Of the Wonders of the Loads one, 197

world, to have divers properties I law at Rome, a Loadstone weighed an Ounce,that drew two Ounces of Iron, and held it so fast as it drew, that it could scarce bepulled from it. I have seen others of forty Pound weight, that were so feeble, thatthey would scarce stir an Ounce. But that I may the more oblige the curiosity ofStudents in this matter, I shall teach in the following Chapters, how the Vertue ofthe Stone may be tried and equally balanced.

C h a p. X L

That the farce of this Stone wiUfAj's into other Stones , that sometimes you may fee as it

were a rose of Stones.

T He Stone with us is commended for another property ; for when it hath takenhold of another Stone, it not only holds that fast, but it fends into the Bodyof it an efflurioo of itsforces } and that having got more forces, draws another, andgives it the like faculty: the third made to partake of the fame vertue, draws othersthat are neer cr far off, and casts forth and brtndissieth the fame vertue j and thisdraws another: and lo, by a reciprocal ejaculation, by the fame force it is held, bythe fame it holds others; and from each of them to the other, arc their darts flying,as it were endowed with the vertue of them : and if you lift them up on high, theyseem to hang in links like a Cham, that they will not easily be drawn one from theother > that we must needs wonder exceedingly, how that internal and invisiblescree can run from or e to the other, and pass through them : and the more vertueit hath, to the more it doth communicate it. Yet I thought fit to forewarn

you that you fail not in your trial, that the Stones must stick the one to the other bythe parts that agree, and not by contrary parts ; for so would not one impart hisvenues to another, but by the meeting with an opposite part, would be held back,and cease from doing its Office; namely,that the North point of the one,must stick tothe South point of the other , as I said; and not contratily: for the South point ap-plied to the South, and the North point to the North point, is contrary , and the fa-culty will faint and decay at the presence of its Adversary. Nor yet will we omit toremember those that arc curious to try this, that the Stones must successively be pro-portionable, that the great one must draw a less, and a little one must draw one lessthen it self: sot so they will hang the faster, and not be so easily pulled asunder.

Chap. XII.

7 hat in the Loads one that hairy ness is contused.

H Ence comes that hairiness of little Hairs, that we mentioned before, thatsticks so fast to the Stone, that it can hardly be pulled off : for when one isrubbed against the other, or is beaten off with a light blow of the Hammer, thosesmati pieces being rubbed one against another, do not fall to the Earth by theirown weight, but ate held up by the force of the Stone : and that one may stickfast to the other, turning its friendly countenance to it, it can by no other meanscomnoodioufly fasten to Us sympathizing pare, not bejoyned with it, but like a Hairor imall Thre'cd; and if ycu rub one Stone long against another, that heap of Sandwist lo augment, that it will appear all hairy,or like the down on a mans chin,or as itwere he let round with a heap of pricks. Nor is this to be passed without admiration,That if any man puts another Loadstone to it, or necr it, that is greater then if,andmore powerful; they will appear presently to turn about, and to direct their friendlyparts to the like parts in the Stone that is put neer them, and to strive to come to it;and if they cannot do it,for want of strength, they will fall to the ground.

CHAP.