1caſe is not to be ſuppoſed. But becauſe (obſerve well) the diſtance
of the Firmament, in relation to the ſmallneſſe of the Earth, as
hath been ſaid, is to be accounted, as if it were infinite; therefore
the angle conteined betwixt the two rayes, that being drawn from
the points A and E, go to determine in a fixed Star, is eſteemed
nothing, and thoſe rayes held to be two parallel lines; and
fore it is concluded, that then only may the New Star be affirmed
to have been in the Firmament, when from the collating of the
Obſervations made in divers places, the ſaid angle is, by
tion, gathered to be inſenſible, and the lines, as it were, parallels.
But if the angle be of a conſiderable quantity, the New Star muſt
of neceſſity be lower than thoſe fixed; and alſo than the Moon, in
caſe the angle A B E ſhould be greater than that which would be
made in the Moons centre.
of the Firmament, in relation to the ſmallneſſe of the Earth, as
hath been ſaid, is to be accounted, as if it were infinite; therefore
the angle conteined betwixt the two rayes, that being drawn from
the points A and E, go to determine in a fixed Star, is eſteemed
nothing, and thoſe rayes held to be two parallel lines; and
fore it is concluded, that then only may the New Star be affirmed
to have been in the Firmament, when from the collating of the
Obſervations made in divers places, the ſaid angle is, by
tion, gathered to be inſenſible, and the lines, as it were, parallels.
But if the angle be of a conſiderable quantity, the New Star muſt
of neceſſity be lower than thoſe fixed; and alſo than the Moon, in
caſe the angle A B E ſhould be greater than that which would be
made in the Moons centre.
SIMP. Then the remoteneſſe of the Moon is not ſo great, that
a like angle ſhould be ^{*}inſenſible in
a like angle ſhould be ^{*}inſenſible in
* Imperceptible.
SALV. No Sir; nay it is ſenſible, not onely in the Moon, but
in the Sun alſo.
in the Sun alſo.
SIMP. But if this be ſo, it's poſſible that the ſaid angle may
be obſerved in the New Star, without neceſſitating it to be
our to the Sun, aſwell as to the Moon.
be obſerved in the New Star, without neceſſitating it to be
our to the Sun, aſwell as to the Moon.
SALV. This may very well be, yea, and is in the preſent caſe,
as you ſhall ſee in due place; that is, when I ſhall have made plain
the way, in ſuch manner that you alſo, though not very perfect in
Aſtronomical calculations, may clearly ſee, and, as it were, with
your hands feel how that this Authour had it more in his eye to
write in complacency of the Peripateticks, by palliating and
ſembling ſundry things, than to eſtabliſh the truth, by producing
them with naked ſincerity: therefore let us proceed forwards. By
the things hitherto ſpoken, I ſuppoſe that you comprehend very
well how that the diſtance of the new Star can never be
made ſo immenſe, that the angle ſo often named ſhall wholly
appear, and that the two rayes of the Obſervators at the places
A and E, ſhall become altogether parallels: and you may
quently comprehend to the full, that if the calculations ſhould
collect from the obſervations, that that angle was totally null, or
that the lines were truly parallels, we ſhould be certain that the
obſervations were at leaſt in ſome ſmall particular erroneous:
But, if the calculations ſhould give us the ſaid lines to be
ted not only to equidiſtance, that is, ſo as to be parallel, but to
have paſt beyond that terme, and to be dilated more above than
below, then muſt it be reſolutely concluded, that the obſervations
were made with leſſe accurateneſſe, and in a word, to be
ous; as leading us to a manifeſt impoſſibility. In the next place,
you muſt believe me, and ſuppoſe it for true, that two right lines
as you ſhall ſee in due place; that is, when I ſhall have made plain
the way, in ſuch manner that you alſo, though not very perfect in
Aſtronomical calculations, may clearly ſee, and, as it were, with
your hands feel how that this Authour had it more in his eye to
write in complacency of the Peripateticks, by palliating and
ſembling ſundry things, than to eſtabliſh the truth, by producing
them with naked ſincerity: therefore let us proceed forwards. By
the things hitherto ſpoken, I ſuppoſe that you comprehend very
well how that the diſtance of the new Star can never be
made ſo immenſe, that the angle ſo often named ſhall wholly
appear, and that the two rayes of the Obſervators at the places
A and E, ſhall become altogether parallels: and you may
quently comprehend to the full, that if the calculations ſhould
collect from the obſervations, that that angle was totally null, or
that the lines were truly parallels, we ſhould be certain that the
obſervations were at leaſt in ſome ſmall particular erroneous:
But, if the calculations ſhould give us the ſaid lines to be
ted not only to equidiſtance, that is, ſo as to be parallel, but to
have paſt beyond that terme, and to be dilated more above than
below, then muſt it be reſolutely concluded, that the obſervations
were made with leſſe accurateneſſe, and in a word, to be
ous; as leading us to a manifeſt impoſſibility. In the next place,
you muſt believe me, and ſuppoſe it for true, that two right lines
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