ORIGIN OP MOUNTAINS. 63 



stones left, was so far curious, but as it was the orthodox 

 belief, it passed into Cardan's mind, with other science of 

 the same kind, as learning that was not to be disturbed. 

 He had no taste at all for revolutionary work, except in 

 medicine. In other sciences he took all that was taught 

 with a few quiet modifications, and that formed the body 

 of his learning. No man of his time knew so much that 

 had been taught about so many things. From the points 

 at which his learning ended in each separate direction he 

 endeavoured to go on. In mathematics he was left with 

 his face turned in the right direction, and he made a 

 great and real advance ; in the natural sciences he was 

 placed by his learning commonly with his face turned in 

 the wrong direction, and he went on into Metoposcopy 

 and other nonsense. 



The philosopher having discussed the subject of moun- 

 tains, proceeded to consider why the earth is higher than the 

 sea. There were seven reasons then current, one of them 

 being that the earth was lifted and held up by the stars. 

 Of the heavens, and the stars, and light, the work next 

 treated, giving a right reason for the twinkling of the 

 fixed stars, inquiring into the composition of stars, the 

 soul of the universe, comets, rainbows, parhelia ; dis- 

 cussing burning glasses, mirrors in which future or distant 

 objects are revealed, shadows ; inquiring why it is that, 

 when we travel, moon and stars seem to go with us. The 



