Chap. 8. ^TV^/J^/BODIES. 67 



phanous, and more fubtile far then they, and confequently, divi- 

 fible into IcfTcr atomes, and having fefler pores, giveth IcflTe 

 fcope onto our eyes to miflc light, then they do^ to be every 

 where mingled with light, though we fee nothing but light, and 

 cannot difcern any breach ordivifionofit. 



Efpecially, when he fhall adde unto this consideration ; that 

 rhefubtile body which thus filleth the r.ire, is the moft vifiblc 

 thing in the world ; and that, whereby all other things arc 

 Teen : and that the airc which it mingleth it felfe wich, is not at 

 all vifible, by reafon of the extreme diaphaneity of it, and eafic 

 reception of the light into every pore of it without anyrefi- 

 ftance or reflexion : and that fuch is the nature of light, as it 

 eafily drowneth an obfcure body, if it be not too big: and not 

 onely fuch, but even other light bodies; for fo we know as well 

 the fixed ftarres as the planets are concealed from our fight, by 

 ncarncfle to the funne; neither the lightnefle of the one,nor the 

 bigneflc of the other, prevailing againft the darkning of an ex- 

 uperant light: and we havedaily experience of the fame in very 

 pure chryftall glafles, and in very clear water , which though 

 we cannot diicern by our fight if they be in certain pofitions; 

 neverthelefle by experience we find that they reflect much light: 

 arid eonfcquently have great ftore ofopacous parts: and then hfc 

 cannot choofe but conclude,that it is impoflible but light fliould 

 appear at it doth, to be every where, and to be one continued 

 thing; though his difcourfc withall affure him it is every where 

 mingled with aire. 



And this very anfwer I think will draw Xvith itbyconfc- 2. 

 quence , the folution of the other part of the fame objection; The leaft fcnfi. 



which is, of many lights joyning in the fame placejand the fame 



is likewife concerning the images of colours every where cro . 



r -u 1 J T> T 1 fufficicncco 



fing one another without hinderance. But to raife this contcm- 

 plation a ftrain higher^ let us confider how light being the moft 

 rare of all known bodies, is of its own nature ( by rcafbn .of 

 the divifibility that followe^i rarity ) divifiblc into Ic/Ter parrt 

 then any other; and partici -larly then flame; which bring mi- lights, vithoue 

 xed with fmoke and other corpulency/alleth very fliort of lighr. 

 And this, to the proportion in which it is more rare then the 

 body it is compared unto. No\v a great Mathematician ha- 

 vingdeviicd how to meafurethe rarefaction of gunnc-pov^- 



E 2 der 



