Archimedes Texts

423
I hope he will communicate Copies to all those that are Students
of Natures Wonders.

SAGR. This is not the first time that I have heard speak of
the exquisite Learning of this Gentleman, and of his shewing
himself a zealous Patron of all the Learned, and if this, or any
other of his Works shall come to appear in publique, we may be
aforehand assured, that they will be received, as things of great
value.

SALV. Now because it is time to put an end to our Discour
ses, it remaineth, that I intreat you, that if, at more leasure go
ing over the things again that have been alledged you meet
with any doubts, or scruples not well resolved, you will excuse
my oversight, as well for the novelty of the Notion, as for the
weaknesse of my wit, as also for the grandure of the Subject,
as also finally, because I do not, nor have pretended to that as
sent from others, which I my self do not give to this conceit,
which I could very easily grant to be a Chymæra, and a meer
paradox; and you Sagredus, although in the Discourses past
you have many times, with great applause, declared, that you
were pleased with some of my conjectures, yet do I believe, that
that was in part more occasioned by the novelty than by the cer
tainty of them, but much more by your courtesie, which did
think and desire, by its assent, to procure me that content which
we naturally use to take in the approbation and applause of our
own matters: and as your civility hath obliged me to you; so
am I also pleased with the ingenuity of Simplicius. Nay, his
constancy in maintaining the Doctrine of his Master, with so
much strength & undauntedness, hath made me much to love him.
And as I am to give you thanks, Sagredus, for your courteous as
fection; so of Simplicius, I ask pardon, if I have sometimes
moved him with my too bold and resolute speaking: and let him
be assured that I have not done the same out of any inducement
of sinister affection, but onely to give him occasion to set before
us more lofty fancies that might make me the more knowing.

SIMP. There is no reason why you should make all these ex
cuses, that are needlesse, and especially to me, that being accu
stomed to be at Conferences and publique Disputes, have an
hundred times seen the Disputants not onely to grow hot and an
gry at one another, but likewise to break forth into injurious
words, and sometimes to come very neer to blows. As for the
past Discourses, and particulatly in this last, of the reason of
the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea, I do not, to speak the truth,
very well apprehend the same, but by that slight Idea, what e
ver it be, that I have formed thereof to my self, I confesse that
your conceit seemeth to me far more ingenuous than any of all