1that a ſilver plate boiled, being toucht with the Burniſher,
cometh of white obſcure; that the moiſt part of the Earth ſhews
more obſcure than the dry; that in the tops of Hills, the woody
parts appear more gloomy than the naked and barren; which
hapneth becauſe there falleth very much ſhadow among the Trees,
but the open places are illuminated all over by the Sun. And this
mixtion of ſhadow hath ſuch operation, that in tuſted velvet, the
ſilk which is cut, is of a far darker colour than that which is not
cut, by means of the ſhadows diffuſed betwixt thred and thred,
and a plain velvet ſhews much blacker than a Taffata, made of the
ſame ſilk. So that if there were in the Moon things which ſhould
look like great Woods, their aſpect might repreſent unto us the
ſpots which we diſcover; alike difference would be occaſioned, if
there were Seas in her: and laſtly, nothing hindreth, but that thoſe
ſpots may really be of an obſcurer colour than the reſt; for thus
the ſnow makes the mountains ſhew brighter. That which is
ly obſerved in the Moon is, that its moſt obſcure parts are all
plains, with few riſes and bancks in them; though ſome there be;
the reſt which is of a brighter colour, is all full of rocks,
tains, hillocks of ſpherical and other figures; and in particular, round
about the ſpots are very great ledges of mountains. That the
ſpots be plain ſuperficies, we have aſſuredproof, in that we ſee,
how that the term which diſtinguiſheth the part illuminated from
the obſcure, in croſſing the ſpots makes the interſection even, but
in the clear parts it ſhews all craggy and ſhagged. But I know not
as yet whether this evenneſſe of ſuperficies may be ſufficient of it
ſelf alone, to make the obſcurity appear, and I rather think not.
Beſides, I account the Moon exceeding different from the Earth;
for although I imagine to my ſelf that thoſe are not idle and dead
Regions, yet I affirm not, that there are in them motion and life,
much leſs that there are bred plants, animals or other things like
to ours; but, if ſuch there be, they ſhould nevertheleſs be very
different, and remote from our imagination. And I am induced ſo
to think, becauſe in the firſt place, I eſteem that the matter of the
Lunar Globe conſiſts not of Earth and Water; and this alone
ſufficeth to take away the generations and alterations reſembling
ours: but now ſuppoſing that there were in the Moon, Water and
Earth, yet would they not produce plants and animals like to
ours; and this for two principal reaſons: The firſt is, that unto our
productions there are required ſo many variable aſpects of the Sun,
that without them they would all miſcarry: now the habitudes of
the Sun towards the Earth are far different from thoſe towards
the Moon. We as to the diurnal illumination, have, in the greater
part of the Earth, every twenty four hours part day, and part
night, which effect in the Moon is monethly: and that annual
cometh of white obſcure; that the moiſt part of the Earth ſhews
more obſcure than the dry; that in the tops of Hills, the woody
parts appear more gloomy than the naked and barren; which
hapneth becauſe there falleth very much ſhadow among the Trees,
but the open places are illuminated all over by the Sun. And this
mixtion of ſhadow hath ſuch operation, that in tuſted velvet, the
ſilk which is cut, is of a far darker colour than that which is not
cut, by means of the ſhadows diffuſed betwixt thred and thred,
and a plain velvet ſhews much blacker than a Taffata, made of the
ſame ſilk. So that if there were in the Moon things which ſhould
look like great Woods, their aſpect might repreſent unto us the
ſpots which we diſcover; alike difference would be occaſioned, if
there were Seas in her: and laſtly, nothing hindreth, but that thoſe
ſpots may really be of an obſcurer colour than the reſt; for thus
the ſnow makes the mountains ſhew brighter. That which is
ly obſerved in the Moon is, that its moſt obſcure parts are all
plains, with few riſes and bancks in them; though ſome there be;
the reſt which is of a brighter colour, is all full of rocks,
tains, hillocks of ſpherical and other figures; and in particular, round
about the ſpots are very great ledges of mountains. That the
ſpots be plain ſuperficies, we have aſſuredproof, in that we ſee,
how that the term which diſtinguiſheth the part illuminated from
the obſcure, in croſſing the ſpots makes the interſection even, but
in the clear parts it ſhews all craggy and ſhagged. But I know not
as yet whether this evenneſſe of ſuperficies may be ſufficient of it
ſelf alone, to make the obſcurity appear, and I rather think not.
Beſides, I account the Moon exceeding different from the Earth;
for although I imagine to my ſelf that thoſe are not idle and dead
Regions, yet I affirm not, that there are in them motion and life,
much leſs that there are bred plants, animals or other things like
to ours; but, if ſuch there be, they ſhould nevertheleſs be very
different, and remote from our imagination. And I am induced ſo
to think, becauſe in the firſt place, I eſteem that the matter of the
Lunar Globe conſiſts not of Earth and Water; and this alone
ſufficeth to take away the generations and alterations reſembling
ours: but now ſuppoſing that there were in the Moon, Water and
Earth, yet would they not produce plants and animals like to
ours; and this for two principal reaſons: The firſt is, that unto our
productions there are required ſo many variable aſpects of the Sun,
that without them they would all miſcarry: now the habitudes of
the Sun towards the Earth are far different from thoſe towards
the Moon. We as to the diurnal illumination, have, in the greater
part of the Earth, every twenty four hours part day, and part
night, which effect in the Moon is monethly: and that annual