Of water and air; the harmony of falling water
Air condenses and carries motes in eddies, while water, unable to condense, displaces itself
Leonardo recalls the harmony made by the various falls of water at the fountain of Rimini, which he saw on 8 August 1502, then turns to a comparison of water and air. He argues that air driven with force among other air condenses upon itself, as the motes seen in sunbeams show when wind sets them whirling into wavy patterns like watered silk or camlet, carried along by the enclosing air. Water, by contrast, cannot condense, so when it has such movements within its body it must push other water from its place, and all these effects appear at the surface.
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The harmony of the falling waters at Rimini
A harmony is made by the various falls of water, as Leonardo recalls seeing at the fountain of Rimini on the 8th of August 1502.
Air condenses and carries motes in eddies
Air moving with force among other air condenses upon itself, as shown in the breadth of the sun's rays: when wind stirs their motes into whirlings, they compose themselves into watered waves like watered silk (tabì) or camlet, carried by the enclosing air.
Water cannot condense, so it displaces itself
Water in such cases cannot condense; having similar movements within its body, it must push the other water from its place, so that all the effects appear at the surface.