Scenes XIII - XIV Summary

Scene XIII: Perhaps three or more years have passed. Galileo has become somewhat senile and nearly blind. He is guarded by a Church official and is essentially a prisoner. Virginia, now forty, cares for him. An anonymous person sends a goose to Galileo as a gift; Virginia gives orders for the chef to prepare the goose.

Virginia has written down a dictation by Galileo, concerning some minor unrest in Genoa and Galileo's advice to the Archbishop about how to deal with it. Virginia thinks it's a fine letter and perfectly safe to send. There is a knock at the door, and Andrea enters. Virginia is afraid Galileo will not want to see Andrea, but Galileo invites him in. Andrea reveals that science has ground to a standstill after Galileo's recantation, not only in Italy but across Europe...