Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural PhilosophyNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural Philosophy
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of, 1592-1676; Philosophy
of colours in solid bodies, in such lines and figures, as they may
over-power the natural or artificial inherent colours in solid bodies,
and for a time make other colours, and many times the lines of light
or of shadows will meet and sympathize so with inherent colours, and
place their lines so exactly, as they will make those inherent colours
more splendorous then in their own nature they are, so that light and
shadows will add or diminish or alter colours very much. Likewise some
sorts of colours will be altered to our sight, not by all, but onely by
some sorts of light, as for example, blew will seem green, and green
blew by candle light, when as other colours will never appear changed,
but shew constantly as they are; the reason is, because the lines of
candle light fall in such figures upon the inherent colours, and so
make them appear according to their own figures; Wherefore it is onely
the alteration of the exterior figures of light and shadows, that make
colours appear otherwise, and not a change of their own natures; And
hence we may rationally conclude, that several lights and shadows by
their spreading and dilating lines may alter the face or out-side of
colours, but not suddenly change them, unless the power of heat, and
continuance of time, or any other cause, do help and assist them in
that work of metamorphosing or transforming of colours; but if the
lines of light be onely, as the phrase is, Skin-deep; that is, but
lightly spreading and not deeply penetrating, they may soon wear out or
be rubbed off; for though they hurt, yet they do not kill the natural
colour, but the colour may recover and reassume its former vigour and
lustre: but time and other accidental causes will not onely alter, but
destroy particular colours as well as other creatures, although not all
after the same manner, for some will last longer then others. And thus,
_Madam_, there are three sorts of Colours, Natural, Artificial, and
Accidental; but I have discoursed of this subject more at large in my
Philosophical Opinions, to which I refer you, and rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
XLI.
_MADAM,_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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