CHAPTER IV.
DISCOVERY OF THE ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION OF 1616.
AS we have seen, even during the months of June and July a ferment had already begun in certain circles at Rome about the "Dialogues." Complaints and accusations were rife, the Pope was artfully worked upon—these were the first portents of the heavy storm which was to break over Galileo's head. The Master of the Palace went about Rome in great fear for himself as well as for Galileo, and told his troubles to Count Magalotti.[1] At the beginning of August, Riccardi begged him to deliver up the eight copies of the "Dialogues" which Magalotti had brought to Rome, with the assurance that he would return them in ten days at the latest. It was not in Magalotti's power to grant this request, the books having, as we know, long ago passed into other hands.[2]
A few days later the first thunderclap broke over Galileo. His publisher, Landini, at Florence received instructions, though for the time they were only provisional, forbidding the further sale of the "Dialogues." The succeeding scenes
