CENTURY I. 57 



or imbibe the moisture ; for the mistiness scattereth 

 and breaketh up suddenly. But the like cloud, if it 

 were oily or fatty, will not discharge ; not because 

 it sticketh faster ; but because air preyeth upon 

 water ; and flame and fire upon oil ; and therefore 

 to take out a spot of grease they use a coal upon 

 brown paper ; because fire worketh upon grease or 

 oil, as air doth upon water. And we see paper oiled, 

 or wood oiled, or the like, last long moist ; but wet 

 with water, dry or putrify sooner. The cause is, for 

 that air meddleth little with the moisture of oil. 



Experiment solitary touching the force of union. 



92. There is an admirable demonstration in the 

 same trifling instance of the little cloud upon glass, 

 or gems, or blades of swords, of the force of union, 

 even in the least quantities, and weakest bodies, hoyy 

 much it conduceth to preservation of the present 

 form, and the resisting of a new. For mark well 

 the discharge of that cloud ; and you shall see it 

 ever break up, first in the skirts, and last in the 

 midst. We see likewise, that much water draweth 

 forth the juice of the body infused ; but little water 

 is imbibed by the body : and this is a principal 

 cause, why in operation upon bodies for their ver 

 sion or alteration, the trial in great quantities doth 

 not answer the trial in small ; and so deceiveth many ; 

 for that, I say, the greater body resisteth more any 

 alteration of form, and requireth far greater strength 

 in the active body that should subdue it. 



