616 GalileOf and the Copernicmi Systeyn. [June, 



of his scholars ; and from the letters with which NiccoHni, the ambassador of the 

 Grand Duke, through the Secretary of State, Bali Cioli, apprised his master of 

 every occurrence that happened daily to Galileo. The conduct pursued towards 

 this celebrated man was certainly not justifiable throughout. On this occasion 

 too much reliance was placed on the Peripatetic philosophers, who, unable to 

 answer the arguments of Galileo, " non ebbi per risposta, che un' alzata di 

 spalle," says he, " solito rifugio di chi e persuaso per pregiudizio e per antici- 

 pata opinione," shielded themselves under the authority of Scripture ; sufficient 

 inquiry was not made whether or not the reasoning of Galileo, was so strong as 

 to allow of the literal sense being abandoned, and it was assumed that the text 

 admitted no other interpretation. All thii cannot be denied, any more than that 

 Galileo was himself highly instrumental in drawing down his own condemnation, 

 and that if he had been, if not more exact in observing, at least more cautious in 

 transgressing, the prohibition he had received ; if he had less exasperated his 

 rivals and his censors, and not shown a disposition to make them appear ridi- 

 culous, his opinions would have been left in that tranquillity which they had 

 enjoyed for a long time before. — Tiraboschi. 



THE JOURNAL OF CHILDHOOD, 



" And she would look upon the ocean blue. 

 With thoughts and feelings known but to the few." 



I. 



How beautiful is Ocean ! By its tide, 



As though my sandals to the beach were grown, 



I've staid, when first the Indian was descried, 



Till her firm anciior over deck was thrown ; 



Her name, her mariners to me unknown ; 



Yet, to an ardent gaze, it might appear 



As though she felt this kingdom were her own; 



And with augmented energies did steer. 



Touched by the loadstone home, that lay so near. 



II. 



Driving impetuous as the mountain bird, 

 That left her offspring in its lofty crest ; 

 And when returning near, some sound has heard. 

 Or sign has noticed of her eyrie's nest. 

 The natural impulse glowing in her breast ; 

 Through the blue ether faster on she springs, 

 Nor turns aside for prey, nor stops to rest. 

 Till the hard rock has felt her beating wings, 

 And the young eaglet to her bosom clings. 



III. 



Blue skies were then above me, and the deep 



Seemed hushed and cradled for a summer's rest; 



Fixed in its beauty, as a babe asleep. 



Who smiles unchanging in its pearly vest. 



Or dimples, as the zephyrs fan its breast. 



These were bright moments (oh, remembered well !) 



When I came thither an enamoured guest, 



And almost listened for the sea-maid's shell, 



And all the enchanting sounds of which youth's legends tell. 



