To teach or even read the works denounced or passages condemned was to risk persecution in this world and damnation in the next.

Science had apparently lost the decisive battle.
For a time after this judgment Galileo remained in Rome, apparently hoping to find some way out of this difficulty; but he soon discovered the hollowness of the protestations made to him by ecclesiastics, and, being recalled to Florence, remained in his hermitage near the city in silence, working steadily, indeed, but not publishing anything save by private letters to friends in various parts of Europe.
But at last a better vista seemed to open for him.

Cardinal Barberini, who had seemed liberal and friendly, became pope under the name of Urban VIII.

Galileo at this conceived new hopes, and allowed his continued allegiance to the Copernican system to be known.

New troubles ensued.
Galileo was induced to visit Rome again, and Pope Urban tried to cajole him into silence, personally taking the trouble to show him his errors by argument.