WasAlexandriathen，frombeginningtoend，merelyanaturalandphysicalphenomenon？
Itmayhavebeen。AndyetwecannotdenythatAlexandriawasalsoametaphysicalphenomenon，vastanddeepenough；seeingthatitheldforsomeeighteenhundredyearsapopulationofseveralhundredthousandsouls；eachofwhom，atleastaccordingtotheAlexandrianphilosophy，stoodinaveryintimaterelationtothosemetaphysicthingswhichareimperishableandimmovableandeternal，andindeed，containedthemmoreorless，eachman，woman，andchildoftheminthemselves；havingwills，reasons，consciences，affections，relationstoeachother；beingparents，children，helpmates，boundtogetherbylawsconcerningrightandwrong，andnumberlessotherunseenandspiritualrelations。
Surelysuchabodywasnotmerelynatural，anymorethananyothernation，society，orscientificschool，madeupofmenandofthespirits，thoughts，affectionsofmen。It，likethem，wassurelyspiritual；andcouldbeonlylivingandhealthy，inasfarasitwasinharmonywithcertainspiritual，unseen，andeverlastinglawsofGod；
perhaps，ascertainAlexandrianphilosopherswouldhaveheld，inasfarasitwasapatternofthatidealconstitutionandpolityafterwhichmanwascreated，thecityofGodwhichiseternalintheHeavens。Ifso，maywenotsuspectofthisAlexandriathatitwasitsownfaultifitbecameamerelyphysicalphenomenon；andthatitstoopedtobecomeapartofnature，andtookitsplaceamongthethingswhichareborntodie，onlybybreakingthelawwhichGodhadappointedforit；sofulfilling，initsowncase，St。Paul'sgreatwords，thatdeathenteredintotheworldbysin，andthatsinisthetransgressionofthelaw？
Bethatasitmay，theremusthavebeenmetaphysicenoughtobelearntinthat，oranycityofthreehundredthousandinhabitants，eventhoughithadnevercontainedlecture-roomorphilosopher'schair，andhadneverheardthenamesofAristotleandPlato。Metaphysicenough，indeed，tobelearntthere，couldwebutenterintotheheartofeventhemostbrutishnegroslavewhoeverwasbroughtdowntheNileoutofthedesertbyNubianmerchants，tobuildpiersanddocksinwhosecommercehedidnotshare，templeswhoseworshiphedidnotcomprehend，librariesandtheatreswhoselearningandcivilisationweretohimasmuchasealedbookastheyweretohiscountryman，andfellow-slave，andonlyfriend，theape。Therewasmetaphysicenoughinhimtruly，andthingseternalandimmutable，thoughhisdark-skinneddescendantswerethreehundredyearsindiscoveringthefact，andinprovingitsatisfactorilytoallmankindforever。YoumustpardonmeifIseemobscure；IcannothelplookingatthequestionwithasomewhatAlexandrianeye，andtalkingofthepoornegrodock-workerascertainAlexandrianphilosopherswouldhavetalked，ofwhomIshallhavetospeakhereafter。
Ishouldhavebeenglad，therefore，hadtimepermittedme，insteadofconfiningmyselfstrictlytowhatarenowcalled"thephysicandmetaphysicschools"ofAlexandria，tohavetriedaswellasIcouldtomakeyouunderstandhowthewholevastphenomenongrewup，andsupportedapeculiarlifeofitsown，forfifteenhundredyearsandmore，andwasfelttobethethird，perhapsthesecondcityoftheknownworld，andonesoimportanttothegreatworld-tyrant，theCaesarofRome，thatnoRomanofdistinctionwaseversentthereasprefect，buttheAlexandriannationalvanityandprideofracewasallowedtothelasttopetitselfbyhavingitstyrantchosenfromitsownpeople。
But，thoughthiscannotbe，wemayfindhumanelementsenoughintheschoolsofAlexandria，strictlysocalled，tointerestusforafewevenings；fortheseschoolswereschoolsofmen；whatwasdiscoveredandtaughtwasdiscoveredandtaughtbymen，andnotbythinking-machines；
andwhethertheywouldhavebeeninclinedtoconfessitornot，theirownpersonalcharacters，likesanddislikes，hopesandfears，strengthandweakness，beliefsanddisbeliefs，determinedtheirmetaphysicsandtheirphysicsforthem，quiteenoughtoenableustofeelforthemasmenoflikepassionswithourselves；andforthatreasononly，menwhosethoughtsandspeculationsareworthyofamoment'sattentionfromus。
Forwhatisreallyinterestingtoman，savemen，andGod，theFatherofmen？
Intheyear331B。C。oneofthegreatestintellectswhoseinfluencetheworldhaseverfelt，saw，withhiseagleglance，theunrivalledadvantageofthespotwhichisnowAlexandria；andconceivedthemightyprojectofmakingitthepointofunionoftwo，orratherofthreeworlds。Inanewcity，namedafterhimself，Europe，Asia，andAfricaweretomeetandtoholdcommunion。Aglanceatthemapwillshowyouwhatan[Greektext:omphalosgees]，acentreoftheworld，thisAlexandriais，andperhapsarouseinyourminds，asithasoftendoneinmine，thesuspicionthatithasnotyetfulfilleditswholedestiny，butmaybecomeatanytimeaprizeforcontendingnations，orthecentreofsomeworld-wideempiretocome。CommunicatingwithEuropeandtheLevantbytheMediterranean，withIndiabytheRedSea，certainofboundlesssuppliesoffoodfromthedesert-guardedvalleyoftheNile，towhichitformedtheonlykey，thuskeepingallEgypt，asitwere，foritsownprivatefarm，itwasweakonlyononeside，thatofJudea。Thatsmallstripoffertilemountainland
containinginnumerablemilitarypositionsfromwhichanenemymightannoyEgypt，being，infact，onenaturalchainoffortresses，wasthekeytoPhoeniciaandSyria。Itwasaneagle'seyriebythesideofapenoffowls。Itmustnotbeleftdefencelessforasingleyear。TyreandGazahadbeentaken；sonodangerwastobeapprehendedfromtheseaboard:buttosubduetheJudeanmountaineers，aracewhosepastsufferingshadhardenedtheminadoggedfanaticismofcourageandendurance，wouldbealongandsanguinarytask。Itwasbettertomaketermswiththem；toemploythemasfriendlywardersoftheirownmountainwalls。Theirveryfanaticismandisolationmadethemsureallies。TherewasnofearoftheirfraternisingwiththeEasterninvaders。Ifthecountrywasleftintheirhands，theywouldholditagainstallcomers。Termsweremadewiththem；andforseveralcenturiestheyfulfilledtheirtrust。
ThisIapprehendtobetheexplanationofthatconciliatorypolicyofAlexander'stowardtheJews，whichwaspursuedsteadilybythePtolemies，byPompey，andbytheRomans，aslongasthesesameJewscontinuedtobeendurableuponthefaceoftheland。Atleast，weshallfindthehistoryofAlexandriaandthatofJudeainextricablyunitedformorethanthreehundredyears。
Soarose，atthecommandofthegreatconqueror，amightycity，aroundthosetwoharbours，ofwhichthewesternoneonlyisnowinuse。ThePharoswasthenanisland。Itwasconnectedwiththemainlandbyagreatmole，furnishedwithfortsanddrawbridges。Ontheruinsofthatmolenowstandsthegreaterpartofthemoderncity；thevastsiteoftheancientoneisawilderness。
ButAlexanderwasnotdestinedtocarryouthisownmagnificentproject。
Thatwasleftforthegeneralwhomhemostesteemed，andtowhosepersonalprowesshehadonceowedhislife；amanthanwhomhistoryknowsfewgreater，Ptolemy，thesonofLagus。Hewasanadventurer，thesonofanadventurer，hismotheracast-offconcubineofPhilipofMacedon。TherewerethosewhosaidthathewasinrealityasonofPhiliphimself。However，heroseatcourt，becameaprivatefriendofyoungAlexander，andatlasthisSomatophylax，somesortofColoneloftheLifeGuards。Andfromthenceheroserapidly，tillafterhisgreatmaster'sdeathhefoundhimselfdespotofEgypt。
Hisface，asitappearsonhiscoins，isoftheloftiestandmostJove-
liketypeofGreekbeauty。Thereisapossibilityaboutit，asaboutmostoldGreekfaces，ofboundlesscunning；aloftyironytoo，andacontemptuousness，especiallyaboutthemouth，whichputsoneinmindofGoethe'sexpression；theface，altogether，ofonewhoknewmentoowelltorespectthem。Atleast，hewasamanofclearenoughvision。Hesawwhatwasneededinthosestrangetimes，andhewentstraighttothethingwhichhesaw。ItwashiswisdomwhichperceivedthatthehugeamorphousempireofAlexandercouldnotbekepttogether，andadviseditspartitionamongthegenerals，takingcaretoobtainhimselfthelion'sshare；notinsize，indeed，butincapability。Hesaw，toowhateverymandoesnotsee，thattheonlywaytokeepwhathehadgotwastomakeitbetter，andnotworse，thanhefoundit。HisfirstEgyptianactwastoputtodeathCleomenes，Alexander'slieutenant，whohadamassedvasttreasuresbyextortion；andwhowas，moreover，forPtolemywasaprudentmanadangerouspartisanofhisgreatenemy，Perdiccas。
Wedonotreadthatherefundedthetreasures:buttheEgyptianssurnamedhimSoter，theSaviour；andonthewholehedeservedthetitle。
InsteadofthewretchedmisruleandslaveryoftheconqueringPersiandynasty，theyhadatleastlawandorder，revivingcommerce，andasystemofadministration，wearetoldIconfesstospeakingherequiteatsecond-hand，especiallyadaptedtothepeculiarcaste-society，andthereligiousprejudicesofEgypt。ButPtolemy'spoliticalgeniuswentbeyondsuchmerelymaterialandWarburtoniancarefortheconservationofbodyandgoodsofhissubjects。Heeffectedwithcompletesuccessafeatwhichhasbeenattempted，beforeandsince，byverymanyprincesandpotentates，buthasalways，exceptinPtolemy'scase，provedsomewhatofafailure，namely，themakinganewdeity。Mythologyingeneralwasinarustystate。TheoldEgyptiangodshadgrowninhisdominionsveryunfashionable，underthesummaryiconoclasmtowhichtheyhadbeensubjectedbytheMonotheistPersians——thePuritansoftheoldworld，astheyhavebeenwellcalled。Indeed，allthedolls，andthetreasureofthedolls'templestoo，hadbeencarriedoffbyCambysestoBabylon。AndasfortheGreekgods，philosophershadsublimedthemawaysadlyduringthelastcentury:nottomentionthatAlexander'sMacedonians，duringtheirwanderingsovertheworld，hadprobablybecomeratherremissintheirreligiousexercises，andhadpossiblygivenupmentioningtheUnseenworld，exceptforthosehortatorypurposesforwhichitusedtobeemployedbyNelson'sveterans。But，asPtolemyfelt，peoplewomenespeciallymusthavesomethingwhereintobelieve。
The"ReligiousSentiment"inmanmustbesatisfied。But，howtodoit？
Howtofindadeitywhowouldmeettheaspirationsofconquerorsaswellasconquered——ofhismostirreligiousMacedonians，aswellasofhismostreligiousEgyptians？Itwasagreatproblem:butPtolemysolvedit。HeseemstohavetakenthesamemethodwhichBrindleytheengineerusedinhisperplexities，forhewenttobed。Andtherehehadadream:
HowtheforeigngodSerapis，ofPontussomewherenearthispresenthaplessSinope，appearedtohim，andexpressedhiswishtocometoAlexandria，andtheretryhisinfluenceontheReligiousSentiment。SoSerapiswassentfor，andcame——atleasttheidolofhim，and——
accommodatingpersonage!——heactuallyfitted。Afterhehadbeenthereawhile，hewasfoundtobequiteanoldacquaintance——tobe，infact，theGreekJove，andtwoorthreeotherGreekgods，andalsotwoorthreeEgyptiangodsbeside——indeed，tobenootherthanthebullApis，afterhisdeathanddeification。Icantellyounomore。Inevercouldfindthatanythingmorewasknown。YoumayseehimamongGreekandRomanstatuesasayoungman，withasortofhighbasket-shapedPersianturbanonhishead。But，atleast，hewasfoundsopleasantandaccommodatingaconscience-keeper，thathespread，withIsis，hisnewly-foundmother，orwife，overthewholeEast，andeventoRome。TheConsulsthere——50
yearsB。C——foundthepairnottoorespectable，andpulleddowntheirtemples。But，sopopularwerethey，inspiteoftheirbadfame，thatsevenyearsafter，theTriumvirshadtobuildthetemplesupagainelsewhere；andfromthattimeforth，IsisandSerapis，inspite，poorthings，ofmuchpersecution，werethefashionabledeitiesoftheRomanworld。SurelythisPtolemywasamanofgenius!
ButPtolemyhadevenmoreimportantworktodothanmakinggods。Hehadtomakemen；forhehadfewornonereadymadeamonghisoldveteransfromIssusandArbela。Hehadnohereditaryaristocracy:andhewantednone。Noaristocracyofwealth；thatmightgrowofitself，onlytoofastforhisdespoticpower。Butasadespot，hemusthaveaknotofmenroundhimwhowoulddohiswork。Andherecameouthisdeepinsightintofact。Ithadnotescapedthatman，whatwasthesecretofGreeksupremacy。Howhadhecomethere？Howhadhisgreatmasterconqueredhalftheworld？Howhadthelittlesemi-barbarousmountaintribeupthereinPella，risenunderPhiliptobethemaster-raceoftheglobe？
How，indeed，hadXenophonandhisTenThousand，howhadthehandfulsofSalamisandMarathon，heldouttriumphantlycenturyaftercentury，againstthevastweightofthebarbarian？Thesimpleanswerwas:
BecausetheGreekhasmind，thebarbarianmerebruteforce。Becausemindisthelordofmatter；becausetheGreekbeingthecultivatedman，istheonlytrueman；therestare[Greektext:barbaroi]，merethings，clods，toolsforthewiseGreeks'use，inspiteofalltheirmaterialphantom-strengthofelephants，andtreasures，andtributariesbythemillion。MindwasthesecretofGreekpower；andforthatPtolemywouldwork。Hewouldhaveanaristocracyofintellect；hewouldgatherroundhimthewisemenoftheworldgladenoughmostofthemtoleavethatmiserableGreece，whereeveryman'slifewasinhishandfromhourtohour，andhewoulddeveloptoitshighesttheconceptionofPhilip，whenhemadeAristotlethetutorofhissonAlexander。Theconsequencesofthatattemptwerewritteninlettersofblood，overhalftheworld；
Ptolemywouldattemptitoncemore，withgentlerresults。Forthoughhefoughtlong，andoften，andwell，asDespotofEgypt，nolessthanasgeneralofAlexander，hewasnotatheartamanofblood，andmadepeacetheendofallhiswars。
Sohebegins。Aristotleisgone:butinAristotle'splacePhiletasthesweetsingerofCos，andZenodotusthegrammarianofEphesus，shalleducatehisfavouriteson，andhewillhavealiterarycourt，andaliteraryage。DemetriusPhalereus，theAdmirableCrichtonofhistime，thelastofAtticorators，statesman，philosopher，poet，warrior，andeachoftheminthemostgraceful，insinuating，courtlyway，migratestoAlexandria，afterhavinghadthethreehundredandsixtystatues，whichtheAthenianshadtoohastilyerectedtohishonour，ashastilypulleddownagain。HerewasaprizeforPtolemy!Thecharmingmanbecamehisbosomfriendandfellow，evenrevisedthelawsofhiskingdom，andfiredhim，ifreportsaystrue，withamightythought——nolessaonethanthegreatpublicLibraryofAlexandria；thefirstsuchinstitution，itissaid，whichtheworldhadeverseen。
SoalibraryisbegunbySoter，andorganisedandcompletedbyPhiladelphus；orrathertwolibraries，forwhileonepartwaskeptattheSerapeium，thatvasttempleontheinlandrisingground，ofwhich，asfaraswecandiscover，Pompey'sPillaraloneremains，onecolumnoutoffourhundred，therestwasintheBrucheionadjoiningthePalaceandtheMuseum。PhiladelphusbuysAristotle'scollectiontoaddtothestock，andEuergetescheatstheAtheniansoutoftheoriginalMSS。ofAEschylus，Sophocles，andEuripides，andaddslargelytoitbymorehonestmethods。Eumenes，KingofPergamusinAsiaMinor，firedwithemulation，commencesasimilarcollection，andissosuccessful，thatthereigningPtolemyhastocutoffhisrival'ssuppliesbyprohibitingtheexportationofpapyrus；andthePergamenianbooksarehenceforthtranscribedonparchment，parchemin，Pergamene，whichthushasitsnametothisday，fromPergamus。Thatcollection，too，founditswayatlasttoAlexandria。ForAntonyhavingbecomepossessorofitbyrightofthestronger，gaveittoCleopatra；anditremainedatAlexandriaforsevenhundredyears。Butwemustnotanticipateevents。
ThentheremustbebesidesaMouseion，aTempleoftheMuses，withalldueappliances，inavastbuildingadjoiningthepalaceitself，undertheverywingofroyalty；anditmusthaveporticos，whereinsagesmayconverse；lecture-rooms，wheretheymaydisplaythemselvesattheirwilltotheirraptscholars，eachlikeaturkey-cockbeforehisbrood；andalargedining-hall，wheretheymayenjoythemselvesinmoderation，asbefitssages，notwithoutpunsandrepartees，epigrams，anagrams，andAtticsalt，tobefatal，alas，topoorDiodorusthedialectician。ForStilpo，princeofsophists，havingsilencedhimbysomequibblingpuzzleoflogic，PtolemysurnamedhimChronostheSlow。PoorDiodoruswenthome，tookpenandink，wroteatreatiseontheawfulnothing，anddiedindespair，leavingfive"dialecticaldaughters"behindhim，tobethornsinthesidesofsomefivehaplessmenofMacedonia，as"emancipatedwomen；"aclassbuttoocommoninthelaterdaysofGreece，astheywillalwaysbe，perhaps，incivilisationswhicharedecayingandcrumblingtopieces，leavingtheirmemberstoseekinbewildermentwhattheyare，andwhatbondsconnectthemwiththeirfellow-beings。Buttoreturn:fundsshallbeprovidedfortheMuseumfromthetreasury；apriestofrank，appointedbyroyalty，shallbecurator；botanicalandzoologicalgardensshallbeattached；collectionsofwondersmade。InallthingsthepresidinggeniusofAristotleshallbeworshipped；forthese，likeAlexander，werehispupils。Hadhenotmappedoutallheavenandearth，thingsseenandunseen，withhisentelechies，andenergies，anddunameis，andputeverycreatedanduncreatedthinghenceforthintoitsproperplace，fromtheascidiansandpolypesoftheseatothevirtuesandthevices——yea，tothatGreatDeityandPrimeCausewhichindeedwasallthings，NoesisNoeseon，"theThoughtofThoughts，"whomhediscoveredbyirrefragableprocessesoflogic，andinwhomthephilosophersbelieveprivately，leavingSerapistothewomenandthesailors？Alltheyhadtodowastofollowinhissteps；totakeeachofthemabranch，ofscienceorliterature，orasmanybranchesasonemanconvenientlycan；andworkingthemoutontheapprovedmethods，endinafewyears，asAlexanderdid，byweepingontheutmostshoreofcreationthattherearenomoreworldslefttoconquer。
Alas!theMusesareshyandwild；andthoughtheywillhaunt，likeskylarks，onthebleakestnorthernmoorascheerfullyasonthesunnyhillsofGreece，andrisethencesingingintotheheavenofheavens，yettheyarehardtotemptintoagildedcage，howeveramusinglymadeandplentifullystoredwithcomforts。Royalsocieties，associationsofsavants，andthelike，aregoodformanythings，butnotforthebreedingofartandgenius:fortheyarethingswhichcannotbebred。
Suchinstitutionsareexcellentforphysicalscience，when，asamongusnow，physicalscienceisgoingontherightmethod:butwhere，asinAlexandria，itwasgoingonanutterlywrongmethod，theystereotypetheerrorsoftheage，andinvestthemwiththeprestigeofauthority，andproducemereSorbonnes，andschoolsofpedants。Toliterature，too，theydosomegood，thatis，inaliteraryage——anageofreflectionratherthanofproduction，ofantiquarianresearch，criticism，imitation，whenbook-makinghasbecomeaneasyandrespectablepursuitforthemanywhocannotdig，andareashamedtobeg。Andyet，byaddingthatsameprestigeofauthority，nottomentionofgoodsocietyandCourtfavour，tothepopularmaniaforliterature，theyhelponthegrowingevil，andincreasethemultitudeofprophetswhoprophesyoutoftheirownheartandhaveseennothing。
Andthiswas，itmustbesaid，theoutcomeofallthePtolemaeanappliances。
InPhysicstheydidlittle。InArtnothing。InMetaphysicslessthannothing。
Wewillfirstexamine，asthemorepleasantspectacleofthetwo，thatbranchofthoughtinwhichsomeprogresswasreallymade，andinwhichthePtolemaicschoolshelpedforwardthedevelopmentofmenwhohavebecomeworld-famous，andwillremainso，Isuppose，untiltheendoftime。
Fournamesatonceattractus:Euclid，Aristarchus，Eratosthenes，Hipparchus。Archimedes，also，shouldbeincludedinthelist，forhewasapupiloftheAlexandrianschool，havingstudiedifProclusistobetrustedinEgypt，underConontheSamian，duringthereignsoftwoPtolemies，PhiladelphusandEuergetes。
OfEuclid，asthefounderaccordingtoProclusoftheAlexandrianMathematicalschool，Imustofcoursespeakfirst。Thosewhowishtoattaintoajusterconceptionofthemanandhisworkthantheycandofromanyothersource，willdowelltoreadProfessorDeMorgan'sadmirablearticleonhimin"Smith'sClassicalDictionary；"whichincludes，also，avaluablelittlesketchoftheriseofGeometricscience，fromPythagorasandPlato，ofwhoseschoolEuclidwas，tothegreatmasterhimself。
IshallconfinemyselftooneobservationonEuclid'sgenius，andontheimmenseinfluencewhichitexertedonaftergenerations。Itseemstome，speakingundercorrection，thatitexertedthis，because
itwassocompleteatypeofthegeneraltendencyoftheGreekmind，deductive，ratherthaninductive；ofunrivalledsubtletyinobtainingresultsfromprinciples，andresultsagainfromthemadinfinitum:deficientinthatsturdymoralpatiencewhichisrequiredfortheexaminationoffacts，andwhichhasmadeBritainatoncealandofpracticalcraftsmen，andofearnestscientificdiscoverers。
Volatile，restless，"alwayschildrenlongingforsomethingnew，"astheEgyptianpriestsaidofthem，theyweretooreadytobelievethattheyhadattainedlaws，andthen，tiredwiththeirtoy，throwawaythosehastilyassumedlaws，andwanderoffinsearchofothers。Gifted，beyondallthesonsofmen，withthemostexquisiteperceptionofform，bothphysicalandmetaphysical，theycouldbecomegeometersandlogiciansastheybecamesculptorsandartists；beyondthattheycouldhardlyrise。Thewereconsciousoftheirpowertobuild；anditmadethemashamedtodig。
Fourmenonlyamongthemseem，asfarasIcanjudge，tohavehadagreatinductivepower:SocratesandPlatoinMetaphysics；ArchimedesandHipparchusinPhysics。Butthesemenransofarcountertothenationalgenius，thattheirexampleswerenotfollowed。Asyouwillhearpresently，thediscoveriesofArchimedesandHipparchuswereallowedtoremainwheretheywereforcenturies。TheDialecticofPlatoandSocrateswasdegradedintoamereartformakinganythingappearalternatelytrueandfalse，andamongtheMegaricschool，forunderminingthegroundofallscience，andpavingthewayforscepticism，bydenyingthenaturalworldtobetheobjectofcertainknowledge。TheonlyelementofPlato'sthoughttowhichtheyclungwas，asweshallfindfromtheNeoplatonists，hisphysicalspeculations；inwhich，desertinghisinductivemethod，hehasfallenbelowhimselfintothepopularcacoethes，andPythagoreandeductivedreamsaboutthemysteriouspowersofnumbers，andoftheregularsolids。
Suchapeople，whentheytooktostudyingphysicalscience，wouldbe，andinfactwere，incapableofChemistry，Geognosy，ComparativeAnatomy，oranyofthatnoblechoirofsistersciences，whicharenowbuildingupthematerialaswellastheintellectualgloryofBritain。
ToAstronomy，ontheotherhand，thepupilsofEuclidturnednaturally，astothesciencewhichrequiredthegreatestamountoftheirfavouritegeometry:buteventhattheywerecontenttoletpassfromitsinductivetoitsdeductivestage——notaswehavedonenow，aftertwocenturiesofinductivesearchforthetruelaws，andtheirfinaldiscoverybyKeplerandNewton:butassoonasHipparchushadpropoundedanytheorywhichwoulddoinsteadofthetruelaws，contenttheretostoptheirexperiments，andreturntotheirfavouriteworkofcommenting，deducing，spinningnotionoutofnotion，adinfinitum。
Still，theywerenotallofthistemper。Hadtheybeen，theywouldhavediscovered，notmerelyalittle，butabsolutelynothing。Forafterall，ifwewillconsider，inductionbeingtherightpathtoknowledge，everyman，whetherheknowsitornot，usesinduction，moreorless，bythemerefactofhishavingahumanreason，andknowinganythingatall；asM。Jourdaintalkedproseallhislifewithoutbeingawareofit。
Aristarchusisprincipallyfamousforhisattempttodiscoverthedistanceofthesunascomparedwiththatofthemoon。Hismethodwasingeniousenough，buttooroughforsuccess，asitdependedprincipallyonthebeliefthatthelineboundingthebrightpartofthemoonwasanexactstraightline。Theresultwasofcourseerroneous。Heconcludedthatthesunwas18timesasfarasthemoon，andnot，aswenowknow，400；buthisconclusion，likehisconceptionofthevastextentofthesphereofthefixedstars，wasfarenoughinadvanceofthepopulardoctrinetosubjecthim，accordingtoPlutarch，toachargeofimpiety。
Eratosthenes，again，contributedhismitetothetreasureofhumanscience——hisonemite；andyetbythatheisbetterknownthanbyallthevolumeswhichheseemstohavepouredout，onEthics，Chronology，CriticismontheOldAtticComedy，andwhatnot，spunoutofhiswearybrainduringalonglifeofresearchandmeditation。Theyhaveallperished，——likeninety-ninehundredthsofthelaboursofthatgreatliteraryage；andperhapstheworldisnopoorerfortheloss。Butonething，whichheattemptedonasoundandpracticalphilosophicmethod，stands，andwillstandforever。Andafterall，isnotthatenoughtohavelivedfor？tohavefoundoutonetruething，and，therefore，oneimperishablething，inone'slife？Ifeachoneofuscouldbutsaywhenhedied:"ThisonethingIhavefoundout；thisonethingIhaveprovedtobepossible；thisoneeternalfactIhaverescuedfromHela，therealmoftheformlessandunknown，"howrichonesuchgenerationmightmaketheworldforever!
Butsuchisnottheappointedmethod。Thefindersarefewandfarbetween，becausethetrueseekersarefewandfarbetween；andawholegenerationhasoftennothingtoshowforitsexistencebutonesolitarygemwhichsomeoneman——oftenunnoticedinhistime——haspickedupforthem，andsogiventhem"alocalhabitationandaname。"
EratostheneshadheardthatinSyene，inUpperEgypt，deepwellswereenlightenedtothebottomonthedayofthesummersolstice，andthatverticalobjectscastnoshadows。
Hehadbeforesuggested，asissupposed，toPtolemyEuergetes，tomakehimthetwogreatcopperarmillae，orcirclesfordeterminingtheequinox，whichstoodforcenturiesin"thatwhichiscalledtheSquarePorch"——probablysomewhereintheMuseum。Bythesehehadcalculatedtheobliquityoftheecliptic，closelyenoughtoserveforathousandyearsafter。Thatwasoneworkdone。ButwhathadtheSyeneshadowstodowiththat？Syenemustbeunderthatecliptic。Ontheedgeofit。
Inshort，justunderthetropic。Nowhehadascertainedexactlythelatitudeofoneplaceontheearth'ssurface。Hehadhisknownpointfromwhencetostartonaworld-journey，andhewoulduseit；hewouldcalculatethecircumferenceoftheearth——andhedidit。ByobservationsmadeatAlexandria，heascertaineditslatitudecomparedwiththatofSyene；andsoascertainedwhatproportiontothewholecircumferencewasbornebythe5000stadiabetweenAlexandriaandSyene。
Hefellintoanerror，bysupposingAlexandriaandSyenetobeunderthesamemeridiansoflongitude:butthatdidnotpreventhisarrivingatafairroughresultof252，000stadia——31，500Romanmiles；considerablytoomuch；butstill，beforehim，Isuppose，noneknewwhetheritwas10，000，or10，000，000。Therightmethodhavingoncebeenfound，nothingremainedbuttoemployitmoreaccurately。
OneothergreatmeritofEratosthenesis，thathefirstraisedGeographytotherankofascience。HisGeographicawereanorganiccollection，thefirsttheworldhadeverseen，ofallthetravelsandbooksofearth-descriptionheapedtogetherintheGreatLibrary，ofwhichhewasformanyyearsthekeeper。Hebeganwithageognosticbook，touchedonthetracesofCataclysmsandChangevisibleontheearth'ssurface；
followedbytwobooks，oneamathematicalbook，theotheronpoliticalgeography，andcompletedbyamap——whichonewouldliketosee:but——
notatraceofallremains，saveafewquotedfragments-
WearesuchstuffAsdreamsaremadeof。