a8o . the dream of Galileo. June’. 
his scholars, carried him out to the fields at Arcetri. He 
perceived that he was advancing too far for his strength, and 
therefore intreated his conductor, with a smile, that he . 
would not, in. defiance ,of the prohibition, garry him be- 
yond the boundaries of Florence; for you know, added 
he, the solemn engagement which ;I was obliged to come 
under tothe Holy Inquisition. Viviani set him down, 
immediately, to recover his fatigue, upon .a little mount, 
where, being still: nearer to the, plants and flowers,,and ° 
sitting as it were amidst a cloud of fragrance, he recollec- 
ted that ardent desire for liberty, which had seized him. 
once at Rome upon the. approach.of the spring; and he 
was about to discharge upon his.barbarous persecutors the 
last drop of bitternefs which he had. in: his heart, when he . 
checked himself suddenly with this exprefsion; ‘ The spi-. 
rit of Copernicus must not be provoked.’ 
Viviani, who was totally ignorant of the dteam to , 
which Galileo here alluded, begged for an.explanation of 
these words ; butthe old man, who felt that the evening cy 
was too cool and moist for his weak nerves, insisted upon . 
first being carried back to the house. . 
You know, he began when. he had refrefhed himself a 
little, with what severity Iwas treated at Rome, and - 
how.long my deliverance was delayed, when I found.that all , 
the powerful intercefsions of my illustrious protectors, the 
Medicean princes, and even the recantation to which I , 
had descended, remained wholly without effect,.I threw 
myself dowh in despair upon my bed, full of the most melan- , 
choly reflections upon my fate, and af secret indignation . 
against, providence itself. So far, | exclaimed, as, thy re-. 
' collection extends, how blamelefs has:been thy course of : 
life! With what unwearied labour and zeal, for thy em- 
ployment, hast thou explored the labyrinths of a false phi-. 
losophy,.in search of that light which thou canst not find! 
Hast thou not exerted every faculty of thy soul to esta~ 
