l Plains to the Eye, that a
Painter would employ two differing Colours to represent them.
[3] _See the Discourse of the Nature of Whiteness and Blackness._
7. And I hope, _Pyrophilus_, you will not think it strange or impertinent,
that I employ in divers passages of these Papers, examples drawn from
Bodies and Shadows far more Gross, than those minute Protuberances and
shady Pores on which in most cases the Colour of a Body as 'tis an Inherent
Quality or Disposition of its Surface, seems to depend. For sometimes I
employ such Examples, rather to declare my Meaning, than prove my
Conjecture; things, whom their Smallness makes Insensible, being better
represented to the Imagination by such familiar Objects, as being like them
enough in other respects, are of a Visible bulk. And next, though the Beams
of Light are such subtil Bodies, that in respect of them, even Surfaces
that are sensibly Smooth, are not exactly so, but have their own degree of
Roughness, consisting of little Protuberances and Depressions; and though
consequently such Inequalities may suffice to give Bodies differing
Colours, as we see in Marble that appears White or Black, or Red or Blew,
even when the most carefully Polish'd, yet 'tis plain by the late Instance
of Red Marble, and many others, that even bigger Protuberances and greater
Shades may likewise so Diversifie the Roughness of a Bodies Superficies, as
manifestly to concurr to the varying of its Colour, whereby such Examples
appear to be proper enough to be employ'd in such a Subject as we have now
in hand. And having hinted thus much on this Occasion, I now proceed.
8. The Situation also of the Superficial particles is considerable, which I
distinguish into the Posture of the single Corpuscles, in respect of the
Light, and of the Eye, and the Order of them in reference also to one
another; for a Body may otherwise reflect the Light, when its Superficial
particles are more erected upon the Plain that may be conceiv'd to pass
along their Basis, and when the Points or Extremes of such Particles are
Obverted to the Eye, than when those Particles are so Inclin'd, that their
Sides are in great part Discernable, as the Colour of Plush or Velvet will
appear Vary'd to you, if you carefully stroak part of it one way, and part
of it another, the posture of the particular Thrids, in reference to the
Light, or the Eye, becoming thereby different. And you may observe in a
Field of ripe Corn blown upon by
|