1drawn all one way, and the ſame without any other alteration ſave
the declining the direct rectitude, ſometimes a very inſenſible
ter towards one ſide or another, and the pens moving its neb one
while ſofter, another while ſlower, but with very ſmall inequality.
And I think that it would in the ſame manner write a letter, and
that thoſe frollike penmen, who to ſhew their command of hand,
without taking their pen from the paper in one ſole ſtroke, with
infinite turnings draw a pleaſant knot, if they were in a boat that
did tide it along ſwiftly they would convert the whole motion
of the pen, which in reality is but one ſole line, drawn all towards
one and the ſame part, and very little curved, or declining from
perfect rectitude, into a knot or flouriſh. And I am much pleaſed
that S agredus hath helped me to this conceit: therefore let us go
on, for the hope of meeting with more of them, will make me the
ſtricter in my attention.
the declining the direct rectitude, ſometimes a very inſenſible
ter towards one ſide or another, and the pens moving its neb one
while ſofter, another while ſlower, but with very ſmall inequality.
And I think that it would in the ſame manner write a letter, and
that thoſe frollike penmen, who to ſhew their command of hand,
without taking their pen from the paper in one ſole ſtroke, with
infinite turnings draw a pleaſant knot, if they were in a boat that
did tide it along ſwiftly they would convert the whole motion
of the pen, which in reality is but one ſole line, drawn all towards
one and the ſame part, and very little curved, or declining from
perfect rectitude, into a knot or flouriſh. And I am much pleaſed
that S agredus hath helped me to this conceit: therefore let us go
on, for the hope of meeting with more of them, will make me the
ſtricter in my attention.
SAGR. If you have a curioſity to hear ſuch like ſubtilties, which
occurr not thus to every one, you will find no want of them,
cially in this particular of Navigation; and do you not think that a
witty conceit which I met with likewiſe in the ſame voyage, when I
obſerved that the maſt of the ſhip, without either breaking or
ing, had made a greater voyage with its round-top, that is with its
top-gallant, than with its foot; for the round top being more diſtant
from the centre of the Earth than the foot is, it had deſcribed the
arch of a circle bigger than the circle by which the foot had paſſed.
occurr not thus to every one, you will find no want of them,
cially in this particular of Navigation; and do you not think that a
witty conceit which I met with likewiſe in the ſame voyage, when I
obſerved that the maſt of the ſhip, without either breaking or
ing, had made a greater voyage with its round-top, that is with its
top-gallant, than with its foot; for the round top being more diſtant
from the centre of the Earth than the foot is, it had deſcribed the
arch of a circle bigger than the circle by which the foot had paſſed.
Subtilties
ently inſipid,
cally, ſpoken and
taken from a
tain Encyclopædia.
ently inſipid,
cally, ſpoken and
taken from a
tain Encyclopædia.
SIMP. And thus when a man walketh he goeth farther with
his head than with his feet.
his head than with his feet.
SAGR. You have found out the matter your ſelf by help of
your own mother-wit: But let us not interrupt Salviatus.
your own mother-wit: But let us not interrupt Salviatus.
SALV. It pleaſeth me to ſee Simplicius how he ſootheth up
himſelf in this conceit, if happly it be his own, and that he hath not
borrowed it from a certain little pamphlet of concluſions, where
there are a great many more ſuch fancies no leſs pleaſant & witty.
It followeth that we ſpeak of the peice of Ordinance mounted
pendicular to the Horizon, that is, of a ſhot towards our vertical
point, and to conclude, of the return of the ball by the ſame line
unto the ſame peice, though that in the long time which it is
parated from the peice, the earth hath tranſported it many miles
towards the Eaſt; now it ſeemeth, that the ball ought to fall a like
diſtance from the peice towards the Weſt; the which doth not
happen: therefore the peice without having been moved did ſtay
expecting the ſame. The anſwer is the ſame with that of the
ſtone falling from the Tower; and all the fallacy, and
on conſiſteth in ſuppoſing ſtill for true, that which is in queſtion;
for the Opponent hath it ſtill fixed in his conceit that the
ball departs from its reſt, being diſcharged by the fire
himſelf in this conceit, if happly it be his own, and that he hath not
borrowed it from a certain little pamphlet of concluſions, where
there are a great many more ſuch fancies no leſs pleaſant & witty.
It followeth that we ſpeak of the peice of Ordinance mounted
pendicular to the Horizon, that is, of a ſhot towards our vertical
point, and to conclude, of the return of the ball by the ſame line
unto the ſame peice, though that in the long time which it is
parated from the peice, the earth hath tranſported it many miles
towards the Eaſt; now it ſeemeth, that the ball ought to fall a like
diſtance from the peice towards the Weſt; the which doth not
happen: therefore the peice without having been moved did ſtay
expecting the ſame. The anſwer is the ſame with that of the
ſtone falling from the Tower; and all the fallacy, and
on conſiſteth in ſuppoſing ſtill for true, that which is in queſtion;
for the Opponent hath it ſtill fixed in his conceit that the
ball departs from its reſt, being diſcharged by the fire
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