1greater and leſſer. Now you ſee that the cauſe of the Monethly
Period reſideth in the annual motion; and withal you ſee how
much the Moon is concerned in this buſineſs, and how it is
with interrupted apart, without having any thing to do with either,
with Seas or Waters.
Period reſideth in the annual motion; and withal you ſee how
much the Moon is concerned in this buſineſs, and how it is
with interrupted apart, without having any thing to do with either,
with Seas or Waters.
The Earths
nual motion by the
Ecliptick, unequal
by means of the
Moons motion.
nual motion by the
Ecliptick, unequal
by means of the
Moons motion.
SAGR. If one that never had ſeen any kinde of Stairs or
der, were ſhewed a very high Tower, and asked if ever he hoped
to climb to the top of it, I verily believe that he would anſwer he
did not, not conceiving how one ſhould come thither any way
except by flying; but ſhewing him a ſtone of but a foot high, and
asking him whether he thought he could get to the top of that,
I am certain that he would anſwer he could; and farther, that he
would not deny, but that it was not onely one, but ten, twenty,
and an hundred times eaſier to climb that: But now if he ſhould
be ſhewed the Stairs, by means whereof, with the facility by him
granted, it is poſſible to get thither, whither he a little before had
affirmed it was impoſſible to aſcend, I do think that laughing at
himſelf he would confeſs his dulneſs of apprehenſion. Thus,
Salviatus, have you ſtep by ſtep ſo gently lead me, that, not
without wonder, I finde that I am got with ſmall pains to that
height which I deſpaired of arriving at. 'Tis true; that the
caſe having been dark, I did not perceive that I was got nearer
to, or arrived at the top, till that coming into the open Air I
covered a great Sea, and ſpacious Country: And as in aſcending
one ſtep, there is no labour; ſo each of your propoſitions by it
ſelf ſeemed to me ſo plain, that thinking I heard but little or
thing that was new unto me, I conceived that my benefit thereby
had been little or none at all: Whereupon I was the more
zed at the unexpected exit of this diſcourſe, that hath guided me
to the knowledge of a thing which I held impoſſible to be
monſtrated. One doubt onely remains, from which I deſire to
be freed, and this it is; Whether that if the motion of the Earth
together with that of the Moon under the Zodiack are irregular
motions, thoſe irregularities ought to have been obſerved and
ken notice of by Aſtronomers, which I do not know that they
are: Therefore I pray you, who are better acquainted with theſe
things than I, to free me from this doubt, and tell me how the
caſe ſtands.
der, were ſhewed a very high Tower, and asked if ever he hoped
to climb to the top of it, I verily believe that he would anſwer he
did not, not conceiving how one ſhould come thither any way
except by flying; but ſhewing him a ſtone of but a foot high, and
asking him whether he thought he could get to the top of that,
I am certain that he would anſwer he could; and farther, that he
would not deny, but that it was not onely one, but ten, twenty,
and an hundred times eaſier to climb that: But now if he ſhould
be ſhewed the Stairs, by means whereof, with the facility by him
granted, it is poſſible to get thither, whither he a little before had
affirmed it was impoſſible to aſcend, I do think that laughing at
himſelf he would confeſs his dulneſs of apprehenſion. Thus,
Salviatus, have you ſtep by ſtep ſo gently lead me, that, not
without wonder, I finde that I am got with ſmall pains to that
height which I deſpaired of arriving at. 'Tis true; that the
caſe having been dark, I did not perceive that I was got nearer
to, or arrived at the top, till that coming into the open Air I
covered a great Sea, and ſpacious Country: And as in aſcending
one ſtep, there is no labour; ſo each of your propoſitions by it
ſelf ſeemed to me ſo plain, that thinking I heard but little or
thing that was new unto me, I conceived that my benefit thereby
had been little or none at all: Whereupon I was the more
zed at the unexpected exit of this diſcourſe, that hath guided me
to the knowledge of a thing which I held impoſſible to be
monſtrated. One doubt onely remains, from which I deſire to
be freed, and this it is; Whether that if the motion of the Earth
together with that of the Moon under the Zodiack are irregular
motions, thoſe irregularities ought to have been obſerved and
ken notice of by Aſtronomers, which I do not know that they
are: Therefore I pray you, who are better acquainted with theſe
things than I, to free me from this doubt, and tell me how the
caſe ſtands.
SALV. You ask a rational queſtion, and anſwering to the
jection, I ſay; That although Aſtronomy in the courſes of many
ages hath made a great progreſs in diſcovering the conſtitution
and motions of the Celeſtial bodies, yet is it not hitherto arrived
at that height, but that very many things remain undecided, and
haply many others alſo undiſcovered. It is to be ſuppoſed that the
firſt obſervers of Heaven knew no more but one motion common
jection, I ſay; That although Aſtronomy in the courſes of many
ages hath made a great progreſs in diſcovering the conſtitution
and motions of the Celeſtial bodies, yet is it not hitherto arrived
at that height, but that very many things remain undecided, and
haply many others alſo undiſcovered. It is to be ſuppoſed that the
firſt obſervers of Heaven knew no more but one motion common