SAGR. Why look you, there it is upon the oppoſite Wall, juſt
as big as the Glaſſe, and little leſſe bright than if the Sun had
directly ſhined upon it.
as big as the Glaſſe, and little leſſe bright than if the Sun had
directly ſhined upon it.
SIMPL. Come hither therefore, and ſee from hence the
face of the Glaſſe, and tell me whether you think it more
ſcure than that of the Wall.
face of the Glaſſe, and tell me whether you think it more
ſcure than that of the Wall.
SAGR. Look on it your ſelf, for I have no mind at this time,
to dazle my eyes; and I know very well, without ſeeing it,
that it there appears as ſplendid and bright as the Sun it ſelf, or
little leſſe.
to dazle my eyes; and I know very well, without ſeeing it,
that it there appears as ſplendid and bright as the Sun it ſelf, or
little leſſe.
SIMPL. What ſay you therefore, is the reflection of a Glaſſe
leſſe powerful than that of a Wall? I ſee, that in this oppoſite
Wall, where the reflection of the other illuminated Wall comes,
together with that of the Glaſſe, this of the Glaſſe is much
clearer; and I ſee likewiſe, that, from this place where I ſtand,
the glaſſe it ſelf appears with much more luſtre than the Wall.
leſſe powerful than that of a Wall? I ſee, that in this oppoſite
Wall, where the reflection of the other illuminated Wall comes,
together with that of the Glaſſe, this of the Glaſſe is much
clearer; and I ſee likewiſe, that, from this place where I ſtand,
the glaſſe it ſelf appears with much more luſtre than the Wall.
SALV. You have prevented me with your ſubtlety; for I ſtood
in need of this very obſervation to demonſtrate what remains.
You ſee then the difference which happens betwixt the two
ctions made by the two ſuperficies of the Wall and Glaſſe,
cu'ſt in the ſelf-ſame manner, by the rayes of the Sun; and you
ſee, how the reflection which comes from the Wall, diffuſeth it
ſelf towards all the parts oppoſite to it, but that of the Glaſſe
goeth towards one part onely, not at all bigger than the Glaſſe
it ſelf: you ſee likewiſe, how the ſuperficies of the Wall, beheld
from what part ſoever, alwayes ſhews it ſelf of one and the ſame
cleerneſſe, and every way, much clearer than that of the Glaſſe,
excepting only in that little place, on which the Glaſſes reflection
reverberates, for from thence indeed the Glaſſe appears much more
lucid than the Wall. By theſe ſo ſenſible, and palpable
ments, my thinks one may ſoon come to know, whether the
reflection which the Moon ſends upon us, proceed as from a
Glaſſe, or elſe, as from a Wall, that is, from a ſmooth
cies, or a rugged.
in need of this very obſervation to demonſtrate what remains.
You ſee then the difference which happens betwixt the two
ctions made by the two ſuperficies of the Wall and Glaſſe,
cu'ſt in the ſelf-ſame manner, by the rayes of the Sun; and you
ſee, how the reflection which comes from the Wall, diffuſeth it
ſelf towards all the parts oppoſite to it, but that of the Glaſſe
goeth towards one part onely, not at all bigger than the Glaſſe
it ſelf: you ſee likewiſe, how the ſuperficies of the Wall, beheld
from what part ſoever, alwayes ſhews it ſelf of one and the ſame
cleerneſſe, and every way, much clearer than that of the Glaſſe,
excepting only in that little place, on which the Glaſſes reflection
reverberates, for from thence indeed the Glaſſe appears much more
lucid than the Wall. By theſe ſo ſenſible, and palpable
ments, my thinks one may ſoon come to know, whether the
reflection which the Moon ſends upon us, proceed as from a
Glaſſe, or elſe, as from a Wall, that is, from a ſmooth
cies, or a rugged.
SAGR. If I were in the Moon it ſelf, I think I could not with
my hands more plainly feel the unevenneſſe of its ſuperficies, than
I do now perceive it, by apprehending your diſcourſe. The Moon
beheld in any poſture, in reſpect of the Sun and us, ſheweth us
its ſuperficies, touch't by the Suns rayes, alwayes equally clear;
an effect, which anſwers to an hair that of the Wall, which
held from what place ſoever, appeareth equally bright, and
fereth from the Glaſſe, which from one place onely appeareth
cid, and from all others obſcure. Moreover, the light which
cometh to me from the reflection of the Wall, is tollerable,
and weak, in compariſon of that of the Glaſſe, which is little
my hands more plainly feel the unevenneſſe of its ſuperficies, than
I do now perceive it, by apprehending your diſcourſe. The Moon
beheld in any poſture, in reſpect of the Sun and us, ſheweth us
its ſuperficies, touch't by the Suns rayes, alwayes equally clear;
an effect, which anſwers to an hair that of the Wall, which
held from what place ſoever, appeareth equally bright, and
fereth from the Glaſſe, which from one place onely appeareth
cid, and from all others obſcure. Moreover, the light which
cometh to me from the reflection of the Wall, is tollerable,
and weak, in compariſon of that of the Glaſſe, which is little