Archimedes Texts

303
to conside so much in that which reason dictated to them, as that
they have considently affirmed that the structure of the Universe
could have no other figure than that which they designed to them
selves. There are also several other very serious and curious doubts,
not so easie to be resolved by the middle sort of wits, but yet pe
netrated and declared by Coperninus, which we shall defer till by
and by, after we have answered to other objections that seem to
make against this opinion. Now coming to the declarations and
answers to those three before named grand Objections, I say, that
the two first not onely contradict not the Copernican Systeme, but

greatly and absolutely favour it; For both Mars and Venus seems
unequal to themselves, according to the proportions assigned; and
Venus under the Sun seemeth horned, and goeth changing figures
in it self exactly like the Moon.

Venus, according
to Copernicus, ei
ther lucid in it
self, or else of a
transparent sub
stance.

Copernicus speak
eth nothing of the
small variation of
bigness in Venus
and in Mars.

SAGR. But how came this to be concealed from Copernicus,
and revealed to you?

SALV. These things cannot be comprehended, save onely by
the sense of seeing, the which by nature was not granted to man
so perfect, as that it was able to attain to the discovery of such dif
ferences; nay even the very instrument of sight is an impediment
to it self: But since that it hath pleased God in our age to vouch
safe to humane ingenuity, so admirable an invention of perfecting
our sight, by multiplying it four, six, ten, twenty, thirty, and four
ty times, infinite objects, that either by reason of their distance, or
for their extream smallnesse were invisible unto us, have by help
of the Telescope been rendered visible.

SAGR. But Venus and Mars are none of the objects invisible
for their distance or smallnesse, yea, we do discern them with our
bare natural sight; why then do we not distinguish the differences
of their magnitudes and figures?

SALV. In this, the impediment of our very eye it self hath a

great share, as but even now I hinted, by which the resplendent and
remote objects are not represented to us simple and pure; but gives
them us fringed with strange and adventitious rayes, so long and
dense, that their naked body sheweth to us agrandized ten, twen
ty, an hundred, yea a thousand times more than it would appear, if
the capillitious rayes were taken away.

Thereason whence
it happens that Ve
nus and Mars do
not appear to vary
magnitude so much
as is requisite.

SAGR. Now I remember that I have read something on this
subject, I know not whether in the Solar Letters, or in the Sag
giatore of our common Friend, but it would be very good, aswell
for recalling it into my memory, as for the information of Simpli
cius, who it may be never saw those writings, that you would de
clare unto us more distinctly how this businesse stands, the know
ledge whereof I think to be very necessary for the assisting of us to
understand that of which we now speak.