Do you wish from slight indications to have a proof of
the moon’s size? All the towns in the world, however
distant from each other, equally receive the light from the moon in
those streets that are turned towards its rising. If she did not
look on all face to face, those only would be entirely lighted up which
were exactly opposite; as to those beyond the extremities of her disc,
they would only receive diverted and oblique rays. It is this
effect which the light of lamps produces in houses; if a lamp is
surrounded by several persons, only the shadow of the person who is
directly opposite to it is cast in a straight line, the others follow
inclined lines on each side. In the same way, if the body of the
moon were not of an immense and prodigious size she could not extend
herself alike to all. In reality, when the moon rises in the
equinoctial regions, all equally enjoy her light, both those who
inhabit the icy zone, under the revolutions of the Bear, and those who
dwell in the extreme south in the neighbourhood of the torrid
zone. She gives us an idea of her size by appearing to be face to
face with all people. Who then can deny the immensity of a body
which divides itself equally over such a wide extent?