Galilei, Galileo, The systems of the world, 1661

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1paſſible, immortal, &c. they muſt needs be abſolutely perfect; and

their being abſolute perfect, neceſſarily implies that there is in them
all kinds of perfection; and conſequently, that their figure be alſo
perfect, that is to ſay, ſpherical; and abſolutely and perfectly
ſpherical, and not rough and irregular.
Perfect ſphericity
why aſcribed to
Cœlestial bodies,
by the
ticks.
SALV. And this incorruptibility, from whence do you prove
it?
SIMPL. Immediately by its freedom from contraries, and
diately, by its ſimple circular motion.
SALV. So that; by what I gather from your diſcourſe, in

king the eſſence of the Cœleſtial bodies to be incorruptible,
terable, &c, there is no need of rotundity as a cauſe, or
ſite; for if this ſhould cauſe inalterability, we might at our
ſure make wood, wax, and other Elementary matters,
tible, by reducing them to a ſpherical figure.
The Figure is not
the cauſe of
ruptibility, but of
longer duration.
SIMPL. And is it not manifeſt that a ball of Wood will better
and longer be preferved, than an oblong, or other angular
gure, made of a like quantity of the ſame wood.
SALV. This is moſt certain, but yet it doth not of corruptible
become incorruptible, but ſtill remains corruptible, though of a
much longer duration.
Therefore you muſt note, that a thing

ruptible, is capable of being more or leſſe ſuch, and we may
properly ſay this is leſſe corruptible than that; as for example, the
Jaſper, than the Pietra Sirena; but incorruptibility admits not
of more, or leſſe, ſo as that it may be ſaid this is more
ble than that, if both be incorruptible and eternal.
The

ſity of figure therefore cannot operate: ſave onely in matters
pable of more or leſſe duration; but in the eternal, which
not be other than equally eternal, the operation of figure ceaſeth.
And therefore, ſince the Cœleſtial matter is not incorruptible by
figure, but otherwayes no man needs to be ſo ſolicitous for this
perfect ſphericity; for if the matter be incorruptible, let it have
what figure it will, it ſhall be alwayes ſuch.
Corruptibility
mits of more or
leſſe; ſo doth noe
incorruptibiliiy.
The perfection of
figure, operateth
in corruptible
dies, but not in the
eternal.
SAGR. But I am conſidering another thing, and ſay, that if

we ſhould grant the ſpherical figure a faculty of conferring
ruptibility, all bodies of whatſoever figure, would be
ble; foraſmuch as if the rotund body be incorruptible,
bility would then ſubſiſt in thoſe parts which alter the perfect
tundity; as for inſtance, there is in a Die a body perfectly round,
and, as ſuch, incorruptible; therefore it remaineth that thoſe
gles be corruptible which cover and hide the rotundity; ſo that
the moſt that could happen, would be, that thoſe angles, and
(to ſo ſpeak) excreſcencies, would corrupt.
But if we proceed to a
more inward conſideration, that in thoſe parts alſo towards the
angles, there are compriſed other leſſer bals of the ſame matter;

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