The World: Works of Descartes, Volume 11

VII

...and without having had knowledge of Schuyl’s volume, [produced] new figures: Louis de la Forge, a doctor of medicine at La Flèche, and Gérard van Gutschoven, a professor at Louvain. Their figures are indeed simpler and clearer than those of Schuyl; they are certainly less artistic, and present rather the character of a diagram original: "schema" — a simplified or symbolic representation rather than a realistic drawing., as is appropriate. We will therefore reproduce them, doing moreover as Clerselier did, who, having been embarrassed more than once by certain figures between the model of one and that of the other, retained both, designating them by the letters F and G (de la Forge and Gutschoven). We will add the letter D for the two figures by Descartes, which we will provide because of their authenticity.

PREFACE OF SCHUYL

FRAGMENT

« ... Moreover, I must at last give the reason for excusing my rashness. I was first moved to this by the most noble Lord Alphonsus Palotti, the delight of Mars original: "Martis" — representing military service., the Court, and the Muses The goddesses of the arts and sciences., who provided me with a copy of the Manuscript, which he himself, being most devoted to wisdom, had transcribed most elegantly: adding two figures drawn by Descartes with a simple hand original: "rudi Minervâ" — an idiom meaning "without much art" or "plainly.", which are referred to on pages 25 and 43. My modesty was then aided, and I was urged to complete and bring this little work to light by the authority of a man of illustrious lineage and exquisite learning, second to none in nobility: Anthonius Stutier van Surck, Knight, Lord of Bergen, who through his innate kindness willingly granted me for this purpose a copy original: "Ectypum" most accurately drawn by him from our Author’s own original manuscript original: "Autographo". Finally, the most noble Lord Claude Clerselier, the ornament and pillar of letters, and the Morning Star original: "Phosphorus" — a term for the bringer of light. of our age, promoted and pressed the business. As the best guardian and curator of Descartes' posthumous works, he brings to light with diligent fidelity the remaining works of our Author of pious memory original: "P. M." (Piæ Memoriæ), which are truly worthy of immortality original: "cedro digniora" — literally "worthier of cedar-oil," used by the ancients to preserve precious scrolls.. To these heroes, indeed, [my] little labor...