1velocity, to perform that, which might be done by the moderate
motion of one alone about its own Centre?
motion of one alone about its own Centre?
The firſt diſcourſe
to prove that the
diurnal motion
longs to the Earth.
to prove that the
diurnal motion
longs to the Earth.
Nature never
doth that by many
things, which may
be done by a few.
doth that by many
things, which may
be done by a few.
SIMPL. I do not well underſtand, how this grand motion
niſieth nothing as to the Sun, as to the Moon, as to the other
nets, and as to the innumerable multitude of fixed ſtars: or why
you ſhould ſay that it is to no purpoſe for the Sun to paſs from one
Meridian to another; to riſe above this Horizon, to ſet beneath
that other; to make it one while day, another while night: the
like variations are made by the Moon, the other Planets, and the
fixed ſtars themſelves.
niſieth nothing as to the Sun, as to the Moon, as to the other
nets, and as to the innumerable multitude of fixed ſtars: or why
you ſhould ſay that it is to no purpoſe for the Sun to paſs from one
Meridian to another; to riſe above this Horizon, to ſet beneath
that other; to make it one while day, another while night: the
like variations are made by the Moon, the other Planets, and the
fixed ſtars themſelves.
SALV. All theſe alterations inſtanced by you, are nothing, ſave
onely in relation to the Earth: and that this is true, do but
magine the Earth to move, and there will be no ſuch thing in the
World as the riſing or ſetting of the Sun or Moon, nor Horizons,
nor Meridians, nor days, nor nights; nor, in a word, will ſuch a
motion cauſe any mutation between the Moon and Sun, or any
other ſtar whatſoever, whether fixed or erratick; but all theſe
changes have relation to the Earth: which all do yet in ſum
import no other than as if the Sun ſhould ſhew it ſelf now to
China, anon to Perſia, then to Egypt, Greece, France, Spain,
merica, &c. and the like holdeth in the Moon, and the reſt of the
Cœleſtial Bodies: which ſelf ſame effect falls out exactly in the
ſame manner, if, without troubling ſo great a part of the Univerſe,
the Terreſtrial Globe be made to revolve in it ſelf. But we will
augment the difficulty by the addition of this other, which is a
very great one, namely, that if you will aſcribe this Great Motion to
Heaven, you muſt of neceſſity make it contrary to the particular
motion of all the Orbs of the Planets, each of which without
controverſie hath its peculiar motion from the Weſt towards the
Eaſt, and this but very eaſie and moderate: and then you make
them to be hurried to the contrary part, i. e. from Eaſt to Weſt,
by this moſt furious diurnal motion: whereas, on the contrary,
making the Earth to move in it ſelf, the contrariety of motions is
taken away, and the onely motion from Weſt to Eaſt is
modated to all appearances, and exactly ſatisfieth every
menon.
onely in relation to the Earth: and that this is true, do but
magine the Earth to move, and there will be no ſuch thing in the
World as the riſing or ſetting of the Sun or Moon, nor Horizons,
nor Meridians, nor days, nor nights; nor, in a word, will ſuch a
motion cauſe any mutation between the Moon and Sun, or any
other ſtar whatſoever, whether fixed or erratick; but all theſe
changes have relation to the Earth: which all do yet in ſum
import no other than as if the Sun ſhould ſhew it ſelf now to
China, anon to Perſia, then to Egypt, Greece, France, Spain,
merica, &c. and the like holdeth in the Moon, and the reſt of the
Cœleſtial Bodies: which ſelf ſame effect falls out exactly in the
ſame manner, if, without troubling ſo great a part of the Univerſe,
the Terreſtrial Globe be made to revolve in it ſelf. But we will
augment the difficulty by the addition of this other, which is a
very great one, namely, that if you will aſcribe this Great Motion to
Heaven, you muſt of neceſſity make it contrary to the particular
motion of all the Orbs of the Planets, each of which without
controverſie hath its peculiar motion from the Weſt towards the
Eaſt, and this but very eaſie and moderate: and then you make
them to be hurried to the contrary part, i. e. from Eaſt to Weſt,
by this moſt furious diurnal motion: whereas, on the contrary,
making the Earth to move in it ſelf, the contrariety of motions is
taken away, and the onely motion from Weſt to Eaſt is
modated to all appearances, and exactly ſatisfieth every
menon.
The diurnal
tion cauſeth no
mutation amongſt
the Cœleſtial
dies, but all
ges have relation
to the Earth.
tion cauſeth no
mutation amongſt
the Cœleſtial
dies, but all
ges have relation
to the Earth.
A ſccond
firmation that the
diurnal motion
longs to the Earth.
firmation that the
diurnal motion
longs to the Earth.
SIMPL. As to the contrariety of Motions it would import
tle, for Ariſtotle demonſtrateth, that circular motions, are not
trary to one another; and that theirs cannot be truly called
trariety.
tle, for Ariſtotle demonſtrateth, that circular motions, are not
trary to one another; and that theirs cannot be truly called
trariety.
Circular
ons are not
ry, according to
Ariſtotle.
ons are not
ry, according to
Ariſtotle.
SALV. Doth Ariſtotle demonſtrate this, or doth he not rather
barely affirm it, as ſerving to ſome certain deſign of his? If
traries be thoſe things, that deſtroy one another, as he himſelf
affirmeth, I do not ſee how two moveables that encounter each
other in a circular line, ſhould leſſe prejudice one another, than if
they interfered in a right line.
barely affirm it, as ſerving to ſome certain deſign of his? If
traries be thoſe things, that deſtroy one another, as he himſelf
affirmeth, I do not ſee how two moveables that encounter each
other in a circular line, ſhould leſſe prejudice one another, than if
they interfered in a right line.