374 HENRY KIRKE WHITE S REMAINS. 



learned nations, their backwardness to acknowledge the 

 sources from whence they derived the first principles of 

 their philosophy, have served to wrap this interesting 

 subject in almost impenetrable obscurity. Few ves- 

 tiges, except the Egyptian hieroglyphics, now remain of 

 the learning of the more ancient world. Of the two 

 millions of verses said to have been written by the Chal- 

 dean Zoroaster,* we have no relics, and the oracles wliich 

 go under his name are pretty generally acknowledged to 

 be spurious. 



The Greeks unquestionably derived their philosophy 

 from the Egyptians and Chaldeans. Both Pythagoras 

 and Plato had visited those countries for the advantage 

 of learning ; and if we may credit the received accounts 

 of the former of these illustrious sages, he was regularly 

 initiated in the schools of Egypt, during the period of 

 twenty-two years that he resided in that country, and 

 became the envy and admiration of the Egyptians them- 

 selves. Of the Pythagorean doctrines we have some ac- 

 counts remaining, and nothing is wanting to render the 

 systems of Platonism complete and intelligible. In the 

 dogmas of these philosophers, therefore, we may be able 

 to trace the learning of these primitive nations, though 

 our conclusions must be cautiously drawn, and much must 

 be allowed to the active intelligence of two Greeks. 

 Ovid's short summary of the philosophy of Pythagoras 

 deserves attention : — 



" Isque, licet cceli regione remofcos 



?Iente Peos adiit : et, quas natura negabat 

 Visibus humanis, oculis ea pectoris hausit. 

 Cumque animo et vigili perspexerat omnia cura ; 

 In medium discenda dabat : coetumque silentum, 

 Dictaque mirautum, magni primordia mundi 

 Et rerum causas et quid natura docebat, 

 Quid Deus : unde nives : qu£e fulminis esset origo 

 Jupiter, an venti, discussa nube, tonarent. 

 Quid quateret terras : qua sidera lege mearent 

 Et quodcumque latet." 



If we are to credit this account, and it is corroborated 

 by many other testimonies, Pythagoras searched deeply 



* Pliny. 



