SALV. You have good cauſe for your doubt: and when we
come to treat of the other Motion, you ſhall ſee how far
nicus excelled Ptolomey in clearneſs and ſublimity of wit, in that
he ſaw what the other did not, I mean the admirable harmony
wherein that Motion agreed with all the other Cœleſtial Bodies.
But for the preſent we will ſuſpend this particular, and return to
our firſt conſideration; touching which I will proceed to propoſe
(begining with things more general) thoſe reaſons which ſeem to
favour the mobility of the Earth, and then wait the anſwers which
Simplicius ſhall make thereto. And firſt, if we conſider onely
the immenſe magnitude of the Starry Sphere, compared to the
ſmalneſs of the Terreſtrial Globe, contained therein ſo many
lions of times; and moreover weigh the velocity of the motion
which muſt in a day and night make an entire revolution thereof,
I cannot perſwade my ſelf, that there is any man who believes it
more reaſonable and credible, that the Cœleſtial Sphere turneth
round, and the Terreſtrial Globe ſtands ſtill.
come to treat of the other Motion, you ſhall ſee how far
nicus excelled Ptolomey in clearneſs and ſublimity of wit, in that
he ſaw what the other did not, I mean the admirable harmony
wherein that Motion agreed with all the other Cœleſtial Bodies.
But for the preſent we will ſuſpend this particular, and return to
our firſt conſideration; touching which I will proceed to propoſe
(begining with things more general) thoſe reaſons which ſeem to
favour the mobility of the Earth, and then wait the anſwers which
Simplicius ſhall make thereto. And firſt, if we conſider onely
the immenſe magnitude of the Starry Sphere, compared to the
ſmalneſs of the Terreſtrial Globe, contained therein ſo many
lions of times; and moreover weigh the velocity of the motion
which muſt in a day and night make an entire revolution thereof,
I cannot perſwade my ſelf, that there is any man who believes it
more reaſonable and credible, that the Cœleſtial Sphere turneth
round, and the Terreſtrial Globe ſtands ſtill.
Why the diurnal
motion more
bably ſhould belong
to the Earth, than
to the reſt of the
Vniverſe.
motion more
bably ſhould belong
to the Earth, than
to the reſt of the
Vniverſe.
SAGR. If from the univerſality of effects, which may in nature
have dependence upon ſuch like motions, there ſhould
ly follow all the ſame conſequences to an hair, aſwell in one
theſis as in the other; yet I for my part, as to my firſt and general
apprehenſion, would eſteem, that he which ſhould hold it more
tional to make the whole Univerſe move, and thereby to ſalve the
Earths mobility, is more unreaſonable than he that being got to
the top of your Turret, ſhould deſire, to the end onely that he
might behold the City, and the Fields about it, that the whole
Country might turn round, that ſo he might not be put to the
trouble to ſtir his head. And yet doubtleſs the advantages would
be many and great which the Copernican Hypotheſis is attended
with, above thoſe of the Ptolomaique, which in my opinion
ſembleth, nay ſurpaſſeth that other folly; ſo that all this makes
me think that far more probable than this. But haply Ariſtotle,
Ptolomey, and Simplicius may find the advantages of their
ſteme, which they would do well to communicate to us alſo, if
any ſuch there be; or elſe declare to me, that there neither are or
can be any ſuch things.
have dependence upon ſuch like motions, there ſhould
ly follow all the ſame conſequences to an hair, aſwell in one
theſis as in the other; yet I for my part, as to my firſt and general
apprehenſion, would eſteem, that he which ſhould hold it more
tional to make the whole Univerſe move, and thereby to ſalve the
Earths mobility, is more unreaſonable than he that being got to
the top of your Turret, ſhould deſire, to the end onely that he
might behold the City, and the Fields about it, that the whole
Country might turn round, that ſo he might not be put to the
trouble to ſtir his head. And yet doubtleſs the advantages would
be many and great which the Copernican Hypotheſis is attended
with, above thoſe of the Ptolomaique, which in my opinion
ſembleth, nay ſurpaſſeth that other folly; ſo that all this makes
me think that far more probable than this. But haply Ariſtotle,
Ptolomey, and Simplicius may find the advantages of their
ſteme, which they would do well to communicate to us alſo, if
any ſuch there be; or elſe declare to me, that there neither are or
can be any ſuch things.
SALV. For my part, as I have not been able, as much as I have
thought upon it, to find any diverſity therein; ſo I think I have
found, that no ſuch diverſity can be in them: in ſo much that I
eſteem it to no purpoſe to ſeek farther after it. Therefore
ſerve: Motion is ſo far Motion, and as Motion operateth, by how
far it hath relation to things which want Motion: but in thoſe
things which all equally partake thereof it hath nothing to do, and
is as if it never were. And thus the Merchandiſes with which a
ſhip is laden, ſo far move, by how far leaving London, they paſs
thought upon it, to find any diverſity therein; ſo I think I have
found, that no ſuch diverſity can be in them: in ſo much that I
eſteem it to no purpoſe to ſeek farther after it. Therefore
ſerve: Motion is ſo far Motion, and as Motion operateth, by how
far it hath relation to things which want Motion: but in thoſe
things which all equally partake thereof it hath nothing to do, and
is as if it never were. And thus the Merchandiſes with which a
ſhip is laden, ſo far move, by how far leaving London, they paſs
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