Translation of Key's Essays. 299 



heavens, which abound in this heat, as being the source of it, 

 must be light (feut leger), and consequently univocal (univogue) 

 with the other bodies, which is absurd. Neither can the loss 

 of this heat render them heavy, for I have already proved that 

 nothing increases in weight but by the addition of matter, or 

 by diminution of volume ; but here there is nothing of the 

 kind ; so that the disappearance of the heat cannot add any 

 thing, and as to its bulk, it is visibly enlarged ; the compact 

 and solid substance of the lead being reduced (amenuisee) 

 to so many small parcels, that their number is almost infinite. 

 Plants too ought to become heavy by death, the celestial heat 

 being expelled : but the contrary is evident to all. As to the 

 increased weight of animals by death, the true cause, far re- 

 mote from that which increases the weight of lead when cal- 

 cined, is this : in the living animal its natural heat subtilizes, 

 dilates, and augments the dimensions of the humours, the flesh, 

 and every thing in it capable of dilatation — but losing this heat 

 by death, the whole on this becoming cold, contracts and di- 

 minishes, whence the increase of weight, as I have often said 

 already. What is there like this in lead ? Thus the opinion of 

 Cardan appears so frivolous, that I am grieved that a great 

 man, and one who is justly esteemed by all the world, should 

 have lately declared to me that he inclines towards it. 



que levis ; neque ccelum ipsum. Id qtiod ^ seciindo d« animi, primo et 

 secuudo de coelo colligi potest. Ideo cerusa friabilis, amisso pingui aereo. 

 Tuna quero de te plumbum quoraodo vivum sit. Namque est excoctum 

 ipii, sicuti cerusa aceto excocta est Ignis autem destruit : ut passim, 

 quirjtaris, apud te vixerit in fodiu^, in apotbecis, in fornacibus interemp- 

 turn noquit vivere. Alioquin ab igne nostro coelestis ille tuus esset gene- 

 ratus." (Exercit. ci. cap. 18.) And further on, he says, " Plumbum 

 quoque aiuDt augcscere. Calccm in foruace tectA vidimus adeli turgescerc, 

 ut tigua atque tcgulas suslollcret." 



Jul. C'jBs. Scaligeri, de Subtilitate, See. fraucofurti, 1592. 



[To be continued.] 



X2 



