E2AInt5
Axiom (Physical interlude) — Part II
Latin
Quo partes individui vel corporis compositi secundum majores vel minores superficies sibi invicem incumbunt, eo difficilius vel facilius cogi possunt ut situm suum mutent et consequenter eo difficilius vel facilius effici potest ut ipsum individuum aliam figuram induat. Atque hinc corpora quorum partes secundum magnas superficies invicem incumbunt, dura, quorum autem partes secundum parvas, mollia et quorum denique partes inter se moventur, fluida vocabo.
English (Elwes 1883)
--In proportion as the parts of an individual, or a compound body, are in contact over a greater or less superficies, they will with greater or less difficulty admit of being moved from their position; consequently the individual will, with greater or less difficulty, be brought to assume another form. Those bodies, whose parts are in contact over large superficies, are called hard; those, whose parts are in contact over small superficies, are called soft; those, whose parts are in motion among one another, are called fluid.
Modern English
In proportion as the parts of an individual or composite body press upon one another over greater or smaller surfaces, they can with more or less difficulty be made to change their position, and consequently the individual itself can with more or less difficulty be made to take on a different shape. Those bodies whose parts press upon one another over large surfaces I call hard; those whose parts press upon one another over small surfaces I call soft; and those whose parts are in motion relative to one another I call fluid.