Archimedes Texts

236
dissenteth from the doctrine of Aristotle and Ptolomy. As again,

to this third motion, which the Author assignes to the Terrestrial
Globe, as the judgment of Copernicus, I know not which he would
mean thereby: it is not that questionlesse, which Copernicus as
cribes unto it conjunctly with the other two, annual and diurnal,
which hath nothing to do with declining towards the South and
North; but onely serveth to keep the axis of the diurnal revoluti
on continually parallel to it self; so that it must be confest, that
either the Authour did not understand this, or that else he dissem
bled it. But although this great mistake sufficeth to free us from
any obligation of a farther enquiry into his objections; yet ne
verthelesse I shall have them in esteem; as indeed they deserve to
be valued much before the many others of impertinent Antago
nists. Returning therefore to his objection, I say, that the two
motions, annual and diurnal, are not in the least contrary, nay are
towards the same way, and therefore may depend on one and the
same principle. The third is of it self, and voluntarily so consequen
tial to the annual, that we need not trouble our selves (as I shall
shew in its place) to study for principles either internal or external,
from which, as from its cause, to make it produced.

By another gross
error it is seen that
the Antagonist had
but little studied
Copernicus.

It is questioned,
whether the oppo
nent understood
the third motion
assigned to the
Earth by Coperni
cus.

SAGR. I shall also, as being induced thereto by natural reason,
say something to this Antagonist. He will condemn Copernicus,
unlesse I be able to answer him to all objections, and to satisfie
him in all questions he shall ask; as if my ignorance were a neces
sary argument of the falshood of his Doctrine. But if this way of
condemning Writers be in his judgment legal, he ought not to
think it unreasonable, if I should not approve of Arîstotle and Pto
lomy, when he cannot resolve, better than my self, those doubts
which I propound to him, touching their Doctrine. He asketh me,
what are the principles by which the Terrestrial Globe is moved

with the Annual motion through the Zodiack, and with the Diur
nal through the Equinoctial about its own axis. I answer, that
they are like to those by which Saturn is moved about the Zodi
ack in thirty years, and about its own centre in a much shorter
time along the Equinoctial, as the collateral apparition and oc
cultation of its Globes doth evince. They are principles like to
those, whereby he scrupleth not to grant, that the Sun runneth tho
row the Ecliptick in a year, and revolveth about its own centre
parallel to the Equinoctial in lesse than a moneth, as its spots doth
sensibly demonstrate. They are things like to those whereby the
Medicean Stars run through the Zodiack in twelve years, and
all the while revolve in small circles, and short periods of time a
bout Jupiter.

The same argu
ment answered by
examples of the
like motions in o
ther cœlestial bo
dies.

SIMP. This Author will deny all these things, as delusions of
the fight, caused by the crystals of the Telescope.