Chap. 3. 4 TreAtife of BODIES. 25 



I confefle I fhould be very glad that this fuppofition might 7. 

 fcrvc our turn > and lave the Phenomena that appear among The opinion of 

 bodies, through their varictie of Raritie and Denfitic: which d. um 

 if it might be, then would I ftraight go on to the inquiring af- 

 ter what followed out of this ground, as Aftronomers ( to u(e 

 our former fimilitude) do calculate the future appearances of 

 the celettiall bodies out of tho(e motions and orbcs they affignc 

 unto the heavens. For as this apprehenfion of vacuitie in bo- 

 dies is very cafie and intelligible : fb the other ( which I con- 

 ceive to be the truth ofthe cafe ) is exceedingly abflra.fted, and 

 one ofthe moft difficult points in all the Metaphyficks : anti 

 therefore I would (if it were poflible ) avoid touching upon it 

 in this difcourfe, which I defire fliould be as plain and eafie, and 

 as mach removed from fcholaftick terms, as may be. 



But indeed, the inconveniences that follow out of this fup- 

 pofition of vacuities, are fo great, as it is impoflible by any 

 means to flide them over. As for example ; let us borrow of Dialog. T .d e r. 

 Galileos the proportion of weight between water and airc, He Moiim - 

 fheweth us how the one is 400. times heavier then the other. 

 And Marinus Ghetaldus teacheth us that gold is 19. times hea- 

 vier then water . fb that gold mufl be 7600 times heavier then Arclum 

 aire. Now then confidering that nothing in a body can weigh, Promot> 

 but the folid parts of it ; it followeth,that the proportion ofthe 

 parts ofgold in a fphere of an inch diameter, is to the parts of 

 aire of a like dimenfion as 7600 is to one. Therefore in aire it 

 felfthe vacuities that are fuppoied in it, will be to the folid 

 parts of it in the fame proportion as 7600 to one. Indeed, the 

 proportion of difference will be greater : for even in gold many 

 vacuities muft be admitted, as appeareth by the heating of it 

 which fhewech that in every the Icaft partitis exceeding po- 

 rous. But according to this rate, without prcfifing the incon- 

 venience any further ; the aire will by this reckoning appear 

 to be like a net, whole holes and diftances, are to the lines and 

 thrkJs, in the proportion of 7600 -to -one ; and fb, would Lely- 

 able to have little parts of its body fwimmein thole greater 

 vacuities ; contrary to what they ftrivc to avoid. Which would 

 be exceedingly more, if we found on the one fide any bodies 

 heavier and denfer then gold.& that were fo folide as to exclude 

 all vacuities; Sc on the other fide fhould bullancc them vvith fuch 



bodies 



