be composed of substances and bodies very different; and first, for the greatest parts of the composition, I see the Water and the Earth, which extreamly differ from one another.

Let us, for this once, lay aside the Seas and other Waters, and let us consider the solid parts, and tell me, if you think them one and the same thing, or else different.

As to appearance, I see that they are different things, there being very great heaps of unfruitful sands, and others of fruitful soiles; There are infinite sharp and steril mountains, full of hard stones and quarries of several kinds, as Porphyre, Alablaster, Jasper, and a thousand other kinds of Marbles: There are vast Minerals of so many kinds of metals; and in a word, such varieties of matters, that a whole day would not suffice only to enumerate them.

Now of all these different matters, do you think, that in the composition of this grand masse, there do concur portions, or else that amongst them all there is one part that far exceeds the rest, and is as it were the matter and substance of the immense lump?

I believe that the Stones, Marbles, Metals, Gems, and the so many other several matters are as it were Jewels, and exteriour and superficial Ornaments of the primary Globe, which in grosse, as I believe, doth without compare exceed all these things put together.

And this principal and vast masse, of which those things above named are as it were excressences and ornaments, of what matter do you think that it is composed?

I think that it is the simple, or lesse impure element of Earth.

But what do you understand by Earth? Is it haply that which is dispersed all over the fields, which is broke up with Mattocks and Ploughs, wherein we sowe corne, and plant fruits, and in which great boscages grow up, without the help of cul-