Pouring forth its seas everywhere, then, the ocean envelops the earth and fills its deeper chasms.

The strongest affection and utmost zeal should, I think, promote the studies concerned with the most beautiful objects, most deserving to be known.

The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and of the centre of the Earth, are not completely equal; that is the return of the declination to its original value is slightly ahead of the period of the centre. Hence it necessarily follows that the equinoxes and solstices seem to anticipate their timing, not because the sphere of the fixed stars moves to the east, but rather the equatorial circle moves to the west, being at an angle to the plane of the ecliptic in proportion to the declination of the axis of the terrestrial globe.

In the midst of all dwells the sun.

More stars in the north are seen not to set, while in the south certain stars are no longer seen to rise.

Therefore, having obtained the opportunity from these sources, I too began to consider the mobility of the earth.

So, influenced by these advisors and this hope, I have at length allowed my friends to publish the work, as they had long besought me to do.