Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/212

 incavity one may form Spheres of several magnitudes. But what is required to the making of an Horse, or (as you say) of a Grass-hopper, I leave to you to judge, who know that there are but few statuaries in the world able to undertake such a piece of work. And I think that herein Simplicius will not dissent from me.

I know not whether I do at all dissent from you; my opinion is this, that none of the afore-named figures can be perfectly obteined; but for the approaching as neer as is possible to the most perfect degree, I believe that it is incomparably more easie to reduce the Solid into a Spherical figure, than into the shape of an Horse, or Grasse-hopper?

And this greater difficulty, wherein think you doth it depend?

Like as the great facility in forming the Sphere ariseth from its absolute simplicity and uniformity so the great irregularity rendereth the construction of all other figures difficult.

Therefore the irregularity being the cause of the difficulty, than the figure of a stone broken with an hammer by chance, shall be one of the figures that are difficult to be introduced, it being perhaps more irregular than that of the horse?

So it should be.

But tell me; that figure what ever it is which the stone hath, hath it the same in perfection, or no?

What it hath, it hath so perfectly, that nothing can be more exact.

Then, if of figures that are irregular, and consequently hard to be procured, there are yet infinite which are most perfectly obteined, with what reason can it be said, that the most simple, and consequently the most easie of all, is impossible to be procured?

Gentlemen, with your favour, I may say that we have sallied out into a dispute not much more worth than the wool of a goat; and whereas our argumentations should continually be conversant about serious and weighty points, we consume our time in frivolous and impertinent wranglings. Let us call to minde, I pray you, that the search of the worlds constitution, is one of the greatest and noblest Problems that are in nature; and so much the greater, inasmuch as it is directed to the resolving of that other; to wit, of the cause of the Seas ebbing and flowing, enquired into by all the famous men, that have hitherto been in the world, and possibly found out by none of them. Therefore if we have nothing more remaining for the full confutation of the argument taken from the Earths vertigo, which was the last, alledged to prove its immobility upon its own centre, let us passe to the examination of those things that are alledged for, and against the Annual Motion.