But _Democritus_ notes, that this Cause only takes place when we treat of raising and sustaining of Plates of Matters, but very little heavier than the water, or extreamly thin: but in Matters very grave, and of some thickness, as Plates of Lead or other Mettal, that same Effect wholly ceaseth: In Testimony of which, let's observe that such Plates, being raised by the Fiery Atomes, ascend through all the depth of the water, and stop at the Confines of the Air, still staying under water: but the Plates of the Opponents stay not, but only when they have their upper Superficies dry, nor is there any means to be used, that when they are within the water, they may not sink to the bottom. The cause, therefore, of the Supernatation of the things of which _Democritus_ speaks is one, and that of the Supernatation of the things of which we speak is another. But, returning to _Aristotle_[86], methinks that he hath more weakly confuted _Democritus_, than _Democritus_ himself hath done: For _Aristotle_ having propounded the Objection which he maketh against him, and opposed him with saying, that if the calid ascendent Corpuscles were those that raised the thin Plate, much more then would such a Solid be raised and born upwards through the Air, it sheweth that the desire in _Aristotle_ to detect _Democritus_, was predominate over the exquisiteness of Solid Philosophizing: which desire of his he hath discovered in other occasions, and that we may not digress too far from this place, in the Text precedent to this Chapter which we have in hand[87]; where he attempts to confute the same _Democritus_ for that he, not contenting himself with names only, had essayed more particularly to declare what things Gravity and Levity were; that is, the Causes of descending and ascending, (and had introduced Repletion and Vacuity) ascribing this to Fire, by which it moves upwards, and that to the Earth, by which it descends; afterwards attributing to the Air more of Fire, and to the water more of Earth. But _Aristotle_ desiring a positive Cause, even of ascending Motion, and not as _Plato_, or these others, a simple negation, or privation, such as Vacuity would be in reference to Repletion[88], argueth against _Democritus_ and saith: If it be true, as you suppose, then there shall be a great Mass of water, which shall have more of Fire, than a small Mass of Air, and a great Mass of Air, which shall have more of Earth than a little Mass of water, whereby it would ensue, that a great Mass of Air, should come more swiftly downwards, than a little quantity of water: But that is never in any case soever: Therefore _Democritus_ discourseth erroneously. [86] _Aristotle_ shews his desire of finding _Democritus_ in an Error, to exceed that of discovering Truth. [87] Cap. 5. Text 41. [88] Id. ibid.