The same author is also very much impressed by the fact that the new language was to contain the dual, and regards this, on Lord Monboddo's authority, as a proof of philosophical acumen on the part of the inventor. He does not take any notice of the "redual," which the language was also to contain, and which might have been taken as an indication of double-distilled wisdom. Lord Monboddo (1714-1799) says of the Greek language that if there "were nothing else to convince him of its being a work of philosophers and grammarians, its dual number would of itself be sufficient; for as certainly as the principles of body are the point, the line, and the surface, the principles of number are the monad and the duad, though philosophers only are aware of the fact." The idea that this venerated instrument for the expression or concealment of thought was the concoction of a committee of primitive sages, and that they deliberately invented the dual, and added it as another spike to the _chevaux-de-frise_ through which our young people, of both sexes, have to struggle[230] on their way to the Temple of Learning, is truly revolting. One would not like to think that the ancient Greeks were quite so malicious as to do a thing like that. It is more probably the case that, like other Aryans, they received the dual as part of the inheritance of the past, handed down to them, and retained it; while in some of the cognate languages[231] it was gradually rubbed off, very much in the same way as Lord Monboddo's men lost their tails, when they gave up their arboreal habits, and betook themselves to sedentary occupations. FOOTNOTES: [199] Its title-page is as follows:--ΕΚΣΚΥΒΑΛΑΥΡΟΝ: Or, The Discovery of A MOST EXQUISITE JEWEL, more precious then [than] DIAMONDS inchased in Gold, the like whereof was never seen in any age; found in the kennel of _Worcester_-streets, the day after the Fight, and six before the Autumnal Equinox, _anno_ 1651. Serving in this place, To Frontal a VINDICATION of the honour of SCOTLAND, from that Infamy, whereinto the Rigid _Presbyterian party_ of that Nation, out of their Covetousness and ambition, most dissembledly hath involved it. _Distichon ad Librum sequitur, quo tres ter adæquant Musarum numerum, casus et articuli._ _voc._ _nom._ 1 _abl._ 2 _abl._ _dat._ O thou'rt a Book in truth with love to many, 3 _abl._ 4 _abl. acc._ _gen._ Done by and for the free'st spoke Scot of any. _Efficiens et finis sunt sibi invicem causæ._ LONDON, Printed by Ja: Cottrel; and are to be sold by _Rich. Buddeley_, at the Middle-Temple-Gate. 1652.