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HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE

that he was for a long time refused permission to go toFlorence , with a view to benefit his health; until, in1638, leave was reluctantly granted, under close restric-tions. In a few months, he returned to Arcetri . Hissight now began to fail, and he shortly became totallyblind. He had, however, occasionally continued tomake astronomical observations; a,nd had just noticedthe phenomenon of the moon’s libration, the last of thelong list of his discoveries.

The restrictions of the inquisitors were now so farrelaxed that his friends had free access to him; and per-sons of the highest rank and distinction crowded roundhim to express their admiration and sympathy, whenthey found it no longer unsafe. Many eminent men ofother countries visited him, among whom we findMilton. Some, indeed, came to Italy for the sole pur-pose of seeing him, and enjoying his conversation, whichretained all its charms.

In addition to his other infirmities, he at lengthbecame deaf; yet his intellectual powers remained un-impaired, and he used to complain that he found hishead too busy for his body. He was, in fact, enteringlargely into mechanical speculations, with a view tocontinuing the “ Dialogues on Motion;” but,in the midstof these employments, he was seized with a renewedattack of his complaints, and died January 8th, 1642.

The ecclesiastical powers disputed his will, as beingthat of a heretic; and at first refused him burial: thiswas at length permitted, though in a very obscure man-ner ; and no monument was allowed to be erected overhim. Medals, however, were struck in commemorationof him by his disciple Viviani. About a century after,a monument was erected in the church of Santa Croce,at Florence .

Lastly, to complete the triumph of bigotry, a collec-tion of liis unpublished MSS. in the possession of hisfamily, was subjected to the expurgation of the priests ;and even what they suffered to remain in the possessionof his grandson, Cosimo, was deliberately committed to