CONNEXION BETWEEN ALGEBRA AND PHYSIC. 209 



striking illustration of the intimate connexion that existed 

 formerly between these sciences, is to be found in that 

 part of Don Quixote which relates how the bachelor 



turer in many arts. Poor fellow! He, if not his teaching, fell among 

 thorns. Soon after the publication of the Whetstone, he died in gaol 

 for his poverty. In England, at any rate, they were not in those days 

 the learned who grew rich. At the close of the preface to this book 

 he deprecated hasty criticism; for, he said, " by occasion of trouble 

 upon trouble, I was hindered from accomplishing this worke, as I* did 

 intende. But yet is here moare, then any manne might well looke for 

 at my hands, if thei did knowe and consider myne estate." The abrupt 

 close of the book (it is all written in English dialogue) is very touch- 

 ing, and may awaken now, three centuries too late, many a warm feel- 

 ing of sympathy. An abstruse dissertation upon Universal Roots is 

 suddenly thus interrupted : 



" MASTER. You saie truth. But harke, what meaneth that hastie 

 knockyng at the doore? 



SCHOLAR. It is a messenger. 



MASTER. What is the message? tel me in mine eare. 



Yea, sir, is that the matter? Then is there no remedie, but that I 

 must neglect all studies and teaching, for to withstande those daungers. 

 My fortune is not so good, to have quiete tyme to teache. 



SCHOLAR. But my fortune and my fellowes is much worse, that your 

 unquietnes so hindereth our knowledge. I praie God amende it. 



MASTER. I am inforced to make an eande of this mater : But yet 

 will I promise you, that whiche you shall chalenge of me, when you see 

 me at better laiser : That I will teache you the whole arte of universall 

 rootes. And the extraction of rootes in all square surdes: with the 

 demonstration of theim, and all the former woorkes. 



If I might have been quietly permitted to reste but a little while 

 longer, I had determined not to have ceased till I had ended all these 

 thinges at large. But now, farewell. And applie your studie diligently 

 in this that you have learned. And if I maie gette any quietnesse 

 reasonable, I will not forget to performe my promise with an augmen- 

 tation. 



SCHOLAR. My harte is so oppressed with pensivenes, by this sodaine 

 unquietnesse, that I can not expresse my grief. But I will praie, with 

 all theim that love honeste knowledge, that God of his merciewill sone 

 ende your troubles" (soon, indeed, in death), " and graunte you suche 



VOL. I. P 



