Forerunner of the Cosmographic Dissertations

...will find it magnificent, and will at last derive pure and sincere pleasure from these contemplations. Let those who will, therefore, despise these and similar meditations as much as they wish, and let them seek comforts, riches, and treasures from every side: let this glory suffice for Astronomers, that they write for Philosophers, not for brawlers Latin: rabulis, meaning petty lawyers or noisy, aggressive speakers.; for Kings, not for shepherds. I boldly predict that there will yet be some who will prepare for themselves a solace for their old age from this; namely, those who, while they held magistracies, conducted themselves so that they could be free in their habits of conscience and fit to enjoy these delights.

(5) There will arise again some Charles who—since Europe, while he ruled it, could not contain him—tired of empires, might be contained in the tiny cell of Saint Justus Referring to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who famously abdicated his many thrones to retire to the monastery of San Yuste in Spain.: and to whom, among so many spectacles, titles, triumphs, so many riches, cities, and kingdoms, a single Turrianic Refers to Janello Torriani, the famous clockmaker and engineer who built mechanical models of the universe for Charles V., or rather (6) a Copernican-Pythagorean Planetary Sphere might be so pleasing that he would exchange the whole world for it, and would rather rule circles with his finger than peoples with his power.

I do not say these things, most distinguished men, in order to bring a new paradox onto the stage or into the schools—that of old men becoming students—but so that it may appear what the genuine time is for gathering the harvest from these studies. For why should I feel differently about the sowing than the most prudent men of your Assembly Latin: Corona, referring to the governing Estates of Styria.; who judged these studies among the foremost which should be proposed to the youthful minds of the Nobility in your school. For they believe that no class of men is more suited to cultivating Mathematics than the Nobility: since other arts for making a living are not so necessary for them; nor are any studies more suited to the Nobility than Mathematics: because they excel beyond the rest in a certain hidden and wonderful faculty for training fierce minds toward humanity and toward a sober contempt for earthly things. Although this fruit may be obscured for the young by the difficulty and novelty of the material: yet for the old, as was just said, it reveals itself in its own time. And so far I have said these things, both concerning these present pages and concerning all Astronomy, to you lovers of Astronomy and all Literature, most distinguished men: to remind you of that which you have long held: and that this little work, which I humbly offer and dedicate, will be of some use to you, who are truly generous and truly noble: and if the discovery deserves any praise, that praise belongs in great part to you; who by your liberality and your stipend provided me with the occasions and leisure for meditating on these things in this way. Receive, therefore, most distinguished men, this symbol of a grateful mind, and accept me, a humble client into your favor, and finally (7) become accustomed to being numbered among the Atlases, Perseuses, Orions, Caesars, Alphonsos, Rudolphs Kepler lists names associated with the stars or with the great royal patrons of astronomy, such as Alfonso X of Castile and Emperor Rudolf II., and other promoters of Astronomy. Farewell. On the Ides of May: which day, a year ago, was the beginning of this labor.

Your Distinguished Lordships'

ON THE OLD DEDICATION

(1) Seven months ago.] In the year 1595, on the 9th/19th of July The double date reflects the Julian and Gregorian calendars., the day after the eighteenth birthday of the Most Serene Archduke Ferdinand—now the August Roman Emperor, and King of Hungary and Bohemia: in whose hereditary jurisdiction of Styria I was then earning my stipend—I discovered this secret: and immediately to