1follies of ſuch a ^{*} Fabler againſt Aſtronomers to come into the
light, and to be openly maintained without contradiction; but
this alſo might be diſpenſed with, in reſpect of the other greater
occaſions of laughter, wherewith we may confront them
ing on the diſſimulation of the intelligent, touching the follies of
theſe opponents of the Doctrines that they well enough
ſtand.
* Lorenzini.
SAGR. I deſire not a greater proof of thoſe mens petulancy,
and the infelicity of a Copernican, ſubject to be oppoſed by ſuch
as underſtand not ſo much as the very firſt poſitions, upon which
he undertakes the quarrel.
and the infelicity of a Copernican, ſubject to be oppoſed by ſuch
as underſtand not ſo much as the very firſt poſitions, upon which
he undertakes the quarrel.
SALV. You will be no leſſe aſtoniſhed at their method in
futing the Astronomers, who affirm the new Stars to be ſuperiour
to the Orbs of the Planets; and peradventure in the ^{†} Firmament
it ſelf.
futing the Astronomers, who affirm the new Stars to be ſuperiour
to the Orbs of the Planets; and peradventure in the ^{†} Firmament
it ſelf.
† He taketh the
Firmament for the
Starry Sphere, and
as we vulgarly
ceive the word.
Firmament for the
Starry Sphere, and
as we vulgarly
ceive the word.
SAGR. But how could you in ſo ſhort a time examine all this
Book, which is ſo great a Volume, and muſt needs contain very
many demonſtrations.?
Book, which is ſo great a Volume, and muſt needs contain very
many demonſtrations.?
SALV. I have confined my ſelf to theſe his firſt confutations, in
which with twelve demonſtrations founded upon the obſervations
of twelve Aſtronomers, (who all held, that the Star, Anno 1572.
which appeared in Caſſiopeia, was in the Firmament) he proveth it
on the contrary, to be beneath the Moon, conferring, two by two,
the meridian altitudes, proceeding in the method that you ſhall
underſtand by and by. And becauſe, I think, that in the
nation of this his firſt progreſſion, I have diſcovered in this
thour a great unlikelihood of his ability to conclude any thing
gainſt the Aſtronomers, in favour of the Peripatetick Philoſophers,
and that their opinion is more and more concludently confirmed,
I could not apply my ſelf with the like patience in examining his
other methods, but have given a very ſlight glance upon them,
and am certain, that the defect that is in theſe firſt impugnations,
is likewiſe in the reſt. And as you ſhall ſee, by experience, very
few words will ſuffice to confute this whole Book, though
led with ſo great a number of laborious calculations, as here you
ſee. Therefore obſerve my proceedings. This Authour
taketh, as I ſay, to wound his adverſaries with their own weapons,
i.e. a great number of obſervations made by themſelves, to wit, by
twelve or thirteen Authours in number, and upon part of them he
makes his ſupputations, and concludeth thoſe ſtars to have been
below the Moon. Now becauſe the proceeding by
ries very much pleaſeth me, in regard the Authour himſelf is not
here, let Simplicius anſwer me to the queſtions that I ſhall ask
him, as he thinks he himſelf would, if he were preſent. And
ſuppoſing that we ſpeak of the foreſaid Star, of Anno 1572.
which with twelve demonſtrations founded upon the obſervations
of twelve Aſtronomers, (who all held, that the Star, Anno 1572.
which appeared in Caſſiopeia, was in the Firmament) he proveth it
on the contrary, to be beneath the Moon, conferring, two by two,
the meridian altitudes, proceeding in the method that you ſhall
underſtand by and by. And becauſe, I think, that in the
nation of this his firſt progreſſion, I have diſcovered in this
thour a great unlikelihood of his ability to conclude any thing
gainſt the Aſtronomers, in favour of the Peripatetick Philoſophers,
and that their opinion is more and more concludently confirmed,
I could not apply my ſelf with the like patience in examining his
other methods, but have given a very ſlight glance upon them,
and am certain, that the defect that is in theſe firſt impugnations,
is likewiſe in the reſt. And as you ſhall ſee, by experience, very
few words will ſuffice to confute this whole Book, though
led with ſo great a number of laborious calculations, as here you
ſee. Therefore obſerve my proceedings. This Authour
taketh, as I ſay, to wound his adverſaries with their own weapons,
i.e. a great number of obſervations made by themſelves, to wit, by
twelve or thirteen Authours in number, and upon part of them he
makes his ſupputations, and concludeth thoſe ſtars to have been
below the Moon. Now becauſe the proceeding by
ries very much pleaſeth me, in regard the Authour himſelf is not
here, let Simplicius anſwer me to the queſtions that I ſhall ask
him, as he thinks he himſelf would, if he were preſent. And
ſuppoſing that we ſpeak of the foreſaid Star, of Anno 1572.
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