TO THE READER.

it is. And since many and great men of our own and earlier times—who were no less knowledgeable in sacred than in worldly literature—have shared that same opinion following those ancient Pythagoreans Followers of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras; some later Pythagoreans were among the first to suggest the Earth moves rather than stays still at the center of the universe. and remain in it still, one must not rashly assume them to be impious or ignorant. These matters have been brilliantly examined, like many others, by the Italian philosopher, theologian, and monk of now-famous name, Tommaso Campanella, in the present treatise which we have wished to share with you, Kind Reader.

Lest you think he is the only Italian of this profession to hold this opinion, you may add the notable and lengthy Epistle of Master Paolo Antonio Foscarini, a Carmelite, concerning the consideration of the opinion of the Pythagoreans and Copernicus, regarding the mobility of the Earth and the stability of the Sun, and about the new Pythagorean system of the World. This was written to Master Sebastiano Fantone, GENERAL The highest-ranking official or "Superior General" of the Carmelite religious order. of the Carmelite Order, composed in ITALIAN original: "ITALICE" and printed in Naples by Lazzaro Scoriggio in the year 1615; if it had been translated into Latin, it could have served as an appendix to this treatise.

Once the reasons of these men have been considered and well weighed—and joining also what one may read in the works of Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa, Nicolaus Copernicus, Georg Joachim Rheticus, Michael Maestlin, and David Origanus (Germans); Giordano Bruno of Nola, Francesco Patrizi, Galileo Galilei, and Redemptus Baranzanus (Italians); William Gilbert and Nicholas Hill (Englishmen); and especially our own Johannes Kepler—who, to conclude, dared to assert along with another that most philosophers, since the Starry Messenger of Galileo, have for a long time been yearning to turn Copernican original: "Copernicoturire." A playful word invented by Kepler to describe the sudden, eager rush of scholars wanting to adopt the Copernican sun-centered model after Galileo’s telescopic discoveries.—I have no doubt, Kind Reader, that you will become a fairer judge of this so heavily criticized opinion. Farewell, and expect more from this author day by day.