BOOK ONE

OF THE SPHERE OF WATER

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A pelago original: "Pelago"; traditionally referring to the open sea, here used to describe a deep, calm basin is that which has a wide and deep shape, in which the waters remain with little movement.

A whirlpool original: "Gorgo" is of the nature of a pelago, except for a variation in one part; and this is, that the waters entering the pelago do so without impact, whereas those of the whirlpool enter with great falls, boilings, and surgings created by the continuous revolutions of the waters.

All lakes, and all gulfs of the sea, and all inland seas original: "mari mediterranei"; referring generally to land-locked seas are born from rivers which spread their waters into them, and from the impediment to their downward slope, so that they are gatherings of the waters of rivers.

A river is that which occupies the site of the lowest part of the valleys and flows continuously.

A torrent is that which flows only because of rains; it too descends into the depths of the valleys and joins with the rivers.

A canal is the term for waters regulated between embankments by human aid.

A source original: "Fonte"; can also mean spring or fountain is called the birthplace of rivers.

A lake is that where the waters of the rivers take on great width.

Ponds are places, or rather receptacles of drainage or rainwater, where, because their bottoms are impermeable original: "stagni"; a play on the words for "pond" and "watertight" and dense, the earth cannot drink nor dry such waters.

Deep pools original: "Pozzi"; literally "wells," but here referring to deep pits in a riverbed are the sudden depths of rivers.

Chasms original: "Barratri" are also places of sudden depth.

An embankment original: "Argine" is that which, with its sudden height, resists the spreading of rivers, canals, or torrents.

A steep bank original: "Ripa" shall be higher than the embankment. A shore original: "Riva" shall be lower than the embankment.

A beach original: "Spiaggia" shall be at the ultimate low point of the places that end at the waters.

Caverns are like ovens a reference to the rounded, hollowed-out shape created by erosion reaching deep under the embankment, in which the waters swirl forcefully and always increase in size.

Glossary of terms defined above: Pelago, Whirlpool, River, Torrent, Canal, Source, Lake, Ponds, Deep pools, Chasms, Embankment, Steep bank, Shore, Beach, Caverns.