Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical OpinionsNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Physics -- Early works to 1800
might have that which we name _Earth, Air, Water_, and _Fire_: but,
for Sun-light, Moon-light, Starr-light, and the like, they are not
parts of the World they appear to; and are Worlds of themselves. But,
there can be no such Appearances in the Irregular World: for, the
Irregularities do obstruct all such Appearances; and the Elemental
Parts (if I may name them so) are as irregular, and therefore as horrid
as can be: so that it is probable, that the Elemental Fire is not a
bright shining Fire, but a dull, dead Fire, which hath the Effects of a
strong Corrosive Fire, which never actually Heats, but actually Burns;
so that some Creatures may both freeze and burn at once. As for the
Earth of that World, it is probable that it is like corrupted Sores,
by reason all Corruptions are produced by Irregular Motions; from
which Corruptions, may proceed such stinking Foggs, as may be as far
beyond the scent of Brimstone, or any the worst of Scents that are in
this World, as _Spanish_ or _Roman_ Perfumes, or Essences, are beyond
the scent of Carion, or _Assafoetida_; which causes all Creatures (of
Airy Substances) that breathe, to be so infected, as to appear like
Poysoned Bodies. As for their Elemental Water, 'tis probable, that it
is as black as Ink, as bitter as Gaul, as sharp as _Aquafortis_, and as
Salt as Brine, mixt irregularly together, by reason the Waters there,
must needs be very troubled Waters. As for the Elemental Air, I shall
declare the Opinion of my Rational Parts, in the following Chapter.
CHAP. VI. Of the Elemental Air, and Light of the Irregular WORLD.
'Tis probable, that the Elemental Air of the Irregular World, is
neither perfectly Dark, nor perfectly Light; for, either would be, in
some part or kind, a Perfection or Regularity: but, being irregular,
it must be a perturbed Air; and, being perturbed, it is probable it
produces several Colours. But, mistake me not, I do not mean such
Colours as are made by perturbed Light; but, such as are made by
perturbed Air: and, through the Excess of Irregularities, may be
Horrid Colours; and, by reason of the _Aetherial_ whirling Motions,
which are Circular Motions, the Air may be of the colour of Blood,
a very horrid Colour to some sorts of Creatures: but 'tis probable,
this Bloody Colour is not of a pure Bloody Colour, but of a corrupted
Bloody Colour: and so the Light of the Irregular World, may, probably,
be of a corrupt Bloody Colour: but, by the several Irregular Motions,
it may be, at several times, of several corrupted Bloody Colours:
and by reason there are no intermissions of _Air_, there can be no
intermissions of this _Light_, in the Irregular World. Page 287
CHAP. VII. Of Storms, and Tempests, in the Irregular World.
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