1aſſignes a reaſon of the continual motion of the Eaſtern Winde,
and alſo of a like motion in the Water. In the ſecond, It would
draw from the ſame Sourſe the cauſe of the Ebbing and Flowing.
The firſt part hath (as I have ſaid) ſome appearance of
lity, but yet extreamly leſs then that which we take from the
Terreſtrial motion. The ſecond is not onely wholly improbable,
but altogether impoſſible and falſe. And coming to the firſt,
whereas it is ſaid that the Concave of the Moon carrieth about
the element of Fire, and the whole Air, even to the tops of the
higher Mountains. I anſwer firſt, that it is dubious whether
there be any element of Fire: But ſuppoſe there be, it is much
doubted of the Orbe of the Moon, as alſo of all the reſt; that is,
Whether there be any ſuch ſolid bodies and vaſt, or elſs, Whether
beyond the Air there be extended a continuate expanſion of a
ſubſtance of much more tenuity and purity than our Air, up and
down which the Planets go wandring, as now at laſt a good part
of thoſe very Phyloſophers begin to think: But be it in this or in
that manner, there is no reaſon for which the Fire, by a ſimple
contract to a ſuperficies, which you your ſelf grant to be ſmooth
and terſe, ſhould be according to its whole depth carried round in
a motion different from its natural inclination; as hath been
fuſely proved, and with ſenſible reaſons demonſtrated by^{+} Il Sag-
giatore: Beſides the other improbability of the ſaid motions
transfuſing it ſelf from the ſubtileſt Fire throughout the Air, much
more denſe; and from that alſo again to the Water. But that
a body of rugged and mountainous ſurface, by revolving in it
ſelf, ſhould carry with it the Air contiguous to it, and againſt
which its promontaries beat, is not onely probable but neceſſary,
and experience thereof may be daily ſeen; though without
ing it, I believe that there is no judgement that doubts thereof.
As to the other part, ſuppoſing that the motion of Heaven did
carry round the Air, and alſo the Water; yet would that motion
for all that have nothing to do with the Ebbing and Flowing.
For being that from one onely and uniform cauſe, there can
low but one ſole and uniform effect; that which ſhould be
vered in the Water, would be a continuate and uniform courſe
from Eaſt to Weſt; and in that a Sea onely, which running
paſs environeth the whole Globe. But in determinate Seas, ſuch
as is the Mediterrane ſhut up in the Eaſt, there could be no ſuch
motion. For if its Water might be driven by the courſe of
Heaven towards the Weſt, it would have been dry many ages
ſince: Beſides that our Water runneth not onely towards the
Weſt, But returneth backwards towards the Eaſt, and that in
dinal Periods: And whereas you ſay by the example of Rivers,
that though the courſe of the Sea were Originally that onely
and alſo of a like motion in the Water. In the ſecond, It would
draw from the ſame Sourſe the cauſe of the Ebbing and Flowing.
The firſt part hath (as I have ſaid) ſome appearance of
lity, but yet extreamly leſs then that which we take from the
Terreſtrial motion. The ſecond is not onely wholly improbable,
but altogether impoſſible and falſe. And coming to the firſt,
whereas it is ſaid that the Concave of the Moon carrieth about
the element of Fire, and the whole Air, even to the tops of the
higher Mountains. I anſwer firſt, that it is dubious whether
there be any element of Fire: But ſuppoſe there be, it is much
doubted of the Orbe of the Moon, as alſo of all the reſt; that is,
Whether there be any ſuch ſolid bodies and vaſt, or elſs, Whether
beyond the Air there be extended a continuate expanſion of a
ſubſtance of much more tenuity and purity than our Air, up and
down which the Planets go wandring, as now at laſt a good part
of thoſe very Phyloſophers begin to think: But be it in this or in
that manner, there is no reaſon for which the Fire, by a ſimple
contract to a ſuperficies, which you your ſelf grant to be ſmooth
and terſe, ſhould be according to its whole depth carried round in
a motion different from its natural inclination; as hath been
fuſely proved, and with ſenſible reaſons demonſtrated by^{+} Il Sag-
giatore: Beſides the other improbability of the ſaid motions
transfuſing it ſelf from the ſubtileſt Fire throughout the Air, much
more denſe; and from that alſo again to the Water. But that
a body of rugged and mountainous ſurface, by revolving in it
ſelf, ſhould carry with it the Air contiguous to it, and againſt
which its promontaries beat, is not onely probable but neceſſary,
and experience thereof may be daily ſeen; though without
ing it, I believe that there is no judgement that doubts thereof.
As to the other part, ſuppoſing that the motion of Heaven did
carry round the Air, and alſo the Water; yet would that motion
for all that have nothing to do with the Ebbing and Flowing.
For being that from one onely and uniform cauſe, there can
low but one ſole and uniform effect; that which ſhould be
vered in the Water, would be a continuate and uniform courſe
from Eaſt to Weſt; and in that a Sea onely, which running
paſs environeth the whole Globe. But in determinate Seas, ſuch
as is the Mediterrane ſhut up in the Eaſt, there could be no ſuch
motion. For if its Water might be driven by the courſe of
Heaven towards the Weſt, it would have been dry many ages
ſince: Beſides that our Water runneth not onely towards the
Weſt, But returneth backwards towards the Eaſt, and that in
dinal Periods: And whereas you ſay by the example of Rivers,
that though the courſe of the Sea were Originally that onely
zoom in
zoom out
zoom area
full page
page width
set mark
remove mark
get reference
digilib