t to
conclude these Latter Colours not to be True ones. Nor must what has been
newly said of the Differences of True and Apparent Colours, be interpreted
in too Unlimited a Sense, and therefore it may perhaps somewhat Assist you,
both to Reflect upon the two fore-going Objections, and to judge of some
other Passages which you'l meet with in this Tract, if I take this Occasion
to observe to you, that if Water be Agitated into Froth, it exhibits you
know a White colour, which soon after it Loses upon the Resolution of the
Bubbles into Air and Water, now in this case either the Whiteness of the
Froth is a True Colour or not, if it be, then True Colours, supposing the
Water pure and free from Mixtures of any thing Tenacious, may be as
Short-liv'd as those of the Rain-bow; also the Matter, wherein the
Whiteness did Reside, may in a few moments perfectly Lose all foot-steps or
remains of it. And besides, even Diaphanous Bodies may be capable of
exhibiting True Colours by Reflection, for that Whiteness is so produc'd,
we shall anon make it probable. But if on the other side it be said, that
the Whiteness of Froth is an Emphatical Colour, then it must no longer be
said, that Fantastical Colours require a certain Position of the Luminary
and the Eye, and must be Vary'd or Destroy'd by the Change thereof, since
Froth appears White, whether the Sun be Rising or Setting, or in the
Meridian, or any where between it and the Horizon, and from what
(Neighbouring) place soever the Beholders Eye looks upon it. And since by
making a Liquor Tenacious enough, yet without Destroying its Transparency,
or Staining it with any Colour, you may give the Little Films, whereof the
Bubbles consist, such a Texture, as may make the Froth last very many
Hours, if not some Days, or even Weeks, it will render it somewhat Improper
to assign Duration for the Distinguishing Character to Discriminate Genuine
from Fantastical Colours. For such Froth may much outlast the Undoubtedly
true Colours of some of Nature's Productions, as in that Gaudy Plant not
undeservedly call'd the Mervail of _Peru_, the Flowers do often Fade, the
same Day they are Blown; And I have often seen a _Virginian_ Flower, which
usually Withers within the compass of a Day; and I am credibly Inform'd,
that not far from hence a curious Herborist has a Plant, whose Flowers
perish in about an Hour. But if the Whiteness of Water turn'd into Froth
must therefore be reputed Emphatical, because it a