Jacobus Falco Valentinus, miles Ordinis Montesiani, hanc circuli
quadraturam invenit. Antwerp, 1589, 4to.[59]
The attempt is more than commonly worthless; but as Montucla and others
have referred to the verses at the end, and as the tract is of the rarest,
I will quote them:
_Circulus loquitur._
Vocabar ante circulus
Eramque curvus undique
Ut alta solis orbita
Et arcus ille nubium.
Eram figura nobilis
Carensque sola origine
Carensque sola termino.
Modo indecora prodeo
Novisque foedor angulis.
Nec hoc peregit Archytas[60]
Neque Icari pater neque
Tuus, Iapete, filius.
Quis ergo casus aut Deus
Meam quadravit aream?
_Respondet auctor._
Ad alta Turiae ostia
Lacumque limpidissimum
Sita est beata civitas
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Parum Saguntus abfuit
Abestque Sucro plusculum.
Hic est poeta quispiam
Libenter astra consulens
Sibique semper arrogans
Negata doctioribus,
Senex ubique cogitans
Sui frequenter immemor
Nec explicare circinum
Nec exarare lineas
Sciens ut ipse praedicat.
Hic ergo bellus artifex
Tuam quadravit aream.[61]
Falco's verses are pretty, if the U-mysteries be correct; but of these
things I have forgotten--what I knew. [One mistake has been pointed out to
me: it is Arch[=y]tas].
As a specimen of the way in which history is written, I copy the account
which Montucla--who is accurate when he writes about what he has
seen--gives of these verses. He gives the date 1587; he places the verses
at the beginning instead of the end; he says the circle thanks its
quadrator affectionately; and he says the good and modest chevalier gives
all the glory to the patron saint of his order. All of little consequence,
as it happens; but writing at second-hand makes as complete mistakes about
more important matters.
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