Archimedes Texts

405
assignes a reason of the continual motion of the Eastern Winde,
and also of a like motion in the Water. In the second, It would
draw from the same Sourse the cause of the Ebbing and Flowing.
The first part hath (as I have said) some appearance of probabi
lity, but yet extreamly less then that which we take from the
Terrestrial motion. The second is not onely wholly improbable,
but altogether impossible and false. And coming to the first,

whereas it is said that the Concave of the Moon carrieth about
the element of Fire, and the whole Air, even to the tops of the
higher Mountains. I answer first, that it is dubious whether
there be any element of Fire: But suppose there be, it is much
doubted of the Orbe of the Moon, as also of all the rest; that is,
Whether there be any such solid bodies and vast, or elss, Whether
beyond the Air there be extended a continuate expansion of a
substance of much more tenuity and purity than our Air, up and
down which the Planets go wandring, as now at last a good part
of those very Phylosophers begin to think: But be it in this or in

that manner, there is no reason for which the Fire, by a simple
contract to a superficies, which you your self grant to be smooth
and terse, should be according to its whole depth carried round in
a motion different from its natural inclination; as hath been de
fusely proved, and with sensible reasons demonstrated by^{+} Il Sag-

giatore: Besides the other improbability of the said motions
transfusing it self from the subtilest Fire throughout the Air, much
more dense; and from that also again to the Water. But that
a body of rugged and mountainous surface, by revolving in it
self, should carry with it the Air contiguous to it, and against
which its promontaries beat, is not onely probable but necessary,
and experience thereof may be daily seen; though without see
ing it, I believe that there is no judgement that doubts thereof.
As to the other part, supposing that the motion of Heaven did
carry round the Air, and also the Water; yet would that motion
for all that have nothing to do with the Ebbing and Flowing.
For being that from one onely and uniform cause, there can fol

low but one sole and uniform effect; that which should be disco
vered in the Water, would be a continuate and uniform course
from East to West; and in that a Sea onely, which running com
pass environeth the whole Globe. But in determinate Seas, such
as is the Mediterrane shut up in the East, there could be no such
motion. For if its Water might be driven by the course of
Heaven towards the West, it would have been dry many ages
since: Besides that our Water runneth not onely towards the
West, But returneth backwards towards the East, and that in or
dinal Periods: And whereas you say by the example of Rivers,
that though the course of the Sea were Originally that onely