Sky's Dark Labyrinth (19 page)

‘Indeed, we do. Giovanni Magini, what is it like to finally have been overtaken as Europe's greatest astronomer?'

‘I'll let you know when it happens.'

Galileo forced himself to laugh. Magini was ten years his senior and had been chosen over him for the Chair of Mathematics in Bologna. Even though the appointment had been made twenty years ago, the rejection still hurt.

‘Allow me to introduce our other guests,' said Cesi.

The circle of introductions rapidly became a blur. One bright young man was an aspiring astronomer. An older man was a philosopher, though Galileo had not heard of him before. And there was at least one doctor among them; he may have been the fat one with the bad skin.
The others were various friends of his host, mostly merchants and the odd petty noble with an interest in natural philosophy. No one Galileo took too seriously.

‘Looks as though the feast is ready,' said Cesi, indicating the
well-stocked
tables beneath the lantern-clad pergola. Galileo could only imagine the effort of carrying the huge wooden furniture up the hill.

The dinner guests ate standing up, something Galileo detested. The ham was good though, and he returned several times for more. He made a small effort with the fork but spent most of his time hoisting cuts into his mouth with his fingers. ‘Using a fork takes so much of the pleasure out of eating,' he heard someone grumble behind him. Soon, only Cesi and a few of the younger gentlemen were persevering with the ludicrous implement.

Studiously avoiding the salads, Galileo was cutting another hunk of meat when one of the guests asked him, ‘How does it feel to have invented such an instrument?'

Galileo brushed his tongue around his teeth. ‘I did not invent the optical tube. I reinvented it.' He relished the puzzled faces before him. The group clustered around him.

‘I heard of a Dutch spectacle-maker who had made a looking-glass by placing a concave and convex lens some distance apart. So, I began buying lenses to see if I could replicate the device. It took me three hundred lenses before I found a pair that worked.'

‘What magnification do you achieve?' asked Cesi.

‘About twenty times, and I think I can achieve more. My
experiments
are not yet finished.'

‘And what made you decide to look at the heavens?' asked the aspiring astronomer, whose name Galileo had already forgotten.

‘I'm an astronomer. I look at the heavens. Would you ask a
bookkeeper
what makes him count money?'

The young man looked down at his plate as a ripple of embarrassed laughter circulated.

Galileo lay down his food and swung the carrying box onto a table. He slid it between the half-finished trays of roasted dove and olive polenta, and twisted the catches.

The optical tube rested in a cushion of green velvet. It was just over three feet in length but only a couple of inches in diameter. With its
sinuous ridges and fawn-brown colouring, the leather fixed to the tube made it look strangely organic.

Galileo lifted it and held it out, as if presenting it as a gift.

‘Is that it?' asked someone in the crowd.

‘It does not look very big to see all that way,' said another.

‘It is bigger than your eye, that is all that matters,' said Galileo.

‘How did this Dutch spectacle-maker conceive of such a device? He strikes me as a very clever man indeed,' said Cesi.

Galileo dismissed the remark. ‘I think it must have been an accident. Children playing in his shop, holding lenses to look through. Some folly that in this instance paid off.'

‘But the lenses are further apart than a child's arm span. That cannot be true,' said Grienberger, pointing to the tube.

Galileo forced himself to laugh. ‘I wait to hear the Dutchman's account of the story, then we can all be satisfied.'

Cesi glanced at the sky. ‘It is getting dark, I think.'

Galileo took the tripod from the case and stood it on the grass beyond the terrace. He fixed the optical tube in place and looked up. The night was not as still as he would have liked, but he had observed under worse conditions. Jupiter was shining brightly. It took him only a few moments to capture it in the eyepiece. The men drifted from the pergola to stand around him again.

‘Gentlemen, the only people who do not believe me are those who have not looked through the instrument itself. Do not fall into that category tonight. Who's first to see the Medici stars?'

One of the merchants stepped forwards.

‘Don't touch the tube in case you move it. The alignment must be precise,' said Galileo.

The other guests waited in silence as the man squinted with first one eye and then the other. In between attempts, he cast a wary glance at the crowd. Eventually he straightened up, blew out a deep breath. ‘Sorry, signor. I think you forgot to put the crystals in this one.'

Galileo checked the alignment. ‘But they are clearly there. Giovanni, your turn. Please, restore some sanity to this gathering.'

Magini took a long pull on his wine. ‘I am sceptical about even putting my eye to the device.'

‘Don't tell me you are going to refuse to look. I thought that
foolishness
was the preserve of old Libri.'

‘Show some respect. Libri is gravely ill, perhaps even on his deathbed.'

‘Then let us hope that having failed to see the Medici stars in life, he gets a good view of them en route to Heaven.'

Magini tutted. ‘And why call them the Medici stars?'

‘I am Grand Duke Cosimo's court astronomer and philosopher. What could be more natural than to honour my patron?'

Magini scowled.

‘I will look through, and put an end to this bickering,' Cesi announced. He took up his position and stared for a long time. Anxious looks passed between the onlookers, then a few whispered comments. Cesi remained fixed at the tripod as the level of conversation grew around him. He gave a little nod and straightened his back. The men hushed. Galileo stepped forward. ‘Well?'

‘I see them,' said Cesi. ‘Exactly as Galileo describes.'

There was a cheer that lifted Galileo almost to the stars himself. After that the guests trooped up to look through the tube. Some laughed. Some sighed. All of them left the tube with shakes of their head and looks of astonishment. Galileo soaked up their compliments with what he hoped was due modesty, a swell of vindication growing inside him. Yet he did not see Magini take a look.

No matter. Who is the greatest astronomer now?

At one point Galileo noticed Grienberger behind the tube. Intrigued, he excused himself from a conversation and went over, arriving just as Grienberger straightened up. ‘How do my optics compare to yours?'

‘They are broadly comparable.' The wide face was not giving anything away.

Cesi called them all to order. ‘Tonight, we are gathered to honour our great guest,' he held his hand towards Galileo and a round of applause broke out. ‘Tonight he becomes one of us, a Lyncean. Having read his
Siderius Nuncius
, I wish to extend this pledge. From now on, Galileo, you will never have to search for a publisher. The Lyncean Academy would be honoured if you were to allow us to publish all your future works, so that everyone can benefit from your wisdom.
We will pay for the production and ensure that the books are widely read.'

Galileo was touched by the commitment. ‘Thank you, Prince Cesi, I accept.'

‘Then I need say nothing more except to call upon Professor Demisiani to make a very special … suggestion.'

A rotund man stepped forward, his face ruddy in the jittery lantern light. When he spoke, his large teeth shone white. ‘If I may be so bold, Signor Galileo, I wish to propose a name for your incredible device. In my way of honouring the ancient Greek astronomers, I propose to take
tele,
meaning “afar”, and
skopeo
, “to look at” and bring them together to give us
telescope
, meaning “far-seeing”. I humbly beseech you to accept the name as our gift to you.'

Cesi bit his lower lip and dipped his head in Galileo's direction.

Galileo was confused by the logic behind honouring the ancient Greeks for his discoveries, but the expectation on Cesi's face convinced him of the right thing to say. ‘Sir, while I point out that the naming of the instrument is not mine to adjudicate, I am honoured to be consulted. And let me say that I humbly accept your gracious offer of membership to the Lyncean Academy. We share a common set of goals and beliefs. Namely that philosophy is written in this grand book of the universe and stands continually open to our gaze. But the book cannot be understood unless one first learns the language in which it is composed. It is written in the language of mathematics; its alphabet is triangles, circles and other geometrical figures. Without these it is humanly impossible to
understand
a single word of it, and one is left to wander about lost in the dark labyrinth of the sky.'

With the formalities completed, the partying recommenced. Galileo slipped away from the crowd and found himself a large laurel bush to stand behind while he emptied his full bladder. As he buttoned himself up afterwards, he heard voices. Cesi and Grienberger. He froze.

‘I am here to caution you on behalf of the Roman College,' the Jesuit was saying. ‘You must be careful in your advocacy of Galileo.'

‘Why? He is the greatest astronomer alive!'

‘We cannot jump to conclusions about the meaning of these new planets. It goes too much against Scripture.'

‘But you have seen them with your own eyes.'

‘The Roman College is the arbiter of Catholic science, and we are favourably disposed towards Galileo's discoveries, but everything must proceed along established lines. We will report to the cardinals, who will report to his supreme eminence, the Holy Father, but we need support among the theologians if we are to argue that the Bible needs reinterpreting. We are doing everything we can to get the consensus we need. In the meantime, proceed with caution: stick to the facts of the discovery but mention nothing of interpretation. If you follow my advice, Prince Cesi, the Jesuits will remain your friends.' There was an edge to Grienberger's tone that chilled Galileo.  

‘Of course.' Cesi's voice sounded like that of a scolded child.  

‘Good. Let us return to your guests.'  

Shaken by what he had heard, Galileo waited until he was sure they had gone before rejoining the party. He took another glass of wine but his mood was broken, and he soon asked if he might leave, feigning tiredness. Cesi escorted him back down the hill, where Grienberger was waiting by the carriage. Galileo's heart missed a beat at the sight of the Jesuit.  

‘Galileo,' said Grienberger in his matter-of-fact tone, ‘you are to be ready at ten o'clock, tomorrow morning. I will meet you at the Tuscan embassy with a carriage. Do not be late.'  

‘Who it is that summons me?'

A quizzical look crossed Grienberger's face. ‘Do you really need to ask? You have been granted an audience with His Holiness.'

If Galileo thought he had been nervous about visiting the Roman College, he now realised his anxiety had been nothing compared to the terror of standing at the gates of the Vatican. His insides bubbled as his eyes fell on the great central dome and its flanking towers rising up from the rooftop of St Peter's Basilica. Last night's eavesdropping had unsettled him. His discoveries had never been intended to undermine the Scriptures. He had not anticipated that they could be seen as an attack. His lack of foresight added to his nerves.
What else have I failed to anticipate?

The Vatican was where the cold majesty he had seen in the city gave way to extravagant craftsmanship. And it was becoming increasingly extravagant. The white stone of the building's frontage was covered in
wooden scaffolding and swarming with workers. Through the web of poles and planks, Galileo glimpsed a set of grand columns rising to support a broad triangular pediment.

Beside him was his shadow: Grienberger. Even under the direct glare of the sun, the man's face betrayed no emotion. There was no hint of discomfort at the heat, just that hangdog expression and the annoying tendency to never quite meet Galileo's eyes.
Should I be fearful of him or grateful for his presence?

‘It is unusual of His Holiness to take such an interest in the
mathematical
sciences. You are truly honoured.'

‘I know,' said Galileo, aware that his entire credibility could be destroyed if he uttered a single wrong word. The Pope's word was law. He could overrule Galileo in a heartbeat and no one would listen to him again. But if he were to endorse Galileo …

‘I have one instruction,' said Grienberger. ‘Do not offer to show him the telescope. If His Holiness wishes to see the heavens, the Roman College will arrange the viewing.'

Galileo meekly agreed.

Inside, the high ceiling rested on graceful arches that reached down, like a giant's shoulder supporting a mighty burden. Every square inch of wall and ceiling space was decorated with frescos, geometrical in pattern and depicting biblical portraits and scenes. Galileo was so lost in his admiration for the building he almost missed the approaching scarlet-clad figure.

‘Cardinal Bellarmine, this is Galileo Galilei,' said Grienberger.

‘May I welcome you to the Vatican.' The cardinal's expression was neutral as he greeted Galileo.

‘I haven't seen you at the College lately,' said Grienberger.

‘If only I had the time to visit; I swear the Inquisition becomes busier every day,' said Bellarmine.

Galileo's heart beat faster.
The Inquisition? Why were they involved?

‘But we are winning the fight, yes?'

‘Indeed we are. The Lutherans are becoming increasingly isolated.'

‘What hope of England?