Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/164

 And cannot you, Simplicius, give a reason for this, without others prompting you?

Very good, I can so; but leave your jeering.

In like manner you do know the reason of this other also. Tell me therefore; know you that a thing which moveth, being impeded stands still?

I know it doth, if the impediment be so great as to suffice.

Do you know, that moving upon the Earth is a greater impediment to the moveable, than moving in the air, the Earth being rough and hard, and the air soft and yielding?

And knowing this, I know that the top will turn faster in the air, than on the ground, so that my knowledg is quite contrary to what you think it.

Fair and softly, Simplicius. You know that in the parts of a moveable, that turneth about its centre, there are found motions towards all sides; so that some ascend, others descend; some go forwards, others backwards?

I know it, and Aristotle taught me the same.

And with what demonstration, I pray you?

With that of sense.

Aristotle, then, hath made you see that which without him you would not have seen? Did he ever lend you his eyes? You would say, that Aristotle hath told, advertised, remembered you of the same; and not taught you it. When then a top, without changing place, turns round, (or in the childrens phrase, sleepeth) not paralel, but erect to the Horizon, some of its parts ascend, and the opposite descend; the superiour go one way, the inferiour another. Fancie now to your self, a top, that without changing place, swiftly turns round in that manner, and stands suspended in the air, and that in that manner turning, it be let fall to the Earth perpendicularly, do you believe, that when it is arrived at the ground, it will continue to turn round in the same manner, without changing place, as before?

No, Sir.

What will it do then?

It will run along the ground very fast.

And towards what part?

Towards that, whither its * reeling carrieth it.

In its reeling there are parts, that is the uppermost, which do move contrary to the inferiour; therefore you must instance which it shall obey: for as to the parts ascending and descending, the one kind will not yield to the other; nor will they all go downwards, being hindered by the Earth, nor upwards as being heavy.