420 THE THEORY OF THE FIRMAMENT. will appear that, even in the heavens, it is of like kind, according to a nature common or cosmical, with that we experience. In the first place, then, it is plainly evident, that it is not confined to the limits of the heavens. But the demonstrations and proofs of this matter we have fully laid down In our anticipation respecting the flowing and ebbing of the sea; therefore, to that we refer; and this being supposed and taken for granted, we will proceed to the rest of the heavenly motions. But these we have said are not cosmi cal, but reciprocal. There are four kinds of motions visible in the heavens, besides that which we have called cosmical, which is a diurnal motion in curves within the tropics. For either the stars are raised higher, and again depressed lower, as they may be farther from and nearer to the earth ; or they bend and wind themselves through the latitude of the zodiac, by running out more to the south, or more to the north, and by traversing what they call the dragons;* or they vary from an incited and also an acquisitive motion,-)" (for we join together these two,) ad vancing sometimes quicker, sometimes slower, sometimes progressively, sometimes retrogres- sively, sometimes even stopping and staying; or at a certain distance from the sun, they are more or less bound together and drawn round each other. We will recount the causes and natures of these only, generally touching the heads of each ; for our present undertaking requires that to be done in this place. But in order to this, and to secure beforehand, as well as to open the way, we must frankly declare our sentiments upon some of the maxims of philosophers, as also upon certain hypotheses of astronomers, as well as their observations during several ages, out of which materials they built up their myste ries; all which things appear to us to be full of error and confusion. Wherefore there are axioms, or rather certain conceits, which, received by philosophers, and transferred to astronomy, and unfortunately being credited, have corrupted the science. Our rejection of them will be simple, as well as our judgment upon them; for it is not suitable to waste precious time on silly refuta tions. The first of these is, that all things above the moon inclusively are incorruptible; and in no degree or form whatever do they undergo new beginnings or changes; of which it has been said elsewhere, that it is a fond and silly saying.
- The twelve signs of the zodiac, I presume ; so called
because most of them resemble some living creature ; thus, Eiirip., in Oreste, has Apaicot>rbiK, draconibns, sen angui- biis plcnus ;" or it may mean Ihe two nodes, which conies to
- .ne same thing, represented by the head and the tail of the
Dragon; for, the ascending node and Dragon s head have the same character to denote each, (Q ;) so, likewise, the descending node and Dragon s tail (Q.) f Consecution, used by Newton ; does it mean picked up on its revolution, or an orderly accompanying, &c.; a rela tive motion ; or a train of consequential motion, incitatio re- frrring l original! , Indeed, from this source proceeds that prodigious j evil, that, on the appearance of every irregularity | astronomers shape new and, as they suppose, corrected theories, and adapt causes eternal and invariable to things more frequently, as it were, fortuitous. The second is, that those turbulent actions of compression, expansion, resistance, and yielding, which seem to be produced by a certain softness and hardness of bodies, taken for elementary qua lities, are not compatible with the heavens, which is doubtless of the fifth and least elementary essence. But this assertion is a presumptuous and arbitrary reprobation of things and sense. For wheresoever any body in nature is in a state of rest, there also is a reluctance to change, and that in proportion to the size of the body. But wherever are natural bodies, and a local motion, there will take place either repulsion, or a yield ing, or resolution of motion;* for those things which have been named compactness, looseness of parts, resistance, a giving way, with many others, are what matter universally undergoes everywhere. Yet, however, from this source have come down to us all that multiplicity of orbits capriciously jumbled together, which, ne vertheless, they are pleased to say are so dis tinctly interlineated, and which move and turn within each other so evenly and glibly, that, notwithstanding their intricacy, there is no en tangling or vibration ; all which are visionary and a palpable mockery of facts. A third is, that to each individual body apper tains a peculiar and appropriate motion ; and if more motions are observable, all, except one, are extrinsic, and derived from some other moving body. Nothing falser than this can be conceived, since all bodies, from the manifold consent of things, are endued with even many motions, some denoting their nature, others waxing weaker and weaker, others even lying hid until they be drawn forth ; but there are no special or proper motions of things, except the exact measures and ratios of common motions. And hence again has been presented to us that primum mobile severed and made distinct, and heavens on heavens, and new fangled mansions contained in them, that they may suffice for the performances of so many different motions. The fourth is, that all heavenly motions are distributed through perfect circles ; which is a very cumbrous doctrine, and has produced to us those monsters of eccentric curves and epicycles ; whereas, however, had they consulted nature, a regulated and uniform motion belongs to a perfect circle ; but a motion, regulated, indeed, but of
- Sectio means, classically, a confiscation of goods, divi
sion of spoil, &c., so, possibly, hpre it may mean dissipation of motion ; if the illustrious author uses it here for secutio, (a sequor,) tln-n it HUMUS an "orderly following," (conse quents.! tiraicoAovflijiTiJ,) but such a word in such a sense is utterly unclassical.
