Let us not then despise those Hints, though very dark, which Reason, after some contemplation, offereth to our Intelligence, and lets be content to be taught by _Archimedes_, that then any Body shall submerge in water[37], when it shall be specifically more grave than it, and that if it shall be less grave[38], it shall of necessity swim, and that it will rest indifferently in any place under water, if its Gravity be perfectly like to that of the water. [37] Lib 1. of Natation Prop. 7 [38] Id. Lib. 1. Prop. 4. These things explained and proved[39], I come to consider that which offers it self, touching what the Diversity of figure given unto the said Moveable hath to do with these Motions and Rests; and proceed to affirme, that, [39] Id. Lib 1. Prop. 3. THEOREME V. [Sidenote: Diversity of Figure no Cause of its absolute Natation or Submersion.] _The diversity of Figures given to this or that Solid, cannot any way be a Cause of its absolute Sinking or Swimming._ So that if a Solid being formed, for example, into a Sphericall Figure, doth sink or swim in the water, I say, that being formed into any other Figure, the same figure in the same water, shall sink or swim: nor can such its Motion by the Expansion or by other mutation of Figure, be impeded or taken away. [Sidenote: The Expansion of Figure, retards the Velocity of the ascent or descent of the Moveable in the water; but doth not deprive it of all Motion.] The Expansion of the Figure may indeed retard its Velocity, aswell of ascent as descent, and more and more according as the said Figure is reduced to a greater breadth and thinness: but that it may be reduced to such a form as that that same matter be wholly hindred from moving in the same water, that I hold to be impossible. In this I have met with great contradictors, who producing some Experiments, and in perticular a thin Board of Ebony, and a Ball of the same Wood, and shewing how the Ball in Water descended to the bottom, and the Board being put lightly upon the Water submerged not, but rested; have held, and with the Authority of _Aristotle_, confirmed themselves in their Opinions, that the Cause of that Rest was the breadth of the Figure, u{n}able by its small weight to pierce and penetrate the Resistance of the Waters Crassitude, which Resistance is readily overcome by the other Sphericall Figure. This is the Principal point in the present Question, in which I perswade my self to be on the right side.