104 History of Nature. [BooK II. 



CHAPTER LXV. 



Of the Antipodes, whether there be any such. Also of the 

 Roundness of Water. 



THERE is here great Debate between learned Men ; and 

 contrariwise of the ignorant Multitude : for they hold, that 

 Men are overspread on all Parts upon the Earth, and stand 

 one against another, Foot to Foot : also that the Summit of 

 the Heaven is alike unto all : and in what Part soever Men 

 be, they still tread after the same Manner in the midst. But 

 the common Sort ask, How, then, it happeneth, that they 

 who are opposite against us, do not fall into Heaven ? as if 

 there were not a Reason also ready, That the Antipodes 

 again should wonder why we also fell not off? Now there is 

 Reason that cometh between, carrying a Probability with it, 

 even to the untaught Multitude, that in a Globe of the Earth, 

 with many Ascents, as if its Figure resembled a Nut of the 

 Pine Tree; yet, nevertheless, it may be well inhabited in 

 every Place. But what Good doth all this, when another 

 great Wonder ariseth ? namely, that itself hangeth, and 

 falleth not with us: as if the Power of that Spirit 1 especially 

 enclosed in the World were doubted: or that any Thing 

 could fall when Nature is repugnant thereto, and affordeth 

 no Place whither to fall : for as there is no Seat of Fire, but 

 in Fire ; of Water, but in Water ; of Air and Spirit, but in 

 Air ; even so there is no Room for Earth but in Earth, see- 

 ing all the Elements besides are ready to repel it from them. 

 Nevertheless, it is wonderful still how it should become a 

 Globe, considering so great Flatness of Plains and Seas. Of 

 which Opinion, Dicearchus (a Man of the first Rank in 

 Learning,) is a Favourer ; who, to satisfy the curious Inquiry 

 of Kings, had a Commission to take the Measure of Moun- 

 tains : of which he said that Pelion, the highest, was a Mile- 

 and-a-half high by the Plumb-line; and collected thereby, 



1 What we now know to arise from the power of gravity, Pliny as- 

 cribes to the Anima Mundi, or vivifying effect of the soul of the world ; 

 with him, an answer to all difficulties. Wern. Club. 



