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