1ties of the Planets motions, with theſe two new ſuppoſitions, all
which things jumpt exactly with his purpoſe; and ſeeing the whole
correſpond, with admirable facility to its parts, he imbraced this
new Syſteme, and it took up his reſt.
which things jumpt exactly with his purpoſe; and ſeeing the whole
correſpond, with admirable facility to its parts, he imbraced this
new Syſteme, and it took up his reſt.
Copernicus
ſtored Aſtronomy
upon the
ous of Ptolomy:
ſtored Aſtronomy
upon the
ous of Ptolomy:
What moved
pernicus to
bliſh his Syſteme.
pernicus to
bliſh his Syſteme.
SIMP. But what great exorbitancies are there in the
maick Syſteme, for which there are not greater to be found in this
of Copernicus?
maick Syſteme, for which there are not greater to be found in this
of Copernicus?
SALV. In the Ptolomaick Hypotheſis there are diſeaſes, and in
the Copernican their cures. And firſt will not all the Sects of
Phyloſophers, account it a great inconvenience, that a body
turally moveable in circumgyration, ſhould move irregularly upon
its own Centre, and regularly upon another point? And yet
there are ſuch deformed motions as theſe in the Ptolomæan
theſis, but in the Copernican all move evenly about their own
Centres. In the Ptolomaick, it is neceſſary to aſſign to the
leſtial bodies, contrary motions, and to make them all to move,
from Eaſt to Weſt, and at the ſame time, from Weſt to Eaſt;
But in the Copernican, all the Cæleſtial revolutions are towards
one onely way, from Weſt to Eaſt. But what ſhall we ſay of
the apparent motion of the Planets, ſo irregular, that they not
ly go one while ſwift, and another while ſlow, but ſometimes
wholly ſeace to move; and then after a long time return back
gain? To ſalve which appearances Ptolomie introduceth very great
Epicicles, accommodating them one by one to each Planet, with
ſome rules of incongruous motions, which are all with one
gle motion of the Earth taken away. And would not you,
plicius, call it a great abſurditie, if in the Ptolomaick
ſis, in which the particular Planets, have their peculiar Orbs
ſigned them one above another, one muſt be frequently forced
to ſay, that Mars, conſtituted above the Sphære of the Sun, doth
ſo deſcend, that breaking the Solar Orb, it goeth under it, and
approacheth neaer to the Earth, than to the Body of the Sun,
and by and by immeaſurably aſcendeth above the ſame? And
yet this, and other exorbitancies are remedied by the Soul and
fingle annual motion of the Earth.
the Copernican their cures. And firſt will not all the Sects of
Phyloſophers, account it a great inconvenience, that a body
turally moveable in circumgyration, ſhould move irregularly upon
its own Centre, and regularly upon another point? And yet
there are ſuch deformed motions as theſe in the Ptolomæan
theſis, but in the Copernican all move evenly about their own
Centres. In the Ptolomaick, it is neceſſary to aſſign to the
leſtial bodies, contrary motions, and to make them all to move,
from Eaſt to Weſt, and at the ſame time, from Weſt to Eaſt;
But in the Copernican, all the Cæleſtial revolutions are towards
one onely way, from Weſt to Eaſt. But what ſhall we ſay of
the apparent motion of the Planets, ſo irregular, that they not
ly go one while ſwift, and another while ſlow, but ſometimes
wholly ſeace to move; and then after a long time return back
gain? To ſalve which appearances Ptolomie introduceth very great
Epicicles, accommodating them one by one to each Planet, with
ſome rules of incongruous motions, which are all with one
gle motion of the Earth taken away. And would not you,
plicius, call it a great abſurditie, if in the Ptolomaick
ſis, in which the particular Planets, have their peculiar Orbs
ſigned them one above another, one muſt be frequently forced
to ſay, that Mars, conſtituted above the Sphære of the Sun, doth
ſo deſcend, that breaking the Solar Orb, it goeth under it, and
approacheth neaer to the Earth, than to the Body of the Sun,
and by and by immeaſurably aſcendeth above the ſame? And
yet this, and other exorbitancies are remedied by the Soul and
fingle annual motion of the Earth.
Inconveniencies
that are in the
ſteme of Ptolomy.
that are in the
ſteme of Ptolomy.
SAGR. I would gladly be bettter informed how theſe ſtations,
and retrograde and direct motions, which did ever ſeem to me
great improbalities, do accord in this Copernican
and retrograde and direct motions, which did ever ſeem to me
great improbalities, do accord in this Copernican
Its a great
gument in favour
of Copernicus, that
he obviates the
tions &
tions of the motions
of the Planets.
gument in favour
of Copernicus, that
he obviates the
tions &
tions of the motions
of the Planets.
SALV. You ſhall ſee them ſo to accord, Sagredus, that
this onely conjecture ought to be ſufficient to make one that
is not more than pertinacious or ſtupid, yield, aſſent to all the
reſt of this Doctrine. I tell you therefore, that nothing being
altered in the motion of Saturn, which is 30 years, in that
of Jupiter, which is 12, in that of Mars, which is 2, in that of
Venus, which is 9. moneths, in that of Mercury, which is 80.
this onely conjecture ought to be ſufficient to make one that
is not more than pertinacious or ſtupid, yield, aſſent to all the
reſt of this Doctrine. I tell you therefore, that nothing being
altered in the motion of Saturn, which is 30 years, in that
of Jupiter, which is 12, in that of Mars, which is 2, in that of
Venus, which is 9. moneths, in that of Mercury, which is 80.