SIMPL. It is ſo; and I have oftentimes wiſh'd that the Air
would grow thicker, that I might be able to ſee that ſame light
more plainly; but it ever diſappeared before dark night.
would grow thicker, that I might be able to ſee that ſame light
more plainly; but it ever diſappeared before dark night.
SALV. You know then very certainly, that in the depth of
night, that light would be more conſpicuous.
night, that light would be more conſpicuous.
SIMPL. I do ſo; and alſo more than that, if one could but
take away the great light of the creſcent illuminated by the Sun,
the preſence of which much obſcureth the other leſſer.
take away the great light of the creſcent illuminated by the Sun,
the preſence of which much obſcureth the other leſſer.
SALV. Why, doth it not ſometimes come to paſs, that one may
in a very dark night ſee the whole face of the Moon, without
ing at all illuminated by the Sun?
in a very dark night ſee the whole face of the Moon, without
ing at all illuminated by the Sun?
SIMPL. I know not whether this ever happeneth, ſave onely
in the total Ecclipſes of the Moon.
in the total Ecclipſes of the Moon.
SALV. Why, at that time this its light would appear very
clear, being in a moſt obſcure medium, and not darkned by the
clarity of the luminous creſcents: but in that poſition, how light
did it appear to you?
clear, being in a moſt obſcure medium, and not darkned by the
clarity of the luminous creſcents: but in that poſition, how light
did it appear to you?
SIMPL. I have ſometimes ſeen it of the colour of braſs, and a
little whitiſh; but at other times it hath been ſo obſcure, that I
have wholly loſt the ſight of it.
little whitiſh; but at other times it hath been ſo obſcure, that I
have wholly loſt the ſight of it.
SALV. How then can that light be ſo natural, which you ſee ſo
cleer in the cloſe of the twilight, notwithſtanding the impediment
of the great and contiguous ſplendor of the creſcents; and which
again, in the more obſcure time of night, all other light removed,
appears not at all?
cleer in the cloſe of the twilight, notwithſtanding the impediment
of the great and contiguous ſplendor of the creſcents; and which
again, in the more obſcure time of night, all other light removed,
appears not at all?
SIMPL. I have heard of ſome that believed that ſame light to
be participated to theſe creſcents from the other Stars, and in
ticular from Venus, the Moons neighbour.
be participated to theſe creſcents from the other Stars, and in
ticular from Venus, the Moons neighbour.
SALV. And this likewiſe is a vanity; becauſe in the time of
its total obſcuration, it ought to appear more ſhining than ever;
for you cannot ſay, that the ſhadow of the Earth intercepts the
ſight of Venus, or the other Stars. But to ſay true, it is not at
that inſtant wholly deprived thereof, for that the Terreſtrial
miſphere, which in that time looketh towards the Moon, is that
where it is night, that is, an intire privation of the light of the Sun.
And if you but diligently obſerve, you will very ſenſibly perceive,
that like as the Moon, when it is ſharp-horned, doth give very little
light to the Earth; and according as in her the parts
nated by the Suns light do encreaſe: ſo likewiſe the ſplendor to
our ſeeming encreaſeth, which from her is reflected towards us;
thus the Moon, whilſt it is ſharp-forked, and that by being between
the Sun and the Earth, it diſcovereth a very great part of the
reſtrial Hemiſphere illuminated, appeareth very clear: and
ing from the Sun, and paſſing towards the ^{*}Quadrature, you
may ſee the ſaid light by degrees to grow dim; and after the
its total obſcuration, it ought to appear more ſhining than ever;
for you cannot ſay, that the ſhadow of the Earth intercepts the
ſight of Venus, or the other Stars. But to ſay true, it is not at
that inſtant wholly deprived thereof, for that the Terreſtrial
miſphere, which in that time looketh towards the Moon, is that
where it is night, that is, an intire privation of the light of the Sun.
And if you but diligently obſerve, you will very ſenſibly perceive,
that like as the Moon, when it is ſharp-horned, doth give very little
light to the Earth; and according as in her the parts
nated by the Suns light do encreaſe: ſo likewiſe the ſplendor to
our ſeeming encreaſeth, which from her is reflected towards us;
thus the Moon, whilſt it is ſharp-forked, and that by being between
the Sun and the Earth, it diſcovereth a very great part of the
reſtrial Hemiſphere illuminated, appeareth very clear: and
ing from the Sun, and paſſing towards the ^{*}Quadrature, you
may ſee the ſaid light by degrees to grow dim; and after the