1buckler of the little Treatiſe of Concluſions, or Diſquiſitions
thematical, the oppugnations of which it would be good to
gin to produce.
thematical, the oppugnations of which it would be good to
gin to produce.
SIMP. I will, if you ſo pleaſe, reſerve them to the laſt, as thoſe
that are of lateſt invention.
that are of lateſt invention.
SALV. It will therefore be neceſſary, that in conformity to the
method hitherto obſerved, you do orderly, one by one, propound
the arguments, on the contrary, aſwell of Ariſtotle, as of the
ther ancients, which ſhall be my task alſo, that ſo nothing may
ſcape our ſtrict conſideration and examination; and likewiſe
gredus, with the vivacity of his wit, ſhall interpoſe his thoughts, as
he ſhall finde himſelf inclined.
method hitherto obſerved, you do orderly, one by one, propound
the arguments, on the contrary, aſwell of Ariſtotle, as of the
ther ancients, which ſhall be my task alſo, that ſo nothing may
ſcape our ſtrict conſideration and examination; and likewiſe
gredus, with the vivacity of his wit, ſhall interpoſe his thoughts, as
he ſhall finde himſelf inclined.
SAGR. I will do it with my wonted freedome; and your
mands ſhall oblige you to excuſe me in ſo doing.
mands ſhall oblige you to excuſe me in ſo doing.
SALV. The favour will challenge thanks, and not an excuſe.
But now let Simplicius begin to propoſe thoſe doubts which
ſwade him from believing that the Earth, in like manner, as the
other pianets, may move round about a fixed centre.
But now let Simplicius begin to propoſe thoſe doubts which
ſwade him from believing that the Earth, in like manner, as the
other pianets, may move round about a fixed centre.
SIMP. The firſt and greateſt difficulty is the repugnance and
incompatibility that is between being in the centre, and being far
from it; for if the Terreſtrial Globe were to move in a year by
the circumference of a circle, that is, under the Zodiack, it is
poſſible that it ſhould, at the ſame time, be in the centre of the
diack; but that the Earth is in the ſaid centre Aristotle, Ptolomy,
and others have many wayes proved.
incompatibility that is between being in the centre, and being far
from it; for if the Terreſtrial Globe were to move in a year by
the circumference of a circle, that is, under the Zodiack, it is
poſſible that it ſhould, at the ſame time, be in the centre of the
diack; but that the Earth is in the ſaid centre Aristotle, Ptolomy,
and others have many wayes proved.
SALV. You very well argue, aud there is no queſtion but that
one that would make the Earth to move in the circumference of a
circle, muſt firſt of neceſſity prove, that it is not in the centre of
that ſame circle; it now followeth, that we enquire, whether the
Earth be, or be not in that centre, about which, I ſay, that it
neth, and you ſay that it is fixed; and before we ſpeak of this, it
is likewiſe neceſſary that we declare our ſelves, whether you and I
have both the ſame conceit of this centre, or no. Therefore tell
me, what and where is this your intended centre?
one that would make the Earth to move in the circumference of a
circle, muſt firſt of neceſſity prove, that it is not in the centre of
that ſame circle; it now followeth, that we enquire, whether the
Earth be, or be not in that centre, about which, I ſay, that it
neth, and you ſay that it is fixed; and before we ſpeak of this, it
is likewiſe neceſſary that we declare our ſelves, whether you and I
have both the ſame conceit of this centre, or no. Therefore tell
me, what and where is this your intended centre?
SIMP. When I ſpeak of the centre, I mean that of the
verſe, that of the World, that of the Starry Sphere.
verſe, that of the World, that of the Starry Sphere.
SALV. Although I might very rationally put it in diſpute,
ther there be any ſuch centre in nature, or no; being that neither
you nor any one elſe hath ever proved, whether the World be
nite and figurate, or elſe infinite and interminate; yet nevertheleſs
granting you, for the preſent, that it is finite, and of a terminate
Spherical Figure, and that thereupon it hath its centre; it will be
requiſite to ſee how credible it is that the Earth, and not rather
ſome other body, doth poſſeſſe the ſaid centre.
ther there be any ſuch centre in nature, or no; being that neither
you nor any one elſe hath ever proved, whether the World be
nite and figurate, or elſe infinite and interminate; yet nevertheleſs
granting you, for the preſent, that it is finite, and of a terminate
Spherical Figure, and that thereupon it hath its centre; it will be
requiſite to ſee how credible it is that the Earth, and not rather
ſome other body, doth poſſeſſe the ſaid centre.
It hath not been
hitherto proved by
any, whether the
World be finite or
infinite.
hitherto proved by
any, whether the
World be finite or
infinite.
SIMP. That the world is finite, terminato, and ſpherical, Ari-