_The Alcoran of the Turks_ (_I speak without prejudice_) _is an ill-composed piece, containing in it vain and ridiculous errors in Philosophy_, etc.] It is now in every mans hand, having been lately translated into English; I shall therefore observe but these few particulars in it, in regard the book it self is so common; and indeed they are not mine own, but _Lipsius_ his observations. He begins, _O nugas, O deliria! primum_ (saith he) _commentus est, Deum unum solidumq; (ὀλόσφυρον Græci exprimunt) eundemq; incorporeum esse. Christum non Deum, sed magnum vatem et prophetam; se tamen majorem, et proxime à Deo missum, præmia qui ipsum audient Paradisum, qui post aliquot annorum millia reserabitur, ibi quatuor flumina lacte, vino, melle, aqua fluere, ibi palatia et ædificia gemmata atque aurata esse, carnes avium suavissimarum, fructus omne genus quos sparsi jacentesque sub umbra arborum edent: sed caput fælicitatis, viros fœminasque, majores solito magnis Genitalibus assidua libidine, et ejus usu sine tædio aut fatigatione._ These and some others that are in the Alcoran he reckons up. _Sed et Physica quoq; miranda_ (saith he) _nam facit Solem et Lunam in equis vehi, illum autem in aquam calidam vespere mergi, et bene lotum ascendere atque oriri, Stellas in aere è catenis aureis pendere: terram in bovini cornus cuspide stabilitum, et agitante se bove ac succutiente fieri terræ motum; hominem autem ex hirundine aut sanguisuga nasci_, etc. Just. Lips. _Monit. et exempl. Politic._ cap. 3. _Sect. 23. Pag. 38._ _I believe besides_ Zoroaster _there were divers others that wrote before Moses_.] _Zoroaster_ was long before _Moses_, and of great name; he was the father of _Ninus, Justin. lib. 1_. _Si quamlibet modicum emolumentum probaveritis; ego ille sim Carinondas vel Damigeron, vel is Moses, vel Joannes, vel Apollonius, vel ipse Dardanus, vel quicunq; alius_ post Zoroastrem _et Hostanem, inter Magos celebratus est_. Apuleius _in_ Apol. _Sect. 24. Pag. 38._ _Others with as many groans deplore the combustion of the Library at_ Alexandria.] This was that Library before spoken of, set up by _Ptolemæus Philadelphus_; in which 'tis reported by _Ammianus Marcellinus_ there were 700,000 volumes; it was burnt by _Jul. Cæsar's_ means, whose Navy being environed before _Alexandria_, he had no means to keep off the Enemy, but by flinging of fire, which at length caught the Library and consumed it, as _Plutarch_ hath it in _Vita Cæsaris_: but notwithstanding we have no reason to believe it was quite consumed, because _Sueton_. in _Claudius_, tells us, that that Emperour added another to it; and there must be somewhat before, if it were an addition; but true it is, too many of the Books perished; to repair which loss, care was taken by _Domitian_ the Emperour, as the same _Sueton._ and _Aurel. Victor._ do relate.