Archimedes Texts

415
greater and lesser. Now you see that the cause of the Monethly
Period resideth in the annual motion; and withal you see how
much the Moon is concerned in this business, and how it is there
with interrupted apart, without having any thing to do with either,
with Seas or Waters.

The Earths an
nual motion by the
Ecliptick, unequal
by means of the
Moons motion.

SAGR. If one that never had seen any kinde of Stairs or La
der, were shewed a very high Tower, and asked if ever he hoped
to climb to the top of it, I verily believe that he would answer he
did not, not conceiving how one should come thither any way
except by flying; but shewing him a stone of but a foot high, and
asking him whether he thought he could get to the top of that,
I am certain that he would answer he could; and farther, that he
would not deny, but that it was not onely one, but ten, twenty,
and an hundred times easier to climb that: But now if he should
be shewed the Stairs, by means whereof, with the facility by him
granted, it is possible to get thither, whither he a little before had
affirmed it was impossible to ascend, I do think that laughing at
himself he would confess his dulness of apprehension. Thus,
Salviatus, have you step by step so gently lead me, that, not
without wonder, I finde that I am got with small pains to that
height which I despaired of arriving at. 'Tis true; that the Stair
case having been dark, I did not perceive that I was got nearer
to, or arrived at the top, till that coming into the open Air I dis
covered a great Sea, and spacious Country: And as in ascending
one step, there is no labour; so each of your propositions by it
self seemed to me so plain, that thinking I heard but little or no
thing that was new unto me, I conceived that my benefit thereby
had been little or none at all: Whereupon I was the more ama
zed at the unexpected exit of this discourse, that hath guided me
to the knowledge of a thing which I held impossible to be de
monstrated. One doubt onely remains, from which I desire to
be freed, and this it is; Whether that if the motion of the Earth
together with that of the Moon under the Zodiack are irregular
motions, those irregularities ought to have been observed and ta
ken notice of by Astronomers, which I do not know that they
are: Therefore I pray you, who are better acquainted with these
things than I, to free me from this doubt, and tell me how the
case stands.

SALV. You ask a rational question, and answering to the Ob

jection, I say; That although Astronomy in the courses of many
ages hath made a great progress in discovering the constitution
and motions of the Celestial bodies, yet is it not hitherto arrived
at that height, but that very many things remain undecided, and
haply many others also undiscovered. It is to be supposed that the
first observers of Heaven knew no more but one motion common