Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/73

 Page 48 imagine to our selves, must necessarily be either a thing already seen, or a composition of things, or parts of things seen at another time; for such are the Sphinxes, Sirenes, Chimaera's, Centaurs, &c.

I have very often let my fancy ruminate upon these speculations, and in the end, have thought that I had found some things that neither are nor can be in the Moon; but yet I have not found therein any of those which I believe are, and may be there, save onely in a very general acceptation, namely, things that adorn it by operating, moving and living; and perhaps in a way very different from ours; beholding and admiring the greatness and beauty of the World, and of its Maker and Ruler, and with continual Encomiums singing his prayses; and in summe (which is that which I intend) doing what sacred Writers so frequently affirm, to wit, all the creatures making it their perpetual imployment to laud God.

These are the things, which speaking in general terms, may be there; but I would gladly hear you instance in such as you believe neither are nor can be there; which perchance may be more particularly named.

Take notice Sagredus that this will be the third time that we have unawares by running from one thing to another, lost our principal subject; and if we continue these digressions, it will be long ere we come to a conclusion of our discourse; therefore I should judg it better to remit this, as also such other points, to be decided on a particular occasion.

Since we are now got into the Moon, if you please, let us dispatch such things as concern her, that so we be not forced to such another tedious journey.

It shall be as you would have it. And to begin with things more general, I believe that the Lunar Globe is far different from the Terrestrial, though in some things they agree. I will recount first their resemblances, and next their differences. The Moon is manifestly like to the Earth in figure, which undoubtedly is spherical, as may be necessarily concluded from the aspect of its surface, which is perfectly Orbicular, and the manner of its receiving the light of the Sun, from which, if its surface were flat, it would come to be all in one and the same time illuminated, and likewise again in another instant of time obscured, and not those parts first, which are situate towards the Sun, and the rest successively, so that in its opposition, and not till then, its whole apparent circumference is enlightned; which would happen quite contrary, if the visible surface were concave; namely, the illumination would begin from the parts opposite or averse to the Sun. Secondly she is as the Earth, in her self obscure and opacous, by which opacity it is enabled to receive, and reflect the light of the