Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/140

 ries of a real Insight into Nature, would not only have been eternally true, but have charmed Mankind at another Rate, than such dry sapless Notions as seem at first View to have something of Subtilty; but upon a Second Reflection, appear vain and ridiculous.

From Pythagoras I shall go on to the Ancient Sages, (a), who were so learned in natural Philosophy, that they foretold not only Eclipses in the Heavens, but Earthquakes at Land, and Storms at Sea, great Droughts, and great Plagues, much Plenty or much Scarcity of certain Sorts of Fruits or Grain, not to mention the magical Powers attributed to several of them, to allay Storms, to raise Gales, to appease Commotions of People, to make Plagues cease.

One of the ancientest of these was Thales. He was so deeply skilled in Astronomy, that by the Sun's Annual Course he found out the Equinoxes and Solstices. He is said also first to have foretold Eclipses; some Geometrical Properties of Scalene Triangles are ascribed to him, and challenged by Euphorbus: Nice we are sure they were not, because the Theorem of Pythagoras was not then found out.

When Sir William Temple extolled the Skill of these Ancient Sages, in foretelling Change of Weather, he seems to have