The kinship of weight, force and percussion
Gravity, force and the blow as sisters born of motion; weight versus force; multiple-superpartient ratios
The densely written left folio develops Leonardo's theory of the powers of nature, calling gravity, force and percussion sisters and daughters of one another, all born of motion and in turn generating it. He contrasts weight and force point by point: weight desires a single line and grows as it moves, while force seeks infinite lines and always weakens, and the blow dies as soon as it is born. The nearly blank right folio carries only a short continuation of the theory of ratios, listing multiple-superpartient proportions.
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Gravity, force and percussion as sisters
Gravity, force and percussion are of such a nature that each can be born of the others and give birth to them, and all can create motion and are born of it. Gravity and force are called sisters of almost the same nature, generated from one cause and consumed by the same death. Together with percussion they are both parents and daughters of motion, since it cannot be created without them.
Weight against force
Weight is overcome by force and force by weight, both invisible but with measurable effects. The more a weight moves toward its desire the more it grows, while the force diminishes; weight desires a single line and force infinite ones. The blow is born of weight and dies as soon as it is born, and force generates weight or percussion, as when a crossbow's cord is drawn back to the nut.
The multiple-superpartient ratios
The right folio gives a brief continuation of the classification of ratios, listing the multiple-superpartient kinds: double superbipartient of thirds, triple supertripartient of quarters, and triple superquadripartient of fifths.
