Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/337

 (5.) That though the noble Discoveries of these latter Ages might, possibly, be found in Hippocrates, Aristotle and Galen, yet, since no Interpreters could ever find them there, till they had been discovered anew by Modern Physicians, who followed Nature only as their Guide, these late Discoverers have an equal Right to the Glory due to such Discoveries, as the Ancients could possibly have: They both copied after the same Original; they both decyphered the same Characters, that before were unintelligible; not by reading Books, but by trying Experiments, and making Observations. And therefore Vander Linden, Almeloveen, and the rest of the Bigots for the Ancients, deal very unjustly, when they cry out, upon the Sight of any new Discovery, This Hippocrates knew, This Aristotle taught. Could these Men have made these Discoveries by studying those Ancient Authors, without the Assistance of Dr. Harvey, Asellius, Pecquet, Malpighius, or the rest? This will hold, in case these Things had really been in the Ancients: That they are not, I hope I have proved already. To which I shall only add, that former Commentators wanted neither Greek, nor Skill; and had such Things been in their Writings, they would infallibly have found them there.