Archimedes Texts

424
those that I ever heard besides, but yet neverthelesse I esteem it
not true and concluding: but keeping alwayes before the eyes
of my mind a solid Doctrine that I have learn't from a most
learned and ingenuous person, and with which it is necessary to
sit down; I know that both you being asked, Whether God, by
his infinite Power and Wisdome might confer upon the Element
of Water the reciprocal motion which we observe in the same in
any other way, than by making the containing Vessel to move; I
know, I say, that you will answer, that he might, and knew how
to have done the same many wayes, and those unimaginable to
our shallow understanding: upon which I forthwith conclude,
that this being granted, it would be an extravagant boldnesse
for any one to goe about to limit and confine the Divine
Power and Wisdome to some one particular conjecture of
his own.

SALV. This of yours is admirable, and truly Angelical Do
ctrine, to which very exactly that other accords, in like manner
divine, which whilst it giveth us leave to dispute, touching the
constitution of the World, addeth withall (perhaps to the end,
that the exercise of the minds of men might neither be discou
raged, nor made bold) that we cannot find out the works made
by his hands. Let therefore the Disquisition permitted and or
dain'd us by God, assist us in the knowing, and so much more
admiring his greatnesse, by how much lesse we finde our selves
too dull to penetrate the profound Abysses of his infinite Wis
dome.

SAGR. And this may serve for a final close of our four dayes
Disputations, after which, if it seem good to Salviatus, to take
some time to rest himself, our curiosity must, of necessity, grant
him the same, yet upon condition, that when it is lesse incommo
dious for him, he will return and satisfie my desire in particular
concerning the Problemes that remain to be discust, and that I
have set down to be propounded at one or two other Conferen
ces, according to our agreement: and above all, I shall very
impatiently wait to hear the Elements of the new Science of our
Academick about the natural and violent local Motions. And
in the mean time, we may, according to our custome, spend an
hour in taking the Air in the Gondola that waiteth for us.