ce, he
immediately resolved to dedicate to the Venetians the first work he
published that might be agreeable, or worthy to be presented to them;
that an opportunity now offer'd of fulfilling this resolution, and that
he dedicated to them the translation of Stevin's work because Prince
Maurice had recommended it to the colleges of the Admiralty to be
studied by all officers of the Navy; and as the Republic of Venice
attentively cultivated Navigation, this book might be as useful to her
as to Holland.

XII. The year following, that is to say, 1600, Grotius published the
Treatise which Aratus, of Sola in Cilicia, composed in Greek on
Astronomy, two hundred and some odd years before the birth of Christ.
It is known by the name or the _Phaenomena of Aratus_. The title fully
shews what Grotius gives in this book. It contains the Phaenomena of
Aratus in Greek with Cicero's Latin interpretation, the places where
Cicero's Translation is wanting being supplied; a Translation of the
same Phaenomena, ascribed to Germanicus; the fragment of Aratus's
Prognostics, and the forms of the constellations as found in a
Manuscript; with Remarks upon the whole, the Paraphrase of Festus
Avienus, and marginal notes.

This work is dedicated to the States of Holland and West Friesland: the
author in the dedication promises them others more considerable. The
book is a prodigy of science and erudition: it discovers a great
knowledge of Physics, and especially of Astronomy. The Latin verses made
by Grotius to supply those of Cicero that were lost, are not inferior to
the lines of that great man, in the opinion of the Abbe d'Olivet, an
excellent judge, who likewise thinks the supplement a very good
commentary on Aratus's work. The corrections made by Grotius in the
Greek are most judicious; and his notes shew he had read several of the
Rabbi's, and had some tincture of the Arabic.

Scaliger[35], M. de Thou, and Lipsius, speak of this edition with the
highest praise. Lipsius, in thanking Grotius for his Aratus, says that
notwithstanding his childhood he looks on him as his friend: he
congratulates him, that, tho' so very young, he had by force of genius
and labour accomplished what few could do in the flower of their
age[36].

Casaubon[37] tells us, every one was surprised at such an extraordinary
production. Bonaventura Vulcanus, who took occasion from Grotius's
publishing this book, to write his elogium in verse, says in the
conclusion, that