Cartesius

He drew the six stars of the Bull, the Pleiades are called,

six, because the seventh hardly ever appears,

around which another 40 stars are crowded,

invisible to the naked eye, far away

by no more than just half a degree.

By virtue of his telescope, a very faithful copy of which I show you here,

obtained with a system of valuable Dutch lenses,

the Milky Way, which appeared to us like a cloud,

has been inspected and studied

to such a precise degree that we can call the countless disputes

that tormented philosophers for centuries as resolved.

The galaxy, in fact, appeared clearly like a tannery

of countless stars.

The thing is clear in whatever region

the observer directs the telescope at.

Galileo Galilei then divulged that four planets exist in the skies,

that have never been seen since the origins of the world

and that he had discovered and observed their positions, over two months.

They told us that the mathematician of the Grand Duke of Florence

has also discovered the secret of sun spots,

what news do you give us on this point?

At Florence I discovered that Galilei has studied this point a good deal

but unfortunately he still cannot give a definitive reply,

or better, if the spots are really vapours, exhalations,

clouds, or fumes produced by the solar body.

About the nature of these spots he is still uncertain

as there could be a thousand other things we cannot see.

But the thing about the sun, he believes he can state,

as an absolute certainty,

one of his convictions, agreeing

his studies with those of the Pole Copernicus is that

the mobility of the earth is the stability of the sun

around which the planets move according to fixed orbits.

May I?

Yes go ahead.

If Mr Galilei insists in his mistake...

It's not a mistake, it's a reasonable hypothesis.

But he's denying the Bible, Joshua in fact told the sun to stop

and on his command, the sun, moving through the skies, stopped.

It is clear that the words of the Bible must be

interpreted in a different way. And Galilei...

I am saying that if he continues to insist in his mistake

I do not see why you should divulge

his theory to us,

right here at the noble La Fleche college.

You have talked of Galilei

as if he were a new Aristotle,

his doctrine is mistaken,

an error he has committed

because of his pride which confuses the faith of the people.

The earth is at the centre of the universe, all the testimonies

of men , of the humble just like of the learned,

confirm this truth from the beginning of time.

I find all your disdain exaggerated Mr De Bastion.

Our intelligence must never be subjected

to an unreasonable fear of an error,

it must confront it and know it,

in order to win over it.

Galilei's hypotheses have raised numerous criticisms every where,

men of science and of the church have rushed to warn him,

but as far as we know, a definitive judgement

has still not been pronounced about his doctrine.

And if his calculations prove to be correct,

they will not be able to contradict the truth in any way.

I think it is important for all of you to apply yourselves

to studying the information

that Mr De Simone has brought us from Florence. Deo Gratia.

Deo Gratia.

May the others come forward.

I say that it is absurd to compare Galileo to Aristotle.

Aristotle constructed his doctrine

on a perfect system of syllogisms,

while Galileo's science is born by observing the Universe.

Talking is not allowed Mr Descartes

Excuse me Gentlemen.

Swords in line. Salute.

On guard.

Knee-flex.

On guard. Knee-flex.

On guard. Knew-flex.

On guard. Second defence. On guard.

Knee-flex. On guard. At ease.

Lunge. On guard.

Twirl.

Come forward!

You asked permission to read

Cornelio Agrippa's text

''Natural Magic'' and the one by Giovanni Battista Della Porta

on the same subject.

Yes, I wish to compare them. I like curious things.

They say that in ''Natural Magic'' there are the best explanations

about magnetism that can be read

and the most acute observations about the obscure chamber.

I give you permission to read them,

but I must remind you about what our rule advises.

In these kinds of studies it opportune to incite, push

and encourage those in need

and it is necessary to slow down those who run too fast.

And you my dear Descartes run a lot.

Our purpose is that of acquiring knowledge

to help souls with the aid of God,

and therefore, in every study we follow the strictest and most appropriate doctrine

and we adopt the authors who teach this and an order is followed.

This why only after having laid down a solid foundation

with a knowledge of Latin, humanistic arts and logic,

natural and moral philosophy, metaphysics and theology

can become the object of careful study

I adhere scrupulously to this rule.

But I do not feel any enthusiasm for these sciences.

I know.

Cornelio Agrippa's book on natural magic

will certainly give you more pleasure than a scholastic philosophical text.

Go now.

I thank you Father.

Young Descartes is full of curiosity,

I gave him permission to read another two books.

His passion for the new sciences is perhaps excessive.

He is convinced that if the new sciences lead towards the truth,

they help one to discover and love God who is the real truth.

Are you still studying?

I asked for permission to be able to conclude this reading of optics.

I know and tomorrow you are leaving the college.

Ah, it's Della Porta again.

You love physics very much

But truthfully, have you always been diligent in every subject?

I was a pupil of this college for nine years,

and I don't think there is another place in world, where they teach philosophy better,

but you are correct,

the new sciences

are the ones I loved the most.

You want to become a mathematician, astronomy, isn't that true?

Yes, but my father ordered me to take the Diploma in Law

at Poitiers University, and law doesn't interest me at all.

What are you going to do then?

I don't know yet...

Father, I will try to find out.

Give me your news when you can,

I wouldn't like not knowing any more about you,

the important thing however, is for you not to get lost in the world

and to do everything for the greater glory of God.

Of course.

I'll try not to get lost.

Ah the ''Angelus''.

Let's go.

Straightaway after, I'll get back to reading.

The King's guards have killed her husband,

Grand Marshal Dams, the leader of the government.

The faults of bad government are his.

She was the black soul of her husband.

The two Italians, with the Queen's favour

expected to govern France.

I know that Luigi XIII has given proof of great ability,

he's got rid of them and the people are satisfied.

Is Mr Le Vasseur at home?

Yes Sir.

Rene Descartes, Landlord of Peron.

Let him in.

I've been awaiting you for several days.

How's your father? He wrote to me...

But truly...

I don't know sir,

I come from far away, from La Turenne.

I haven't seen him for more than two months.

Unfortunately you have found much excitement at Paris.

Oh, I don't know the intrigues of court,

but it seems right to me

that the young king wants to govern himself

rather than letting

an intriguing courtier do so.

Yes, you're right.

What do you intend to do now that you're in Paris?

What plans do you have? I could help you.

I've already told that to my father.

I would really like no one to help me.

I have decided...

not to start any career.

I need to wait still.

But then if you are undecided, you'll need some help.

No, because I'm absolutely not undecided.

I just want to find out by myself,

alone...

how this world is made up.

Paris, for example.

Since I left the college

I've realised

that I've learned nothing

that might be useful to me

in life.

Good God

how I adore your hair,

it's like gentle waves on your forehead.

and it caresses your beauty gently

and it makes me jealous when I kiss you.

Your mouth is amber and pink,

but your words will cut me to the quick

if while you kiss me you do not tell me

that to love is a sublime thing.

Come with me, the wind is blowing strong, he certainly can't hear us,

and what we'll do here

will be a very sweet mystery.