things;Motion where it is common, is as if it never were. and that motion where it is common, is as if it never were; and as you change not habitude to the Terrestrial Poles (habitude I say, whether that they rise, or descend) so neither shall you change position to the Poles imagined in Heaven; alwayes provided that by Celestial Poles we understand (as hath been already defined) those two points that come to be marked out by the prolongation of the Terrestrial Axis unto that length. Tis true those points in Heaven do change, when the Earths transportment is made after such a manner, that its Axis cometh to passe by other and other points of the immoveable Celestial Sphere, but our habitude thereunto changeth not, so as that the second should be more elevated to us than the first. If any one will have one of the points of the Firmament, which do answer to the Poles of the Earth to ascend, and the other to descend, he must walk along the Earth towards the one, receding from the other, for the transportment of the Earth, and with it us our selves, (as I told you before) operates nothing at all.
Sagr.Permit me, I beseech you Salviatus, to make this a little more clear by an example, which although grosse, is acommodated to this purpose.An example fitted to prove that the altitude of the Pole ought not to vary by means of the Earths annual motion. Suppose your self, Simplicius, to be aboard a Ship, and that standing in the Poope, or Hin-deck; you have directed a Quadrant, or some other Astronomical Instrument, towards the top of the Top-gallant-Mast, as if you would take its height, which suppose it were v. gr. 40. degrees, there is no doubt, but that if you walk along the ** Corsia, the bank or bench on which slaves sit in a Gally. Hatches towards the Mast 25. or 30. paces; and then again direct the said Instrument to the same Top-Gallant-Top. You shall find its elevation to be greater, and to be encreased v. gr. 10. degrees; but if instead of walking those 25. or 30. paces towards the Mast, you stand still at the Sterne, and make the whole Ship to move thitherwards, do you believe that by reason of the 25. or 30. paces that it had past, the elevation of the Top-Gallant-Top would shew 10. degrees encreased?
Simpl.I believe and know that it would not gain an hairs breadth in the passing of 30. paces, nor of a thousand, no nor of an hundred thousand miles; but yet I believe withal that looking through the sights at the Top and Top-Gallant, if I should find a fixed Star that was in the same elevation, I believe I say, that, holding still the Quadrant, after I had sailed towards the star 60. miles, the eye would meet with the top of the said Mast, as before, but not with the star, which would be elevated to me one degree.
Sagr.Then you do not think that the sight would fall upon that point of the Starry Sphere, that answereth to the direction of the Top-Gallant Top?
Simpl.
