unto Artaxerxes, king of Persia. His books are often recited by ancient writers, and, by the industry of Stephanus and Rhodomanus, there are extant some fragments thereof in our days. He wrote the history of Persia, and many narrations of India. In the first, as having a fair opportunity to know the truth, and as Diodorus affirmeth, the perusal of Persian records, his testimony is acceptable.5 In his Indian relations, wherein are contained strange and incredible accounts, he is surely to be read with suspension. These were they which weakened his authority with former ages; for, as we may observe, he is seldom mentioned without a derogatory parenthesis in any author. Aristotle, besides the frequent undervaluing of his authority in his books of animals, gives him the lie no less than twice con

be attributable to the errors of transcribers. As an instance of his marvellous and incredible relations which have proved to be positively true, we will cite an anticipation of modern discovery contained in his fragments relating to India, which was pointed out a few years since, by the late Rev. J. J. Conybeare, successively professor of AngloSaxon and of poetry in the University of Oxford. Ctesias relates (Ex Ctes. Ind. Hist. Excerpt. in app. Herodot. Wesseling. sub initio, p. 1827,) that a certain variety of iron is found in India, which, when fixed into the ground, has the power of averting storms and lightnings. See Annals of Philosophy, Sec. Ser. vol. iv. p. 439. This evidently describes an anticipation of the use of conductors for lightning. Prior, however, to the discovery of the nature of lightning, and to the invention, founded upon that discovery, of metallic conductors for conveying the electric fluid, of which lightning is a manifestation, silently and innocuously to the earth, about the middle of the last century, every reader would suppose that Ctesias, in the passage before us, was relating, not a philosophical truth, but an unfounded absurdity; and would regard it as one of the "strange and incredible accounts," which, according to our author, are contained "in his Indian relations."

Bearing all these circumstances in mind, the reader, by comparing our author's remarks on Ctesias with the following notes, (marked Br.,) will have the means of forming a correct opinion respecting the merits of that writer.-Br.

5 perusal of Persian records, &c.] In his account of the origin of the Assyrian empire, however, which he professes to have derived from the regal archives of the Medes, he differs considerably from Herodotus, who must be regarded, in this case, as by far the most authentic historian; and he also attributes to the conquests of Ninus and Semiramis an extent towards the west, which is absolutely incompatible with the Jewish and Egyptian history of the same periods. (See Cuvier, Discours sur les Revolutions de la Surface du Globe, 4to. Paris, 1826, p. 101.)-Br.

cerning the seed of elephants. Strabo, in his eleventh book, hath left a harder censure of him:6 Equidem facilius Hesiodo et Homero aliquis fidem adhibuerit, itemque tragicis poetis, quam Ctesiæ, Herodoto, Hellanico et eorum similibus. But Lucian hath spoken more plainly than any: Scripsit Ctesias de Indorum regione, deque iis quæ apud illos sunt, ea quæ nec ipse vidit, neque ex ullius sermone audivit. Yet were his relations taken up by some succeeding writers, and many thereof revived by our countryman, Sir John Mandevil, knight and doctor in physick; who, after thirty years' peregrination, died at Liege, and was there honourably interred.7 He left a book of his travels, which hath been honoured with the translation of many languages, and now continued above three hundred years; herein he often attesteth the fabulous relations of Ctesias, and seems to con

6 Strabo, in his eleventh book, &c.] Cuvier has remarked (Discours, ubi sup. p. 102) that Strabo was apparently led to this censure from the want of accordance between the various accounts of the antiquity of the Assyrian empire given by Ctesias and other ancient writers. But his ranking Ctesias with Herodotus, whose veracity has been established in modern times, in a manner so irrefragable, is in fact a testimony of considerable weight to the fidelity of the former. In reference to this particular subject Cuvier also alludes to the manifest errors of transcribers, in the fragments of Ctesias which are extant. Upon the whole, therefore, this writer ought not in any degree to suffer in our estimation on account of Strabo's censure.-Br.

7 Sir John Mandeville, &c.] Though spoken of by Sale (in his Preliminary Discourse, p. 177, note), by Parkhurst (Heb. Lex. p. 259, third edition), and by Chalmers, as entitled to more credit than has been usually assigned him, Mandeville's work is pronounced by Dr. Hugh Murray, to be "a pure and entire fabrication." Chalmers remarks, "that Sir John honestly acknowledges that his book was made partly of hearsay, and partly of his own knowledge; and that he prefaces his most improbable relations with some such words as these, thei seyne, or men seyn, but I have not sene it:"-and concludes that "there does not appear to be any very good reason why Sir John should not be believed in anything that he relates on his own observation." He further observes that some of his improbabilities have been since verified ; e. g. his hens that bore wool, &c. &c. Murray, on the other hand, asserts that Mandeville, not content with transplanting the fictions of Oderic, and other writers into his narrative, declares himself to have actually seen what they had only heard of. He is quite of opinion that Sir John compiled the greater and the most valuable part of his travels from Oderic, Carpini, Rubruquis, &c. and that what he has added of his own, consists, quite exclusively, of monstrous lies.

firm the refuted accounts of antiquity. All which may still be received in some acceptions of morality, and to a pregnant invention may afford commendable mythology; but in a natural and proper exposition, it containeth impossibilities, and things inconsistent with truth.8

3. There is a book, De mirandis auditionibus, ascribed unto Aristotle; another, De mirabilibus narrationibus, written long after by Antigonus; another also of the same title by Plegon Trallianus, translated by Xilander, and with the annotations of Meursius, all whereof make good the promise of their titles, and may be read with caution. Which if any man shall likewise observe in the lecture of Philostratus concerning the life of Apollonius, and even in some passages of the sober and learned Plutarchus, or not only in ancient writers, but shall carry a wary eye on Paulus Venetus, Jovius, Olaus Magnus, Nierembergius, and many others, I think his circumspection is laudable, and he may thereby decline occasion of error.

4. Dioscorides Anazarbeus, he wrote many books in physick, but six thereof, De Materia Medica, have found the greatest esteem. He is an author of good antiquity and better use, preferred by Galen before Cratevas, Pamphilus, and all that attempted the like description before him; yet all he delivereth therein is not to be conceived oraculous. For beside that (following the wars under Anthony,) the course of his life would not permit a punctual examen in all, there are many things concerning the nature of simples traditionally delivered, and to which I believe he gave no assent himself. It had been an excellent receipt, and in his time when saddles were scarce in fashion,9 of very great use, if

8 All which may still be received, &c.] The truth and sagacity of this remark, taken in application to Ctesias himself, is beautifully illustrated by the following circumstances noticed by Cuvier, (ubi sup. p. 40):— When treating of the mythological (or rather mythical) animals of the Persians, he observes, "Ctesias, who has described these animals as actually existing, has been regarded by many authors as an inventor of fables, while, in fact, he has merely attributed reality to emblematical figures;" and he shows, in the sequel, that the imaginary beings in question (such as the griffin, &c.) are represented in the sculptures of Persepolis, from which, or from similar works of art, it is manifest that Ctesias described them.-Br.

9 when saddles were scarce in fashion.] They were not invented till

that were true which he delivers, that vitex1 or agnus castus held only in the hand, preserveth the rider from galling. It were a strange effect, and whores would forsake the experiment of savine, if that were a truth which he delivereth of brake or female fearn, that only treading over it, it causes a sudden abortion.* It were to be wished true, and women would idolize him, could that be made out which he recordeth of phyllon, mercury, and other vegetables, that the juice of the male plant drunk, or the leaves but applied unto the genitals, determines their conceptions unto males. In these relations although he be more sparing, his predecessors were very numerous, and Galen hereof most sharply accuseth Pamphilus. Many of the like nature we meet sometimes in Oribasius, Etius, Trallianus, Serapion, Evax, and Marcellus, whereof some containing no colour of verity, we may at first sight reject them; others which seem to carry some face of truth, we may reduce unto experiment. And herein we shall rather perform good offices unto truth, than any disservice unto their relators, who have well deserved of succeeding ages; from whom having received the conceptions of former times, we have the readier hint of their conformity with ours, and may accordingly explore and sift their verities.

5. Plinius Secundus,2 of Verona; a man of great elo

* A like opinion there is now of elder.-Note first added in Second Edition.

long after, probably about the fourth century: though some kinds of horse cloths composed of various materials more or less costly were used at a much earlier period. See Beckman's History of Inventions and Discoveries, vol. ii. 247.

that vitex.] Yet that is true which hee sayes, that persicaria bruised, and layd under ye saddle, cures a galled horse in the jornye.-Wr.

2 Plinius Secundus.] It will be interesting to compare, with our author's estimate of the authority of Pliny, the following view of the merits of a considerable portion of the contents of his Natural History, taken by a modern man of science, profoundly versed in the history of the science whose progress he details, and to which the portion of Pliny in question principally relates. "The only exception to this general neglect and contempt for all the arts and trades, is Pliny the Elder, whose object, in his Natural History, was to collect into one focus every thing that was known at the period when he lived. His work displays prodigious reading, and a vast fund of erudition. It is to him that we are chiefly indebted for the knowledge of the chemical arts that were prac

quence, and industry indefatigable, as may appear by his writings, especially those now extant, and which are never like to perish, but even with learning itself; that is his Natural History. He was the greatest collector or rhapsodist3 of all the Latins, and as Suetonius de Viris Illustribus observeth, he collected this piece out of two thousand Latin and Greek authors. Now what is very strange, there is scarce a popular error passant in our days, which is not either directly expressed, or deductively contained in this work; which being in the hands of most men, hath proved a powerful occasion of their propagation. Wherein, notwithstanding, the credulity of the reader is more condemnable than the curiosity of the author; for commonly he nameth the authors from whom he received those accounts, and writes but as he reads, as in his preface to Vespasian he acknowledgeth.

6. Claudius Ælianus, who flourished not long after, in the reign of Trajan, unto whom he dedicated his Tacticks; an elegant and miscellaneous author. He hath left two books which are in the hands of every one, his History of Animals, and his Varia Historia. Wherein are contained many things suspicious, not a few false, some impossible; he is much beholding4 unto Ctesias, and in many uncertainties writes more confidently than Pliny.

7. Julius Solinus, who lived also about his time. He left a work entitled Polyhistor, containing great variety of matter, and is with most in good request at this day. But to speak freely what cannot be concealed, it is but Pliny varied, or a transcription of his Natural History; nor is it without all wonder it hath continued so long, but is now likely, and

tised by the ancients. But the low estimation in which these arts were held appears evident, from the wonderful want of information which Pliny so frequently displays, and the erroneous statements which he has recorded respecting these processes. Still a great deal may be drawn from the information which has been collected and transmitted to us by this indefatigable natural historian." (Thomson's History of Chemistry, vol. i. p. 50.)-Br.

3 rhapsodist.] One who writes without any regular dependance of one part upon another.-Johnson. I am, however, much more inclined to think that Sir Thomas meant by rhapsodist, one who packs together (from paπTw, consarcino,) materials collected from various sources. beholding.] See note, chap. vi. p. 44.