Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/366

 of the cause, but findeth no fault with the method of it; that is, denieth that there is any mutation to be seen in the altitude of the Pole, but doth not blame the inquisition, for not being adapted to the finding of what is sought, he thereby sheweth, that he also esteeemed the Polar altitude varied, or not varied every six moneths, to be a good testimony to disprove or inferre the annual motion of the Earth.

In truth, Salviatus, my opinion also tells me, that the same must necessarily ensue: for I do not think that you will deny me, but that if we walk only 60. miles towards the North, the Pole will rise unto us a degree higher, and that if we move 60. miles farther Northwards, the Pole will be elevated to us a degree more, &c. Now if the approaching or receding 60. miles onely, make so notable a change in the Polar altitudes, what alteration would follow, if the Earth and we with it, should be transported, I will not say 60. miles, but 60. thousand miles that way.

It would follow (if it should proceed in the same proportion) that the Pole shall be elevated a thousand degrees. See, Simplicius, what a long rooted opinion can do. Yea, by reason you have fixed it in your mind for so many years, that it is Heaven, that revolveth in twenty four hours, and not the Earth, and that consequently the Poles of that Revolution are in Heaven, and not in the Terrestrial Globe, cannot now, in an hours time shake off this habituated conceipt, and take up the contrary, fancying to your self, that the Earth is that which moveth, only for so long time as may suffice to conceive of what would follow, thereupon should that lye be a truth. If the Earth Simplicius, be that which moveth in its self in twenty four hours, in it are the Poles, in it is the Axis, in it is the Equinoctial, that is, the grand Circle, described by the point, equidistant from the Poles, in it are the infinite Parallels bigger and lesser described by the points of the superficies more and lesse distant from the Poles, in it are all these things, and not in the starry Sphere, which, as being immoveable, wants them all, and can only by the imagination be conceived to be therein, prolonging the Axis of the Earth so far, till that determining, it shall mark out two points placed right over our Poles, and the plane of the Equinoctial being extended, it shall describe in Heaven a circle like it self. Now if the true Axis, the true Poles, the true Equinoctial, do not change in the Earth so long as you continue in the same place of the Earth, and though the Earth be transported, as you do please, yet you shall not change your habitude either to the Poles, or to the circles, or to any other Earthly thing; and this because, that that transposition being common to you and to all Terrestrial