Kepler

Write, tell me all the news! Kepler

Prague April 1610

George Fugger, legatus imperatorius: at Venice

Lest silence amp; delay should make you believe that I agree with all you have to say in your latest letter, and since your position is peculiarly relevant in these matters, Galileo being in the employ of the Venetian Republic, I thought it prudent to interrupt my present studies and write to you straightway. Believe me, my dear Sir, I am deeply touched by your remarks regarding the claims to pre-eminence as between the Paduan amp; myself. However, I am not ru

No one, Excellency, should allow himself to be misled by the brevity amp; apparent simplicity of Galileo's little book. The Sidereus nuncius is highly significant amp; admirable, as even a glance through its pages will show. It is true that not everything in it is wholly original, as he claims-the Emperor himself has already turned a spyglass upon the moon! Also, others have surmised, even if they have not provided proof, that the Milky Way would, on closer inspection, dissolve into a mass of i

The Sidereus nuncius is much talked about at court, as by now I suppose it is everywhere. (Would that the Astronomia nova had attracted such attention!) The Emperor graciously let me glance through his copy, but otherwise I had to contain myself as best I could until a week ago, when Galileo himself sent me the book, along with a request for my opinion on it, which I suppose he wishes to publish. The courier returns to Italy on the 19th, which leaves me just four days in which to complete my reply. Therefore I must close now, in the hope that you will forgive my haste-and also that you will not take amiss my response above to your touching amp; much appreciated gestures of support for me. In these matters of science, it is a question, you see, not of the individual, but of the work. I do not like Galileo, but I must admire him.

By the way, I wonder, during your recent time in Rome, did you see or hear anything of Tycho's dwarf, and his companion, the one called Felix? I would have news of them, if you know any.

I am, Sir, your servant, Joha

Aedes Cramerianis

Prague

March 1611

Dr Joha