Mathematical and Philosophical Works

where find so ready entertainment; but the same novelty which is esteemed the commendation of error, and makes that acceptable, is counted the fault of truth, and causes that to be rejected.

How did the incredulous world gaze at Columbus, when he promised to discover another part of the earth? And he could not for a long time, by his confidence or arguments, induce any of the Christian princes either to assent to his opinion or to pay for an experiment. Now, if he, who had such good grounds for his assertion, could find no better entertainment among the wiser sort and the upper end of the world, it is not likely then that this opinion which I now deliver shall receive anything from the men of these days, especially our common wits, but disbelief or derision.

It has always been the unhappiness of new truths in philosophy to be derided by those who are ignorant of the causes of things, and rejected by others whose perverseness ties them to the contrary opinion; men whose envious pride will not allow any new thing for truth which they themselves were not the first inventors of. So that I may justly expect to be accused of a pragmatical ignorance and bold ostentation; especially since, for this opinion, Xenophanes—a man whose authority was able to add some credit to his assertion—could not escape the like censure from others. For Natales Comes, speaking of that philosopher and this his opinion, says thus: original: "Nonnulli ne nihil scisse videantur, aliqua nova monstra in Philosophiam introducunt, ut alicujus rei inventores fuisse appareant." "Some there are who, lest they might seem to know nothing, will bring up monstrous absurdities in philosophy, so that afterward they may be famed for the invention of something."

Mythology, book 3, chapter 17.

Book 7, chapter 1.

The same author also in another place accuses Anaxagoras of folly for the...