1do ask the queſtion ſeriouſly; and therefore anſwer me: and if
afterwards you ſhall think that I ſpeak impertinently, I will be
content to be the ſenſeleſs man: for he is much more a fool who
interrogates ſimply, than he to whom the queſtion is put.
afterwards you ſhall think that I ſpeak impertinently, I will be
content to be the ſenſeleſs man: for he is much more a fool who
interrogates ſimply, than he to whom the queſtion is put.
SIMPL. If then you do not think me altogether ſimple, take
it for granted that I have anſwered you already, and ſaid, that it
is impoſſible, that one that is upon the Earth, as we are, ſhould ſee
by night that part of the Earth where it is day, namely, that is
luminated by the Sun.
it for granted that I have anſwered you already, and ſaid, that it
is impoſſible, that one that is upon the Earth, as we are, ſhould ſee
by night that part of the Earth where it is day, namely, that is
luminated by the Sun.
SALV. Therefore you have never ſeen the Earth enlightned,
ſave onely by day; but you ſee the Moon to ſhine alſo in the
dead of night. And this is the cauſe, Simplicius, which makes
you believe that the Earth doth not ſhine like the Moon; but if
you could ſee the Earth illuminated, whilſt you were in ſome dark
place, like our night, you would ſee it ſhine brighter than the
Moon. Now if you deſire that the compariſon may proceed
well, you muſt compare the light of the Earth, with that of the
Moon ſeen in the day time, and not with the ſame by night: for
it is not in our power to ſee the Earth illuminated, ſave onely in
the day. Is it not ſo?
ſave onely by day; but you ſee the Moon to ſhine alſo in the
dead of night. And this is the cauſe, Simplicius, which makes
you believe that the Earth doth not ſhine like the Moon; but if
you could ſee the Earth illuminated, whilſt you were in ſome dark
place, like our night, you would ſee it ſhine brighter than the
Moon. Now if you deſire that the compariſon may proceed
well, you muſt compare the light of the Earth, with that of the
Moon ſeen in the day time, and not with the ſame by night: for
it is not in our power to ſee the Earth illuminated, ſave onely in
the day. Is it not ſo?
SIMPL. So it ought to be.
SALV. And foraſmuch as you your ſelf have already confeſſed
to have ſeen the Moon by day among ſome little white Clouds,
and very nearly, as to its aſpect, reſembling one of them; you did
thereby grant, that thoſe Clouds, which yet are Elementary
matters, are as apt to receive illumination, as the Moon, yea
more, if you will but call to mind that you have ſometimes ſeen
ſome Clouds of vaſt greatneſs, and as perfect white as the Snow;
and there is no queſtion, but that if ſuch a Cloud could be
tinued ſo luminous in the deep of night, it would illuminate the
places near about it, more than an hundred Moons. If therefore
we were aſſured that the Earth is illuminated by the Sun, like one
of thoſe Clouds, it would be undubitable, but that it would be no
leſs ſhining than the Moon. But of this there is no queſtion to
be made, in regard we ſee thoſe very Clouds in the abſence of
the Sun, to remain by night, as obſcure as the Earth: and that
which is more, there is not any one of us, but hath ſeen many
times ſome ſuch Clouds low, and far off, and queſtioned whether
they were Clouds or Mountains: an evident ſign that the
tains are no leſs luminous than thoſe
to have ſeen the Moon by day among ſome little white Clouds,
and very nearly, as to its aſpect, reſembling one of them; you did
thereby grant, that thoſe Clouds, which yet are Elementary
matters, are as apt to receive illumination, as the Moon, yea
more, if you will but call to mind that you have ſometimes ſeen
ſome Clouds of vaſt greatneſs, and as perfect white as the Snow;
and there is no queſtion, but that if ſuch a Cloud could be
tinued ſo luminous in the deep of night, it would illuminate the
places near about it, more than an hundred Moons. If therefore
we were aſſured that the Earth is illuminated by the Sun, like one
of thoſe Clouds, it would be undubitable, but that it would be no
leſs ſhining than the Moon. But of this there is no queſtion to
be made, in regard we ſee thoſe very Clouds in the abſence of
the Sun, to remain by night, as obſcure as the Earth: and that
which is more, there is not any one of us, but hath ſeen many
times ſome ſuch Clouds low, and far off, and queſtioned whether
they were Clouds or Mountains: an evident ſign that the
tains are no leſs luminous than thoſe
Clouds are no leſs
apt than the Moon
to be illuminated
by the Sun.
apt than the Moon
to be illuminated
by the Sun.
A wall
ted by the Sun,
compared to the
Moon ſhineth no
leſs than it.
ted by the Sun,
compared to the
Moon ſhineth no
leſs than it.
SAGR. But what needs more diſcourſe? See yonder the Moon
is riſen, and more than half of it illuminated; ſee there that wall,
on which the Sun ſhineth; retire a little this way, ſo that you ſee
the Moon ſideways with the wall: look now; which of them
ſhews more lucid? Do not you ſee, that if there is any advantage,
is riſen, and more than half of it illuminated; ſee there that wall,
on which the Sun ſhineth; retire a little this way, ſo that you ſee
the Moon ſideways with the wall: look now; which of them
ſhews more lucid? Do not you ſee, that if there is any advantage,
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