1the laſt place, thoſe, by which others may be perſwaded, that the
Earth is no leſs than the Moon, or any other Planet to be
bered amongſt natural bodies that move circularly.
Earth is no leſs than the Moon, or any other Planet to be
bered amongſt natural bodies that move circularly.
SAGR. I ſhall the more willingly incline to this, in that I am
better ſatisfied with your Architectonical and general diſcourſe,
than with that of Ariſtotle, for yours convinceth me without the
leaſt ſcruple, and the other at every ſtep croſſeth my way with
ſome block. And I ſee no reaſon why Simplicius ſhould not be
preſently ſatisfied with the Argument you alledg, to prove that
there can be no ſuch thing in nature as a motion by a right line,
if we do but preſuppoſe that the parts of the Univerſe are
ſed in an excellent conſtitution and perfect order.
better ſatisfied with your Architectonical and general diſcourſe,
than with that of Ariſtotle, for yours convinceth me without the
leaſt ſcruple, and the other at every ſtep croſſeth my way with
ſome block. And I ſee no reaſon why Simplicius ſhould not be
preſently ſatisfied with the Argument you alledg, to prove that
there can be no ſuch thing in nature as a motion by a right line,
if we do but preſuppoſe that the parts of the Univerſe are
ſed in an excellent conſtitution and perfect order.
SALV. Stay a little, good Sagredus, for juſt now a way comes
into my mind, how I may give Simplicius ſatisfaction, provided
that he will not be ſo ſtrictly wedded to every expreſſion of
riſtotle, as to hold it hereſie to recede in any thing from him. Nor
is there any queſtion to be made, but that if we grant the
lent diſpoſition and perfect order of the parts of the Univerſe,
as to local ſcituation, that then there is no other but the circular
motion, and reſt; for as to the motion by a right line, I ſee not
how it can be of uſe for any thing, but to reduce to their natural
conſtitution, ſome integral bodies, that by ſome accident were
mov'd and ſeparated from their whole, as we ſaid above.
into my mind, how I may give Simplicius ſatisfaction, provided
that he will not be ſo ſtrictly wedded to every expreſſion of
riſtotle, as to hold it hereſie to recede in any thing from him. Nor
is there any queſtion to be made, but that if we grant the
lent diſpoſition and perfect order of the parts of the Univerſe,
as to local ſcituation, that then there is no other but the circular
motion, and reſt; for as to the motion by a right line, I ſee not
how it can be of uſe for any thing, but to reduce to their natural
conſtitution, ſome integral bodies, that by ſome accident were
mov'd and ſeparated from their whole, as we ſaid above.
Let us now conſider the whole Terreſtrial Globe, and enquire
the beſt we can, whether it, and the other Mundane bodies are to
conſerve themſelves in their perfect and natural diſpoſition. It
is neceſſary to ſay, either that it reſts and keeps perpetually
moveable in its place; or elſe that continuing always in its place,
it revolves in its ſelf; or that it turneth about a Centre, moving
by the circumference of a circle. Of which accidents, both
ſtotle and Ptolomey, and all their followers ſay, that it hath ever
obſerved, and ſhall continually keep the firſt, that is, a perpetual
reſt in the ſame place. Now, why, I pray you, ought they not
to have ſaid, that its natural affection is to reſt immoveable,
ther than to make natural unto it the motion ^{*} downwards, with
which motion it never did or ſhall move? And as to the motion
by a right line, they muſt grant us that Nature maketh uſe of it
to reduce the ſmall parts of the Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and every
other integral Mundane body to their Whole, when any of them
by chance are ſeparated, and ſo tranſported out of their proper
place; if alſo haply, ſome circular motion might not be found
to be more convenient to make this reſtitution. In my
ment, this primary poſition anſwers much better, even according
to Ariſtotles own method, to all the other conſequences, than
to attribute the ſtraight motion to be an intrinſick and natural
the beſt we can, whether it, and the other Mundane bodies are to
conſerve themſelves in their perfect and natural diſpoſition. It
is neceſſary to ſay, either that it reſts and keeps perpetually
moveable in its place; or elſe that continuing always in its place,
it revolves in its ſelf; or that it turneth about a Centre, moving
by the circumference of a circle. Of which accidents, both
ſtotle and Ptolomey, and all their followers ſay, that it hath ever
obſerved, and ſhall continually keep the firſt, that is, a perpetual
reſt in the ſame place. Now, why, I pray you, ought they not
to have ſaid, that its natural affection is to reſt immoveable,
ther than to make natural unto it the motion ^{*} downwards, with
which motion it never did or ſhall move? And as to the motion
by a right line, they muſt grant us that Nature maketh uſe of it
to reduce the ſmall parts of the Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and every
other integral Mundane body to their Whole, when any of them
by chance are ſeparated, and ſo tranſported out of their proper
place; if alſo haply, ſome circular motion might not be found
to be more convenient to make this reſtitution. In my
ment, this primary poſition anſwers much better, even according
to Ariſtotles own method, to all the other conſequences, than
to attribute the ſtraight motion to be an intrinſick and natural
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