Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/260

 East to West? And the annual motion of the Sun through the Ecliptick, is it not on the contrary from West to East? How then can you make these motions being conferred on the Earth, of contraries to become consistents?

Certainly, Simplicius hath discovered to us the original cause of error of this Philosopher; and in all probability he would have said the very same.

Now if it be in our power, let us at least recover Simplicius from this errour, who seeing the Stars in their rising to appear above the Oriental Horizon, will make it no difficult thing to understand, that in case that motion should not belong to the Stars, it would be necessary to confesse, that the Horizon, with a contrary motion would go down; and that consequently the Earth would reoolverevolve [sic] in it self a contrary way to that wherewith the Stars seem to move, that is from West to East, which is according to the order of the Signes of the Zodiack. As, in the next place, to the other motion, the Sun being fixed in the centre of the Zodiack, and the Earth moveable about its circumference, to make the Sun seem unto us to move about the said Zodiack, according to the order of the Signes, it is necessary, that the Earth move according to the same order, to the end that the Sun may seem to us to possesse alwayes that degree in the Zodiack, that is opposite to the degree in which we find the Earth; and thus the Earth running, verbi gratia, through Aries, the Sun will appear to run thorow Libra; and the Earth passing thorow the signe Taurus, the Sun will passe thorow Scorpio, and so the Earth going thorow Gemini, the Sun seemeth to go thorow Sagittarius; but this is moving both the same way, that is according to the order of the signes; as also was the revolution of the Earth about its own centre.

I understand you very well, and know not what to alledge in excuse of so grosse an error.

And yet, Simplicius, there is one yet worse then this; and it is, that he makes the Earth move by the diurnal motion about its own centre from East to West; and perceives not that if this were so, the motion of twenty four hours appropriated by him to the Universe, would, in our seeming, proceed from West to East; the quite contrary to that which we behold.

Oh strange! Why I, that have scarce seen the first elements of the Sphere, would not, I am confident, have erred so horribly.

Judg now what pains this Antagonist may be thought to have taken in the Books of Copernicus, if he absolutely invert the sense of this grand and principal Hypothesis, upon which is founded the whole summe of those things wherein Copernicus