Dialogue. IV.
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assignes a reason of the continual motion of the Eastern Winde, and also of a like motion in the Water. In the second, It would draw from the same Sourse the cause of the Ebbing and Flowing. The first part hath (as I have said) some appearance of probability, but yet extreamly less then that which we take from the Terrestrial motion. The second is not onely wholly improbable, but altogether impossible and false.A reason of the continual motion of the Air and Water may be given, making the Earth moveable, then by making it immoveable. And coming to the first, whereas it is said that the Concave of the Moon carrieth about the element of Fire, and the whole Air, even to the tops of the higher Mountains. I answer first, that it is dubious whether there be any element of Fire: But suppose there be, it is much doubted of the Orbe of the Moon, as also of all the rest; that is, Whether there be any such solid bodies and vast, or elss, Whether beyond the Air there be extended a continuate expansion of a substance of much more tenuity and purity than our Air, up and down which the Planets go wandring, as now at last a good part of those very Phylosophers begin to think:Its improbable that the element of Fire should be carried round by the Concave of the Moon. But be it in this or in that manner, there is no reason for which the Fire, by a simple contract to a superficies, which you your self grant to be smooth and terse, should be according to its whole depth carried round in a motion different from its natural inclination; as hath been defusely proved, and with sensible reasons demonstrated by †† A Treatise of our Author formerly cited. Il Saggiatore: Besides the other improbability of the said motions transfusing it self from the subtilest Fire throughout the Air, much more dense; and from that also again to the Water. But that a body of rugged and mountainous surface, by revolving in it self, should carry with it the Air contiguous to it, and against which its promontaries beat, is not onely probable but necessary, and experience thereof may be daily seen; though without seeing it, I believe that there is no judgement that doubts thereof. As to the other part, supposing that the motion of Heaven did carry round the Air, and also the Water; yet would that motion for all that have nothing to do with the Ebbing and Flowing. For being that from one onely and uniform cause, there can follow but one sole and uniform effect; that which should be discovered in the Water, would be a continuate and uniform course from East to West; and in that a Sea onely, which running compass environeth the whole Globe. But in determinate Seas, such as is the Mediterrane shut up in the East, there could be no such motion. For if its Water might be driven by the course of Heaven towards the West, it would have been dry many ages since: Besides that our Water runneth not onely towards the West, But returneth backwards towards the East, and that in ordinal Periods: And whereas you say by the example of Rivers, that though the course of the Sea were Originally that onely
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