few biographical anecdotes of the Danifh aftronomer, who has
rendered this little iiland remarkable in the hiftoiy of literature,
will not be unacceptable to the reader *.
Tycho Brahe, defcended from a noble and illuftrious Daniih
family, was born in 1546 at Knudftorp, a fmall lordihip near Hel-
fingborg in Scania. His father, Otto Brahe, having a large family,
Tycho was educated under the care and at the expence of his
uncle, George Brahe, who, having no children, adopted him as his
heir. Finding his nephew a boy of a lively capacity, and though
only feven years of age ftrongly inclined to ftudy, he had Tycho
inftruited in the Latin tongue unknown to his father, who con-
fidered literature as inglorious, and was defirous that all his Ions
lhould follow the profeffion of arms.
In the twelfth year of his age, Tycho was removed to the
academy of Copenhagen; and his mind, which had not yet taken
any direition, was cafually incited to the ftudy of aftronomy by
an eclipfe of the fun, which happened on the 21ft of Auguft,
1560. He had for fome time examined the aftrological diaries
or almanacs, which pretended to predidt future events from the
infpedtion of the ftars; but when he obferved that the eclipfe
happened at the precife time at which it was foretold, his admiration
was loft in aftoniihment; and he confidered that fcj-
ence as divine, which could thus fo thoroughly underftand the
• F o r the life o f Brahe, I have con- T y c h . B r a . O ra t. F u n eb r is ; and H o ff,
fulted chiefly Gaflendus’s Equitis Dani man’ s Portraits Hift. des Hommes II-
T y ch o n is Brahe Aftronomomm C o r y - luf. des Dannemarle, article Brahe,
phsei v ita ; Joffenus de vita, e t morte
1 m o t i o n s
motions of the heavenly bodies as to foretel their places and relative
pofitions. From that moment he devoted himfelf to aftronomy.
In 1562 he was fent to Leipfic for the purpofe of ftudying
civil law j but he gave to the law only thofe hours which his
tutor’s importunity wrefted from him, devoting the greateft
part of his time to his favourite fcience; and as his tutor continually
remonftrated againft thofe ftudies which took off his
attention from the law, to which he was deftined by his uncle,
he conceived an unconquerable difguft for that profeffion, and
more affiduoufly, though fecretly, continued his aftronomical
purfuits. For this purpofe he laid out all the money which
his uncle allowed him for pocket expences in the purchafe of
aftronomical books : having obtained a fmall celeftial globe, he
took the opportunity, while his preceptor was in bed, of examining
the heavenly bodies, and before a month had elapfed, he
made himfelf acquainted with all the ftars which at that time
appeared above the horizon.
Infpired with the fame, ardent zeal in purfuit of his favourite
fcience, he learned geometry and mathematics without a mailer,
and invented a radius, and feveral mathematical inftruments.
Having paffed’ three years at Leipfic, he was preparing to pur-
fue his travels through Germany; but the death of his uncle
obliged him to return to h» native country, in order to fuper-
intend and fettle his eftates, which he largely inherited. Inftead
of finding himfelf encouraged and efteemed for the wonderful
H 2 progrefs,