File:Galileo, his life and work (1903) (14743602826).jpg

Identifier: galileohislifewo00fahi (find matches)
Title: Galileo, his life and work
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Fahie, J. J. (John Joseph), 1846-1934
Subjects: Galilei, Galileo, 1564-1642 Astronomy Astronomers
Publisher: London, J. Murray
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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ing attention to it so publicly andforcibly. Controversy was now unavoidable atPadua, as a few years before at Pisa, and Galileodid not shirk it. He boldly threw down thegauntlet in favour of the Copernican theory, andrepudiated the old systems of Aristotle and Ptolemy,which up to that time he had taught in his classes. The Aristotelians put forth one of their bestadvocates, Antonio da Montepulciano, to confuteGalileos views, and the latter replied in the onlyway possible—by ridicule. With the aid of someof his pupils he wrote and printed an exquisitesquib in the Paduan dialect, entitled, Dialogode Cecco di Ronchitti da Bruzene in Perpuositodel la Stella Nuova. In 1604, when the second term of GalileosProfessorship expired, he applied for its renewalwith a further increase of salary; but, as usual, theVenetian authorities were slow to move. At this ^ Padua, 1605, edited by Girolamo Spinelli. Reprinted with amodern Italian version in Favaros edition of Galileos works,vol. ii. p. 307.
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•«s V i6io) HISTORIC LECTURE-DESK 57 time Vincenzio Gonzaga, the reigning Duke ofMantua, was anxious to attach him to his courtand person, and made some tempting overtures,but nothing came of them. However, while inFlorence during the summer of 1605, Galileo tookan opportunity of interesting his young pupilCosimo, son of the Grand Duke, in his case; andat length, and mainly through the influence ofthe Tuscan Ambassador at Venice (prompted byCosimo), he was reappointed for a third term ofsix years, with an augmented salary of 520 florins(about ^115), by decree of 5th August 1606. His public lectures were at this time so throngedthat the ordinary class-rooms, large as they were,were often insufficient to contain his audiences. Hismore popular lectures, as, for instance, those on thenew star, were delivered in the Aula Magna, thegreat hall of the University, and capable of holding1000 persons. Even this, according to Drink water,was not large enough, for on several occasions hewas obl

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