SALV. See Simplicius what an inveterate affection and
ted opinion can do, ſince it is ſo powerful, that it makes you think
that thoſe very things favour you, which you produce againſt
your ſelf. For if ſeparation and diſtance are accidents ſufficient to
perſwade with you a great diverſity of natures, it mnſt follow that
proximity and contiguity import ſimilitude. Now how much more
neerer is the Moon to the Earth, than to any other of the Cœleſtial
Orbs? You muſt acknowledg therefore, according to your own
ceſſion (and you ſhall have other Philoſophers bear you company)
that there is a very great affinity betwixt the Earth and Moon.
Now let us proceed, and ſee whether any thing remains to be
ſidered, touching thoſe objections which you made againſt the
ſemblances that are between theſe two bodies.
ted opinion can do, ſince it is ſo powerful, that it makes you think
that thoſe very things favour you, which you produce againſt
your ſelf. For if ſeparation and diſtance are accidents ſufficient to
perſwade with you a great diverſity of natures, it mnſt follow that
proximity and contiguity import ſimilitude. Now how much more
neerer is the Moon to the Earth, than to any other of the Cœleſtial
Orbs? You muſt acknowledg therefore, according to your own
ceſſion (and you ſhall have other Philoſophers bear you company)
that there is a very great affinity betwixt the Earth and Moon.
Now let us proceed, and ſee whether any thing remains to be
ſidered, touching thoſe objections which you made againſt the
ſemblances that are between theſe two bodies.
Affinity between
he Earth & Moon
in reſpect of their
vicinity.
he Earth & Moon
in reſpect of their
vicinity.
SIMPL. It reſts, that we ſay ſomething touching the ſolidity of
the Moon, which I argued from its being exquiſite ſmooth and
polite, and you from its montuoſity. There is another ſcruple
ſo comes into my mind, from an opinion which I have, that the
Seas reflection ought by the equality of its ſurface, to be rendered
ſtronger than that of the Earth, whoſe ſuperficies is ſo rough and
opacous.
the Moon, which I argued from its being exquiſite ſmooth and
polite, and you from its montuoſity. There is another ſcruple
ſo comes into my mind, from an opinion which I have, that the
Seas reflection ought by the equality of its ſurface, to be rendered
ſtronger than that of the Earth, whoſe ſuperficies is ſo rough and
opacous.
SALV. As to the firſt objection; I ſay, that like as among the
parts of the Earth, which all by their gravity ſtrive to approach the
neareſt they can poſſible to the center, ſome of them alwayes are
more remote from it than the reſt, as the mountains more than
the valleys, and that by reaſon of their ſolidity and firmneſſe
(for if they were of fluid, they would be even) ſo the ſeeing ſome
parts of the Moon to be elevated above the ſphericity of the
er parts, argueth their hardneſſe; for it is probable that the
ter of the Moon is reduced into a ſpherical form by the
ous conſpiration of all its parts to the ſame ſentenſe. Touching
the ſecond doubt, my thinks that the particulars already obſerved
to happen in the Looking-glaſſes, may very well aſſure us, that the
reflection of light comming from the Sea, is far weaker than that
which cometh from Land; underſtanding it alwayes of the
univerſal reflection; for as to that particular, on which the
ter being calm, caſteth upon a determinate place, there is no
doubt, but that he who ſhall ſtand in that place, ſhall ſee a very
great reflection in the water, but every way elſe he ſhall ſee the
ſurface of the Water more obſcure than that of the Land; and to
prove it to your ſenſes, let us go into yonder Hall, and power
forth a little water upon the Pavement. Tell me now, doth not
this wet brick ſhew more dull than the other dry ones?
leſſe it doth, and will ſo appear, from what place ſoever you
hold it, except one onely, and this is that way which the light
cometh, that entereth in at yonder window; go backwards
therefore by a little and a little.
parts of the Earth, which all by their gravity ſtrive to approach the
neareſt they can poſſible to the center, ſome of them alwayes are
more remote from it than the reſt, as the mountains more than
the valleys, and that by reaſon of their ſolidity and firmneſſe
(for if they were of fluid, they would be even) ſo the ſeeing ſome
parts of the Moon to be elevated above the ſphericity of the
er parts, argueth their hardneſſe; for it is probable that the
ter of the Moon is reduced into a ſpherical form by the
ous conſpiration of all its parts to the ſame ſentenſe. Touching
the ſecond doubt, my thinks that the particulars already obſerved
to happen in the Looking-glaſſes, may very well aſſure us, that the
reflection of light comming from the Sea, is far weaker than that
which cometh from Land; underſtanding it alwayes of the
univerſal reflection; for as to that particular, on which the
ter being calm, caſteth upon a determinate place, there is no
doubt, but that he who ſhall ſtand in that place, ſhall ſee a very
great reflection in the water, but every way elſe he ſhall ſee the
ſurface of the Water more obſcure than that of the Land; and to
prove it to your ſenſes, let us go into yonder Hall, and power
forth a little water upon the Pavement. Tell me now, doth not
this wet brick ſhew more dull than the other dry ones?
leſſe it doth, and will ſo appear, from what place ſoever you
hold it, except one onely, and this is that way which the light
cometh, that entereth in at yonder window; go backwards
therefore by a little and a little.
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