The Mathematicall Praeface to Elements of Geometrie of Euclid of MegaraDee, John
Philosophy
The Mathematicall Praeface to Elements of Geometrie of Euclid of Megara
Dee, John
Geometry -- Early works to 1800; Mathematics -- Early works to 1800; Philosophy -- Early works to 1800
But wordes, and Argumentes, are no sensible certifying: nor the full and
finall frute of Sciences practisable. And though some Artes, haue in
them, _Experiences_, yet they are not complete, and brought to the
vttermost, they may be stretched vnto, and applyed sensibly. As for
example: the Naturall Philosopher disputeth and maketh goodly shew of
reason: And the Astronomer, and the Opticall Mechanicien, put some
thynges in _Experience_: but neither, all, that they may: nor yet
sufficiently, and to the vtmost, those, which they do, There, then, the
_Archemaster_ steppeth in, and leadeth forth on, the _Experiences_, by
order of his doctrine _Experimentall_, to the chief and finall power of
Naturall and Mathematicall Artes. Of two or three men, in whom, this
Description of _Archemastry_ was _Experimentally_, verified, I haue read
and hard: and good record, is of their such perfection. So that, this
Art, is no fantasticall Imagination: as some Sophister, might, _Cum suis
Insolubilibus_, make a florish: and dassell your Imagination: and dash
your honest desire and Courage, from beleuing these thinges, so vnheard
of, so meruaylous, & of such Importance. Well: as you will. I haue
forewarned you. I haue done the part of a frende: I haue discharged my
Duety toward God: for my small Talent, at hys most mercyfull handes
receiued. To this Science, doth the _Science Alnirangiat_, great
Seruice. Muse nothyng of this name. I chaunge not the name, so vsed, and
in Print published by other: beyng a name, propre to the Science. Vnder
this, commeth _Ars Sintrillia_, by _Artephius_, briefly written. But the
chief Science, of the Archemaster, (in this world) as yet knowen, is an
other (as it were) OPTICAL Science: wherof, the name shall be told (God
willyng) when I shall haue some, (more iust) occasion, therof, to
Discourse.
Here, I must end, thus abruptly (Gentle frende, and vnfayned louer of
honest and necessary verities.) For, they, who haue (for your sake, and
vertues cause) requested me, (an old forworne Mathematicien) to take pen
in hand: (through the confidence they reposed in my long experience: and
tryed sincerity) for the declaryng and reportyng somewhat, of the frute
and commodity, by the +Artes Mathematicall, to be atteyned vnto+: euen
they, Sore agaynst their willes, are forced, for sundry causes, to
satisfie the workemans request, in endyng forthwith: He, so feareth
this, so new an attempt, & so costly: And in matter so slenderly
(hetherto) among the common Sorte of Studentes, considered or estemed.
And where I was willed, somewhat to alledge, why, in our vulgare Speche,
this part of the Principall Science of _Geometrie_, called _Euclides
Geometricall Elementes_, is published, to your handlyng: being vnlatined
people, and not Vniuersitie Scholers: Verily, I thinke it nedelesse.
[1.]
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