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Article ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE ASTRONOMER GALILEO. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Letter Of The Astronomer Galileo.
sea by the supposed motions of the earth . Something of this nature was expressed by me , at the time when I was honoured , at Padua with the attendance of Prince Gustavus of Sweden , who from his youth had travelled incognito in Italy , and settled for many months in that city with his retinue . 1 had the good fortune to gain his esteem by my new speculations and curious problems , which were daily proposed and solved by me ; at that time also he wished me to
teach him the Tuscan language . My sentiments on the motion of the earth soon after became publicly known at Rome , from a tolerablylong essay addressed to Cardinal Orsini . I then began to be openly accused as a rash and scandalous writer . After the publication of my dialogue , 1 was cited to Rome by the holy office , where 1 arrived on February the ioth 1632 and surrendered myself to the clemency of
, , that tribunal , and the sovereign pontiff , Urban VIII . who , notwithstanding all , deemed me worthy of his esteem , though I was not skilled in writing epigrams , or amorous sonnets . 1 was confined in , the delicious palace of the Trinila de Monti , the residence of the Tuscan Ambassador . ' The day afterthe commissaryfather Lancio , came to me , and
, , took me with him in a carriage ; on the road he put many questions to me , and seemed very zealous that I should repair the scandal which I had caused through Italy , by my sentiments on the motion of the earth . To all the solid and mathematical reasons which I advanced in support of my opinion , he replied , in the words of Scripture ,
Terr . ? an tern in oslermtm slabit , quia terra anient , in tetenr . mi slabil . With this conversation we at length arrived at the tribunal , situated to the west of the magnificent church of St . Peter . I was immediately conducted by the commissary to the judge , Monsignor Vitrici , with whom I found two Dominicans . They civilly requested me to produce my reasons in full congregation for my opinion ; assuring me I should be allowed ample time for ray defence , if I should be
found guilty . The Thursday following I was presented to the congregation ; aud there 1 brought forward my proofs . Unfortunately for me , they were not understood ; and , notwithstanding all my effor . 's , I had not ability enough to convince my judges . The passage from Scripture was repeatedly quoted against me . I then recollected a scriptural argument which 1 advanced , but failed of success . I
asserted that the expressions of the Bible , on the subject of the astronomical sciences , were used in conformity to ancient notions and prejudices ; and that probably the passage adduced against me was of a similar nature with one in job , xxxvii . 18 ; where it is said , that the heavens we ' re strong , -and like a polished mirror . This is said by Elihu : and it appears that he spoke according to the system of
Ptolemy , which has been demonstrated to be absurd by modern philosophy , and what may still more firmly be relied on , by sound reason . If therefore so much stress be laid on the staying of the sun b y Joshua , in order to prove that the sun moves , equal wei ght ought to be given to another passage , where it is s . ud , that heaven is composed of various heavens , like so many mirrors , The conclu-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Letter Of The Astronomer Galileo.
sea by the supposed motions of the earth . Something of this nature was expressed by me , at the time when I was honoured , at Padua with the attendance of Prince Gustavus of Sweden , who from his youth had travelled incognito in Italy , and settled for many months in that city with his retinue . 1 had the good fortune to gain his esteem by my new speculations and curious problems , which were daily proposed and solved by me ; at that time also he wished me to
teach him the Tuscan language . My sentiments on the motion of the earth soon after became publicly known at Rome , from a tolerablylong essay addressed to Cardinal Orsini . I then began to be openly accused as a rash and scandalous writer . After the publication of my dialogue , 1 was cited to Rome by the holy office , where 1 arrived on February the ioth 1632 and surrendered myself to the clemency of
, , that tribunal , and the sovereign pontiff , Urban VIII . who , notwithstanding all , deemed me worthy of his esteem , though I was not skilled in writing epigrams , or amorous sonnets . 1 was confined in , the delicious palace of the Trinila de Monti , the residence of the Tuscan Ambassador . ' The day afterthe commissaryfather Lancio , came to me , and
, , took me with him in a carriage ; on the road he put many questions to me , and seemed very zealous that I should repair the scandal which I had caused through Italy , by my sentiments on the motion of the earth . To all the solid and mathematical reasons which I advanced in support of my opinion , he replied , in the words of Scripture ,
Terr . ? an tern in oslermtm slabit , quia terra anient , in tetenr . mi slabil . With this conversation we at length arrived at the tribunal , situated to the west of the magnificent church of St . Peter . I was immediately conducted by the commissary to the judge , Monsignor Vitrici , with whom I found two Dominicans . They civilly requested me to produce my reasons in full congregation for my opinion ; assuring me I should be allowed ample time for ray defence , if I should be
found guilty . The Thursday following I was presented to the congregation ; aud there 1 brought forward my proofs . Unfortunately for me , they were not understood ; and , notwithstanding all my effor . 's , I had not ability enough to convince my judges . The passage from Scripture was repeatedly quoted against me . I then recollected a scriptural argument which 1 advanced , but failed of success . I
asserted that the expressions of the Bible , on the subject of the astronomical sciences , were used in conformity to ancient notions and prejudices ; and that probably the passage adduced against me was of a similar nature with one in job , xxxvii . 18 ; where it is said , that the heavens we ' re strong , -and like a polished mirror . This is said by Elihu : and it appears that he spoke according to the system of
Ptolemy , which has been demonstrated to be absurd by modern philosophy , and what may still more firmly be relied on , by sound reason . If therefore so much stress be laid on the staying of the sun b y Joshua , in order to prove that the sun moves , equal wei ght ought to be given to another passage , where it is s . ud , that heaven is composed of various heavens , like so many mirrors , The conclu-