The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. XXXVII.

¶ Of diuers excellent men in many Arts and Sciences, and namely in Astrologie, Grammer, and Geometrie.

IN the skill and knowledge of sundry Sciences, an infinit number of men haue excelled; how∣beit, we wil but take the very floure of them all, and touch those only whom meet it is to be named for their speciall desert. In Astrologie, Berosus was most cunning; in so much as the Atheniens for his diuine predictions and prognostications, caused his statue with a golden [unspec L] tongue, to be erected in the publicke schoole of their Vniuersitie. For Grammer, Apollodorus was singular, and therefore was highly honored of the States of Greece, called Amphictyones. In Physicke, Hippocrates excelled, so far forth as by his skill hee foretold of a pestilence that should come out of Sclauonia; and for to cure and remedie the same, sent forth his disciples and schollers to all the cities about. In recompence of which good desert of his, all Greece by a publick decree ordained for him the like honors, as vnto Hercules. For the very same cunning and science, king Ptolomae gaue vnto Cleombrotus of Cea (at the solemne feast holden in the ho∣nour of the great mother of the gods) a hundred talents, and namely for curing the king Anti∣ochus. Critobulus likewise acquired and got himselfe a great name, for drawing an arrow forth of king Philips eie, and curing the wound when he had don, so as the sight remained, & no blemish or deformity appeared. But Asclepiades the Prusian, surpassed all others in this kind, who was the [unspec M] first author of that new sect which bare his name, reiected the embassadors, the large promises & fauors offered of K. Mithridates: found out the way and means to make wine wholesome and

medicinable for sicke folke▪ and recouered a man to his former state of health, who was caried [unspec A] forth vpon his biere to be buried: and lastly he attained the greatest name; for laying a wager against fortune, and pawning his credit so farre as he should not be reputed a Physitian, in case he euer were known to be sicke or any way diseased. And in truth the wager hee woon; for his hap was to liue in health vntill he was very aged, and then to fall downe from a paire of staires, and so to die suddenly. A singular testimonie of skill and cunning M. Marcellus gaue vnto Ar∣chimedes that notable Geometrician and Enginer of Syracusa, who in the saccage and rifling of that city gaue expresse commandement concerning him alone, that no violence should be done vnto him: howbeit hee will failed of his execution, by occasion of a souldier, who in that hurly-burly slew him, not knowing who hewas. Much commended and praised is Ctesiphon of Gnosos, for his notable knowledge in Architecture, and namely for the wonderful frame of Di∣anaes [unspec B] Temple at Ephesus. Philon likewise was highly esteemed for making the Arsenall at A∣thens, able to receiue 1000 ships. Ctesibius also was much accounted of for deuising winde In∣struments; and by means of certain engins to draw and send water to any place. Dinocrates also the enginier eternised his name for casting the plot and deuising the modell of Alexandria in Egypt, at what time as Alexander the great founded it. To conclude, this mighty prince and commander Alexander streightly forbad by expresse edict, That no man should draw his pour∣trait in colours but Apelles the painter: that none should engraue his personage but Pyrgoteles the grauer: and last of all, that no workman should cast his image in brasse but Lysippus a Foun∣der. In which three feats many Artisans haue excelled for their rare workmanship.