The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-25
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
THE LAST DAYS OF CoPERNIcUS.
A TRUE HISTORY.

land-all save one man, who watched alone in
A solitary chamber at the summit of a lofty
tower The only furniture of this apartment
consisted Of table, few books, and an iron
lamp. Its occupant was an old man of about
seventy bowed down by years and toll, and
his brow iurrOwed by anxious thoughts but
his eye kindled with the fire Of genius and his
noble countenance was expressive of gentle
kindness and of calm. cOntemplative DISPOSE
ton. His white hair, parted on his forehead,
fell in waving locks over his shoulders He
wore the ecclesiastical costume Of the age and
country in which he lived-the long straight
robe with fur collar and double sleeves,
which were also lined with fur rs far aS the
elbow.
This old man was the great astronomer.
Nicholas Copernicus doctor of philosophy, dit
yinity and medicine, titular canon Of Wenica,
and honorary professor of Bologna, Rome, sc.
Copernicus had Just completed his work "On
the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies In
the midst of poverty, ridcule. and persecution,
without any other support than that Of his own
modest genius or any instrument save a triangle
of wood he had unveiled heaven TO earth and
was now approaching the term of his career
Just as he had established ON firm basis thoso
discoveries which were destined to change tn,
whole face of astronomical sciences.
On that very day the canon of Wernica haC
received the last proof-sheets of his book. which
his disciple Rheticus was getting printed at
Nuremberg and, before sending back these
final proofs, he wished TO verify for the last time
the results of his discoveries Heaven seemed
TO have sent him a night expressly fitted Tor the
purpose, and he passed the whole OF 1t IN ms
observatory When the astronomer saw the
stars beginning to pale in the eastern sky he
took the triangular instrument, which he had
constructed with his own hands out OF three
different pieces of wood, and directed it sue
cessvely towards the four cardinal points of the
horizon No shadow of doubt remained and.
overpowered by the conviction that he had IN
deed destroyed an error of five thousand years
A,voten osI was about TO reveal to the world
an imperishabe truth, COpernicus knelt in the
-preseIS4 < tliat glorfY:T yoi,.,18 Bhose sta2Y
characters lac had first learned to decipher, and
folding his attenuated hands across his bosom.
thanked his Creator for having opened his eyes
to understand and read Alright these, His glnri-
ous works. He then returned TO the table and
Selling a pen he wrote on the title page Of his
book" Behold the work of the greatest and
the most perfect Artisan: the work of God HIM
self And now, the FIRST excitement having
passed away he proceeded with collected mind
TO write the dedication of his book;
"1o the Most Holy Father, Pope Paul H.
] dedicate my work TO your Holiness, in order
that all the world, whether learned or ignorant
may see that | do not seek 10 shun examination
and the judgment OF my superiOrs. Your au-
thoriy, and your love for science in general,
and for mathematics in particular, will serve To
shield me against wicked and malicious SLAM
ders, Notwithstanding the proyerb which says
that there is no remedy against the wounds in
ticted by the tongue Of calumny &c.
NICHOLAS CoPERNICUs Of Thorn"
Soon the first dawn of day caused the lamp
of the astronomer to burn more dimly he leant
his forehead upon the table, and. overcome with
fatigue sank into "A peaceful slumber After
sixty years of labor he, in truth needed repOse
But his present repOse, at all events, was not
destined TO he of long duration it was abridged
by the entrance Of IN aged servant, who, with
slow and heavy step assembled the tower stairs
Master said he to the canon. AZ he gently
touched him upon the shoulder, the messen-
ger who arrived yesterday from Rheticus is
ready to set out on his return, and is waiting
for your proof-sheets and letters"
The astronomer rose, made up the packet,
which he duly scaled and then sank back upon
his chair, ~ if wearied by the effort
But that is not ALL continued the servant
there are ten poor sick people in the house
waiting fOr you and, besides You are wanted
at Frauenberg to look after the water machine,
which has stopped working, and also to see the
three workmen who broke their legs in trying
to yet it going again
Poor creaturesr exclaimed Copernicus
let my horse be saddled directly And with
resolute effort shaking off the sleep which
weighed down his eyelids the good man hastily
descended the stairs of the tower.
The house of Copenicus was in outward APP
pearance, one of the most unpretending in
Wernica 1t was composed of II laboratory, in
which he prepared medicine for the poor Il
little studio, in which this man of genius skill
ed in art ~ well M science, painted his own
likeness or those of his friends, or traced his
recollectons Of Rome or Bologna; and lastly,
of II small parlor on the ground floor which
was open for all who came to him for remedies
for money or for food Over the door an oval
aperture had been cut through which ray of
the midday sun daily penetrated, and resting
upon II certain point in the adjoining room,
marked the hour of noon. This was the astro-
nomical gnOmOn of Copernicus; and the only
ornament the room contained were some verses
written by his own hand and pasted up over
the chmneypiece.
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 Of kindness and
consolation. Having completed his labors he
hastily swallowed draught of milk, and was
about to set out to Frauenberg, when horse
man. gallOping up to the door handed him u
letter. He trembled rs he recognised the hand
writing of his friend Gysius, Bishop of Culm
"May God have pity on us" wrote this latter,
"and avert the blow which now threatens thee!
Thy enemies and thy rivals combined-thOse
who accuse thee Of folly, and those who treat
thee as u heretic-haye been so successful in
exciting against thee the minds of the people
OF Nuremberg, that men curse thy name in the
streets; the priests excommunicate thee from
Their pulplts; and the University, hearing that
thy book was to appear, has declared its inten-
ton to break the prmting-press of the pub
Usher, and to destroy the work to which thy
life has been devoted. Come and Law the
storm; but come quickly, or thou wilt be too
latep
Before COpenicus had finished the perusal Of
this letter. he fell back yoiceless and powerless
into the arms of his faithful servant, and it was
some moments before he rallied When he
again looked up, the horseman who had been
charged 10 escort him back asked him how
soon he would wish to set out
@ must set out Directly replied the old
man, in resigned tone; "but not for Nuren-
berg or for Culm; the suffering workmen at
Frauenberg are expecting me they may per-
haps die if do not go TO their assistance My
enemies may perhaps destroy my work they
cannot stop the stars in their courses
An hour later, Copernicus was at Frauen-
berg The machine which he had bestowed
upon the town, which was built ON the summit
of a hill, conveyed thither the waters of the
river Bouda, situated at the distance of half
league IN the NnllnN hnlnw Tho inhnhitnnta