and yet even previous to this awakening, since she contains the vivid sparks, as it were, of all knowledge, which only require to be ventilated by the wings of learning, in order to rekindle the light of ideas, she may be said in this case to know all things as in a dream, and to be ignorant of them with respect to vigilant perceptions. Hence too, we may infer that time does not antecede our essential knowledge of forms, because we possess it from eternity: but it precedes our knowledge with respect to a production of these reasons into perfect energy. I only add, that I would recommend the liberal English reader, to Mr. Sydenham’s excellent translation of Plato’s Meno, where he will find a familiar and elegant demonstration of the doctrine of Reminiscence. [79] Concerning this valuable work, entitled ΙΕΡΟ‘Σ ΛΟΓΟ’Σ, see the Bibliotheca Græca of Fabricius, vol. i. p. 118 and 462, and in the commentary of Syrianus on Aristotle’s metaphysics, p. 7, 71, 83, and 108, the reader will find some curious extracts from this celebrated discourse; particularly in p. 83. Syrianus informs us, “that he who consults this work will find all the orders both of Monads and Numbers, without neglecting one, fully celebrated (ὐμνουμένας.)” There is no doubt, but that Pythagoras and his disciples concealed the sublimest truths, under the symbols of numbers; of which he who reads and understands the writings of the Platonists will be fully convinced. Hence Proclus, in the third book of his excellent commentary on the Timæus, observes, “that Plato employed mathematical terms for the sake of mystery and concealment, as certain veils, by which the penetralia of truth might be secluded from vulgar inspection, just as the theologists made fables, but the Pythagoreans symbols, subservient to the same purpose: for in images we may speculate their exemplars, and the former afford us the means of access to the latter.” [80] Concerning this Geometric Number, in the 8th book of Plato’s Republic, than which Cicero affirms there is nothing more obscure, see the notes of Bullialdus to Theo. p. 292. [81] I am sorry to say, that this part of the enemies to pure geometry and arithmetic, are at the present time very numerous; conceptions of utility in these sciences, extending no farther than the sordid purposes of a mere animal life. But surely, if intellect is a part of our composition, and the noblest part too, there must be an object of its contemplation; and this, which is no other than truth in the most exalted sense, must be the most noble and useful subject of speculation to every rational being. [82] In the 13th book of his Metaphysics, cap. iii. [83] In. I. De Partib. Animalium, et in primo Ethic. cap. iii. [84] See more concerning this in the Dissertation.