The Discovery of a World in the Moone

that

1. That you should not expect to find an exact, accurate treatise here, since this discourse was merely the fruit of some lighter studies—and those, too, huddled together in a short time. It was first conceived and finished in the space of a few weeks; therefore, you cannot reasonably expect that it should be as polished as the subject might require, or as the leisure of the author might have allowed.

2. Remember that I promise only probable arguments for the proof of this opinion; therefore, you must not expect that every consequence should have an undeniable dependence, or that the truth of each argument should be measured by its necessity. I grant that some astronomical appearances may possibly be explained otherwise than they are here. But the thing I aim at is this: that it is probable they may be explained as I have set them down here. Which, if it is granted (as I think it must be), then I...