1holdeth faſt ſuch a multitude of Stars, which without ever
ing fite among themſelves, are with ſo much concord carried
bout, with ſo great diſparity of motions. Or elſe, ſuppoſing the
Heavens to be fluid, as we are with more reaſon to believe, ſo
as that every Star wandereth to and fro in it, by wayes of its
own, what rules ſhall regulate their motions, and to what
poſe, ſo, as that being beheld from the Earth, they appear as if
they were made by one onely Sphere? It is my opinion, that they
might ſo much more eaſily do that, and in a more commodious
manner, by being conſtituted immoveable, than by being made
errant, by how much more facile it is to number the quarries in the
Pavement of a Piazza, than the rout of boyes which run up and
down upon them. And laſtly, which is the ſeventh inſtance, if
we atribute the Diurnal Motion to the higheſt Heaven, it muſt be
conſtituted of ſuch a force and efficacy, as to carry along with
it the innumerable multitude of fixed Stars, Bodies all of vaſt
magnitude, and far bigger than the Earth; and moreover all the
Spheres of the Planets; notwithſtanding that both theſe and thoſe
of their own nature move the contrary way. And beſides all this,
it muſt be granted, that alſo the Element of Fire, and the
er part of the Air, are likewiſe forcibly hurried along with the
reſt, and that the ſole little Globe of the Earth pertinaciouſly
ſtands ſtill, and unmoved againſt ſuch an impulſe; a thing, which
in my thinking, is very difficult; nor can I ſee how the Earth, a
pendent body, and equilibrated upon its centre, expoſed
ferently to either motion or reſt, and environed with a liquid
bient, ſhould not yield alſo as the reſt, and be carried about.
But we find none of theſe obſtacles in making the Earth to move;
a ſmall body, and inſenſible, compared to the Univerſe, and
therefore unable to offer it any violence.
ing fite among themſelves, are with ſo much concord carried
bout, with ſo great diſparity of motions. Or elſe, ſuppoſing the
Heavens to be fluid, as we are with more reaſon to believe, ſo
as that every Star wandereth to and fro in it, by wayes of its
own, what rules ſhall regulate their motions, and to what
poſe, ſo, as that being beheld from the Earth, they appear as if
they were made by one onely Sphere? It is my opinion, that they
might ſo much more eaſily do that, and in a more commodious
manner, by being conſtituted immoveable, than by being made
errant, by how much more facile it is to number the quarries in the
Pavement of a Piazza, than the rout of boyes which run up and
down upon them. And laſtly, which is the ſeventh inſtance, if
we atribute the Diurnal Motion to the higheſt Heaven, it muſt be
conſtituted of ſuch a force and efficacy, as to carry along with
it the innumerable multitude of fixed Stars, Bodies all of vaſt
magnitude, and far bigger than the Earth; and moreover all the
Spheres of the Planets; notwithſtanding that both theſe and thoſe
of their own nature move the contrary way. And beſides all this,
it muſt be granted, that alſo the Element of Fire, and the
er part of the Air, are likewiſe forcibly hurried along with the
reſt, and that the ſole little Globe of the Earth pertinaciouſly
ſtands ſtill, and unmoved againſt ſuch an impulſe; a thing, which
in my thinking, is very difficult; nor can I ſee how the Earth, a
pendent body, and equilibrated upon its centre, expoſed
ferently to either motion or reſt, and environed with a liquid
bient, ſhould not yield alſo as the reſt, and be carried about.
But we find none of theſe obſtacles in making the Earth to move;
a ſmall body, and inſenſible, compared to the Univerſe, and
therefore unable to offer it any violence.
A third
mation of the ſame
Doctrine.
mation of the ſame
Doctrine.
The greater Orbs
make their
ſions in greater
times.
make their
ſions in greater
times.
The times of the
Medicean Planets
converſions.
Medicean Planets
converſions.
The motion of
24 hours aſcribed
to the higheſt
Sphere diſorders
the period of the
inferiour.
24 hours aſcribed
to the higheſt
Sphere diſorders
the period of the
inferiour.
The fourth
firmation.
firmation.
Great diſparity
amongſt the
ons of the
lar fixed ſtars, if
their Sphere be
moveable.
amongſt the
ons of the
lar fixed ſtars, if
their Sphere be
moveable.
The fifth
firmation.
firmation.
The motions of
the fixed ſtars
would accelerate
and grow ſlow in
divers times, if the
ſtarry Sphere were
moueable.
the fixed ſtars
would accelerate
and grow ſlow in
divers times, if the
ſtarry Sphere were
moueable.
The ſixth
firmatiox.
firmatiox.
The Seventh
firmation.
firmation.
The Earth a
pendent Body, and
equilibrated in a
fluid Medium
ſeems unable to
reſiſt the rapture
of the Diurnal
Motion.
pendent Body, and
equilibrated in a
fluid Medium
ſeems unable to
reſiſt the rapture
of the Diurnal
Motion.
SAGR. I find my fancy diſturbed with certain conjectures ſo
fuſedly ſprung from your later diſcourſes; that, if I would be
bled to apply my ſelf with atention to what followeth, I muſt of
ceſſity attempt whether I can better methodize them, and gather
thence their true conſtruction, if haply any can be made of them;
and peradventure, the proceeding by interrogations may help me
the more eaſily to expreſſe my ſelf. Therefore I demand firſt of
plicius, whether he believeth, that divers motions may
ly agree to one and the ſame moveable body, or elſe that it be
requiſite its natural and proper motion be onely one.
fuſedly ſprung from your later diſcourſes; that, if I would be
bled to apply my ſelf with atention to what followeth, I muſt of
ceſſity attempt whether I can better methodize them, and gather
thence their true conſtruction, if haply any can be made of them;
and peradventure, the proceeding by interrogations may help me
the more eaſily to expreſſe my ſelf. Therefore I demand firſt of
plicius, whether he believeth, that divers motions may
ly agree to one and the ſame moveable body, or elſe that it be
requiſite its natural and proper motion be onely one.
SIMPL. To one ſingle moveable, there can naturally agree
but one ſole motion, and no more; the reſt all happen
tally and by participation; like as to him that walketh upon the
Deck of a Ship, his proper motion is that of his walk, his motion
by participation that which carrieth him to his Port, whither he
but one ſole motion, and no more; the reſt all happen
tally and by participation; like as to him that walketh upon the
Deck of a Ship, his proper motion is that of his walk, his motion
by participation that which carrieth him to his Port, whither he