i82 THELIFEOF

Edit. z. ancient Greek Mustek. Also a Discourse concerning Time 1712, with Apph'cation of the Natural Day, Lunar Month , and Solar Tear, as Natural ; andof such as are derived from them : as Artificial Parts of Time, for Measurerin Civil and Common Use, for the better Understanding of the Julian Tea?and Calendar.)

At the Age of Thirteen, this young Mathematician had invented a new'Astronomical Instrument, of general Use, which (together with an Exercise •”Phystcis , De Ortu Fluminum , founded on some Hints, and Principles fug'gested by his Father,) he dedicated in this Manner,

Reverendo Patri Domino Chriftophero Wren , S. T. D. 8c D. W'Chriftopherus Filius Hoc suum Panorganum Ajlronomicu$D. D. XIII 0 . Calend: Novem. An°. 1645.

' , Si licet, & cesfent rerum (pater alme) tuarum

Ponder a, devotee respice prolis opus.

Hie ego fidereos tentavi pingcre motus ,

Cceiicaque in modulos conciliare breves.

Quo (prolapsa diu) retioventur tempora gyro ,

Seculaque, & menses, imparilesque dies .

Quomodo sol abeat, redeatque, & temperet annum,

Et (raptum contra) grande peremiet iter.

Cur nascens gracili, pleno orbe refulget adult a,

Cur gerat extinBas menstrua luna faces.

His ego numinibus diim lito, atque ardua mundiScrutor, & arcanas conor mire vias,

Adfis O ! save ajque pater, succurre volantiSllspensum implumis dirige prolis iter ,

Ne male, preecipiti, nimium pree viribus audax(Sorte sub Icarea) lapsus ab axe ruam :

Te duce , fert animus, Jludiis sublimibus hiscePasci, dum superas detur adire domos.

Dedicatio, ad Pattern, TraBatus De Ortu Fluminum.

sure accepta Tibi refero mea Flumina ; pulchreDcrivata suum respicit Unda caput.

About the same Time, he invented a Pncumatick Engine ; the Descriptionof which, with the Schemes, he thus introduced to his Father;

Permitte tnihi obsecro (Reverende Pater) prolusones meas tuœ semper p iVtemitati vovere ; & s arridcant qua ohm in Physicis, De Ortu FluminuM'quaque nuper in Opticis, nova tentavi ; folitd nunc etiam indulgentid, Pvsmaticum Hoc (quod ante inter olia excogitavi, jamqite ad incudem redu^texcipias rogo.

He contrived also a peculiar Instrument of Use in Gnomonicks, which ^explained in a Treatise, intitled Sciotericon Catholicum: the Use and prop° SEnd of which, was the Solution of this Problem, viz. " On a kno^" Plane, in a known Elevation, to describe such Lines with the expe^j c" turning of Rundles to certain Divisions, as by the Shadow of the Sty c" may shew the equal Hours of the Day.”

In the Year 1646, and Fourteenth of his Age, Mr. Wren was admitted

Gentleman-Commoner at Wadham-College, in the University of Oxj°s\

where he soon attracted the Friendship, and Esteem of the two most c 4

braked