ALEXANDRIAN OR HELLENISTIC PERIOD 



to Marcellus. Notwithstanding, he spake to the sol- 

 dier, and bade him tarry until he had done his con- 

 clusion, and brought it to demonstration: but the 

 soldier being angry with his answer, drew out his 

 sword and killed him. Others say, that the Roman 

 soldier when he came, offered the sword's point to 

 him, to kill him: and that Archimedes when he saw 

 him, prayed him to hold his hand a little, that he 

 might not leave the matter he looked for imperfect, 

 without demonstration. But the soldier making no 

 reckoning of his speculation, killed him presently. It 

 is reported a third way also, saying that certain sol- 

 diers met him in the streets going to Marcellus, car- 

 rying certain mathematical instruments in a little 

 pretty coffer, as dials for the sun, spheres, and angles, 

 wherewith they measure the greatness of the body of 

 the sun by view: and they supposing he had carried 

 some gold or silver, or other precious jewels in that little 

 coffer, slew him for it. But it is most certain that 

 Marcellus was marvellously sorry for his death, and 

 ever after hated the villain that slew him, as a cursed 

 and execrable person : and how he had made also mar- 

 vellous much afterwards of Archimedes' kinsmen for 

 his sake." 



We are further indebted to Plutarch for a summary 

 of the character and influence of Archimedes, and for 

 an interesting suggestion as to the estimate which the 

 great philosopher put upon the relative importance of 

 his own discoveries. "Notwithstanding Archimedes 

 had such a great mind, and was so profoundly learned, 

 having hidden in him the only treasure and secrets of 

 geometrical inventions: as he would never set forth 



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