Epistle XXX. To Licinius.
by
the Same. [Mr. Henley]
[_]
On a wonderful Spring at Comum.
INstead of a Present from my Country, I have brought you a Question, very worthy of your profound Learning.
I have a Spring, that takes its Rise upon a Hill, flows down a stony Gutter,
and is receiv'd in a little Parlour, made by Art: After it has made a short stay there,
it falls into the Larian Lake. The Nature of it is surprising.
It ebbs and flows thrice a Day, with a regular Flux and Reflux. This is plainly observ'd,
and look'd upon with great Pleasure. You may lie along on the Bank of it,
and ear, and drink of the Spring Water, which is extremely cool and refreshing:
In the mean Time, it retires, or swells up at certain measur'd Periods of Time.
If you lay a Ring or any thing else, on the dry Bank, a Wash will come upon it by Degrees,
and at last cover it: Then it appears again, and in a short Time, is forsaken by the Water.
If you stay longer to make your Observation, you may view both these Appearances,
again, or a third Time. Does some conceal'd Breath of Air of Wind, now
expand, now shut the Mouth and Jaws of the Spring, as it is let in by Illation,
or departs by Expulsion; as you find in Bottles and other Vessels of the same kind,
where the Mouth is something close, or narrow; for they, though plac'd with the Neck downwards and declining,
yet check what they discharge by repeated Gurglings; as it were, with certain Stops of a resisting Wind.
Or has this Spring the same Nature as the Sea? And as that is carry'd forward,
or withdrawn, in the same Manner, this small Mass of Water is repress'd or ejected by Turns?
Or, as Rivers, which are convey'd down to the Sea, are flung back by adverse Winds,
or an opposing Tide, so there is some Cause that returns the Issuing of this Fountain,
at settled Points of Time. Or is there a certain Machine in the secret Veins of it,
which makes the Rivulet lesser and slower, while it collects what is spent,
and more active and full, when it
has gather'd it? Or is there an unaccountable Poize,
secret and Mysterious, that works up, and
plays the Water, when the Scale is emptied, and detains and choaks it up when it is full?
Do you search the Causes, (for you are equal to it) that create so great a Miracle;
it is sufficient for me, if I have clearly enough describ'd the State and Effect of it.
Farewell.
