2. The water, by reason of the smoothnesse of its superficies, seemes better able to reflect the Sun beames then the earth, which in most places is so full of ruggednesse of grasse and trees, and such like impediments of reflection, and besides, cõmon experience shewes, that the water shines with a greater and more glorious brightnesse then the earth, therefore it should seeme that the spots are the earth, and the brighter parts the water. But to the first it may be answered. 1. There is no great probability in this consequence, that because ’tis so with us, therefore it must be so with the parts of the Moone, for since there is such a difference betwixt them in divers other respects, they may not, perhaps, agree in this. 2. That assertion of _Scaliger_ is not by all granted for a truth. _Fromondus_[1] with others, thinke, that the superficies of the Sea and Land in so much of the world as is already discovered, is equall, and of the same extension. [Sidenote 1: _De Meteoris l. 5. c. 1. Art. 1._] 3. The Orbe of thicke and vaporous aire which encompasses the Moone, makes the brighter parts of that Planet appeare bigger then in themselves they are; as I shall shew afterwards. To the second it may be answered, that though the water be of a smooth superficies, and so may seeme most fit to reverberate the light, yet because ’tis of a perspicuous nature, therefore the beames must sinke into it, and cannot so strongly and clearely be reflected. _Sicut in speculo ubi plumbum abrasum fuerit_, (saith _Cardan_) as in Looking-glasses where part of the lead is raized off, and nothing left behind to reverberate the image, the species must there passe through and not backe againe; so it is where the beames penetrate and sinke into the substance of the body, there cannot be such an immediate and strong reflection as when they are beate backe from the superficies, and therefore the Sunne causes a greater heate by farre upon the Land then upon the water. Now as for that experiment, where ’tis said, that the waters have a greater brightness then the Land: I answer, ’tis true onely there where they represent the image of the Sunne or some bright cloud, and not in other places, as is very plaine by common observation. So that notwithstanding those doubts, yet this Proposition may remaine true, that the spots may be the Sea, and the brighter parts the Land. Of this opinion was _Plutarch_: unto him assented _Keplar_ and _Galilæus_, whose words are these, _Si quis veterum Pythagoræorum sententiam excuscitare velit, lunam scilicet esse quasi tellurem alteram, ejus pars lucidior terrenam superficiem, obscurior verò aqueam magis congruè repræsentet. Mihi autem dubium fuit numquam terrestris globi à longè conspecti, atque a radiis solaribus perfusi, terream superficiem clariorem, obscuriorem verò aqueam sese in conspectum daturam._[1]