1ſee here, ſaith he, the Well, which repreſenteth the Tube, ſee
here the groſs vapours, from whence is taken the invention of
the Cryſtals, and ſee here laſtly the ſight fortified by the paſſage
of the rays through a diaphanous, but more denſe and obſcure
medium.
here the groſs vapours, from whence is taken the invention of
the Cryſtals, and ſee here laſtly the ſight fortified by the paſſage
of the rays through a diaphanous, but more denſe and obſcure
medium.
Invention of the
Teleſcope taken
from Ariſtotle.
Teleſcope taken
from Ariſtotle.
SAGR. This is a way to comprehend all things knowable, much
like to that wherewith a piece of marble conteineth in it one, yea,
a thouſand very beautiful Statua's, but the difficulty lieth in
ing able to diſcover them; or we may ſay, that it is like to the
propheſies of Abbot Joachim, or the anſwers of the Heathen
Oracles, which are not to be underſtood, till after the things
fore-told are come to paſſe.
like to that wherewith a piece of marble conteineth in it one, yea,
a thouſand very beautiful Statua's, but the difficulty lieth in
ing able to diſcover them; or we may ſay, that it is like to the
propheſies of Abbot Joachim, or the anſwers of the Heathen
Oracles, which are not to be underſtood, till after the things
fore-told are come to paſſe.
SALV. And why do you not adde the predictions of the
nethliacks, which are with like cleerneſſe ſeen after the event, in
their Horoſcopes, or, if you will, Configurations of the Heavens.
nethliacks, which are with like cleerneſſe ſeen after the event, in
their Horoſcopes, or, if you will, Configurations of the Heavens.
SAGR. In this manner the Chymiſts find, being led by their
melancholly humour, that all the ſublimeſt wits of the World
have writ of nothing elſe in reality, than of the way to make
Gold; but, that they might tranſmit the ſecret to poſterity
out diſcovering it to the vulgar, they contrived ſome one way, and
ſome another how to conceal the ſame under ſeveral maskes; and
it would make one merry to hear their comments upon the ancient
Poets, finding out the important miſteries, which lie hid under
their Fables; and the ſignification of the Loves of the Moon,
and her deſcending to the Earth for Endimion; her diſpleaſure
againſt Acteon, and what was meant by Jupiters turning himſelf
into a ſhowre of Gold; and into flames of fire; and what great
ſecrets of Art are conteined in that Mercury the Interpreter; in
thoſe thefts of Pluto; and in thoſe Branches of Gold.
melancholly humour, that all the ſublimeſt wits of the World
have writ of nothing elſe in reality, than of the way to make
Gold; but, that they might tranſmit the ſecret to poſterity
out diſcovering it to the vulgar, they contrived ſome one way, and
ſome another how to conceal the ſame under ſeveral maskes; and
it would make one merry to hear their comments upon the ancient
Poets, finding out the important miſteries, which lie hid under
their Fables; and the ſignification of the Loves of the Moon,
and her deſcending to the Earth for Endimion; her diſpleaſure
againſt Acteon, and what was meant by Jupiters turning himſelf
into a ſhowre of Gold; and into flames of fire; and what great
ſecrets of Art are conteined in that Mercury the Interpreter; in
thoſe thefts of Pluto; and in thoſe Branches of Gold.
Chymiſts
pret the Eables of
the Poets to be
crets for making of
Gold.
pret the Eables of
the Poets to be
crets for making of
Gold.
SIMPL. I believe, and in part know, that there want not in the
World very extravagant heads, the vanities of whom ought not to
redound to the prejudice of Ariſtotle, of whom my thinks you
ſpeak ſometimes with too little reſpect, and the onely antiquity
and bare name that he hath acquired in the opinions of ſo many
famous men, ſhould ſuffice to render him honourable with all
that profeſſe themſelves learned.
World very extravagant heads, the vanities of whom ought not to
redound to the prejudice of Ariſtotle, of whom my thinks you
ſpeak ſometimes with too little reſpect, and the onely antiquity
and bare name that he hath acquired in the opinions of ſo many
famous men, ſhould ſuffice to render him honourable with all
that profeſſe themſelves learned.
SALV. You ſtate not the matter rightly, Simplicius; There
are ſome of his followers that fear before they are in danger,
who give us occaſion, or, to ſay better, would give us cauſe to
eſteem him leſſe, ſhould we conſent to applaud their Capricio's.
And you, pray you tell me, are you for your part ſo ſimple, as
not to know that had Arictotle been preſent, to have heard the
Doctor that would have made him Author of the Teleſcope, he
would have been much more diſpleaſed with him, than with thoſe,
who laught at the Doctor and his Comments? Do you queſtion
are ſome of his followers that fear before they are in danger,
who give us occaſion, or, to ſay better, would give us cauſe to
eſteem him leſſe, ſhould we conſent to applaud their Capricio's.
And you, pray you tell me, are you for your part ſo ſimple, as
not to know that had Arictotle been preſent, to have heard the
Doctor that would have made him Author of the Teleſcope, he
would have been much more diſpleaſed with him, than with thoſe,
who laught at the Doctor and his Comments? Do you queſtion
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