Page:An Index of Prohibited Books (1840).djvu/101

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

19

gation in 1620; neither the month nor day is given; but it is No. XXI in Alexander VIIth's Collection. There the Congregation declares, that although it was its intention to have altogether prohibited the work, on account of some principles occurring in it repugnant to Scripture, and to the Catholic interpretation thereof, which the author, non per hypothesim tractare, sed ut verissima adstruere non dubitat — a remarkable hint, which we shall find afterwards improved — it yet satisfied itself with indicating passages to be amended or expunged, which are specified for about a quarto page of small print; rather an indulgence to the author, and a risk to itself, as this specification, amounting to something like definite expurgation, might, as it had before done, in the instance of Brasichellen's Expurgatory, expose it to difficulties. However, Copernicus found his place in the coming Index in this wise — Nicolaus Copernicus de revolutionibus orbium, nisi corrigatur, juxta Decr. 1620. He kept his place to, and in, the penultimate Index of 1819, where the entry is a little enlarged; and, under the name Copernicus, giving the date of the day of the Decree by which he was confixed, Maii 15, 1620. In