(233) 
Thus I have given as (hott a view as I could of the Contents of 
thefe 5 Volumes,confiftingof 30 Treatifes in above an io@ Books. 
Mean time, what the Author hath ptrfomcd hyo^d others, and 
how niuchalfo he hath borrowed yj'^/w others without taking notice 
of his BenefadorsJ muft leave to the Intelligent and well-read Per- 
ufers of this Work to Judge. 
111.«^ SPHERE ofM. MAmUUSmadea^ EJSfGLlSH Foem, 
vpith Annotmom^md m JStRONOMlCJL Affendix. By M'^ 
wardSherburn£/2r«/>^. London, 1675. inf&h 
-^"T^H E Learn*d and Intelligent Author of this Work, rightly 
X confidering the great importance of the mutual Helps,\vhich 
the Knowledge of Antiquity and the Purfuit of New Difcoveries 
of the Prefent Times may afford 10 one another,thought fit to imploy 
part of his ingenious Talent in rendring Englifh this Ancient Poenis 
the famous Author whcreof,defirous to inculcate knowledge with de- 
light, was pleafed to exhibit to the Age wherein he lived, the Princi^ 
pies of Aftronomy in a Poetical Drefs ; wherein divers Particulars 
do occur, touching the Nature ofthe Heavens and theCeleftial Bo- 
diesjthat agree with the Affertions of fome of the moft Eminent Mo- 
dern Aftronomers,^'/^.the Fluidity ofthe Heavens,againft the Ari- 
ftotelean Solidity of the Orbs;^/;^ Pofitlon of the Fixed Stars,not in 
the fame Concave Superficies of the Heavens equally diftant from 
the Center of the llniverfe,but at Uneqaal diftances in the Ethereal 
region,fome higher,fome lower, (whence the difference of their ap- 
parent Magnitudes and Splendor 5 ) the Fiery Nature and Subftance 
oftheFixed StarSjand in confequence their being endowed with na- 
tive luftrejand making fo many Suns,conform to thisSun of oursjand 
the Galaxies being an Aggregate of numberlefsfmall Srars. 
Ofthe Pares of this Poem,their Diftribucionand Order,andof the 
Interpreters Endeavors in explicating the fame both in hig Learned 
Notes and confiderable Jffendix;^t ftal!,from the Author,give the 
' Reader this Accompt, viz,, i. that the Poem begins with a fuccinft 
indication of the Original and Progrefs of Arts and Sciences, more 
; particularly of Agronomy ; of which laftjbefides what the Englijber 
• hath noted in his not-common marginal Illu/lratioHS, he hath added, 
for the fatisfaftion ©f the more Curious, a Compendious Hiftory, 
continued down to the Age wherein Maniliui lived ^ together with a 
very inftruftive Catalogue of the mofl Eminent Aftronomers from 
the firft Parent ofall ATts,and Mankind it felf,tothis Prefent time. 
2.1hat it is continued on with a Defcription of the Mundan Syflem^ 
- and ofthe Cdeftial Signs and Conftellations ^ the former of which 
H h out 
