Archimedes Texts

463
Sense of Seeing, staid a whole day in the midst of Heaven, where
as at the same time to others it lay hid under the Earth. But in
cogitant persons onely look upon the contrariety of the words,
The Sun stood still, that is, The Earth stood still; not considering
that this contradiction is confined within the limits of the Op
ticks and Astronomy: For which cause it is not outwardly ex
posed to the notice and use of men: Nor will they understand
that the onely thing Joshuah prayed for, was that the Mountains
might not intercept the Sun from him; which request he expres
sed in words, that suited with his Ocular Sense: Besides it had
been very unseasonable at that time to think of Astronomy, or
the Errours in Sight; for if any one should have told him that
the Sun could not really move upon the Valley of Ajalon,, but
onely in relation to Sense, would not Joshuah have replyed, that
his desire was that the day might be prolonged, so it were by
any means whatsoever? In like manner would he have answered
if any one had started a question about the Suns Mobility, and
the Earths Motion. But God easily understood by Joshuahs
words what he asked for, and by arresting the Earths Motion,
made the Sun in his apprehension seem to stand still. For the
summ of Joshuahs Prayer amounts to no more but this, that it
might thus appear to him, let it in the mean time be what it
would of it self. For that its so seeming, was not in vain and
ridiculous, but accompanied with the desired effect. But read
the tenth Chap. of my Book, that treats of the Optick part of A
stronomy, where thou shalt finde the Reasons why the Sun doth
in this manner seem to all mens thinking to be moved, and not
the Earth; as namely, because the Sun appeareth small; and the
Earth bigg. Again, the Motion of the Sun is not discerned by
the eye, by reason of his seeming tardity, but by ratiocina
tion onely; in that after some time it varieth not its proximity to
such and such Mountains. Therefore it is impossible that Rea
son, unless it be first instructed, should frame to it self any other
apprehension, than that the Earth with Heavens Arch placed
over it, is as it were a great House, in which, being immoveable,
the Sun like a Bird flying in the Air, passeth in so small a Species
out of one Climate into another. Which imagination of all
Man-kinde being thus, gave the first line in the Sacred Leaves:
^{*} In the beginning (saith Moses) God created the Heaven and the

Earth; for that these two are most obvious to the eye. As if
Moses should have said thus to Man; This whole Mundane Fa
brick which thou seest, lucid above, and dark, and of a vast ex
tent beneath, wherein thou hast thy being, and with which thou
art covered, was created by God.