第312页 / 共1391页

The illusion was a natural one in that age and country. The

simplicity and certainty of astronomy and harmonics seemed to

contrast with the variation and complexity of the world of sense;

hence the circumstance that there was some elementary basis of

fact, some measurement of distance or time or vibrations on which

they must ultimately rest, was overlooked by him. The modern

predecessors of Newton fell into errors equally great; and Plato

can hardly be said to have been very far wrong, or may even claim

a sort of prophetic insight into the subject, when we consider

that the greater part of astronomy at the present day consists of

abstract dynamics, by the help of which most astronomical

discoveries have been made.