1ciples of Ptolomy and Copernicus, and which of their opinions is
the more probable and rational; that, which affirmeth the
ſtance of the Cœleſtial bodies to be ingenerable, incorruptible,
alterable, impaſſible, and in a word, exempt from all kind of change,
ſave that of local, and therefore to be a fifth eſſence, quite different
from this of our Elementary bodies, which are generable,
tible, alterable, &c. or elſe the other, which taking away ſuch
deformity from the parts of the World, holdeth the Earth to
joy the ſame perfections as the other integral bodies of the
verſe; and eſteemeth it a moveable and erratick Globe, no leſſe
than the Moon, Jupiter, Venus, or any other Planet: And laſtly,
maketh many particular parallels betwixt the Earth and Moon;
and more with the Moon, than with any other Planet;
ly by reaſon we have greater and more certain notice of it, as
being leſſe diſtant from us. And having, laſtly, concluded this
ſecond opinion to have more of probability with it than the firſt,
I ſhould think it beſt in the ſubſequent diſcourſes to begin to
mine whether the Earth be eſteemed immoveable, as it hath
been till now believed by moſt men, or elſe moveable, as ſome
ancient Philoſophers held, and others of not very receſſe times,
were of opinion; and if it be moveable, to enquire of what
kind its motion may be?
the more probable and rational; that, which affirmeth the
ſtance of the Cœleſtial bodies to be ingenerable, incorruptible,
alterable, impaſſible, and in a word, exempt from all kind of change,
ſave that of local, and therefore to be a fifth eſſence, quite different
from this of our Elementary bodies, which are generable,
tible, alterable, &c. or elſe the other, which taking away ſuch
deformity from the parts of the World, holdeth the Earth to
joy the ſame perfections as the other integral bodies of the
verſe; and eſteemeth it a moveable and erratick Globe, no leſſe
than the Moon, Jupiter, Venus, or any other Planet: And laſtly,
maketh many particular parallels betwixt the Earth and Moon;
and more with the Moon, than with any other Planet;
ly by reaſon we have greater and more certain notice of it, as
being leſſe diſtant from us. And having, laſtly, concluded this
ſecond opinion to have more of probability with it than the firſt,
I ſhould think it beſt in the ſubſequent diſcourſes to begin to
mine whether the Earth be eſteemed immoveable, as it hath
been till now believed by moſt men, or elſe moveable, as ſome
ancient Philoſophers held, and others of not very receſſe times,
were of opinion; and if it be moveable, to enquire of what
kind its motion may be?
SALV. I ſee already what way I am to take; but before we
offer to proceed any farther, I am to ſay ſomething to you
ing thoſe laſt words which you ſpake, how that the opinion which
holds the Earth to be endued with the ſame conditions that the
Cœleſtial bodies enjoy, ſeems to be more true than the
ry; for that I affirmed no ſuch thing, nor would I have any of the
Propoſitions in controverſie, be made to ſpeak to any definitive
ſenſe: but I onely intended to produce on either part, thoſe
ſons and anſwers, arguments and ſolutions, which have been
therto thought upon by others, together with certain others,
which I have ſtumbled upon in my long ſearching thereinto,
wayes remitting the deciſion thereof to the judgment of others.
offer to proceed any farther, I am to ſay ſomething to you
ing thoſe laſt words which you ſpake, how that the opinion which
holds the Earth to be endued with the ſame conditions that the
Cœleſtial bodies enjoy, ſeems to be more true than the
ry; for that I affirmed no ſuch thing, nor would I have any of the
Propoſitions in controverſie, be made to ſpeak to any definitive
ſenſe: but I onely intended to produce on either part, thoſe
ſons and anſwers, arguments and ſolutions, which have been
therto thought upon by others, together with certain others,
which I have ſtumbled upon in my long ſearching thereinto,
wayes remitting the deciſion thereof to the judgment of others.
SAGR. I was unawares tranſported by my own ſenſe of the
thing; and believing that others ought to judg as I did, I made
that concluſion univerſal, which ſhould have been particular; and
therefore confeſſe I have erred, and the rather, in that I know
not what Simplicius his judgment is in this particular.
thing; and believing that others ought to judg as I did, I made
that concluſion univerſal, which ſhould have been particular; and
therefore confeſſe I have erred, and the rather, in that I know
not what Simplicius his judgment is in this particular.
SIMPL. I muſt confeſſe, that I have been ruminating all this
night of what paſt yeſterday, and to ſay the truth, I meet
in with many acute, new, aud plauſible notions; yet nevertheleſs,
I find my ſelf over-perſwaded by the authority of ſo many great
Writers, and in particular -------&c. I ſee you ſhake your
head Sagredus, and ſmile to your ſelf, as if I had uttered ſome
great abſurdity.
night of what paſt yeſterday, and to ſay the truth, I meet
in with many acute, new, aud plauſible notions; yet nevertheleſs,
I find my ſelf over-perſwaded by the authority of ſo many great
Writers, and in particular -------&c. I ſee you ſhake your
head Sagredus, and ſmile to your ſelf, as if I had uttered ſome
great abſurdity.
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