The Magnetic Art

continues from previous page: but to the contrary, if you show the northern [point] A to the southern H, or the southern B to the northern A, as if seized by a similar pleasure, it will snatch the part to itself—not unwillingly—the cause of which is manifest. For when previously the southern part G had adhered to the northern H, nevertheless, the divided parts always seek the same union for the protection and preservation of the same body, as the philosophers say. But if point G, the southern, adheres to point B, the southern of the other stone, it immediately flees and departs from it, or if you show the northern A to the northern H, the same will happen; for they reject themselves because in their mineral [ore] they did not thus unite. The sum is this: dissimilar points, by the similarity of their substances and equal desires, come together and are united; but similar [points], by a dissimilar contrariety, act out enmities; that is, the northern seeks the southern, and the southern the northern; thus the southern and northern reject the southern and northern. This you will also observe very well in the nautical compass when magnetic poles are brought near, from which it is clear that what Pliny narrates concerning Theamas a certain species of magnet repelling iron is false, since one and the same magnet performs both actions.

THEOREM V.

The armed magnet is stronger than the unarmed one.

That a magnet equipped with a steel helmet i.e., an iron cap or armature lifts a greater weight is known to every philosopher, because with the armed magnet the union is stronger, hence heavier weights are lifted. However, the coilium a term used by the author for contact or adhesion, which others call attraction, is found to be not stronger, but mostly weaker, because if paper or a similar partition is interposed, it does not draw more than the unarmed one. Take this experiment of the matter.