Dividing the power of rivers, and of divided forces
Break a shore-wrecking river into rivulets; like a split bell or a frayed cord, divided power fails
A full page of pen writing headed 'On dividing the power of rivers' argues that where an over-large river spoils and breaks the sea-shore and cannot be diverted elsewhere, it should be broken up into many small rivulets. A 'Comparison' then generalises the principle: a bell of 6,000 pounds heard six miles off would, if recast into many tiny jingle-bells sounding all at once, not be heard an eighth of a mile; and a cord bearing 100,000 ounces, if unravelled into 100,000 threads, leaves each thread unable to hold even 1/8 of an ounce. So it goes, Leonardo concludes, with every divided power.
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Breaking a destructive river into small rivulets
When the excessive size of a river spoils and breaks the sea-coast and cannot be turned to another place, it should be broken up into small rivulets. Splitting the flow disperses the force that wrecks the shore.
Comparison: a divided power is a weakened power
A 6,000-pound bell heard six miles away, if recast into small bells that all sound together, would not carry an eighth of a mile; a cord holding 100,000 ounces, unravelled into 100,000 threads, leaves each thread unable to bear 1/8 of an ounce. The same holds for all powers once divided.