Theories of the Medicean Planets Deduced from Physical Causes

most Serene Prince, since you have obtained such great happiness through the merits of your ancestors; But just as those deserve at least some small gratitude who in any way adorn or polish excellent buildings and temples already constructed, and fill them with paintings and other external ornaments; so I, who have attempted to bring some ornament, of whatever kind, to this Medicean temple, do not seem to have abused the leisure which I enjoy through your kindness, nor to have deserved poorly of you.

For if my efforts were not in vain, and if hope did not fail me, I believe I have sketched a painting for this temple that is not to be despised. This is not displayed in the vestibule of the temple itself (let there be no boasting), but in the innermost recess, and in the very sanctuary original: "sacrarium" of such a temple. For it is granted to all people to know and contemplate the external face of this worldly theater original: "mundani theatri", namely the structure of the divine craftsman placed in public view, and no one is barred or removed from this admirable spectacle. But to know the causes and reasons by which the divine works were formed and are operated, this, I say, is the sanctuary of Nature.

If fortune has smiled upon me, so that I have happened to perceive and declare the physical reasons and causes of the Medicean motions The "Medicean motions" refers to the orbital paths and physical laws governing the four moons of Jupiter discovered by Galileo., I will be able to claim without empty boasting that I have contributed a painting and some ornament to the serene temple, in the Jovian seat original: "Iouiali sede." This refers to the system of Jupiter and its moons. established by Galileo. But if