Archimedes Texts

96
contrary, I commend the reading, and diligently studying of him;
and onely blame the servile giving ones self up a slave unto him,
so, as blindly to subscribe to what ever he delivers, and without
search of any farther reason thereof, to receive the same for an in
violable decree. Which is an abuse, that carrieth with it ano
ther great inconvenience, to wit, that others will no longer take
pains to understand the validity of his Demonstrations. And
what is more shameful, than in the middest of publique disputes,
whilest one person is treating of demonstrable conclusions, to
hear aother interpose with a passage of Aristotle, and not sel
dome writ to quite another purpose, and with that to stop the
mouth of his opponent? But if you will continue to study in this
manner, I would have you lay aside the name of Philosophers;

and call your selves either Historians or Doctors of Memory, for
it is not sit, that those who never philosophate, should usurp
the honourable title of Philosophers. But it is best for us to re
turn to shore, and not lanch farther into a boundlesse Gulph, out
of which we shall not be able to get before night. Therefore
Simplicius, come either with arguments and demonstrations of
your own, or of Aristotle, and bring us no more Texts and na

ked authorities, for our disputes are about the Sensible World,
and not one of Paper. And forasmuch as in our discourses yester
day, we retrein'd the Earth from darknesse, and exposed it to the
open skie, shewing, that the attempt to enumerate it amongst
those which we call Cœlestial bodies, was not a position so foil'd,
and vanquish't, as that it had no life left in it; it followeth next,
that we proceed to examine what probability there is for holding
of it fixt, and wholly immoveable, scilicet as to its entire Globe,
what likelyhood there is for making it moveable with some motion,
and of what kind that may be. And forasmuch as in this same
question I am ambiguous, and Simplicius is resolute, as likewise
Aristotle for the opinion of its immobility, he shall one by one
produce the arguments in favour of their opinion, and I will al
ledge the answers and reasons on the contrary part; and next Sa
gredus shall tell us his thoughts, and to which side he finds him
self inclined.

It is not just, that
those who never
philosophate, should
usurp the title of
Philosophers.

SAGR. Content; provided alwayes that I may reserve the li
berty to my self of alledging what pure natural reason shall some
times dictate to me.

SALV. Nay more, it is that which I particularly beg of you;
for, amongst the more easie, and, to so speak, material considera
tions, I believe there are but few of them that have been omit
ted by Writers, so that onely some of the more subtle, and re
mote can be desired, or wanting; and to investigate these, what
other ingenuity can be more sit than that of the most acute and
piercing wit of Sagredus?