1memory for he did not write to the vulgar, nor is he obliged to
ſpin out his Sillogiſmes with the trivial method of diſputes; nay
rather, uſing a freedome, he hath ſometimes placed the proof
of one Propoſition amongſt Texts, which ſeem to treat of quite
another point; and therefore it is requiſite to be maſter of all
that vaſt Idea, and to learn how to connect this paſſage with that,
and to combine this Text with another far remote from it; for it
is not to be queſtioned but that he who hath thus ſtudied him,
knows how to gather from his Books the demonſtrations of every
knowable deduction, for that they contein all things.
ſpin out his Sillogiſmes with the trivial method of diſputes; nay
rather, uſing a freedome, he hath ſometimes placed the proof
of one Propoſition amongſt Texts, which ſeem to treat of quite
another point; and therefore it is requiſite to be maſter of all
that vaſt Idea, and to learn how to connect this paſſage with that,
and to combine this Text with another far remote from it; for it
is not to be queſtioned but that he who hath thus ſtudied him,
knows how to gather from his Books the demonſtrations of every
knowable deduction, for that they contein all things.
Requiſites to fit
a man to
phate well after
the manner of
riſtotle.
a man to
phate well after
the manner of
riſtotle.
SAGR. But good Simplicius, like as the things ſcattered here
and there in Ariſtotle, give you no trouble in collecting them,
but that you perſwade your ſelf to be able by comparing and
connecting ſeveral ſmall ſentences to extract thence the juice of
ſome deſired concluſion, ſo this, which you and other
ous Philoſophers do with the Text of Ariſtotle, I could do by the
verſes of Virgil, or of Ovid, compoſing thereof ^{*} Centones, and
therewith explaining all the affairs of men, and ſecrets of
ture. But what talk I of Virgil, or any other Poet? I have a
tle Book much ſhorter than Ariſtotle and Ovid, in which are
teined all the Sciences, and with very little ſtudy, one may gather
out of it a moſt perfect Idea, and this is the Alphabet; and there
is no doubt but that he who knows how to couple and diſpoſe
aright this and that vowel, with thoſe, or thoſe other conſonants,
may gather thence the infallible anſwers to all doubts, and
duce from them the principles of all Sciences and Arts, juſt in the
ſame manner as the Painter from divers ſimple colours, laid
rally upon his Pallate, proceedeth by mixing a little of this and
a little of that, with a little of a third, to repreſent to the life
men, plants, buildings, birds, fiſhes, and in a word,
ing what ever object is viſible, though there be not on the Pallate
all the while, either eyes, or feathers, or fins, or leaves, or ſtones.
Nay, farther, it is neceſſary, that none of the things to be
ted, or any part of them, be actually among colours, if you
would be able therewith to repreſent all things; for ſhould there
be amongſt them v. gr. feathers, theſe would ſerve to repreſent
nothing ſave birds, and plumed creatures.
and there in Ariſtotle, give you no trouble in collecting them,
but that you perſwade your ſelf to be able by comparing and
connecting ſeveral ſmall ſentences to extract thence the juice of
ſome deſired concluſion, ſo this, which you and other
ous Philoſophers do with the Text of Ariſtotle, I could do by the
verſes of Virgil, or of Ovid, compoſing thereof ^{*} Centones, and
therewith explaining all the affairs of men, and ſecrets of
ture. But what talk I of Virgil, or any other Poet? I have a
tle Book much ſhorter than Ariſtotle and Ovid, in which are
teined all the Sciences, and with very little ſtudy, one may gather
out of it a moſt perfect Idea, and this is the Alphabet; and there
is no doubt but that he who knows how to couple and diſpoſe
aright this and that vowel, with thoſe, or thoſe other conſonants,
may gather thence the infallible anſwers to all doubts, and
duce from them the principles of all Sciences and Arts, juſt in the
ſame manner as the Painter from divers ſimple colours, laid
rally upon his Pallate, proceedeth by mixing a little of this and
a little of that, with a little of a third, to repreſent to the life
men, plants, buildings, birds, fiſhes, and in a word,
ing what ever object is viſible, though there be not on the Pallate
all the while, either eyes, or feathers, or fins, or leaves, or ſtones.
Nay, farther, it is neceſſary, that none of the things to be
ted, or any part of them, be actually among colours, if you
would be able therewith to repreſent all things; for ſhould there
be amongſt them v. gr. feathers, theſe would ſerve to repreſent
nothing ſave birds, and plumed creatures.
A cunning way
to gather
phy out of any book
whatſoever.
to gather
phy out of any book
whatſoever.
* A word
ing works
ſed of many
ments of verſes
collected out of the
Poets.
ing works
ſed of many
ments of verſes
collected out of the
Poets.
SALV. And there are certain Gentlemen yet living, and in health,
who were preſent, when a Doctor, that was Profeſſor in a
mous Academy, hearing the deſcription of the Teleſcope, by him
not ſeen as then, ſaid, that the invention was taken from
ſtotle, and cauſing his works to be fetch't, he turned to a place
where the Philoſopher gives the reaſon, whence it commeth, that
from the bottom of a very deep Well, one may ſee the ſtars in
Heaven, at noon day; and, addreſſing himſelf to the company,
who were preſent, when a Doctor, that was Profeſſor in a
mous Academy, hearing the deſcription of the Teleſcope, by him
not ſeen as then, ſaid, that the invention was taken from
ſtotle, and cauſing his works to be fetch't, he turned to a place
where the Philoſopher gives the reaſon, whence it commeth, that
from the bottom of a very deep Well, one may ſee the ſtars in
Heaven, at noon day; and, addreſſing himſelf to the company,