I hope he will communicate Copies to all those that are Students of Natures Wonders.
Sagr.This is not the first time that I have heard speak of the exquisite Learning of this Gentleman, and of his shewing himself a zealous Patron of all the Learned, and if this, or any other of his Works shall come to appear in publique, we may be aforehand assured, that they will be received, as things of great value.
Salv.Now because it is time to put an end to our Discourses, it remaineth, that I intreat you, that if, at more leasure going over the things again that have been alledged you meet with any doubts, or scruples not well resolved, you will excuse my oversight, as well for the novelty of the Notion, as for the weaknesse of my wit, as also for the grandure of the Subject, as also finally, because I do not, nor have pretended to that assent from others, which I my self do not give to this conceit, which I could very easily grant to be a Chymæra, and a meer paradox; and you Sagredus, although in the Discourses past you have many times, with great applause, declared, that you were pleased with some of my conjectures, yet do I believe, that that was in part more occasioned by the novelty than by the certainty of them, but much more by your courtesie, which did think and desire, by its assent, to procure me that content which we naturally use to take in the approbation and applause of our own matters: and as your civility hath obliged me to you; so am I also pleased with the ingenuity of Simplicius. Nay, his constancy in maintaining the Doctrine of his Master, with so much strength & undauntedness, hath made me much to love him. And as I am to give you thanks, Sagredus, for your courteous affection; so of Simplicius, I ask pardon, if I have sometimes moved him with my too bold and resolute speaking: and let him be assured that I have not done the same out of any inducement of sinister affection, but onely to give him occasion to set before us more lofty fancies that might make me the more knowing.
Simp.There is no reason why you should make all these excuses, that are needlesse, and especially to me, that being accustomed to be at Conferences and publique Disputes, have an hundred times seen the Disputants not onely to grow hot and angry at one another, but likewise to break forth into injurious words, and sometimes to come very neer to blows. As for the past Discourses, and particulatly in this last, of the reason of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea, I do not, to speak the truth, very well apprehend the same, but by that slight Idea, what ever it be, that I have formed thereof to my self, I confesse that your conceit seemeth to me far more ingenuous than any of allthose
