Archimedes Texts

SALV. Now I remember the rest, and to proceed, Methinks
there are some things in the answer of Anti-Tycho, worthy of
reprehension. And first, if the two New Stars, which he can do
no less than place in the uppermost parts of the Heavens, and
which were of a long duration, but finally vanished, give him no
obstruction in maintaining the inalterability of Heaven, in that
they were not certain parts thereof, nor mutations made in the
antient Stars, why doth he set himself so vigorously and earnestly
against the Comets, to banish them by all ways from the Cœle
stial Regions? Was it not enough that he could say of them
the same which he spoke of the New stars? to wit, that in re
gard they were no certain parts of Heaven, nor mutations made
in any of the Stars, they could no wise prejudice either Heaven,
or the Doctrine of Aristotle? Secondly, I am not very well satis
fied of his meaning; when he saith that the alterations that should
be granted to be made in the Stars, would be destructive to the
prerogative of Heaven; namely, its incorruptibility, &c. and
this, because the Stars are Cœlestial substances, as is manifest
by the consent of every one; and yet is nothing troubled that

the same alterations should be made ^{*} without the Stars in the rest
of the Cœlestial expansion. Doth he think that Heaven is no
Cœlestial substance? I, for my part, did believe that the Stars
were called Cœlestial bodies, by reason that they were in Hea
ven, or for that they were made of the substance of Heaven;
and yet I thought that Heaven was more Cœlestial than they; in
like sort, as nothing can be said to be more Terrestrial, or more
fiery than the Earth or Fire themselves. And again, in that he ne
ver made any mention of the Solar spots, which have been evi
dently demonstrated to be produced, and dissolved, and to be
neer the Sun, and to turn either with, or about the same, I have
reason to think that this Author probably did write more for others
pleasure, than for his own satisfaction; and this I affirm, foras
much as he having shewn himself to be skilful in the Mathema
ticks, it is impossible but that he should have been convinced by
Demonstrations, that those substances are of necessity contigu
ous with the body of the Sun, and are so great generations and
corruptions, that none comparable to them, ever happen in the
Earth: And if such, so many, and so frequent be made in the
very Globe of the Sun, which may with reason be held one of the
noblest parts of Heaven, what should make us think that others
may not happen in the other Orbs?

Generability and
alteration is a
greater perfection
in the Worlds bo
dies than the con
trary qualities.

SAGR. I cannot without great admiration, nay more, deni
al of my understanding, hear it to be attributed to natural bodies,
for a great honour and perfection that they are ^{*} impassible, im
mutable, inalterable, &c. And on the contrary, to hear it to