Chap, i J. vtrrejtifi of BODIES. 



The reafon of all \vhich may be deduced out of what we have 

 faid above: for feeing that the bending of a body makcch thefpi- 

 rits or humours that are within it to fally forth; it is clear that 

 if the violence which forcetb it be not fo fudden, nor the motion 

 it received! be not fb quick, but that the moiflurc may oofe 

 gently out; the body will bend Mill more and more, as their ab- 

 lence givcth it leave. But if the motion that is wrought in it be 

 too quick, then the fpirits not having time allowed them to go 

 leifurely and gently out , do force their prifon, and break out 

 with a violence, and fo the body is mapped into two. 



Herepcradventure fome remcmbring what we have faid in 2. 

 another place; namely, that it is the fliortneflc and lirtlenefle of H - n ou "y ard 

 the humid parts in a body which maketh it flick together; and w",'k u P on the 

 that this fhortnefte may be in fo high a decree, as nothing can "fj c , om P aa - 



I I I I I- i I D CdOOUlC*. 



come between the parts they glew together to divide them; may 

 askjhow a very denfe body of fuch a (train, can be broken or di- 

 vided? Butthediflficnlty is not great, for feeing that the humide 

 parts in whatfoever degree of fhorcnefle they be, muft necefla- 

 rily have ftill fbme latitude; it cannot be doubted but there may 

 be fome force afligned greater then their refiftance can be. All 

 the queftion is> how to apply it to work its effect upon (b clofe a 

 compacted body, in which peradyenture the continuity of the 

 humid parts that bind the others together, may be fo fmall.as no 

 other body whatsoever (no, not fire) can go between them, in 

 fuch fort as to feparate part from part. Attheworft, it cannot 

 be doubted but that the force may be fb applyed at the outfide 

 of that body, as to make the parts of it prefle and fight one a- 

 gainft another, and at the length by multiplication of the force, 

 conftrain it to yield and fuffer divifion. And this I conceive to 

 be the condition of gold and of fome precious ftones : in which 

 the elements are united by fuch little parts, as nothing but a ci- 

 vill warre within themfclves(ftirred up by fome fubnle outward 

 enemy, whereby they are made to tear their own bowelsjcould 

 bring to paffe their deftru&ion. 



But this way ofdiflblving fijchbodies,more properly belongs 

 to the next way of working upon the by fireryet the fame is done 

 when fome exteriour violence prefling upon thofe parts jt touch- 

 eth, makes them cut a way betwixt their next neighbours; & fo 

 continuing the force divide the whole body. As when the chifell 



L 2 or 



