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
For, the Honour, and Estimation of the +Vniuersities, and Graduates+,
is, hereby, nothing diminished. Seing, from, and by their Nurse
Children, you receaue all this Benefite: how great soeuer it be.
[2.]
Neither are their Studies, hereby, any whit hindred. No more, then the
Italian _Vniuersities_, as _Academia Bononiensis_, _Ferrariensis_,
_Florentina_, _Mediolanensis_, _Patauina_, _Papiensis_, _Perusina_,
_Pisana_, _Romana_, _Senensis_, or any one of them, finde them selues,
any deale, disgraced, or their Studies any thing hindred, by _Frater
Lucas de Burgo_, or by _Nicolaus Tartalea_, who in vulgar Italian
language, haue published, not onely _Euclides Geometrie_, but of
_Archimedes_ somewhat: and in Arithmetike and Practicall Geometrie, very
large volumes, all in their vulgar speche. Nor in Germany haue the
famous _Vniuersities_, any thing bene discontent with _Albertus
Durerus_, his Geometricall Institutions in Dutch: or with _Gulielmus
Xylander_, his learned translation of the first sixe bookes of
_Euclide_, out of the Greke into the high Dutch. Nor with _Gualterus H.
Riffius_, his Geometricall Volume: very diligently translated into the
high Dutch tounge, and published. Nor yet the _Vniuersities_ of Spaine,
or Portugall, thinke their reputation to be decayed: or suppose any
their Studies to be hindred by the Excellent _P. Nonnius_, his
Mathematicall workes, in vulgare speche by him put forth. Haue you not,
likewise, in the French tounge, the whole Mathematicall Quadriuie? and
yet neither Paris, Orleance, or any of the other Vniuersities of
Fraunce, at any time, with the Translaters, or Publishers offended: or
any mans Studie thereby hindred?
[3.]
And surely, the Common and Vulgar Scholer (much more, the Gramarian)
before his comming to the _Vniuersitie_, shall (or may) be, now
(according to _Plato_ his Counsell) sufficiently instructed in
_Arithmetike_ and _Geometrie_, for the better and easier learning of all
maner of _Philosophie_, _Academicall_, or _Peripateticall_. And by that
meanes, goe more cherefully, more skilfully, and spedily forwarde, in
his Studies, there to be learned. And, so, in lesse time, profite more,
then (otherwise) he should, or could do.
[4.]
Also many good and pregnant Englishe wittes, of young Gentlemen, and of
other, who neuer intend to meddle with the profound search and Studie of
Philosophie (in the _Vniuersities_ to be learned) may neuerthelesse,
now, with more ease and libertie, haue good occasion, vertuously to
occupie the sharpnesse of their wittes: where, els (perchance)
otherwise, they would in fond exercises, spend (or rather leese) their
time: neither seruing God: nor furdering the Weale, common or priuate.
[5.]
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