the motions of the Solar spots, it seemeth really that such an Hypothesis ought not to be rejected.
This, Simplicius, is all that came into the minds of our friend, and my self, that could be alledged in explanation of this Phænomenon by the Copernicans, and by the Ptolomæans, in defence of their opinions. Do you inferre from thence what your judgment perswades you.
Simpl.I acknowledge my self unable to interpose in so important a decision: And, as to my particular thoughts, I will stand neutral; and yet neverthelesse I hope that a time will come, when our minds being illumin'd by more lofty contemplations than these our humane reasonings, we shall be awakened and freed from that mist which now is so great an hinderance to our sight.
Sagr.Excellent and pious is the counsel taken by Simplicius, and worthy to be entertained and followed by all, as that which being derived from the highest wisdome and supreamest authority, may onely, with security be received. But yet so far as humane reason is permitted to penetrate, confining my self within the bounds of conjectures, and probable reasons, I will say a little more resolutely than Simplicius doth, that amongst all the ingenuous subtilties I ever heard, I have never met with any thing of greater admiration to my intellect, nor that hath more absolutely captivated my judgment, (alwayes excepting pure Geometrical and Arithmetical Demonstrations) than these two conjectures taken, the one from the stations and retrogradations of the five Planets, and the other from these irregularities of the motions of the Solar spots: and because they seem to me so easily and clearly to assign the true reason of so extravagant appearances, shewing as if they were but one sole simple motion, mixed with so many others, simple likewise, but different from each other, without introducing any difficulty, rather with obviating those that accompany the other Hypothesis; I am thinking that I may rationally conclude, that those who contumaciously withstand this Doctrine, either never heard, or never understood, these so convincing arguments.
Salv.I will not ascribe unto them the title either of convincing, or non-convincing; in regard my intention is not, as I have several times told you, to resolve any thing upon so high a question, but onely to propose those natural and Astronomicall reasons, which, for the one and other Systeme, may be produced by me, leaving the determination to others; which determination cannot at last, but be very manifest: for one of the two positions being of necessity to be true, and the other of necessity to be false, it is a thing impossible that (alwayes confining our selveswithin
