Archimedes Texts

110
with the crime, than quit it thereof. The truth is, that the
Bank was not made of proof, since that the same now continu
eth whole and good, and Panaro doth not break out; nay, there
was, when it brake more than a foot and half of its Banks above
the Water, and to spare; but it broke thorow by a Moles wor
king, or by the hole of a Water-Rat, or some such vermine;
and by occasion of the badness of the said Banks, as I finde by
the testimony of some witnesses examined by my command, that
I might know the truth thereof. Nor can I here forbear to say,
that it would be better, if in such matters men were more candid
and sincere. But to secure our selves neverthelesse, to the ut
most of our power, from such like Breaches which may happen
at the first, by reason of the newnesse of the Banks, I presuppose
that from Po unto the place whence Reno is cut, there ought to
be a high and thick Fence made with its Banks, so that there
would be no cause to fear any whatsoever accessions of Water,
although that concurrence of three Rivers, which was by some
more ingeniously aggravated than faithfully stated by that which
was said above were true; to whom I think not my self bound
to make any farther reply, neither to those who say that Po will
ascend upwards into Reno, since that these are the same persons
who would introduce a small branch of the said Po into the
Chanel of Ferrara, that so it may conveigh to the Sea, not Reno
onely, but also all the other Brooks of which we complained;
and because that withal it is impossible, that a River so capacious
as Po should be incommoded by a Torrent, that, as I may say,
hath no proportion to it.

I come now to the businesse of the Ditches and Draines; and
as to the Conveyance of Burana, it hath heretofore been deba
ted to turn it into Main-Po, so that in this case it will receive no
harm, and though it were not removed, yet would it by a Trench
under ground pursue the course that it now holdeth, and also
would be able to dis-imbogue again into the said new Chanel of
Reno, which conforming to the superficies of the Water of Po,
would continue at a lower level than that which Panara had
when it came to Ferrara, into which Burana did neverthelesse
empty it self for some time.

The Conveyance or Drain of Santa Bianca, and the little
Chanel of Cento may also empty themselves by two subterranean
Trenches, without any prejudice where they run at present, or
without any more works of that nature, they may be turned into
the said new Chanel, although with somewhat more of incon
venience; and withall, the Chanel of Ferrara, left dry, would
be a sufficient receptacle for any other Sewer or Drain whatsoe
ver, that should remain there.