LOGISTIC

ply, which they call four hundred. But if there is a larger number, and one of more marks, such that there seem to be more than three places: the marks of such numbers should be distinguished by groups of three, by means of short lines inserted—or, as they commonly call them, commas—or by some signs written above or below: so that the three places we spoke of may suffice even for numbers of six hundred marks. For example, let there be a number of fourteen marks, which we distinguish by four commas as we have said.

Before the first comma, which is on the right, there are three marks which fill three places: five the first, two the second, four the third. Between this comma and the second, and between the second and third, and between this and the last comma, there are the same number of marks: where the same number of places must also be taken. But after the last comma, because there are only two marks, there cannot be more than two places: the former of which is occupied by three, and the other by four: so that we count only forty-three in this part. But learn how many times the parts of the proposed number that lie between the commas signify in this place. I grieve with myself that words are missing by which we might enunciate larger numbers as beautifully as they are conveniently denoted by these Pythagorean marks.

Admonishing, ...

11 A Monas unit, which indeed is not a number, after—a Number is, as the Greeks define it, a multitude composed of monads—but which nevertheless