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Astronomical Dialogues.
19

cle, which you now lay your fair Hand upon.

I Hope I take you right, said she; and now begin to understand better the Meaning of many Expressions which have often occurr'd to me before, but with less Light. But why do you so cautiously use the words apparently above and below?

Because, said I, Madam, there is in reality no such thing as any Difference between above and below: The Heavens are every where above or without what they contain; but we, taking our Ideas of things from ourselves, do agree to call that above or uppermost which is over our Heads, and that below, which is beneath us, or down under our Feet: And therefore as we call that Concave Half of the Region of the Fixed Stars, which we see above our Horizon, the Upper Hemisphere; so the other Half takes the Name of the Lower Hemisphere.

I am mightily pleased, said the Lady, with these Celestial Beings that are so perfectly above all the poor Trifles of Place and Station; with which we Mortals make such a bustle here below: Especially those of our Sex; as I will honestlyown