Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/102

 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 numerous applauds of the people, than the approbation of a few not vulgar judgments.

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.

Ha! well aimed, you blame me for roving from the point in hand; but what have you to do with Schools and Markets? Is it not all one whether opinions and inventions be new to men, or the men new to them? If you *contend about the esteem 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, inconsequencies, and incredible Paradoxes. And first, it is false that this secondary 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 resemblance of such a circle, but by an illusion arising from the diversity of confines that bound the Moons Discus, which are confused by means of this secondary light; forasmuch as on the part