_Copernicus_. You would throw on me the responsibility of making daylight? A fine thing, indeed! _Last Hour_. I will tell you how. But first of all, you must come with me at once to the house of the Sun, my father. You shall hear more when we set out. His Excellency will explain everything when we arrive. _Copernicus_. I trust it is all right. But the journey, unless I am mistaken, must be a very long one. And how can I take enough food to prevent my dying of hunger a few years before reaching the Sun? Besides, I doubt if his Excellency's lands produce the where-withal to supply me with even a single meal. _Last Hour_. Do not trouble yourself with these doubts. You will not stay long in my father's house, and the journey will be completed in a moment. For you must know that I am a spirit. _Copernicus_. Maybe. But I am a body. _Last Hour_. Well, well: you are not a metaphysician that you need excite yourself about these matters. Come now, mount on my shoulders, and leave all the rest to me. _Copernicus_. Courage. There, it is done! I will pursue this novelty to its issue. _Scene_ IV.--_Copernicus and the Sion._ Copernicus_. Most noble Lord. _Sun_. Forgive me, Copernicus, if I do not offer you a chair: one does not use such things here. But we will soon despatch our business. My servant has already explained the matter to you; and from what the child tells me, I imagine you will do very well for our purpose. _Copernicus_. My lord, I discern great difficulties in the matter. _Sun_. Difficulties ought not to frighten such a man as yourself. They are even said to make the brave man still more courageous. But tell me briefly of what these difficulties consist. _Copernicus_. In the first place, although philosophy is a great power, I doubt whether it can persuade the Earth to change its comfortable sitting posture for a state of restless activity; especially in these times, which are not heroic. _Sun_. And if persuasion be ineffectual, you must try force. _Copernicus_. Willingly, Illustrious, if I were a Hercules, or even an Orlando, instead of a mere Canon of Varmia. _Sun_. What has that to do with it? Did not one of your ancient mathematicians say, that if he had standing room given him outside the world, he would undertake to move heaven and earth? Now, you are not required to move heaven, and behold, you are already in a place outside the earth. Therefore, unless you are not so clever as that ancient, you will no doubt be able to move the Earth, whether it be willing, or not. _Copernicus_. My lord, such a thing might be possible. But a lever would be necessary, of such dimensions that neither I nor even your Illustrious Lordship could pay half the cost of its materials and manufacture. There are, however, other and far more serious difficulties, which I will now mention.