r distances from the sun, he was not more
successful; but as this relation had a real existence, he made some
slight approach to its determination. These extraordinary researches,
which indicate the wildness and irregularity of Kepler's genius, were
published in 1596, in a work entitled, "Prodromus of Cosmographical
Dissertations; containing the cosmographical mystery respecting the
admirable proportion of the celestial orbits, and the genuine and real
causes of the number, magnitude, and periods of the planets demonstrated
by the five regular geometrical solids."

Notwithstanding the speculative character of this volume, it obtained
for its author a high name among astronomers. Galileo and Tycho, whose
opinions of it he requested, spoke of it with some commendation. The
former praised the ingenuity and good faith which it displayed; and
Tycho, though he requested him to try to adapt something of the same
nature to the Tychonic system, saw the speculative character of his
mind, and advised him "to lay a solid foundation for his views by actual
observation, and then, by ascending from these, to strive to reach the
causes of things."

In 1592, before Kepler had quitted Tubingen, he was on the eve of
entering into the married state. Though the foolish scheme was
fortunately broken off, yet he resumed it again in 1596, when he paid
his addresses to Barbara Millar of Muleckh, who was a widow for the
second time, though only twenty-three years of age. Her parents,
however, would not consent to the match till Kepler proved his
nobility; and, owing to the delay which arose from this circumstance,
the marriage did not take place till 1597. The income which Kepler
derived from his professorship was very small, and as his wife's fortune
turned out much less than he had been led to expect, he not only was
annoyed with pecuniary difficulties, but was involved in disputes with
his wife's relations. These evils were greatly increased by the
religious troubles which took place in Styria. The Catholics at Gratz
rose against the Protestants, and threatened to expell them from the
city. Kepler, who openly professed the Protestant religion, saw the
risks to which he was exposed, and retired with his wife into Hungary.
Here he continued nearly a year, during which he composed and
transmitted to his friend Zehentmaier, at Tubingen, several small
treatises, "On the Magnet," "On the cause of the Obliquity of the
Ecliptic," and "On the Divine