GALILEO AND HIS JUDGES. 41 



sense, according to the words of the poet, ( terraeque 

 urbesque recedunt.' ;: 



As a further illustration of the position thus taken 

 by Bellarmine and others as to the interpretation of 

 Scripture, I may here mention that some few years 

 after the prohibition of Copernican works by the 

 Index (probably about 1623), it is said that Guidacci 

 had an interview with Father Grassi, at the suggestion 

 of the Jesuit Father Tarquinio Galluzzi, and that F. 

 Grassi's words were as follows : "When a demonstration 

 of this movement [that of the Earth] shall be discovered, 

 it will be fitting to interpret Scripture otherwise than 

 has hitherto been done : this is the opinion of 

 Cardinal Bellarmine." It is not intended to deny that 

 there were those who magnified the effect of the 

 decree of the Index ; the devotees of Aristotle, who 

 had gained what was to them a great triumph, were 

 sure to make the most of it. 



