Archimedes Texts

whilst I have a regard to form, teacheth me, that that kind of ar
gumentation affords me any necessary reason to conclude in fa
vour of the Copernican Hypothesis, that is, of the stability of
the Sun in the centre of the Zodiack, and of the mobility of
the Earth under its circumference. For although it be true, that
the said conversion of the Sun, and cirnition of the Earth being
granted, there be a necessity of discerning such and such strange
extravagancies as these in the spots of the Sun, yet doth it not
follow that arguing per conversum, from finding such like un
usual accidents in the Sun, one must of necssity conclude the
Earth to move by the circumference, and the Sun to be placed
in the centre of the Zodiack. For who shall assertain me that the
like irregularities may not as well be visible in the Sun, it being
moveable by the Ecliptick, to the inhabitants of the Earth, it
being also immoveable in the centre of the same? Unlesse you
demonstrate to me, that there can be no reason given for that ap
pearance, when the Sun is made moveable, and the Earth stable,
I will not alter my opinion and belief that the Sun moveth, and
the Earth standeth still.

Though the an
nual motion assign
ed to the Earth an
swerth to the Phæ
nomena of the so
lar spots, yet doth
it not follow by con
version that from
the Phænomena of
the spots one may
infor the annual
motion to belong to
the Earth.

SAGR. Simplicius behaveth himself very bravely, and argueth
very subtilly in defence of the cause of Aristotle and Ptolomy;
and if I may speak the truth, mythinks that the conversation of
Salviatus, though it have been but of small continuance, hath
much farthered him in discoursing silogistically. An effect which
I know to be wrought in others as well as him. But as to finding
and judging whether competent reason may be rendered of the
apparent exorbitancies and irregularities in the motions of the
spots, supposing the Earth to be immoveable, and the Sun
moveable, I shall expect that Salviatus manifest his opinion to
us, for it is very probable that he he hath considered of the
same, and collected together whatever may be said upon the
point.

SALV. I have often thought thereon, and also discoursed
thereof with my Friend and Guest afore-named; and touching
what is to be produced by Philosophers and Astronomers, in de
fence of the ancient Systeme, we are on one hand certain, cer
tain I say, that the true and pure Peripateticks laughing at such

as employ themselves in such, to their thinking, insipid foole
ries, will censure all these Phænomena to be vain illusions of the
Christals; and in this manner will with little trouble free them
selves from the obligation of studying any more upon the same.
Again, as to the Astronomical Philosophers, after we have with
some diligence weighed that which may be alledged as a mean
between those two others, we have not been able to find out an