ABSTRACT
The following Sheets contain the Life, and Doctrine of Pythagoras, by which the Reader will be able to judge if he deserves the Character he has hitherto maintain’d. This Work is owing to Mr. Dacier, who is the following Preface, to which this serves as an Introduction, acquaints the World with the Nature and Design of his Undertaking. The Reader will not be displeas’d at the Commendation he gives to his Master the French King, since it’s no more than he deserves on that Account, for his very Enemies must own that he has been a great Encourager of Learning; as if by this popular Act he hoped to secure to himself a Reputation with Posterity, who, he may imagine, will hardly be induc’d to believe that a Prince, who was so great a Favourer of the Muses, could be guilty of those many Violences, with which his Memory must too deservedly be charged. It was though a Book of this Nature would be of some use in this degenerate Age; for since our Modern Libertines refuse to hear Moses and the Prophets, let ’em behold one risen from the Dead to convince ’em; let ’em with Confusion hear him reason ’em out of their absurd Maxims, and shame ’em into better Principles.
