MASTERPIECES. 19 



they were written, he added, with the noblest purpose 

 namely, to increase health among men. 



Upon that work, and upon three others, Jerome, 

 towards the close of life, rested his assurance of immortal 

 fame. The other three were : first, the Arithmetic (in- 

 cluding the tenth book that on the Great Art) already 

 discussed in these pages ; next, a book on Astrology ; and 

 finally, a systematic work on Music. He claims to have 

 been the first among moderns by whom an attempt was 

 made to restore the art of music to its true position as a 

 science. To those four books he was disposed to add his 

 work on Physiognomy. His other writings, he said, might 

 become more popular, as they were more attractive to the 

 multitude, but those were the firm pillars to the temple of 

 his fame. 



Of them, too, the Commentaries on Hippocrates were 

 most to be relied upon, because they would be most 

 widely read. The art of healing, he said, concerns 

 all men ; the name of its great author, therefore, will be in 

 eternal honour, and his doctrine sought by thousands. 

 For his other great works, Jerome expected a much more 

 restricted circle of appreciating readers. His mathemati- 

 cal writings could be comprehended only by the learned. 

 Astrology was falling into undeserved discredit, and the 

 study of it was confined to a small number of men, great 

 lords or princes, and philosophers. Then, as for music, 



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