Archimedes Texts

218
differs in species from a right motion? If it be violent, how is it
that a fiery dart flying upwards, sparkling over our heads at a di
stance from the Earth, but not turning about, &c.

Of the mixt mo
tion we see not the
part that is circu
lar, because we
partake thereof.

SALV. It hath been said already very often, that the circular
motion is natural to the whole, and to its parts, whilst they are in
perfect disposure, and the right is to reduce to order the parts
disordered; though indeed it is better to say, that neither the
parts ordered or disordered ever move with a right motion, but
with one mixed, which might as well be averred meerly circular:
but to us but one part onely of this motion is visible and obser
vable, that is, the part of the right, the other part of the circular
being imperceptible to us, because we partake thereof. And this
answers to the rays which move upwards, and round about, but we
cannot distinguish their circular motion, for that, with that we our
selves move also. But I believe that this Author never thought
of this mixture; for you may see that he resolutely saith, that the
rays go directly upwards, and not at all in gyration.

SIMP. Quare centrum sphære delapsæ sub Æquatore spiram de
scribit in ejus plano: sub aliis parallelis spiram describit in cono?
sub Polo descendit in axe lineam gyralem, decurrens in superficie
cylindricâ consignatam? (In English to this purpose:) Why doth
the centre of a falling Globe under the Æquinoctial describe a
spiral line in the plane of the Æquator; and in other parallels
a spiral about a Cone; and under the Pole descend in the
axis describing a gyral line, running in a Cylindrical Supersi
cies?

SALV. Because of the lines drawn from the Centre to the cir
cumference of the sphere, which are those by which graves de
fcend, that which terminates in the Æquinoctial designeth a cir
cle, and those that terminate in other parallels describe conical
superficies; now the axis describeth nothing at all, but continueth
in its own being. And if I may give you my judgment freely, I
will say, that I cannot draw from all these Queries, any sense that
interfereth with the motion of the Earth; for if I demand of this
Author, (granting him that the Earth doth not move) what would
follow in all these particulars, supposing that it do move, as Co
pernicus will have it; I am very confident, that he would say that
all these effects would happen, that he hath objected, as inconve
niences to disprove its mobility: so that in this mans opinion ne
cessary consequences are accounted absurdities: but I beseech
you, if there be any more, dispatch them, and free us speedily
from this wearisom task.

SIMP. In this which follows he opposes Copernicus & his Sectators,
who affirm, that the motion of the parts separated from their whole,
is onely to unite themselves to their whole; but that the moving