176 NOVUM ORGAXUM. 



The more solid, dry, or compact bodies, such as stones, 

 wood, and metals, admit of much less and indeed scarcely 

 any perceptible compression, or expansion, but escape by 

 breaking, slipping forward, or other efforts ; as appears in 

 bending wood, or steel for watchsprings, in projectiles ham 

 mering, and many other motions, all of which, together 

 with their degrees, are to be observed and examined in the 

 investigation of nature, either to a certainty, or by estima 

 tion, or comparison, as opportunity permits. 



46. In the twenty-second rank of prerogative instances 

 we will place the instances of the Course, which we are also 

 wont to call water instances ; borrowing our expression 

 from the water hourglasses, employed by the ancients 

 instead of those with sand. They are such as measure 

 nature by the moments of time, as the last instances do by 

 the degrees of space. For all motion or natural action takes 

 place in time, more or less rapidly, but still in determined 

 moments well ascertained by nature. Even those actions 

 which appear to take effect suddenly, and in the twinkling 

 of an eye (as we express it), are found to admit of greater 

 or less rapidity. 



In the first place, then, we see that the return of the 

 heavenly bodies to the same place takes place in regular 

 times, as does the flood and ebb of the sea. The descent 

 of heavy bodies towards the earth, and the ascent of light 

 bodies towards the heavenly sphere, take place in definite 

 times, according to the nature of the body, and of the 

 medium through which it moves. The sailing of ships, the 

 motions of animals, the transmission of projectiles, all take 

 place in times, the sums of which can be computed. With 

 regard to heat, we see that boys in winter bathe their hands 

 in the flame without being burnt; and conjurors, by quick 

 and regular movements, overturn vessels filled with wine or 

 water, and replace them without spilling the liquid, with 

 several similar instances. The compression, expansion, and 

 eruption of several bodies, take place more or less rapidly, 

 according to the nature of the body, and its motion, but still 

 in definite moments. 



In the explosion of several cannon at once (which are 

 sometimes heard at the distance of thirty miles), the sound 

 of those nearest to the spot is heard before that of the most 

 distant. Even in sight (whose action is most rapid), it is 

 clear that a definite time is necessary for its exertion, which 

 is proved by certain objects being invisible from the velo 

 city of their motion, such as a musket ball. For the flight 



