Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/328

 ty, I believe that you wonder at the paucity of those who are followers of that opinion would be much diminished. But small regard in my judgement, ought to be had of such thick sculs, as think it a most convincing proof to confirm, and steadfastly settle them in the belief of the earths immobility, to see that if this day they cannot Dine at Constantinople, nor Sup in Jappan, that then the Earth as being a most grave body cannot clamber above the Sun, and then slide headlong down again; Of such as these I say, whose number is infinite, we need not make any reckoning, nor need we to record their foolieries, or to strive to gain to our side as our partakers in subul and sublime opinions, men in whose definition the kind onely is concerned, and the difference is wanting. Moreover, what ground do you think you could be able to gain, with all the demonstrations of the World upon brains so stupid, as are not able of themselves to know their down right follies? But my admiration, Sagredus, is very different from yours, you wonder that so few are followers of the Pythagorean Opinion; and I am amazed how there could be any yet left till now that do embrace and follow it: Nor can I sufficiently admire the eminencie of those mens wits that have received and held it to be true, and with the sprightlinesse of their judgements offered such violence to their own sences, as that they have been able to prefer that which their reason dictated to them, to that which sensible experiments represented most manifestly on the contrary. That the reasons against the Diurnal virtiginous revolution of the Earth by you already examined, do carry great probability with them, we have already seen; as also that the Ptolomaicks, and Aristotelicks, with all their Sectators did receive them for true, is indeed a very great argument of their efficacie; but those experiments which apertly contradict the annual motion, are of yet so much more manifestly repugnant, that (I say it again) I cannot find any bounds for my admiration, how that reason was able in Aristarchus and Copernicus, to commit such a rape upon their Sences, as in despight thereof, to make her self mistress of their credulity.

Are we then to have still more of these strong oppositions against this annual motion?

We are, and they be so evident and sensible, that if a sence more sublime and excellent than those common and vulgar, did not take part with reason, I much fear, that I also should have been much more averse to the Copernican Systeem than I have been since the time that a clearer lamp than ordinary hath enlightned me.

Now therefore Salviatus, let us come to joyn battail for every word that is spent on any thing else, I take to be cast away.