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 innumerable stars gathered together in clusters. Even the existence of planetary satellites (for this is, I believe, what his four new planets are, in fact) is not so amazing, for does not the moon circle the earth, and hence why should not the other planets have their moons? But there is a great difference between speculating on the existence of a myriad of invisible stars, and noting their positions on a map; between peering vacantly through a lens at the moon, and announcing that it is composed not of the quinta essentia of the schoolmen, but of matter much like that of the earth. Copernicus was not the first to hold that the sun sits at the centre of the world, but he was the first to build around that concept a system which would hold good mathematically, thus putting an end to the Ptolemaic age. Likewise Galileo, in this pamphlet, has set down clearly amp; calmly (and with a calm precision from which, I ruefully admit, I could learn much!) a vision of the world which will deliver such a blow to the belly of the Aristotelians that I think they will be winded for a long time to come.
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, Johannes Kepler
Aedes Cramerianis
Prague
March 1611
Dr Johannes Brengger: at Kaufbeuren
Everything darkens, and we fear the worst. In the little world of our house, a great tragedy has befallen, which, in the morbid confusion of our grief, we cannot help but believe is in some way connected with the terrible events in the wider world. I think there are times when God grows weary, and then the Devil, seizing his chance, comes flying down upon us with all his fury amp; cruel mischievousness, wreaking havoc high amp; low. How far away now, my dear Doctor, seem those happier days when we corresponded with such enthusiasm amp; delight on the matter of our newborn science of optics! Thank you for your latest letter, but I fear I am unable at present to engage the interesting questions which you pose-another time, perhaps, I shall turn my mind upon them, and reply with the vigour they demand. I have not the heart for work now. Also much of my time is consumed by duties at court. The Emperor's eccentricities have come to seem more amp; more like plain insanity. He immures himself in the palace, hiding from the sight of his loathed fellow men, while in the meantime his realm falls asunder. Already his brother Matthias has dispossessed him of Austria, Hungary amp; Moravia, and is even now preparing to take over what is left. Throughout last summer and into the autumn, a congress of princes was held here in the city, which urged reconciliation between the brothers. Rudolph, however, despite his whimsy amp; his peculiarities, displays an iron stubbornness. Thinking to curb both Matthias amp; the princes, and also perhaps to set aside the religious freedoms wrested from him in the Royal Charter by the Lutheran Representatives here, he plotted with his kinsman Leopold, Bishop of Passau amp; brother to the poisonous Archduke Ferdinand of Styria, my old enemy. Leopold, of course, as vile amp; treacherous as the rest of his family, turned his army against us here, and has occupied part of the city. Bohemian troops massed against him, and frightful excesses by both sides are reported. Matthias, it is said, is now on his way here with an Austrian army, at the request of the Representatives-and of Rudolph himself! There can be only one result of all this, that the Emperor will lose his throne, and so I have begun to look elsewhere for a refuge. Certain influential people have urged me to come to Linz. For my own part, I cannot help but look with longing toward my native Swabia. I have sent a petition to the Duke of Württemberg, my sometime patron, but I have scant faith in him. Hard it is to know that one is not wanted in one's homeland! Also I have been offered Galileo's old chair at Padua, following his departure for Rome. Galileo has himself recommended me. The irony of this does not escape me. Italy -I do not relish the thought. Linz would seem, therefore, the most promising prospect. It is a narrow amp; provincial town, but there are people there whom I know, as well as a special friend. My wife would be happy to leave Prague, which she has never liked, and return to her native Austria. She has been most ill, with Hungarian fever amp; epilepsy. She bore these afflictions with fortitude, and all might have been well with her, had not our three children shortly thereafter been seized with the smallpox. The eldest one and the youngest survived, but Friedrich, our darling son, succumbed. He was six. It was a hard death. He was a fair child, a hyacinth of the morning in the first days of spring, our hope, our joy. I confess, Doctor, I fail sometimes to understand the ways of God. Even as the boy lay on his death bed, we could hear from across the city the noise of battle. How may I adequately express to you my feelings? Grief such as this is like nothing else in the world. I must close now.
Kepler
Gasthof zum Goldenen Greif
Prague
July 1611
Frau Regina Ehern: at Pfaffenhofen
O, my dear Regina! in the face of these disasters which have befallen us, words are inapt, and silence the truest expression of feelings. Nevertheless, however things stand with me, you must have an account of these past weeks. If I am clumsy, or seem heartless or cold, I know you will understand that it is sorrow amp; shame which prevent me from expressing adequately all that I feel.
Who can say when was the real beginning of your mother's illness? Hers was a life crowded with difficulties amp; sadness. It is true, she never wanted for material things, however much she would blame me for my lack of success in the great world of society which it was ever her dream of entering. But to have been twice a widow by the age of 22, surely that was hard, as was the loss of our firstborn infants, and now our beloved Freidrich. Lately she had taken to secret devotions, and was never to be seen without her prayer book. Also her memory was not what it had been, and sometimes she would laugh at nothing at all, or suddenly cry out as if stricken. Her envy also had increased, and she was forever bemoaning her lot, comparing herself to the wives of councillors amp; petty court officials, who seemed to move in far greater splendour than she, the wife of the Imperial Mathematician. All this was in her mind only, of course. What could I do?