591 



likewise well to remember that similar scholastic fooleries to 

 those described by Strada were undoubtedly played at Rome 

 in the presence of Leo the Tenth, and were shared in by se- 

 veral of those very eminent scholars whom Strada has intro- 

 duced into his ' Prolusiones.' For convenience of reference the 

 translator directs attention to the original Latin lines, begin- 

 ning with the one — 



' Magneti genus est lapidis mirabile,' &c. 

 ' The nature of the magnet stone is wondrous ; if to it you ap- 

 proach many particles of iron or iron styles (stylos) they not 

 only derive from it a force and motion by which they ever 

 strive to tm-n themselves towards the Great Bear constellation, 

 where it shines near the pole, but also with a strange connex- 

 ion and manner (of action) towards each other you will see as 

 many styles as have touched that stone all jointly combine 

 in one movement and one place ; so that if perchance one of 

 these be moved at Rome, the other at that movement, though it 

 be far distant, turns itself by a secret bond of its natm'e. Now, 

 then, if you wish yom- distant friend, to whom no letter can 

 come, to know anything, take a disc (or dial), then write round 

 the edge of it the letters of the alphabet, in the order in which 

 children learn them, and in the centre place horizontally a rod 

 which has touched the magnet, moveable so that it can touch 

 whatever letter you wish. On the model of this you will make 

 another disc, marked with a similar margin, and armed with 

 an indicator of iron, which has received the movement of the 

 magnet from that other iron. This disc let the friend about to 

 depart take with him, and agree beforehand at what time, and on 

 what days, hewUl examine whether the rod trembles, and what 

 letters it points to with its index. These matters being thus 

 arranged, if you desu-e privately to speak to the friend whom 

 some shore of the earth holds far from you, lay your hand on the 

 globe, turn the moveable iron — there you see disposed along 

 the margin all the letters which are required for words ; hither 

 turn the indicator, and the letters, noAV this one, now that one, 



VOL, IV. 2 X 



