Archimedes Texts

Now touching this, I had the fortune to offer an admirable
accident that we meet with when we come to the effect, which
I verily believe will be an utter ruine to the Lake of Ve
nice.

I say therefore, that by diverting these five Rivers that re
main, although their water that they discharge for the present in
to the Lake is not all taken together 4/5 parts of what the Brent
alone did carry, yet neverthelesse the abatement of the water of
the Lake which shall ensue upon this last diversion of four parts,
which was the whole water, shall prove double to that which hath
happened by the diversion of Brent onely, although that the
Brent alone carried five parts of that water, of which the Rivers
that are to be diverted carry four: A wonder really great, and
altogether unlikely; for the reducing all this Proposition to be
understood, is as if we should say, that there being given us
three Rivers, of which the first dischargeth five parts, the second
three, and the third one, and that from the diversion of the
first, there did follow such a certain abatement or fall; from
the taking away of the second there ought to follow also so
much more abatement; And lastly, from the withdrawing of
the third the water ought to fall so much more, which is wholly
impossible: And yet it is most certain, and besides the demon
stration that perswades me to it, which I shall explain in due
time, I can set before your eyes such an experiment as is not to
be denied by any one, although obstinate: and I will make it
plainly seen and felt, that by taking away only four parts of the
five, which shall have been taken away, the abatement proveth
double to the abatement ensuing upon the diverting first of the
five onely; which thing being true, as most certainly it is, it
will give us to understand how pernicious this diversion of five
Rivers is like to prove, if it shall be put in execution.

By this little that I have hinted, and the much that I could
say, let your Highnesse gather with what circumspection this bu
sinesse ought to be managed, and with how great skill he ought
to be furnished who would behave himself well in these difficult
affairs.

I have not at this time explained the demonstration, nor have
I so much as propounded the way to make the Experiment, that
I am able to make in confirmation of what I have said, that so
by some one or others mis-apprehending the Demonstration,
and maiming the Experiment, the truth may not happen to shine
with lesse clarity than it doth, when all mists of difficulty are re
moved: and if so be, no account should be made of the Reasons
by me alledged, and that men should shut their eyes against the
Experiments that without cost or charge may be made, I do de