Dialexis de novae et prius incognitae stellae inusitatae magnitudinis & splendidissimi luminis apparitione, & de eiusdem stellae vero loco constituendo ...

not only does the observation protest, but also the very sense of the eyes.

Furthermore, he places the elongation of the second from the fourth at 5 whole degrees. We place it at 4 degrees and 36 minutes. Our repeated considerations confirm that this is the truer measurement. We agree clearly on the distance of the second from the twelfth, and we differ by only a single minute on the distance of the fourth from the twelfth. The points on which I disagree with Cornelius Gemma will be easily understood once his observations are compared with mine. I wished to mention these things, not so much from a desire to attack men who are otherwise most learned and diligent, but for the sake of revealing the truth, which ought to be pleasing to all and more powerful than any authority or friendship.

These lapses could easily have crept into the work of men who are otherwise most learned, and they nevertheless deserve forgiveness. It is possible that the same might happen to me in other matters, regarding which I submit myself to the judgment of them and others; and if they should admonish me of an error, or even refute me, I shall be grateful to them, provided that the truth remains intact and preserved everywhere.

I will say nothing about the color of this star of ours. It is accustomed to vary most frequently due to the interposition of a medium that is thicker or thinner, and due to the disposition of the organ of sight; just as scintillation also occurs due to the same causes, and furthermore because of the movement of dispersing vapors. Hence it has come about that it appeared to some to grow pale, to redden, to scintillate, or to diffuse rays, in which the sight is easily deceived. However, it is monstrous that some people falsely paint and imagine it with a horrible shape, and with certain little spears struck through its body; others call it terrible.

original: "cum au-" with au-