Copernicus and sun worship/I.10

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Phrase-by-phrase alignment of the often-excerpted paragraph in De revolutionibus Book I, chapter 10, plus the next sentences in Edward Rosen’s English. Latin follows the wording used on Copernicus and sun worship (normalized v for 1543 u). English is Rosen’s translation as hosted by WebExhibits.

Where Rosen adds a word the Latin does not contain, or rearranges the order, that is noted in the commentary.

Latin	Rosen (exact words)	Commentary
In medio vero omnium residet Sol.	At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun.	Vero is “however.” In medio omnium is “in the middle of everything” — the system of spheres just listed. Residet is “resides” or “sits”; Rosen puts that idea first as “At rest.” This is a statement of place in the model, not of worship.
Quis enim in hoc pulcherrimo templo	For in this most beautiful temple, who	Enim is Rosen’s “For.” Quis is “who.” The cosmos is called a temple: a common Latin image for an ordered world, not a rite Copernicus is performing.
lampadem hanc in alio vel meliori loco poneret,	would place this lamp in another or better position	Lampadem hanc is “this lamp” (the Sun). In alio vel meliori loco is “in another or better position.” Poneret is “would place.” The argument is placement: the only spot from which one lamp can light the whole.
quam unde totum simul possit illuminare?	than that from which it can light up the whole thing at the same time?	Quam unde is “than [the place] from which.” Totum simul … illuminare is “light up the whole thing at the same time.” The reason for the central place is illumination of the system, not a claim that the lamp is God.
Siquidem non inepte	For, the sun is not inappropriately	Siquidem is “for” / “inasmuch as.” Non inepte is “not inappropriately.” Rosen supplies “the sun is”; the Latin has no new subject. Copernicus is saying the following nicknames fit the Sun’s place.
quidam lucernam mundi,	called by some people the lantern of the universe,	Quidam is “some people.” Lucernam mundi is “lantern of the universe” (Rosen’s “universe” for mundi, “of the world”). These are not Copernicus’s liturgical names. They are what other people vocant, “call” it — the verb comes at the end of the next clauses.
alii mentem,	its mind by others,	Alii is “others.” Mentem is “mind.” Rosen’s “its” is supplied. Still under vocant.
alii rectorem vocant.	and its ruler by still others.	A second alii: “still others.” Rectorem is “ruler.” Vocant is “they call.” Rosen moved “called” earlier in the English sentence. All three titles (lantern, mind, ruler) are attributed to unnamed speakers.
Trimegistus visibilem deum,	(Hermes) the Thrice Greatest labels it a visible god,	Elliptical: the verb is still vocant. Rosen supplies “(Hermes)” and “labels it.” Copernicus writes Trimegistus, not Trismegistus. The line means Hermes calls it a visible god. It does not mean Copernicus says the Sun is God. See Copernicus and sun worship#Who is being cited.
Sophoclis Electra intuentem omnia.	and Sophocles’ Electra, the all-seeing.	Still the same “call” construction. Intuentem omnia is “looking upon all things”; Rosen’s “the all-seeing.” A nickname from a Greek tragedy, listed next to Hermes. Two literary tags, not a prayer.
Ita profecto	Thus indeed,	A summing adverb: “so then” / “thus indeed.” What follows is the simile plus the geometric job of the Sun in the model.
tanquam in solio regali	as though seated on a royal throne,	Tanquam is “as though,” “as if.” In solio regali is “on a royal throne.” Rosen’s “seated” is taken from the next word, residens. Dropping tanquam turns a comparison into a confession. The Latin keeps the “as though.”
Sol residens	the sun	Residens is “residing” / “seated.” Rosen already used it as “seated” in the throne phrase, so here he prints only “the sun.”
circumagentem gubernat astrorum familiam.	governs the family of planets revolving around it.	Gubernat is “governs.” Astrorum familiam is “the family of the stars”; Rosen says “planets.” Circumagentem is “driving around” / “revolving around.” Household metaphor for the order of the spheres. This is the astronomical point of the chapter, not a liturgy. Nothing here says anything is singing.
Tellus quoque minime fraudatur lunari ministerio,	Moreover, the earth is not deprived of the moon’s attendance.	Immediate continuation in the 1543 text. Tellus is “the earth.” Lunari ministerio is “lunar attendance” or “the Moon’s service.” The Earth still has the Moon as companion; moving the Earth did not strand it.
sed ut Aristoteles de animalibus ait,	On the contrary, as Aristotle says in a work on animal[s],	Attribution again: Aristotle, not Copernicus’s own theology. Rosen’s “animal[s]” marks the title of the Aristotelian work.
maximam Luna cum terra cognationem habet.	the moon has the closest kinship with the earth.	Cognationem is “kinship.” A physical/biological analogy from Aristotle, not sun worship.
Concipit interea a Sole terra, et impregnatur annuo partu.	Meanwhile the earth has intercourse with the sun, and is impregnated for its yearly parturition.	Concipit … a Sole is “conceives from the Sun.” Impregnatur annuo partu is “is impregnated for a yearly birth.” Rosen’s “has intercourse with” is his rendering of that fertility metaphor for the agricultural year. It is about seasonal generation on Earth, not a cult of the Sun as God.

The chapter does not end here. Copernicus goes on to the symmetry of periods and distances, retrograde arcs, and the height of the fixed stars. He then closes:

Latin	Rosen (exact words)	Commentary
Tanta nimirum est divina haec Optimi Maximi fabrica.	So vast, without any question, is the divine handiwork of the most excellent Almighty.	Tanta nimirum is “so great, without question.” Divina … fabrica is “divine handiwork.” Optimi Maximi (“Best and Greatest”) is the title here given to the Christian Creator, not to the Sun. The 1543 text does not name the Sun in this sentence. The 1620 Index ordered these words deleted because they tied the Maker’s work to the heliocentric order. Excerpted versions of I.10 usually stop before this close.

See also

• Copernicus and sun worship
• Nicolaus Copernicus
• Austin Witsit