Mathematical Collections and Translations, in Two Tomes

by Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler,

THE

SYSTEME

OF THE

WORLD:

IN FOUR

DIALOGUES,

Wherein the Two

GRAND SYSTEMES

OF PTOLOMY and COPERNICUS

are largely discoursed of:

And the REASONS, both Phylosophical and Physical,
as well on the one side as the other, impartially
and indefinitely propounded:

By GALILEUS GALILEUS LINCEUS,
A Gentleman of FLORENCE: Extraordinary Professor of
the Mathematicks in the UNIVERSITY of PISA; and
Chief Mathematician to the GRAND DUKE of TUSCANY.

---

Englished from the Original Italian Copy, by THOMAS SALUSBURY.

---

Alcinous,
Δει δ? ελευθεριον εικα? τη γνωμη ?ν μελλ?ν?? φιλ?σοφειν.

Seneca,
Inter nullos magis quam inter PHILOSOPHOS esse debet æqua LIBERTAS.

---

LONDON,
Printed by WILLIAM LEYBOURNE MDCLXI.

To the most Serene Grand Duke

OF

TUSCANY.

Though the difference between Men and other living Creatures be very great, yet happly he that should say that he could shew little less between Man and Man would not speak more than he might prove. What proportion doth one bear to a thousand? and yet it is a common Proverb, One Man is worth a thousand, when as a thousand are not worth one. This difference hath dependence upon the different abilities of their Intellectuals; which I reduce to the being, or not being a Philosopher; in regard that Philosophy as being the proper food of such as live by it, distinguisheth a Man from the common Essence of the Vulgar in a more or less honourable degree according to the variety of that diet. In this sence he that hath the highest looks, is of highest quality; and the turning over of the great Volume of Nature, which is the proper Object of Philosophy is the way to make one look high: in which Book, although whatsoever we read, as being the Work of Almighty God, is therefore most proportionate; yet notwithstanding that is more absolute and noble wherein we more plainly deserne his art and skill. The Constitution of the Vnivers, among all Physical points that fall within Humane Comprehension, may, in my opinion, be preferred to the Precedency: for if that in regard of universal extent it excell all others, it ought as the Rule and Standard of the rest to goe before them in Nobility. Now if ever any persons might challenge to be signally distinguished for Intellectuals from other men,

With all I conceived it very proper to express these conceits by way of Dialogue, which, as not being bound up to the riggid observance of Mathematical Laws, gives place also to Digressions that are sometimes no less curious than the principal Argument.

I chanced to be several years since, at several times, in the Stupendious Citty of Venice, where I conversed with Signore Giovan Francesco Sagredo of a Noble Extraction, and piercing wit. There came thither from Florence at the same time Signore Filippo Salviati, whose least glory was the Eminence of his Blood, and Magnificence of his Estate: a sublime Wit that fed not more hungerly upon any pleasure than on elevated Speculations. In the company of these two I often discoursed of these matters before a certain Peripatetick Philosopher who seemed to have no geater obstacle in understanding of the Truth, than the Fame he had acquired by Aristotelical Interpretations.

Now, seeing that inexorable Death hath deprived Venice and Florence of those two great Lights in the very Meridian of their years, I did resolve, as far as my poor ability would permit, to perpetuate their lives to their honour in these leaves, bringing them in as Interlocutors in the present Controversy. Nor shall the Honest Peripatetick want his place, to whom for his excessive affection towards the Commentaries of Simplicius, I thought fit, without mentioning his own Name, to leave that of the Author he so much respected. Let those two great Souls, ever venerable to my heart, please to accept this publick Monument of my never-dying Love; and let the remembrance of their Eloquence assist me in delivering to Posterity the Considerations that I have promised.

There casually happened (as was usuall) several discourses at times between these Gentlemen, the which had rather inflamed than satisfied in their wits the thirst they had to be learning; whereupon they took a discreet resolution to meet together for certain dayes, in which all other business set aside, they might betake themselves more methodically to contemplate the Wonders of God in Heaven, and in the Earth: the place appointed for their meeting being in the Palace of the Noble Sagredo, after the due, but very short complements; Signore Salviati began in this manner.

The CONTENTS of the FIRST

TOME.

---

PART THE FIRST.
Treatise I.	GALILEUS GALILEUS, his Systeme of the World: in Four Dialogues.
II.	His Epistle to her Serene Highnesse CHRISTIANA LOTHERINGA GRAND DUTCHESSE of TUSCANY, touching the Ancient and Modern Doctrine of holy Fathers, and Judicious Divines, concerning the Authority of sacred Scripture in phylosophical Controversies.
III.	JOHANNES KEPLERUS, his Reconcilings of Texts of sacred scripture that seem to oppose the Doctrine of the Earths mobility: abstracted from his Introduction unto his learned Commentaries upon the Planet MARS.
IV.	DIDACUS a STUNICA, a learned Spanish divine, his Reconcilings of the said Doctrine with the Texts of sacred Scripture; abstracted from his Commentarie upon JOB.
V.	PAULUS ANTONIUS FOSCARINUS, a Carmelite, his Epistle to SEBASTIANUS FANTONUS, the General of his Order, concerning the Pythagorean and Copernican Opinion of the mobility of the Earth, and stability of the Sun; and of the new Systeme or constitution of the World: in which he reconcileth the Texts of sacred Scripture, and Assertions of Divines, commonly alledged against this Opinion.
	A Table of the most observable Persons and Matters mentioned in the First Part.
PART THE SECOND.
I.	D. BENEDICTUS CASTELLUS, Abbot of S. Benedictus Aloysius, his Discourse of the mensuration of Running Waters: The First Book.
II.	His Letter to GALILEUS, representing the state of the Lake of Perugia in Tuscany.
III.	His geometrical demonstrations of the Measure of Running Waters.
IV.	His Discourse of the mensuration of Running Waters: The Second Book.
V.	His Considerations concerning the Lake of Venice. In two discourses.
VI.	His Rule for computing the quantity of mud and sand that Land-Floods bring down to, and leave in the Lake of VENICE.
VII.	His Letter to Father FRANCESCO di S. GIVSEPPE, wherein, at the instance of PRINCE LEOPALDO, he delivereth his judgment concerning the turning Fiume Morto (a River near Pisa in Tuscany) into the Sea, and into the River Serchio.
VIII.	His second Letter in answer to certain Objections proposed, and Difficulties observed by Signore BARTOLOTTI, in that affair of the Diversion of Fiume Morto.
IX.	His Consideration upon the draining of the pontine Fenns in CALABRIA.
X.	His Consideration upon the Draining of the Territories of BOLOGNA, FERRARA, and ROMAGNA.
XI.	His Letter to D. FERRANTE CESARINI, applying his Doctrine to the mensuration of the length, and distribution of the quantity of the Waters of Rivers, Springs, Aqueducts, &c.
XII.	D. CORSINUS, Superintendent of the general drains, and President of ROMAGNA, his Relation of the state of the Waters in the Territories of BOLOGNA and FERRARA.
	A Table of the most observable Persons and Matters mentioned in the Second Part.