p. 6. 



THE PRODROMUS 2cg 



length to you, that besides very many other things which under 

 your auspices have in part been discovered, and in part freed 

 from old doubts, to you is due our trust that the finishing touch 

 shall soon be put upon this investigation also. 



In the second part is solved a universal problem upon which 

 depends the unravelling of every difficulty, and it is this: given 

 a substance possessed of a certain figure, and produced according 

 to the laws of nature, to find in the substance itself evidences 

 disclosing the place and manner of its production. In this con- 

 nection, before I proceed to unfold the solution of the problem, 

 I shall strive to expound all its terms, with the view of leaving 

 no school of philosophers in doubt, and in dispute, as to their 

 significance. 



The third part I have reserved for the investigation of dif- 

 ferent solids contained within a solid, in accordance with the 

 laws discovered in the solution of the problem. 



The fourth part describes various conditions in Tuscany not 

 treated by historians and writers upon natural subjects, and sets 

 forth a process of the universal deluge which is not at variance 

 with the laws governing movements of nature. 



I had indeed begun to set forth these things in Italian, both 

 because I knew this would please you, and in order that it 

 might appear to the illustrious Academy^ which has enrolled 



ddfia hardiraent toute I'^cole d'Aristote d'attaquer ses preuves." The quotation is taken from 

 Flourens, De la Longeviti humaine et de la Quantite de Vie sur le Globe, Paris, 1855, pp. 200, 

 201. 



The dialogue in Palissy's Discours is between Theorique and Practique, whose contention 

 may be illustrated by the following quotation : 



" Et par ce qu'il se trouue aussi des pierres remphes de coquilles, iusques au sommet des 

 plus hautes montagnes, il ne faut que tu penses que lesdites coquilles soyent forraees, comme 

 aucuns disent que nature se ioue k faire quelque chose de nouveau. Quand i"ay eu de bien 

 pres regard^ aux formes des pierres, i'ay trouud que nulle d'icelles ne peut prendre forme de 

 coquille ny d'autre animal, si Panimal mesme n'a basti sa forme : parquoy te faut croire qu'il y 

 a eu iusques au plus haut des montaignes des poissons armez et autres, qui se sont engendrez 

 dedans certains cassars ou receptacles d'eau, laquelle eau meslee de terre e d'un sel congelatif 

 et generatif, le tout s'est reduit en pierre auec I'armure du poisson, laquelle est demeuree en sa 

 forme. ... II faut done conclure que auparauant que cesdites coquilles fussent petrifides, les 

 poissons qui les ont form^es estoyent viuans dedans I'eau qui reposoit dans les receptacles 

 desdites montagnes, et que depuis I'eau et les poissons se sont petrifiez en un mesme temps, et 

 de ce ne faut douter." CEuvres Complies de Bernard Palissy, by Paul-Antoine Cap, Paris, 

 1844, pp. 277, 279. 



1 The Accademia del Cimento ; see p. 180. This .Academy came to an end in 1667 when 

 its founder, Leopold de' Medici, became a Cardinal. 



