first in that village, than the second in Rome. Similarly I would rather be first in this my own world than second in the Universe. But you must not think it is ambition that makes me desirous of changing the present state of things; it is solely my love of peace, or, more candidly, idleness. Therefore it is a small matter to me whether I am first or last in the Universe: unlike Cicero, I care more for ease than dignity. Copernicus. I also, Illustrious, have striven my utmost to obtain this ease. But, supposing your Lordship is successful in your endeavour, I doubt whether it will be of long duration. For, in the first place, I feel almost sure that before many years have elapsed you will be impelled to go winding round and round like a windlass, or a wheel, without however varying your locality. Then, after a time, you will probably be desirous of rotating round something-the Earth for instance. Ah! well, be that as it may; if you persist in your determination, I will try to serve you, in spite of the great difficulties necessarily to be overcome. If I fail, you must attribute the failure to my inability, not unwillingness. Sun. That is well, my Copernicus. Do your best. Copernicus. I fear lest I should be burnt alive for my pains. In which case, it would be improbable that I, like the Phoenix, should rise from my ashes. I should therefore never see your Lordship's face again. Sun. Listen, Copernicus. You know that once upon a time I was a prophet, when poetry ruled the world, and philosophy was scarcely hatched. I will now utter Put faith in me on the strength of It may be that my last prophecy. my former power. those who come after you, and confirm your deeds, shall be burnt, or killed in some other way; but you shall be safe, nor shall you suffer at all on account of this undertaking. And to make your safety certain, dedicate to M 1 the Pope the book you will write on the subject. If you do this, I promise that you will not even lose your canonry. 1 Copernicus did in effect dedicate his book on the "Revolution of the Celestial Bodies," the printing of which was only completed a few days before his death, to Pope Paul III. The system expounded therein was condemned by a decree of Paul V. in 1616. This condemnation remained in force until 1821, when it was revoked by Pius VII. The sun is supposed to be in the centre, and motionless; the earth and the rest of the planets move round it in elliptical orbits. The heavens and stars are supposed to be stationary, and their apparent diurnal motion from east to west is imputed to the earth's motion from west to east. DIALOGUE BETWEEN AN ALMANAC SELLER AND A PASSER-BY. Almanac Seller. Almanacs! New Almanacs! New Calendars! Who wants new Almanacs? Passer-by. Almanacs for the New Year? Alm. Seller. Yes, Sir. Passer. Do you think this New Year will be a happy one ? Alm. Seller. Yes, to be sure, Sir. Passer. As happy as last year? Passer. Why? Should you not like the New Year to resemble one of the past years? Alm, Seller. No, Sir, I should not. Passer. How many years have gone by since you began to sell almanacs? Alm. Seller. About twenty years, Sir. Passer. Which of the twenty should you wish the New Year to be like? Alm. Seller. I do not know. Passer. Do you not remember any particular year which you thought a happy one? Alm. Seller. Indeed I do not, Sir. Passer. And yet life is a fine thing, is it not? Alm. Seller. So they say. Passer. Would you not like to live these twenty years, and even all your past life from your birth, over again? Alm. Seller. Ah, dear Sir, would to God I could! Passer. But if you had to live over again the life you have already lived, with all its pleasures and sufferings? Alm. Seller. I should not like that. Passer. Then what other life would you like to live? Mine, or that of the Prince, or whose? Do you not think that I, or the Prince, or any one else, would reply exactly as you have done; and that no one would wish to repeat the same life over again? Alm. Seller. I do believe that. Passer. Then would you recommence it on this condition, if none other were offered you? Alm. Seller. No, Sir, indeed I would not. Passer. Then what life would you like? Alm. Seller. Such an one as God would give me without any conditions. Passer. A life at hap-hazard, and of which you would know nothing beforehand, as you know nothing about the New Year? Alm. Seller. Exactly. Passer. It is what I should wish, had I to live my life over again, and so would every one. But this proves that Fate has treated us all badly. And it is clear that each person is of opinion that the evil he has experienced exceeds the good, if no one would wish to be re-born on condition of living his own life over again from the beginning, with just its same proportion of good and evil. This life, which is such a fine thing, is not the life we are acquainted with, but that of which we know nothing; it is not the past life, but the future. With the New Year Fate will commence treating you, and me, and every one well, and the happy life will begin. Am I not right? Alm. Seller. Let us hope so. |