The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-09-25

machine which he had bestowed upon this town,
which was built on the summit of hill, conveyed
thher the waters of the river Bauda situated at the
distance Of half league in the valley below. The
Inhabitants instead Of suffering, like their fathers,
from continued drought had now only to turn valve,
and the plenteous stream flowed into their houses in
rich abundance.
This machine had got out of order the preceding
day, and the accident had happened very inoppor-
tuney, because this the festival of the patron
saint of Fnuenberg. But at the first glance the
non saw where the evil lay, and in few hours the
water again flowed freely into the town. His first
cares, need not say, had been directed to the
happy men who had received injuries whilst working
in the suces he set their fractured limbs and bound
them up with his own hands; then commencing them
the of attendant, he promised to return and
visit them on the morrow. But blow was about
to descend upon himself which was destined to crush
him to the dust.
As he crossed the square, whilst passing through
the town his return home he perceived amidst the
crowd company of acting upon tenn
porary STAGE The theaer represented astronomical
observatory, filled with all of ridiculous nstru-
ments-in the midst stood an old man, whose dress
and bearing were in exact imitation of those Of Co.
pernicus. The resemblance was striking, that he
directly recognized himself, and paused, stupifed
with astonishment. Behind the merry Andrew,
whose business it was thus to hold up the great
man to public dersion there stood parsonage
whose horns and coven foot designated him as rep
resenation of Satan, and who caused the pseudo Co
penicus to act and speak, though he had been an
automaton, by means of two strings fastened to his
ears-which were no other than asses ears of con-
siderable dimensions. The parody was composed of
several scenes. In the first, the astronomer gave
himself to Satan, burnt copy of the Bible, and
tampled cruci6x under foot; in the second, he ex-
pained by juggling with apples in guise of planets,
whilst his head transformed into likeness of the
sun by means of torches of rosn; in the third, he
became a charlatan, vender of pomatum and quack
medcine-he spoke dogL Latin to the passers-by sold
them water, which he had drawn from his own well,
at an exorbitant price, and became intoxicated him
self with excellent wine, in such copious draughts
of which did he indulge, that he finally disappeared
under the table in the fourth and closing act he was
again dragged forth to view as one accursed Of God
and man and the devil, dragging him down to the
internal regions amidst cloud Of sol Phurous smoke
declared his intention Of furnishing him for having
caused the earth to turn its axis, by condemning
him to remain with his head downwards throug ghout
eternity.
When Copernicus thus beheld the treasured dis
coveries Of his whole life held up to the dersion Of
an ignorant multitude, his enlightened faith branded
as impiety, and his sedenying benevoence ridculed
the quackery of charatan, his noble spirit was
at first utterly overwhelmed, and the most fearful
doubts of HIMSELF of mankind, and even of Providence
itself, rushed upon his mind At first he hoped that
the Fuenbergians, the children of his adoption to
whose comfort and happiness he had devoted himself
for fifty years, would cut short the disgracefa scene
But alas! he saw his defamers welcomed with ap-
plause by those whom he had conferred so many
benefits. The trial was too much for his falling
strength; and worn out BY the emotion and fatigue
Of the preceding night, and by the abors Of the morn
ing, he sunk exhausted to the ground Then, for the
first time, did the ungrateful multitude recognise
their benefactor; the name Of Coperncus flew from
lip to lip-they heard that he had come that very
morning to the town in order to relieve their distress
in a moment the current of popular feeling was
turned their ingrattude quickly changed to re-
morse-the crowd dispersed the actors, and crowded
anxousy round the astronomer. He had only strength
left to call for litter, and conveyed back to
Wernica in dying state. He fingered, however,
still for five days-days Of trial and anxiety-durng
which the lamp of genius and of faith still shed its
halo around the dying man. On the day succeeding
his visit to Frauenburg, letter from the Rhetcus
confirmed the sinister predictions OF the Bishop OF
Culm thrice had the students Of the university made
an attempt to invade the printing-ofce whence the
truth was about to issue forth. q" Even this very
morning. wrote his friend, "a set Of lnadmen tried
10 set FIRE to it. l have assembled all our friends
within the building, and We never quit our posts
either day night guarding the entrance and keep
their work with one hand, whilst they hold pistol
in the other. If we can stand our ground for two
days, thy book is saved for let only ten copies be
struck off, and nothing will any longer be able to de-
stroy it... But if either to-day or tomorrow our enc
mics should succeed in gaining the upper hand ....
Rheticus left the sentence unin'shed but Copernlcus
supplied the want-he knew how much depended
upon this moment. On the third day another mes
senger made his appearance, and he, too, was the
bearer of evil tdings: "A composition, gained over
by our enemies, has delivered into their hands the
manuscript of the book and it has been burned IN the
public square, Happily the impression was complete
and we are now putting it into press.." But pop
uIar tumult might yet ruin ally
Such was the state of suspense in which the great
Copernicus passed the closing days of his existence
Life was ebbing fast, and the topor OF death had al
ready begun to steal his faculties, when horse.
man qalloped up the door in breathess haste and
spngng from his horse hastened into 'ne mouse ..
still damn was treasured in his bosom: 1t was the
ehsf:d ruvre of Coperncus: this messenger was the
bode of victory.
The spark of life, so nearly exhausted, seemed to
be rekiuded for a moment in the breast OF the dying
man he raised himself in his bed grasped the book
with his feeble hand and glanced at its contents with
his dim, expiring eye. smile lighted up his tea
lures the book fell from his grasp; and clasping his
hands together he exclaimed Lord, let thy servant
now depart in peace!' Hardly had he uttered these
words before his spirit fled from earth to return to
the God who gave it. 1t Twas the morning Of the SSd
of May-day had not yet dawned-heaven was still
lighted up with stars-the earth was fragrant with
.Aowers-al nature seemed to sympathise with the
great revealer of her aws-and the sun, rising
above the horizon, shed his earliest and purest ray
upon the still, cold brow of the departed, and seemed
in his turn to say, The king pf creation gives the
kiss Of peace, for thou hast been the first to replace
him on his throne" ...
Persecution followed CoperniFus even in the grave
The court of Rome replied to 4s dedication by con
demuinc his book but the boof was tie instrument
Of its own revenge by enghtening the court OF Rome
herself, which at last Recognised although TOO a'e
the faith and the genius of the astronomer Of Wetni