Galilei, Galileo, The systems of the world, 1661

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1be produced alſo; in the mean time, that I may not prevent any
one, I will ſuppreſſe the anſwer which might be given, and onely
for this time betake my ſelf to ſatisfie the objections brought by
Simplicius. I ſay therefore, that this reaſon of yours is too
neral, and as you apply it not to all the appearances one by one;
which are ſeen in the Moon, and for which my ſelf and others
are induced to hold it mountainous, I believe you will not find
any one that will be ſatisfied with ſuch a doctrine; nor can I think,
that either you, or the Author himſelf, find in it any greater
quietude, than in any other thing wide from the purpoſe.
Of the

very many ſeveral appearances which are ſeen night by night in
the courſe of Moon, you cannot imitate ſo much as one, by making
a Ball at your choice, more or leſs opacous and perſpicuous, and
that is of a polite ſuperficies; whereas on the contrary, one may

make Balls of any ſolid matter whatſoever, that is not tranſparent,
which onely with eminencies and cavities, and by receiving the
lumination ſeveral ways, ſhall repreſent the ſame appearances and
mutations to an hair, which from hour to hour are diſcovered in

the Moon.
In them you ſhall ſee the ledges of Hills expoſed to
the Suns light, to be very ſhining, and after them the projections
of their ſhadows very obſcure; you ſhall ſee them greater and leſs,
according as the ſaid eminencies ſhall be more or leſs diſtant from
the confines which diſtinguiſh the parts of the Moon illuminated,
from the obſcure: you ſhall ſee the ſame term and confine, not
equally diftended, as it would be if the Ball were poliſh'd, but
craggie and rugged.
You ſhall ſee beyond the ſame term, in the
dark parts of the Moon many bright prominencies, and diſtinct
from the reſt of the illuminations: you ſhall ſee the ſhadows
foreſaid, according as the illumination gradually riſeth, to
niſh by degrees, till they wholly diſappear; nor are there any of
them to be ſeen when the whole Hemiſphere is enlightned.

gain on the contrary, in the lights paſſage towards the other
miſphere of the Moon, you ſhall again obſerve the ſame
cies that were marked, and you ſhall ſee the projections of their
ſhadows to be made a contrary way, and to decreaſe by degrees:
of which things, once more I ſay, you cannot ſhew me ſo much as
one in yours that are opacous and perſpicuous.
The apparent
evenneſſes of the
Moon cannot be
mitated by way of
more and leſs
city & perſpicuity.
The various
ſpects of the Moon,
imitable with any
opacous matter.
Various appear
ces from which the
Moons montuoſity
is argued.
SAGR. One of them certainly he may imitate, namely, that of
the Full-Moon, when by reaſon of its being all illuminated, there
is not to be ſeen either ſhadow, or other thing, which receiveth
any alteration from its eminencies and cavities.
But I beſeech
you, Salviatus, let us ſpend no more time on this Argument, for
a perſon that hath had but the patience to make obſervation of but
one or two Lunations, and is not ſatisfied with this moſt ſenſible
truth, may well be adjudged void of all judgment; and upon

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