352 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Above all sciences, he favors geometry : " In fine, all the cunning 

 that is in Painting, in the Measuring the world, in ground tilth and trim- 

 ming, in the Art of war, in founding of metals, in the art of working 

 Images in earth, in Image-making, in forging, in building and in metals, 

 for the most part, cometh from geometry." He says, however, of the 

 geometricians : " Yet such is their ambition, that they will never rest 

 upon the precepts of their preceptors ; but believing in such things to 

 find out more than their Masters, do bring themselves into so great 

 madness that all the Helleborus in the world sufficeth not to purge 

 it." He instances as the fruits of this science, " all the cunning work- 

 ing of tools and artificial instruments, Magnaries, Jfachanopocetickes, 

 PoliorceticJces, .... Testudines, Cuniculines, .... PJxosters, Sam- 

 bakes" Between paragraphs, the reader can consult the dictionary 

 or encyclopaedia. 



We are told in cap. 23, " Of the Arte Opticke," that " there are 

 sundry and divers opinions of the manner of seeing. For Plato sup- 

 poseth the sight to be made according to the clearness : to wit, that 

 which cometh from the eyes : the Light running to an outward air, 

 that Light which is carried from the bodies being brought against 

 it ; but that which is about the midst of the air, doth cause that it 

 spreadeth, and turneth back to the virtue of the Sight, being spread 

 abroad, and like unto Fire. Galene and Plato are of one opinion ; but 

 Hipparchus saith, that the beams spreading abroad from the eyes 

 unto bodies, touching them as it were with a certain feeling, or grop- 

 ing, do give that which they receive to the Sight. And the Epicures 

 affirm that the similitudes of things not corporal, but according to the 

 quality through the alteration of the air, which is in compass, doth 

 come from visible things unto the sight. But Porphirius saith that, 

 neither the Beams, neither the similitudes, nor any other thing, is the 

 cause of seeing, but the soul alone, that knoweth herself visible, and 

 that is one of all things, Avhich knoweth herself in all things that are. 

 The geometricians and perspectivians, approaching somewhat near to 

 Hipparchus, do affirm that there be certain Figures made of the meet- 

 ing together of the beams, which are sent out through the eyes, from 

 whence the sight doth comprehend in one, many visible things, but 

 they most certain of all, wheresoever the beams shall meet together. 

 Certes, Alchindus saith otherwise of the Sights: but it seemeth to 

 Augustine that the power of the Soul doth bring somewhat to effect in 

 the eyes, the which is not yet perceived of the Students of Wisdom." 



Although we have advanced much since the time of Cornelius 

 Agrippa, still, even in this glorious nineteenth century there is here 

 and there a thing " the whiche is not yet perceyved of the Studentes 

 of Wisedome." 



The following is a good example of our author's peculiar style : 

 " Notwithstanding, I learned in time past in Italy, that there was in 

 pictures and images an authority greatly to be esteemed ; for whereas 



