The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Complete


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Then the ruins of the high buildings in these cities will throw up a  
great dust, rising up in shape like smoke or wreathed clouds against  
the falling rain; But the swollen waters will sweep round the pool  
which contains them striking in eddying whirlpools against the  
different obstacles, and leaping into the air in muddy foam; then,  
falling back, the beaten water will again be dashed into the air.  
And the whirling waves which fly from the place of concussion, and  
whose impetus moves them across other eddies going in a contrary  
direction, after their recoil will be tossed up into the air but  
without dashing off from the surface. Where the water issues from  
the pool the spent waves will be seen spreading out towards the  
outlet; and there falling or pouring through the air and gaining  
weight and impetus they will strike on the water below piercing it  
and rushing furiously to reach its depth; from which being thrown  
back it returns to the surface of the lake, carrying up the air that  
was submerged with it; and this remains at the outlet in foam  
mingled with logs of wood and other matters lighter than water.  
Round these again are formed the beginnings of waves which increase  
the more in circumference as they acquire more movement; and this  
movement rises less high in proportion as they acquire a broader  
base and thus they are less conspicuous as they die away. But if  
these waves rebound from various objects they then return in direct  
opposition to the others following them, observing the same law of  
increase in their curve as they have already acquired in the  
movement they started with. The rain, as it falls from the clouds is  
of the same colour as those clouds, that is in its shaded side;  
439  


Page
437 438 439 440 441

Quick Jump
1 306 613 919 1225