I540

A Man in bearing a Burthen, has always the loaden Shoulder higher than the empty one: An Instance of this, you have in the following Figure, wherein the Central Line of the Weight, both of the Man and his Burthen, passes through the Leg which sustains the whole; were it not for this, and did not the Weight of the Body, and of the Burthen, by being equally shared, thus make an Equilibrium, the Man of necessity must tumble to the Ground: Now, to this it is requisite, that so much of the Weight of the Body, be thrown on the side opposite to that which bears the Burthen, as may make it a Counterpoise to the other; and this can be no other way done, but by the Man's bending on that side not laden, till such time as it comes to bear its share of the additional Load, laid on the orher. And this is the Expedient, which Witty, Inventive Necessity, has recourse to on these Occasions.