stotle proveth with an hundred demonstrations.
Salv.All which in the end are reduced to one alone,The Demonstrations of Aristotle to prove that the Universe is finite, are all nullified by denying it to be moveable. and that one to none at all; for if I deny his assumption, to wit, that the Universe is moveable, all his demonstrations come to nothing, for he onely proveth the Universe to be finite and terminate, for that it is moveable. But that we may not multiply disputes, let it be granted for once, that the World is finite, spherical, and hath its centre. And seeing that that centre and figure is argued from its mobility, it will, without doubt, be very reasonable, if from the circular motions of mundane bodies we proceed to the particular investigation of that centres proper place:Aristotle makes that point to be the centre of the Universe about which all the Celestial Spheres do revolve. Nay Aristotle himself hath argued and determined in the same manner, making that same to be the centre of the Universe about which all the Cœlelestial Spheres revolve, and in which he beleived the Terrestrial Globe to have been placed.A question is put, in case that if Aristotle were forced to receive one of two propositions that make against his doctrine, which he would admit. Now tell me Simplicius, if Aristotle should be constrained by evident experience to alter in part this his disposure and order of the Universe, and confesse himself to have been deceived in one of these two propositions, namely, either in placing the Earth in the centre, or in saying, that the Cœlestial Spheres do move about that centre, which of the two confessions think you would he choose?
Simpl.I believe, that if it should so fall out, the Peripateticks.
Salv.I do not ask the Peripateticks, I demand of Aristotle, for as to those, I know very well what they would reply; they, as observant and humble vassals of Aristotle, would deny all the experiments and all the observations in the World, nay, would also refuse to see them, that they might not be forced to acknowledg them, and would say that the World stands as Aristotle writeth, and not as nature will have it, for depriving them of the shield of his Authority, with what do you think they would appear in the field? Tell me therefore what you are perswaded Aristotle himself would do in the case.
Simpl.To tell you the truth, I know not how to resolve which of the two inconveniences is to be esteemed the lesser.
Salv.Apply not I pray you this term of inconvenience to a thing which possibly may of necessity be so. It was an inconvenience to place the Earth in the centre of the Cœlestial revolutions; but seeing you know not to which part he would incline, I esteeming him to be a man of great judgment, let us examine which of the two choices is the more rational, and that we will hold that Aristotle would have received. Reassuming therefore our discourse from the beginning, we suppose with the good liking of Aristotle, that the World (of the magnitude of which we have no sensible notice beyond the fixed stars) as being of a sphericalfigure;
