SEQUEL TO THE EPOCH OF HIPPARCHUS. 223 



history of science. We may pass nearly the same 

 judgment upon the explanations and declamations 

 of Cicero, Seneca, and Pliny, for they do not apprize 

 us of any additions to astronomical knowledge; 

 and they do not always indicate a very clear ap- 

 prehension of the doctrines which the writers 

 adopt. 



Perhaps the most remarkable feature in the 

 two last-named writers, is the declamatory expres- 

 sion of their admiration for the discoverers of 

 physical knowledge ; and in one of them, Seneca, 

 the persuasion of a boundless progress in science 

 to which man was destined. Though this belief 

 was no more than a vague and arbitrary conjec- 

 ture, it suggested other conjectures in detail, some 

 of which, having been verified, have attracted much 

 notice. For instance, in speaking of comets 58 , 

 Seneca says, "The time will come when those 

 things which are now hidden shall be brought 

 to light by time and persevering diligence. Our 

 posterity will wonder that we should be ignorant of 

 what is so obvious." " The motions of the planets," 

 he adds, "complex and seemingly confused, have 

 been reduced to rule; and some one will come 

 hereafter, who will reveal to us the paths of 

 comets." Such convictions and conjectures are not 

 to be admired for their wisdom; for Seneca was 

 led rather by enthusiasm, than by any solid rea- 

 sons, to entertain this opinion ; nor, again, are they 

 to be considered as merely lucky guesses, implying 

 28 Seneca. Qu. N. rii. 25. 



