Ciap, 20. A Treatiftof BODIES. 227 



ftronglyj by reafon of the longer time and leflc hinderaftce>)we 

 may conceive that the two rirtues or acomes proceeding from 

 the two different hemifphcrcSjdo constitute a certain permanent 

 and conftant nature in the ftone that imbibeth them : which 

 then, we call a load-ftone; and is exceeding fenfible (as we 

 fhall hereafter declare) of the adrcnicnce to it of new atomes,a- 

 like in nature & complexion tothofcthat it is impregnated with 



And this virtue, confifting in a kind of (bfter and tenderer 

 fubftancethen the reft of the ftone, becometh thereby fubjecl to 

 be confumed by fire. From whence we may gather the reafon 

 xvhy a load-ftone never recovereth it* magnetick virtue, after it 

 hath once loft it; though iron doth; for the humidity of iron is 

 infeparablc from its fubftance, but the humidity of a load-ftone, 

 which makcth it capable of this effe6t,may be quite confumed by 

 fire; and fo the ftone may be left too dry, for ercr being capable 

 of imbibing any new influence from the earth, unleflc it be by a 

 kind of new making ir. 



In the next place we are to prove that the load-ftone doth g. 

 work in that manner as we have tliewed: for which end Ice us Experiments 

 confider how the atomes that are drawn from each Pole and lie* Jh/taujftonc 

 milphcre of the earth to theequatour, making up their courfeby workerh by 

 a manuduftion of one another, the hindcrmoft cannot chooie ^cetin"""^^ 

 but ftill follow on after the fotemoft. And as it happeneth in fil- agreeing 

 tration by a cotton cloth; if fbme ons part of the cotton, have 

 its dilpofition to the afccnt of the water, more perfect and ready 

 then the other parts have; the water will afluredly afccnd fafter 

 in that part, then in any of the reft: fb, if the atomes do find a 

 greater difpofition for their paflage, in any one part of the me- 

 dium they range through, then in another, they will certaiuly 

 not fail of taking that way, in greater abundance, and with 

 more vigour nnd ftreng-h, then any other. 



But it is evident,r!m when they meet with fuch a ftone as we 

 have defcribed, the helps by which they advance in their jour- 

 ney arc notably encu'ifcd by thefloud of atomej which they 

 meet coming ot 6f" -that ftone; which being of the nature of 

 their oppofitc pole, they fei'e greedily upon them, and thereby 

 do pluck thenifelvC* fcfier on: like a ferryman that drawcth on 

 his boit the fwiftJicrt!ic more vigouroufly he ti-'ggeth & pulleth 

 at the rope that lycth thwart the fiver for him to hale himfelf 



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