Archimedes Texts

77
as to have received it for truth; but borrowing it from others, I
cannot find any reason sufficient to excuse him for not perceiving
its fallacies; and especially after he had heard the true cause of
that effect, and had it in his power to satisfie himself by a thousand
experiments, and manifest circumstances, that the same proceeded
from the reflection of the Earth, and from nothing else: and the more
this speculation makes something to be desired, in the judgment of
this Author, and of all those who give no credit to it: so much the
more doth their not having understood and remembred it, excuse
those more recess Antients, who, I am very certain, did they now
understand it, would without the least repugnance admit thereof.
And if I may freely tell you what I think, I cannot believe but
that this Modern doth in his heart believe it; but I rather think,
that the conceit he should not be the first Author thereof, did a
little move him to endeavour to suppresse it, or to disparage it at
least amongst the simple, whose number we know to be very
great; and many there are, who much more affect the nume
rous applauds of the people, than the approbation of a few not
vulgar judgments.

SAGR. Hold good Salviatus, for me thinks, I see that you
go not the way to hit the true mark in this your discourse, for these
that ^{*} confound all propriety, know also how to make themselves

Authors of others inventions, provided they be not so stale,
and publick in the Schools and Market-places, as that they are more
then notorious to every one.

SALV. Ha! well aimed, you blame me for roving from the
point in hand; but what have you to do with Schools and Mar

kets? Is it not all one whether opinions and inventions be new to
men, or the men new to them? If you ^{*} contend about the e
steem of the Founders of Sciences, which in all times do start up,

you may make your self their inventor, even to the Alphabet it
self, and so gain admiration amongst that illiterate rabble; and
though in processe of time your craft should be perceived, that
would but little prejudice your designe; for that others would
succeed them in maintaining the number of your fautors; but let
us return to prove to Simplicius the invalidity of the reasons of his
modern Author, in which there are several falsities, inconsequen

cies, and incredible Paradoxes. And first, it is false that this se
condary light is clearer about the utmost limb than in the middle
parts, so as to form, as it were, a ring or circle more bright than
the rest of its space or contence. True it is, indeed, that looking
on the Moon at the time of twilight, at first sight there is the re
semblance of such a circle, but by an illusion arising from the di
versity of confines that bound the Moons Discus, which are con
fused by means of this secondary light; forasmuch as on the part