Archimedes Texts

474
seems) not onely to Physical Reasons, and Common Principles
received on all hands (which cannot do so much harm) but also
(which would be of far worse consequence) to many Authori
ties of sacred Scripture: Upon which account many at their
first looking into it, explode it as the most fond Paradox and
Monstrous Capriccio that ever was heard of. Which thing pro
ceeds only from an antiquated and long confirmed Custome,
which hath so hardened men in, and habituated them to Vul
gar, Plausible, and for that cause by all men (aswell learned as
unlearned) Approved Opinions, that they cannot be removed
one step from them: So great is the force of Custome (which
not unfitly is stiled a second Nature) prevailing over the whole
World, that touching things men are rather pleased with, de
lighted in, and desirous of those, which, though evil and obnox
ious, are by use made familiar to them, than such, wherewith,
though better, they are not accustomed and acquainted. So in
like manner, and that chiefly, in Opinions, which when once they
are rooted in the Mind, men start at, and reject all others
whatsoever; not only those that are contrary to, but even all
that ever so little disagree with or vary from theirs, as harsh to
the Ear, discoloured to the Eye, unpleasant to the Smell, nause
ous to the Tast, rough to the Touch. And no wonder: For
Physical Truths are ordinarily judged and considered by men,
not according to their Essence, but according to the prescript of
some one whose description or definition of them gaines him
Authority amongst the vulgar. Which authority nevertheless
(since 'tis no more than humane) ought not to be so esteemed, as
that that which doth manifestly appear to the contrary, whether
from better Reasons lately found out, or from Sense it self, should
for its sake be contemned and slighted; Nor is Posterity so to be
confined, but that it may, and dares, not only proceed farther,
but also bring to light better and truer Experiments than those
which have been delivered to us by the Ancients. For the Ge
nius's of the Antients, as in Inventions they did not much sur
pass the Wits of our times; so for the perfecting of Inventions
this Age of ours seems not only to equal, but far to excell former
Ages; Knowledge, whether in the Liberal or Mechanical Arts,
daily growing to a greater height. Which Assertion might be
easily proved, were it not that in so clear a case, there would be
more danger of obscuring, than hopes of illustrating it with any
farther light.

But (that I may not wholly be silent in this point) have not the
several Experiments of Moderns, in many things, stopped the
mouth of Venerable Antiquity, and proved many of their great
test and weightiest Opinions, to be vain and false? The Doctrine