COSMOS, VOL. II - World eBook Library

DISCOVERIES IN THE CELESTIAL SPACES. 687
attached to the work of Copernicus, and inscribed De Hyports
; but they are quite contrary to the
opinions exjKvss.-.'d by Copernicus, and in direct contradiction
with his dedication to Pope Paul III. The author of these
prefatory remarks was, as Gassendi most expressly says, in
his Life of the great astronomer, a mathematician then living
at Nuremberg, and named Andreas Ossiander, who, together
with Schoner, superintended the printing of the work De
Rerolniioni'oiis, and who, although he makes no express declaration
of any religious scruples, appears nevertheless to have
thought it expedient to speak of the new views as of an
hypothesis,
truth.
and, not like Copernicus, as of demonstrated
The founder of our present system of the universe (for
to him incontestibly belong the most important parts of it,
and the grandest features of the design) was almost more
and confidence
distinguished, if possible, by the intrepidity
with which he expressed his opinions, than for the knowledge
to which they owed their origin. He deserves to a high
degree the fine eulogium passed upon him by Kepler, who, in
the introduction to the Rudolphine Tables, says of him,
"
Vir fuit maxima ingenio et quod in hoc exercitio (combating
prejudices) magni momenti est, anww liber" When Copernicus
is describing, in his dedication to the Pope, the origin
of his work, he does not scruple to term the opinion generally
expressed amongst theologians of the immobility and central
position of the earth "an absurd acroama," and to attack the
stupidity of those who adhere to so erroneous a
"
doctrine. If
even," he writes, " any empty-headed babblers (
learned world the first accurate knowledge of the Copernican system.
Bhseticus had resigned his professional chair at Wittenberg, in" order
that he might enjoy the instructions of Copernicus at Frauenburg itself.
(Compare, on these subjects, Gassendi, pp. 310319.) The explanation
of what Osiander was induced to add from timidity, is given by
Gassendi: "Andreas porro Osiander fuit, qui non modo operarum
inspector (the superintendent of the printing) fuit, sed Prsefatiunculam
quoque ad lectorem (tacito licet nomine) de Hypothesibus opens
adhibuit, Ejus in ea consilium fuit, ut, tametsi Copernicus Motum
Terras habuisset, non solum pro Hypothesi, sed pro vero etiam placito ;
ipse tamen ad rem, ob illos, qui nine offenderentur, leniendam, excusatum
eum faceret, quasi talem motum non pro dogmate, sed pro
Hypothesi mera assumpsisset."^