Archimedes Texts

118
Therefore, &c. The most proper and genuine answer to this Alle
gation is contained in the Argument it self; and even Aristotle
puts it in our mouths, which it is impossible, Simplicius, that you
should not have seen.

SIMPL. I neither have seen it, nor do I yet apprehend it.

SALV. This cannot be, sure, the thing is so very plain.

SIMPL. I will with your leave, cast an eye upon the Text.

SAGR. We will command the Text to be brought forthwith.

SIMPL. I alwayes carry it about with me: See here it is, and
I know the place perfectly well, which is in lib. 2. De Cælo, cap.
16. Here it is, Text 97. Preterea omnia, quæ feruntur latione
circulari subdeficere videntur, ac moveri pluribus una latione,
præter primam Sphæram; quare & Terram necessariam est, sive
circa medium, sive in medio posita feratur, duabus moveri
lationibus. Si autem hoc acciderit, necessariam est fieri muta
tiones, ac conversiones fixorum astrorum. Hoc autem non vide
tur ficri, sed semper eadem, apud eadem loca ipsius, & oriun
tur, & occidunt. [In English thus:] Furthermore all that are

carried with circular motion, seem to ^{*} foreslow, and to move
with more than one motion, except the first Sphere; wherefore
it is necessary that the Earth move with two motions, whether

it be carried about the ^{*} middle, or placed in the middle. But
if it be so, there would of necessity be alterations and conversi
ons made amongst the fixed Stars. But no such thing is seen to
be done, but the same Star doth alwayes rise and set in the same
place. In all this I find not any falacy, and my thinks the argu
ment is very forcible.

SALV. And this new reading of the place hath confirmed me
in the fallacy of the Sillogisme, and moreover, discovered ano
ther falsity. Therefore observe. The Positions, or if you will,
Conclusions, which Aristotle endeavours to oppose, are two; one
is that of those, who placing the Earth in the midst of the World,
do make it move in it self about its own centre. The other is of
those, who constituting it far from the middle, do make it re
volve with a circular motion about the middle of the Universe.
And both these Positions he conjointly impugneth with one and
the same argument. Now I affirm that he is out in both the one
and the other impugnation; and that his error against the first
Position is an Equivoke or Paralogisme; and his mistake touch

ing the second is a false consequence. Let us begin with the first
Assertion, which constituteth the Earth in the midst of the
World, and maketh it move in it self about its own centre; and

let us confront it with the objection of Aristotle; saying, All
moveables, that move circularly, seem to ^{*} foreslow, and move
with more than one Byas, except the first Sphere (that is the pri-