eems that Kepler, on one of his absences
from Prague, driven half mad with poverty and trouble, fell foul of
Tycho, whom he thought to be behaving badly in money matters to him and
his family, and wrote him a violent letter full of reproaches and
insults. Tycho's secretary replied quietly enough, pointing out the
groundlessness and ingratitude of the accusation.

Kepler repents instantly, and replies:--

"MOST NOBLE TYCHO," (these are the words of his letter), "how shall
I enumerate or rightly estimate your benefits conferred on me? For
two months you have liberally and gratuitously maintained me, and
my whole family; you have provided for all my wishes; you have done
me every possible kindness; you have communicated to me everything
you hold most dear; no one, by word or deed, has intentionally
injured me in anything; in short, not to your children, your wife,
or yourself have you shown more indulgence than to me. This being
so, as I am anxious to put on record, I cannot reflect without
consternation that I should have been so given up by God to my own
intemperance as to shut my eyes on all these benefits; that,
instead of modest and respectful gratitude, I should indulge for
three weeks in continual moroseness towards all your family, in
headlong passion and the utmost insolence towards yourself, who
possess so many claims on my veneration, from your noble family,
your extraordinary learning, and distinguished reputation. Whatever
I have said or written against the person, the fame, the honour,
and the learning of your excellency; or whatever, in any other way,
I have injuriously spoken or written (if they admit no other more
favourable interpretation), as, to my grief, I have spoken and
written many things, and more than I can remember; all and
everything I recant, and freely and honestly declare and profess to
be groundless, false, and incapable of proof."

Tycho accepted the apology thus heartily rendered, and the temporary
breach was permanently healed.

In 1601, Kepler was appointed "Imperial mathematician," to assist Tycho
in his calculations.

The Emperor Rudolph did a good piece of work in thus maintaining these
two eminent men, but it is quite clear that it was as astrologers that
he valued them; and all he cared for in the planetary motions was
limited to their supposed effect on his own an