1few that had ſo much as ſuperficially peruſed it; but of thoſe
whom, I thought, had underſtood the ſame, not one; and
over, I have enquired amongſt the followers of the Peripatetick
Doctrine, if ever any of them had held the contrary opinion, and
likewiſe found none that had. Whereupon conſidering that there
was no man who followed the opinion of Copernicus, that had
not been firſt on the contrary ſide, and that was not very well
quainted with the reaſons of Ariſtotle and Ptolomy; and, on the
contrary, that there is not one of the followers of Ptolomy that
had ever been of the judgment of Copernicus, and had left that,
to imbrace this of Ariſtotle, conſidering, I ſay, theſe things, I
began to think, that one, who leaveth an opinion imbued with
his milk, and followed by very many, to take up another owned
by very few, and denied by all the Schools, and that really
ſeems a very great Paradox, muſt needs have been moved, not
to ſay forced, by more powerful reaſons. For this cauſe, I am
become very curious to dive, as they ſay, into the bottom of this
buſineſſe, and account it my great good fortune that I have met
you two, from whom I may without any trouble, hear all that
hath been, and, haply, can be ſaid on this argument, aſſuring
my ſelf that the ſtrength of your reaſons will reſolve all ſcruples,
and bring me to a certainty in this ſubject.
whom, I thought, had underſtood the ſame, not one; and
over, I have enquired amongſt the followers of the Peripatetick
Doctrine, if ever any of them had held the contrary opinion, and
likewiſe found none that had. Whereupon conſidering that there
was no man who followed the opinion of Copernicus, that had
not been firſt on the contrary ſide, and that was not very well
quainted with the reaſons of Ariſtotle and Ptolomy; and, on the
contrary, that there is not one of the followers of Ptolomy that
had ever been of the judgment of Copernicus, and had left that,
to imbrace this of Ariſtotle, conſidering, I ſay, theſe things, I
began to think, that one, who leaveth an opinion imbued with
his milk, and followed by very many, to take up another owned
by very few, and denied by all the Schools, and that really
ſeems a very great Paradox, muſt needs have been moved, not
to ſay forced, by more powerful reaſons. For this cauſe, I am
become very curious to dive, as they ſay, into the bottom of this
buſineſſe, and account it my great good fortune that I have met
you two, from whom I may without any trouble, hear all that
hath been, and, haply, can be ſaid on this argument, aſſuring
my ſelf that the ſtrength of your reaſons will reſolve all ſcruples,
and bring me to a certainty in this ſubject.
Chriſtianus
ſtitius read certain
Lectures touching
the opinion of
pernicus, & what
enſued thereupon.
ſtitius read certain
Lectures touching
the opinion of
pernicus, & what
enſued thereupon.
The followers of
Copernicus were
all firſt againſt
that opinion, but
the Sectators of
Ariſtotle &
lomy, were never
of the other ſide.
Copernicus were
all firſt againſt
that opinion, but
the Sectators of
Ariſtotle &
lomy, were never
of the other ſide.
SIMPL. But its poſſible your opinion and hopes may be
pointed, and that you may find your ſelves more at a loſſe in the
end than you was at firſt.
pointed, and that you may find your ſelves more at a loſſe in the
end than you was at firſt.
SAGR. I am very confident that this can in no wiſe befal
me.
me.
SIMPL. And why not? I have a manifeſt example in my ſelf,
that the farther I go, the more I am confounded.
that the farther I go, the more I am confounded.
SAGR. This is a ſign that thoſe reaſons that hitherto ſeemed
concluding unto you, and aſſured you in the truth of your
nion, begin to change countenance in your mind, and to let you
by degrees, if not imbrace, at leaſt look towards the contrary
nent; but I, that have been hitherto indifferent, do greatly hope
to acquire reſt and ſatisfaction by our future diſcourſes, and you
will not deny but I may, if you pleaſe but to hear what
deth me to this expectation.
concluding unto you, and aſſured you in the truth of your
nion, begin to change countenance in your mind, and to let you
by degrees, if not imbrace, at leaſt look towards the contrary
nent; but I, that have been hitherto indifferent, do greatly hope
to acquire reſt and ſatisfaction by our future diſcourſes, and you
will not deny but I may, if you pleaſe but to hear what
deth me to this expectation.
SIMPL. I will gladly hearken to the ſame, and ſhould be no
leſſe glad that the like effect might be wrought in me.
leſſe glad that the like effect might be wrought in me.
SAGR. Favour me therefore with anſwering to what I ſhall ask
you. And firſt, tell me, Simplicius, is not the concluſion, which
we ſeek the truth of, Whether we ought to hold with Ariſtotle
and Ptolomy, that the Earth onely abiding without motion in the
Centre of the Univerſe, the Cœleſtial bodies all move, or elſe,
Whether the Starry Sphere and the Sun ſtanding ſtill in the Centre,
you. And firſt, tell me, Simplicius, is not the concluſion, which
we ſeek the truth of, Whether we ought to hold with Ariſtotle
and Ptolomy, that the Earth onely abiding without motion in the
Centre of the Univerſe, the Cœleſtial bodies all move, or elſe,
Whether the Starry Sphere and the Sun ſtanding ſtill in the Centre,
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