Rubáiyát. Stanza ci.

ALPHONSO THE WISE.  1221-1284.

Had I been present at the creation, I would have given some useful hints for the better ordering of the universe.[768:1]

Footnotes

[768:1] Carlyle says, in his "History of Frederick the Great," book ii. chap. vii. that this saying of Alphonso about Ptolemy's astronomy, "that it seemed a crank machine; that it was pity the Creator had not taken advice," is still remembered by mankind,—this and no other of his many sayings.

[[769]]

DANTE.  1265-1321.

(Cary's Translation.)