Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-18


oval aperture had been cut, through which
ray of the mid day sun daily penetrated,
and, resting upon a certain point in the ad-
Joining room, marked the hour of noon.--
This was the astronomical gnomon Of CO.
pernicus; and the only ornament the room
contained were some verses written by his
own hand. and pasted up over the chin
neypiece-
1t was in this parlor that the good canon
found room to tend invalids who had come
to claim his assistance; dressed the wounds
of some. administered remedies to others.
and on all bestowed aims and words oil
kindness and consolation. Having com
pleted his labors, he hastily swallowed a
draught of milk. and was about to set out
to Frauenberg, when horscman. gallop-
ing up to the door, handed him letter.
He tremblcd as he recognised the hand
writing OF his friend Gys Bishop of
Culm. "May God have pity on u.s." wrote
this latter and avert the blow which now
threatens thee! The enemies and thy
rivals combined-those who accuse thee
of folly, and those who treat thee as a
heretic-have been so successful in excit-
ing against thee the minds of the people of
Nuremberg, that men curse thy name in
the streets; the priests excommunicate thee
from their pulpits; and the University,
hearing that thy book was to appear, has
declared its intention to break The printing
press Of the publisher. and to destroy the
work TO which thy life has been devoted
Come and lay the storm; but come quick
ly, or thou wilt be too late"
Before Copernicus had finsned the peru.
powerlcss into the arms of his faithful SER
van, and it was some moments beiorehc raj
lied. When he again looked up, the horse
man who had been charged to escort linn
back asked him how soon lie would wish
TO get out.
Il must set out directly" replied the
old man, in resigned tone; "but not for
Murenburg or for Culm; the suffering
workmen at Fraucnbcrg ore expecting me;
they may perhaps die if do not go to
their assistance. My enemies may per
haps destroy my work; they cannot atop
the stars in their course"
An hour later, Copernicus was at Frau.
enberg The machine which he bad bcs-
towed upon the town, which was built OF
the summit Of hill. conveyed thither the
waters of the river Bouda, situated at the
distance Of half a league in the valley be
low. The inhabitants, instead Of suffering
like their fathers, from continued drought
had now only TO turn a valve, aud the
plenteous stream flowed into their houses
in rich abundance.
THIS machine had got out Of order the
preceding day. and the accident had hap
pcncd very inopportuncly, because this
was the festival Of the patron SAINT Of Frau
enberg. But at the first glance the canon
saw where the evil lay, and in few
hours the water flowed freely into the
town. His first cares, we need not say,
had been directed to the unhappy men who
had received injuries whilst working in the
suices: he set their fractured limbs. and
bound them up with bis own hands; then
commencing them TO the care Of an atten.
dant, he promised 10 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 pass
ing through the town on his return home
he perceived among a crowd company
of strolling players acting upon tempo.
rary stage. The theatre represented 81
astronomical observatory. filed With al
kinds of ridiculous INSTRUMENTS the
midst stood an old man, whose dress and
bearing were in the exact imitation OF
those of Copernicus. The resemblance
was so striking that he directly recognized
himself. and paused, stupifed With aston
ishment Behind the Merry Andrew
whose business it was 10 hold up the great
man to public derision, there stood per
sonagc whose horns and ctoven foot de-
signated Satan, and who caused the psuedo
Coperucus to act and speak as though he
had been an automaton, by means of two
strings fastened TO his cars-which We're
no other than asses cars, Of considerable
dimensial.
The parody was composed Of several
scenes In the first. the astronomer gave
himself to Satan, burnt copy ofthc Bible,
and tranpled crucifx under foot. In
the second, he explained, by juggling with
apples in guise of planets, whilst his head
was transformed iuto likeness Of the sun
by means OF torches ofrosin. In the third
he became Charlatan, vender Of po-
matum and quack mediclnc-he spoke
dog Latin to the passers by; sold them wa
L IL l.. loI J..,,-, F-,r,
well, at an cxorbiiant price; and became
intoxicated himself with excellent wine, il
such copious draughts Of which he did in
dulge, that he finally disappeared unde,
the table. In the fourth and closing act
he was again dragged forth to view as on.
accursed by God and man; and the Devil
dragging him down to the internal regions
amidst cloud Of sulphurous smoke, de
claring his intention TO punish him for hav
ing caused the earth to turn on lis axis, by
condemning him to remain with his head
downwards throughout eternity.
When Copernicus thus behcld the treas
urcd discoveries Of his whole life held uI
TO the derision Of an ignorant multitude
his enlightened faith branded as impicty
and his self denying benevoience ridiculed
as the quackery Of a Charlatar. his noble
spirit was at first utterly overwhelmed
and the most fearful doubts Of himself, o.
mankind, and even Of Providence itseli
rushed upon his mind. At first he hoped
that the Frauenbergians, the children Of
bis adoption. to whose comfort and happi-
ness he had devoted himself for fifty years
would cut short the dlsgraceful scene
But alas! he saw his defamers welcomed
with applause by those on whom be had
conferred so many benefits. The trial
was too much for his falling strength; and
worn out by the emotion and fatigue ol
the preceding night; and by the labors
OF The morning, he sunk. exhausted, to the
ground. Then, for the first time, did the
ungrateful multitude recognize their bene-