DISCOVERIES IN THE CELESTIAL SPACES. 687 



attached to the work of Copernicus, and inscribed De Hypo- 

 thesibus kujus operis ; but they are quite contrary to the 

 opinions expressed by Copernicus, and in direct contradiction 

 with his dedication to Pope Paul III. The author of these 

 prefatory remarks was, as Gassendi most expressly says, in 

 his Life of the great astronomer, a mathematician then living 

 at Nuremberg, and named Andreas Ossiander, who, together 

 with Schoner, superintended the printing of the work De 

 Revolutionibus, and who, although he makes no express decla- 

 ration of any religious scruples, appears nevertheless to have 

 thought it expedient to speak of the new views as of an 

 hypothesis, and, not like Copernicus, as of demonstrated 

 truth. 



The founder of our present system of the universe (for 

 to him incontestibly belong the most important parts of it, 

 and the grandest features of the design) was almost more 

 distinguished, if possible, by the intrepidity and confidence 

 with which he expressed his opinions, than for the knowledge 

 to which they owed their origin. He deserves to a high 

 degree the fine eulogium passed upon him by Kepler, who, in 

 the introduction to the Rudolphine Tables, says of him, 

 " Vir fuii maxima ingenio et quod in hoc exercitio (combating 

 prejudices) magni momenti est, animo liber." When Coper- 

 nicus is describing, in his dedication to the Pope, the origin 

 of his work, he does not scruple to term the opinion generally 

 expressed amongst theologians of the immobility and central 

 position of the earth "an absurd acroama," and to attack the 

 stupidity of those who adhere to so erroneous a doctrine. " If 

 even," he writes, "any empty-headed babblers (/xar 



learned world the first accurate knowledge of the Copernican system. 

 Khaaticus had resigned his professional chair at Wittenberg, in order 

 that he might enjoy the instructions of Copernicus at Frauenburg itself. 

 (Compare, on these subjects, Gassendi, pp. 310 319.) The explana- 

 tion of what Osiander was induced to add from timidity, is given by 

 Gassendi: "Andreas porro Osiander fuit, qui lion modo operaruni 

 inspector (the superintendent of the printing) fuit, sed Prsefatiunculam 

 quoque ad lectorem (tacito licet nomine) de Hypothesibus operis 

 adhibuit. Ejus in ea consilium fuit, tit, tametsi Copernicus Motum 

 Terras habuisset, non solum pro Hypothesi, sed pro vero etiam placito , 

 ipse tamen ad rem, ob illos, qui hinc offenderentur, leniendam, excu- 

 satum eum faceret, quasi talem motura non pro dogmate, sed pro 

 Hypothesi mera assumpsisset." 



