18 GALILEO GALILEI. 



intend leaving home so soon, because I shall have 

 to do without you, and for a long time too, if I am 

 not mistaken. And your lordship may believe 

 that I am speaking the truth when I say that ex- 

 cept you there is not a creature who gives me 

 any comfort. But I will not grieve at your de- 

 parture because of this, for that would be to com- 

 plain when you had cause for rejoicing. Therefore 

 I too will rejoice, and continue to pray God to give 

 you grace and health to make a prosperous journey, 

 so that you may return satisfied, and live long and 

 happily, all which, I trust, will come to pass by 

 God's help. 



" I send two baked pears for these days of vigil. 

 But as the greatest treat of all, I send you a rose, 

 which ought to please you extremely, seeing what 

 a rarity it is at this season. And with the rose, 

 you must accept its thorns, which represent the 

 bitter passion of our Lord, while the green leaves 

 represent the hope we may entertain that through 

 the same Sacred Passion we, having passed through 

 the darkness of this short winter of our mortal life, 

 may attain to the brightness and felicity of an 

 eternal spring in heaven." 



"Only in one respect does cloister life weigh 

 heavily on me ; that is, that it prevents my attend- 

 ing on you personally, which would be my desire, 

 were it permitted. My thoughts are always with 

 you." 



And so the seven years of study went by, with 

 the sweet love of Maria Celeste to brighten them. 



