1 68 A Short History of Astronomy [CH. vi. 



correctly with a problem of which the vastly more powerful 

 resources of modern science can only give an imperfect 

 solution (cf. chapter XL, 248, and chapter xm., 292). 



131. The book as a whole was in effect, though not in 

 form, a powerful indeed unanswerable plea for Copper- 

 nicanism. Galilei tried to safeguard his position, partly 

 by the use of dialogue, and partly by the very remarkable 

 introduction, which was not only read and approved by the 

 licensing authorities, but was in all probability in part 

 the composition of the Roman censor and of the Pope. 

 It reads to us like a piece of elaborate and thinly veiled 

 irony, and it throws a curious light on the intelligence 

 or on the seriousness of the Pope and the censor, that 

 they should have thus approved it : 



"Judicious reader, there was published some years since in 

 Rome a salutiferous Edict, that, for the obviating of the dangerous 

 Scandals of the present Age, imposed a reasonable Silence upon 

 the Pythagorean Opinion of the Mobility of the Earth. There 

 want not such as unadvisedly affirm, that the Decree was not 

 the production of a sober Scrutiny, but of an illformed passion ; 

 and one may hear some mutter that Consultors altogether 

 ignorant of Astronomical observations ought not to clipp the 

 wings of speculative wits with rash prohibitions. My zeale 

 cannot keep silence when I hear these inconsiderate complaints. 

 I thought fit, as being thoroughly acquainted with that prudent 

 Determination, to appear openly upon the Theatre of the World 

 as a Witness of the naked Truth. I was at that time in Rome, 

 and had not only the audiences, but applauds of the most 

 Eminent Prelates of that Court ; nor was that Decree published 

 without Previous Notice given me thereof. Therefore it is my 

 resolution in the present case to give Foreign Nations to see, 

 that this point is as well understood in Italy, and particularly 

 in Rome, as Transalpine Diligence can imagine it to be : and 

 collecting together all the proper speculations that concerne the 

 Copernican Systeme to let them know, that the notice of all 

 preceded the Censure of the Roman Court; and that there 

 proceed from this Climate not only Doctrines for the health of 

 the Soul, but also ingenious Discoveries for the recreating of 

 the Mind. ... I hope that by these considerations the world 

 will know, that if other Nations have Navigated more than we, 

 we have not studied less than they ; and that our returning to 

 assert the Earth's stability, and to take the contrary only for 

 a Mathematical Capriccio, proceeds not from inadvertency of 

 what others have thought thereof, but (had one no other 



