ect it. He resumed the subject on the 15th May; and having discovered
his former error, he recognised with transport the absolute truth of a
principle which for seventeen years had been the object of his incessant
labours. The delight which this grand discovery gave him had no bounds.
"Nothing holds me," says he; "I will indulge in my sacred fury; I will
triumph over mankind by the honest confession, that I have stolen the
golden vases of the Egyptians, to build up a tabernacle for my God, far
away from the confines of Egypt. If you forgive me, I rejoice; if you
are angry, I can bear it. The die is cast; the book is written, to be
read either now or by posterity, I care not which. It may well wait a
century for a reader, as God has waited six thousand years for an
observer."

About the same time, in 1618, Kepler published, at Linz, the _three_
first books of his "Epitome of the Copernican Astronomy," of which the
_fourth_ was published at the same place in 1622, and the _fifth_,
_sixth_, and _seventh_ at Frankfort in the same year. This interesting
work is a kind of summary of all his astronomical views, drawn up in the
form of a dialogue for the perusal of general readers. Immediately after
its publication, it was placed by the Inquisition in the list of
prohibited books; and the moment Kepler learned this from his
correspondent Remus, he was thrown into great alarm, and requested from
him some information respecting the terms and consequences of the
censure which was then pronounced against him. He was afraid that it
might compromise his personal safety if he went to Italy; that he would
be compelled to retract his opinions; that the censure might extend to
Austria; that the sale of his work would be ruined; and that he must
either abandon his country or his opinions.

The reply of his friend Remus calmed his agitated mind, by explaining to
him the true nature of the prohibition; and he concluded his letter with
a piece of seasonable exhortation, "There is no ground for your alarm
either in Italy or in Austria, only keep yourself within bounds, and put
a guard upon your own passions."

In the year 1620, Sir Henry Wotton, the English ambassador at Venice,
paid a visit to Kepler on his way through Germany. It does not appear
whether or not this visit was paid at the desire of James I., to whom
Kepler had dedicated one of his works, but from the nature of the
communication which was made to him by the ambassador, there