THE COMMENTATORIAL SPIRIT. 285 



with far more avidity than to physics. Accord- 

 ingly, critics and grammarians were peculiarly the 

 growth of this school; and, though the commen- 

 tators sometimes chose works of mathematical or 

 physical science for their subject (as Proclus, who 

 commented on Euclid's Geometry, and Simplicius, 

 on Aristotle's Physics,) these commentaries were, 

 in fact, rather metaphysical than mathematical. It 

 does not appear that the commentators have, in 

 any instance, illustrated the author by bringing his 

 assertions of facts to the test of experiment. Thus, 

 when Simplicius comments on the passage concern- 

 ing a vacuum, which we formerly adduced, he 

 notices the argument which went upon the asser- 

 tion, that a vessel full of ashes would contain as 

 much water as an empty vessel ; and he mentions 

 various opinions of different authors, but no trial 

 of the fact. Eudemus had said, that the ashes 

 contained something hot, as quicklime does, and 

 that by means of this, a part of the water was 

 evaporated ; others supposed the water to be con- 

 densed, and so on 3 . 



The commentator's professed object is to explain, 

 to enforce, to illustrate doctrines assumed as true. 

 He endeavours to adapt the work on which he 

 employs himself to the state of information and of 

 opinion in his own time; to elucidate obscurities and 

 technicalities; to supply steps omitted in the reason- 

 ing ; but he does not seek to obtain additional truths 



* Simplicius, p. 170. 



