34 A Trettifs of BODIES. Chap, 4 . 



attaining this fphericali fuperficies. Wherefore fuch bodies, for 

 the molt part, have no fettled outlule of their own ; but do re- 

 ceive their figure rfhd limits from fuch lets as hinder chem from 

 attaining to that (phericalneile they aim at. 



Now Ariftode ( vvhofe definitions, are in thefc matters ge- 

 nerally received, as fully exprefling the nodons of mankind,) 

 telleth us, and our own experience confirmed! it, that we uie 

 to call thofc things m*ift, which run in fuch fort as we have 

 here letdown ; and that we term thofe thingsd'ry, which have 

 a confidence within thcmfelves ; and which to injoy a deter- 

 minate figure, tio not require the flop or himierance of another 

 body to limit and circle them in * which will be the nature of 

 thofe that have a greater proportion of dcnfity in rclpe^ of 

 their gravity. 



And thus, out of the companion of denfitie with weight, we 

 have found two more qualities then we yet had mctwichall, 

 namely wetncfle and dryneffe. For although a body be denfc, 

 ( which of its own nature, fmgly confidered, would prcferve 

 the continuity of its parts, as making the body hardly divifiblej 

 wkercby it would be dry ) yet if the gravity that workech up- 

 on it, be in proportion greater then the denfitic ; it will fever 

 the parts of it, and make them run to the center, and fo be- 

 come fluide and moift : though not in the emincntett deorce 

 that may be of fluidity and moilturc; by rcafon chat if the like 

 overproportion of gravity happen in a rare body, it will there 

 more powerfully wcrk its cfteci, then it can in a denfe body ; 

 becaufe a rare body w ill more eafily obey, and yield to the gra- 

 vitie that maftereth it, then a denfe one will ; and confequcnt- 

 ly, will be more fluide and moiii then it. 



Now on the other fide, in weighing rarity againft gravity ; 

 3* _ ifit happen that the rarity overcome the gravity, then the 



How moiftncfic '.,, , ir rt.jr 



anddryncffc gravity will notchaBgc the ngure of a body !o proper tion<ed, 

 * reb f8ocn m ^ ut w ^ at figure it hath from its proper narurall caaies, the fame 



r: bodies. . o t . , . i - i r i t 



will (till remain vvith it : and confeqnently, iuch a body will 

 have terms of its own, and will not require an ambient body 

 to limit, and circle it in : which nature, we call dry. 



But if the proportion of the gravity be the greater and do 

 overcome the rarity ; then, by how much the rarity is greater, 

 fo much the more will the gravity force it ; to apply it Iclf equal- 



