Archimedes Texts

95
the Fens are raised with great prejudice, and much grea
ter than is conceived, according to what hath been demon
strated in the Second Consideration upon the Lake of Venice.
Nor is it to any purpose to say, that if we should measure
all the Waters that disimbogue from Fiume Sisto, and gather
them into one summe, we should not finde them to be such,
as that they shall be able to make the Waters of the Fens
to increase, by reason of the great expansion of them, over
which that body of water is to distend: for to this instance we
answer wich that which we have given notice of in the First Con
sideration touching the Lake of Venice, treating of the abate
ment that is caused by the Brent let into the Lake. And more
over, if I shall adde thereto that which I write in the Second
Consideration, it will be very apparent how greatly harmfull
and prejudicial these excurfions of Waters from Fiume Sisto
may be, which are not kept under, and confined within the
River: Therefore, proceeding to the provisions, and ope
rations that are to be accounted Principall, I reduce them to
three Heads.

In the first place it is necessary to throw down those Weares,
and to take the Pisciaries quite away, observing a Maxime, in
my judgment, infallible, that Fishing and Sowing are two things
that can never consist together; Fishing being on the Water, and
Sowing on land.

Secondly, it will be necessary to cut under Water in the bot
tome of the River those Weeds and Plants that grow and in
crease in the River, and leave them to be carried into the Sea by
the Stream; for by this means these Reeds shall not spring up
and distend along the bottome of the River, by means of the
Beasts treading upon them; And the same ought to be done
often, and with care, and must not be delaied till the mis
chief increase, and the Champain Grounds be drowned, but
one ought to order matters so, as that they may not drown.
And I will affirm, that otherwise this principal point would be
come a most considerable inconvenience.

Thirdly, it is necessary to make good the Banks of Fiume Sisto
on the left hand, and to procure that those Waters may run in
the Chanel, and not break forth. And it is to be noted, that
it is not enough to do one or two of those things, but we are to
put them all in execution; for omitting any thing, the whole
machine will be out of tune, and spoiled. But proceeding with
due care, you shall not only Drain the Pontine Fens, but by
means of this last particular the Current of Fiums Sisto shall
scowr its own Chanel of its self, even to the carrying part of it
away: and haply with this abundance of water that it shall