Plinies Naturall Hiftorie. 



of hilsj^ fuch plains of downs:howbeit,if the compafle therof might be taken by linesjthe ends 

 of thofc lines would meet juft in circuit^and prove the figure of a juft circle. And this the very 

 confideration of naturall reafon doth force and convincCjalchough there were not thofe caufes 

 which we alleadged about the heaven^For in it the hollow bending convexitie bowcth and bea- 

 reth upon it felfe^and every way refteth upon the centte thereof, whicli is that of the earth. But 

 thisjbeing folid and clofe compad, arifeth iiill like as if it fwellcdj flretching and growing with- 

 out forth. The heaven bcndcth and inclineth toward the centre, but the earth goeth from the 

 centre, whiles the world with continuall volubilitie and turning about it, drivech the huge and 

 cscefifivc globe thereof into the form e of a round ball; 



]j Chap. lXv. 



of the Antifodes^xvhether there be any fuch Alfo of the rmndneffe ofmttn 



Vch adoe there is here, and great debate betwccnc learticd men g and contta- 

 riwife thofe of the leaud and ignorant multitude : for they hold, that men are 

 overlprcad on all parts upon the earth, and ftand one againft another, foot 

 to foot : alfo that the Zienith or point of the Heaven is even and alike unto all : 

 and in what part foever men bie^ they go ftill aad tread after the fame marmct 

 in the middes.But the common fort, aske the queflion and demaund , Ho^ it 

 lappeneth that they oppofite juft againft us, fall not into Heaven ? as if there were not a reafon 

 C alfo readie. That the Antipodes againefhould marvailewhy wcfellnot downe ? Now there is 

 reafon that comraeth betweene, carrying a probabilitie with it even to the multitude , were it 

 ■ never foblockifh and unapt to learne 5 That in an uneven and unequall Globe ofthe Earth, with 

 many afcents and degrees, as if the figure thereof refembled a Pine apple, yctneverthelefie it 

 may be well enough inhabited all over in every place. But what good doth all this, when ano- 

 ther wonder as great as it arifeth ? namely,That itfelfe hangeth,and yet falleth not togithcr with 

 us: as if the power of that Spirit efpecially which isenclofedin the World, were doubted: or 

 that any thingcouldfali, efpecially when Nature is repugnant thereto, and affordeth no place 

 whither to fall : for like as there is no feat of Fire, but in fire ;of Water,but in water ^of Aire and 

 Spiritjbutin aire; even fo, there is no roome for Earth but in earthy feeing all the Elements be- 

 D fides, arc readie to put it backe from them. Howbeit,wonderfulI it remaineth ftill^How it fboulci 

 become a Globe, confidering fo great flatnefTe of Plaines and Seas ? Of which doubtfullopi- 

 nionjVkearchus (a right learned man as any other) is a favourer , who, to fatisfie the curious 

 endeavors of Kings and Princes, had a charge and commififion to levell and take meafureof 

 mountaines : of which he faid,that Pelion the higheft, was a mile and a halfehigh by the plumb " 

 rulej and collected thereby, that it was nothing at all to fpeake of, in comparifon of theunivcr* 

 fall rotunditie ofthe whole. But furely in my conceit, this was but an uncertcine guefteof his^ 

 fince that I am not ignorantjthat certaine tops of the Alpes,for a long trad together, arife not 

 underfiftie miles in heigth. 



But this is it that troubleth the vulgar fort moft of all,if they (hould be forced to beleevejthat 

 g the forme of water alfo,gathereth round in the top. And yet there is nothing in the v^hole world 

 more evident to the fight, for the drops every where not onely as they hang,appeare like little 

 round bals,but alfo if they light upon duft,or reft upon the hairie downe of leaves, we marke to 

 keepeaperfedandexquifiteroundnefre. Alfo in cups that are filled brim full, themiddle part 

 in the top fwell moft.Whichthings,confideringthe thinnefic of the humour, and the foftncffc 

 thereof fetling flat upon it felfCjarc fooncr found out by reafon than the eie. Nay, this is a thing 

 more wonderfulljthat when cups are filled to the full,put never fo little more liquor thereto, the 

 overplus will run over all about: but contrariwife it falleth out, if you put in any folidevzeights, 

 yeaj and it were to the weight of twentie deniersorFrenchcrownesinacup. Forfboththc rea- 

 fon is this,that things received within forth, lift up the iiquour aloft to the topjbut poured up- 

 P on the tumour that beareth aloft above the edges,muft needs glide off and run by. The fame is 

 the reafon why the land cannot be feene by them that ftand upon the hatches ofthe fhip,,but ve- 

 ricplainlyatthefamctimefromthetopof thcmaftes. Alfoas a fhip goeth afarre offfromthe 

 land, if any thing that (bineth and givcth light bee faftened to the top-gallant, it leemeth from 

 the land fide to goe downe and finke into the fea by little and little^ untill at laft it bee hidden 



