1to the Ocean: but thoſe Hills, being by ſome cauſe or other
parated, and a way being opened to the Sea to break in, it made
ſuch an inundation, that it gave occaſion to the calling of it ſince
the Mid-land Sea: the greatneſs whereof conſidered, and the
vers aſpect the ſurface of the Water and Earth then made, had it
been beheld afar off, there is no doubt but ſo great a change
might have been diſcerned by one that was then in the Moon;
as alſo to us inhabitants of the Earth, the like alterations would
be perceived in the Moon; but we find not in antiquity, that
ver there was ſuch a thing ſeen; therefore we have no cauſe to
ſay, that any of the Cœleſtial bodies are alterable, &c.
parated, and a way being opened to the Sea to break in, it made
ſuch an inundation, that it gave occaſion to the calling of it ſince
the Mid-land Sea: the greatneſs whereof conſidered, and the
vers aſpect the ſurface of the Water and Earth then made, had it
been beheld afar off, there is no doubt but ſo great a change
might have been diſcerned by one that was then in the Moon;
as alſo to us inhabitants of the Earth, the like alterations would
be perceived in the Moon; but we find not in antiquity, that
ver there was ſuch a thing ſeen; therefore we have no cauſe to
ſay, that any of the Cœleſtial bodies are alterable, &c.
The Mediterr
an Sea made by the
ſeparation of
la and Calpen.
an Sea made by the
ſeparation of
la and Calpen.
SALV. That ſo great alterations have hapned in the Moon, I
dare not ſay, but for all that, I am not yet certain but that ſuch
changes might occur; and becauſe ſuch a mutation could onely
repreſent unto us ſome kind of variation between the more clear,
and more obſcure parts of the Moon, I know not whether we
have had on Earth obſervant Selenographers, who have for any
conſiderable number of years, inſtructed us with ſo exact
graphy, as that we ſhould confidently conclude, that there hath
no ſuch change hapned in the face of the Moon; of the
tion of which I find no more particular deſcription, than the
ing of ſome, that it repreſents an humane face; of others, that
it is like the muzzle of a lyon; and of others, that it is Cain with
a bundle of thorns on his back: therefore, to ſay Heaven is
alterable, becauſe that in the Moon, or other Cœleſtial bodies, no
ſuch alterations are ſeen, as diſcover themſelves on Earth, is a bad
illation, and concludeth nothing.
dare not ſay, but for all that, I am not yet certain but that ſuch
changes might occur; and becauſe ſuch a mutation could onely
repreſent unto us ſome kind of variation between the more clear,
and more obſcure parts of the Moon, I know not whether we
have had on Earth obſervant Selenographers, who have for any
conſiderable number of years, inſtructed us with ſo exact
graphy, as that we ſhould confidently conclude, that there hath
no ſuch change hapned in the face of the Moon; of the
tion of which I find no more particular deſcription, than the
ing of ſome, that it repreſents an humane face; of others, that
it is like the muzzle of a lyon; and of others, that it is Cain with
a bundle of thorns on his back: therefore, to ſay Heaven is
alterable, becauſe that in the Moon, or other Cœleſtial bodies, no
ſuch alterations are ſeen, as diſcover themſelves on Earth, is a bad
illation, and concludeth nothing.
SAGR. And there is another odd kind of ſcruple in this
ment of Simplicius, running in my mind, which I would gladly
have anſwered; therefore I demand of him, whether the Earth
before the Mediterranian inundation was generable and
ble, or elſe began then ſo to be?
ment of Simplicius, running in my mind, which I would gladly
have anſwered; therefore I demand of him, whether the Earth
before the Mediterranian inundation was generable and
ble, or elſe began then ſo to be?
SIMPL. It was doubtleſs generable and corruptible alſo
fore that time; but that was ſo vaſt a mutation, that it might
have been obſerved as far as the Moon.
fore that time; but that was ſo vaſt a mutation, that it might
have been obſerved as far as the Moon.
SAGR. Go to; if the Earth was generable and corruptible
before that Inundation, why may not the Moon be ſo
wiſe without ſuch a change? Or why ſhould that be neceſſary
in the Moon, which importeth nothing on Earth?
before that Inundation, why may not the Moon be ſo
wiſe without ſuch a change? Or why ſhould that be neceſſary
in the Moon, which importeth nothing on Earth?
SALV. It is a ſhrewd queſtion: But I am doubtfull that
plicius a little altereth the Text of Ariſtotle, and the other
patelicks, who ſay, they hold the Heavens unalterable, for that
they ſee therein no one ſtar generate or corrupt, which is
bly a leſs part of Heaven, than a City is of the Earth, and yet
innumerable of theſe have been deſtroyed, ſo as that no mark of
them hath remain'd.
plicius a little altereth the Text of Ariſtotle, and the other
patelicks, who ſay, they hold the Heavens unalterable, for that
they ſee therein no one ſtar generate or corrupt, which is
bly a leſs part of Heaven, than a City is of the Earth, and yet
innumerable of theſe have been deſtroyed, ſo as that no mark of
them hath remain'd.