Thomas Hariot, the Mathematician, the Philosopher and the Scholar — John Shaqi
Thomas Hariot, the Mathematician, the Philosopher and the ScholarStevens, Henry
Philosophy
Thomas Hariot, the Mathematician, the Philosopher and the Scholar
Stevens, Henry
Harriot, Thomas, 1560-1621; Hercules Club
2° His elliptical iter planetarum. for me thinks it shiews a Way to the
folving of the unknown walks of comets. For ai his Ellipfis in the
Earths motion is more a circle _[here endeth Dr Zacb’s fragment, and
here beginneth the continuation from tie original in the Britith
Museum]_ and in Mars is more longe and in some of the other planets may
be longer againe so in thos commets that are appeard fixed the ellipsis
may be neere a right line.
3. His phansie of ecliptica media or his via regia of the sun, vnto wch
the walke of al the other planets is obliqj more or lesse; even the
ecliptica uera under wch the earth walkes his yeares journie; by wch he
solues handsomelie the mutation of the starres latitudes. Indeed I am
much delighted with his booke, but he is so tough in rnanie places as I
cannot bite him. I pray write me some instructions in your next, how I
may deale with him to ouermaster him for I am readie to take paines, te
modo jura dantem indigeo, dictatorem exposco. But in his booke I am
much out of loue with thes particulars. I. First his manie and
intolerable atechnies, whence deriue thos manie and vncertaine assayes
of calculation. 2. His finding fault with Vieta for mending the like
things in Ptol: Cop..... but se the justice Vieta speakes sleightlie of
Copernicus a greater then Atlas. Kepler speakes as slightlie of Vieta,
a greater then Appollonius whom Kepler everie wher admires. For
whosoever can doe the things that Kepler cannot doe, shalbe to him
great Appollonius. But enough of Kepler let me once againe intreate
your counsel how to read him with best profit, for I am wholie
possessed with Astronomical speculations and desires. For your
declaration of Vieta’s appendicle it is so full and plaine, as you haue
aboundantlie satisfyed my desire, for wch I yield you the thankes I
ought, onlie in a word tell me whether by it he can solue Copernicus, 5
cap: of his 5. booke. The last of Vieta’s probleames you leaue to
speake of because (you say) I had a better of you, wch was more
vniuersal and more easilie demonstrated, and findeth the point, E. as
wel out of the plaine of the triangle giuen, as in the plaine. I pray
here helpe my memorie or vnderstand-inge, for although I haue bethought
my selfe vsq ad insaniam, I cannot remember or conceaue what
proposition you meane. If I haue had such a one of you, tel me what one
it is and by what tokens I may know it ; If I haue not had, then let me
now haue it, for you know how much I loue your things and of all wayes
of teaching for richnesse and fullnesse for stuffe and forme, yours
vnto me are incomparablie most satisfactorie. If your leasure giue you
leaue imparte also unto me somewhat els of your riches in this
argument.
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