1of Time from the aſſigned point, and the Velocities of them all
being equal, there ſhall conſequently be deſcribed by thoſe move
able points Circumferences of Circles alwayes bigger and bigger,
all concentrick about the firſt point aſſigned: juſt in the ſame
manner as we ſee it done in the Undulations of ſtanding Water,
when a ſtone is dropt into it; the percuſſion of which ſerveth to
give the beginning to the Motion on every ſide, and remaineth
as the Center of all the Circles that happen to be deſigned ſucceſ
ſively bigger and bigger by the ſaid Undulations. But if we ima
gine a Plane erect unto the Horizon, and a point be noted in the
ſame on high, from which infinite Lines are drawn inclined, ac
cording to all inclinations, along which we fancy grave Movea
bles to deſcend, each with a Motion naturally Accelerate
with thoſe Velocities that agree with the ſeveral Inclinations;
ſuppoſing that thoſe deſcending Moveables were continually viſi
ble, in what kind of Lines ſhould we ſee them continually diſpoſed?
Hence my wonder ariſeth, ſince that the precedent Demonſtrati
ons aſſure me, that they ſhall all be alwayes ſeen in one and the
ſame Circumference of Circles ſucceſſively encreaſing, according
as the Moveables in deſcending go more and more ſucceſſively re
ceding from the higheſt point in which their Fall began: And the
better to declare my ſelf, let the chiefeſt point A be marked, from
which Lines deſcend according to any Inclinations A F, A H, and
the Perpendicular A B, in which taking the points C and D, de
ſcribe Circles about them that paſs by
96[Figure 96]
the point A, interſecting the inclined
Lines in the points F, H, B, and E, G,
I. It is manifeſt, by the fore-going
Demonſtrations, that Moveables de
ſcendent along thoſe Lines departing
at the ſame Time from the term A,
one ſhall be in E, the other ſhall be in
G, and the other in I; and ſo con
tinuing to deſcend they ſhall arrive
in the ſame moment of Time at F, H,
and B: and theſe and infinite others continuing to move along the
infinite differing Inclinations, they ſhall alwayes ſucceſſively arrive
at the ſelf-ſame Circumferences made bigger & bigger in infinitum.
From the two Species, therefore, of Motion of which Nature makes
uſe, ariſeth, with admirable harmonious variety, the generation of in
ſinite Circles. She placeth the one as in her Seat, and original be
ginning, in the Center of infinite concentrick Circles; the other
is conſtituted in the ſublime or higheſt Contact of infinite Circum
ferences of Circles, all excentrick to one another: Thoſe proceed
from Motions all equal and Equable; Theſe from Motions all al
being equal, there ſhall conſequently be deſcribed by thoſe move
able points Circumferences of Circles alwayes bigger and bigger,
all concentrick about the firſt point aſſigned: juſt in the ſame
manner as we ſee it done in the Undulations of ſtanding Water,
when a ſtone is dropt into it; the percuſſion of which ſerveth to
give the beginning to the Motion on every ſide, and remaineth
as the Center of all the Circles that happen to be deſigned ſucceſ
ſively bigger and bigger by the ſaid Undulations. But if we ima
gine a Plane erect unto the Horizon, and a point be noted in the
ſame on high, from which infinite Lines are drawn inclined, ac
cording to all inclinations, along which we fancy grave Movea
bles to deſcend, each with a Motion naturally Accelerate
with thoſe Velocities that agree with the ſeveral Inclinations;
ſuppoſing that thoſe deſcending Moveables were continually viſi
ble, in what kind of Lines ſhould we ſee them continually diſpoſed?
Hence my wonder ariſeth, ſince that the precedent Demonſtrati
ons aſſure me, that they ſhall all be alwayes ſeen in one and the
ſame Circumference of Circles ſucceſſively encreaſing, according
as the Moveables in deſcending go more and more ſucceſſively re
ceding from the higheſt point in which their Fall began: And the
better to declare my ſelf, let the chiefeſt point A be marked, from
which Lines deſcend according to any Inclinations A F, A H, and
the Perpendicular A B, in which taking the points C and D, de
ſcribe Circles about them that paſs by
96[Figure 96]the point A, interſecting the inclined
Lines in the points F, H, B, and E, G,
I. It is manifeſt, by the fore-going
Demonſtrations, that Moveables de
ſcendent along thoſe Lines departing
at the ſame Time from the term A,
one ſhall be in E, the other ſhall be in
G, and the other in I; and ſo con
tinuing to deſcend they ſhall arrive
in the ſame moment of Time at F, H,
and B: and theſe and infinite others continuing to move along the
infinite differing Inclinations, they ſhall alwayes ſucceſſively arrive
at the ſelf-ſame Circumferences made bigger & bigger in infinitum.
From the two Species, therefore, of Motion of which Nature makes
uſe, ariſeth, with admirable harmonious variety, the generation of in
ſinite Circles. She placeth the one as in her Seat, and original be
ginning, in the Center of infinite concentrick Circles; the other
is conſtituted in the ſublime or higheſt Contact of infinite Circum
ferences of Circles, all excentrick to one another: Thoſe proceed
from Motions all equal and Equable; Theſe from Motions all al
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