Let it be known to you all that, whilst I was in Mantua, a certain Question arose, which, often argued according to appearance rather than to truth remained undetermined. Wherefore, since from boyhood I have ever been nurtured in love of truth, I could not bear to leave the Question I have spoken of undiscussed: rather I wished to demonstrate the truth concerning it, and likewise, hating untruth as well as loving truth, to refute contrary arguments. And lest the spleen of many, who, when the objects of their envy are absent, are wont to fabricate lies, should behind my back transform well-spoken words, I further wished in these pages, traced by my own fingers, to set down the conclusion I had reached and to sketch out, with my pen, the form of the whole controversy. THE QUESTION: IS WATER, OR THE SURFACE OF THE SEA, ANYWHERE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, OR HABITABLE DRY LAND? AFFIRMATIVE ARGUMENT: Five affirmative arguments generally accepted. _Reason 1._ Geometrical Proof: Earth and Water are spheres with different centers; the center of the Earth's sphere is the center of the universe; consequently the surface of the Water is above that of the Earth. _Reason 2._ Ethical Proof: Water is a nobler element than Earth; hence it deserves a nobler, or higher, place in the scheme of the universe. _Reason 3._ Experimental Proof: based on sailors seeing the land disappear under their horizon when at sea. _Reason 4._ Economical Proof: The supply of Water, namely, the sea, must be higher than the Earth; otherwise, as Water flows downwards, it could not reach, as it does, the fountains, lakes, etc. _Reason 5._ Astronomical Proof: Since Water follows the moon's course, its sphere must be excentric, like the moon's excentric orbit; and consequently in places be higher than the sphere of Earth. NEGATIVE ARGUMENT: These reasons unfounded. I. REFUTATION BY OBSERVATION. Water flows down to the sea from the land; hence the sea cannot be higher than the land. II. REFUTATION BY REASONING: A. _Water cannot be higher than the dry land._ _Proof_: Water could only be higher than the Earth, 1. If it were excentric, or 2. If it were concentric, but had some excrescence. But since _x_. Water naturally moves downwards, and _y_. Water is naturally a fluid body: 1. Cannot be true, for three impossibilities would follow: _a_. Water would move upwards as well as downwards; _b_. Water and Earth would move downwards in different directions; _c_. Gravity would be taught ambiguously of the two bodies. Proof of these impossibilities by a diagram.