Menadrie

Menadrie is a mathematical art which demonstrates how, above nature's simple virtue and power, virtue and force may be multiplied, and so direct, lift, pull toward, and push or cast from, any multiplied or simple determined virtue, weight, or force that is not naturally so easy to direct or move. This art is furthered very much by other arts: in some points by perspective; in some by statics; in some by Trochilike; and in others by Helicosophy and Pneumatithmie. By this art all cranes, gibbets, and engines to lift up or to force anything, in any manner of way, are ordered, and the certain cause of their force is known: as the force that one man has with the Dutch wagon rack, with which to set up again a mighty laden wagon that has been overturned. The force of the crossbow rack is certainly here demonstrated. The reason why one man with a lever lifts that which six men with their hands only could not so easily do. By this art, in our common cranes in London, where the power is to crane up a weight of 2000 pounds, by two more wheels (added by good ordering) the art concludes that there may be craned up a weight of 200000 pounds, etc. So well did Archimedes know this art that he alone, with his devices and engines, twice or thrice spoiled and discomfited the whole army and host of the Romans besieging Syracuse,

Plutarch in Marco Marcello.

Marcus Marcellus the Consul, being their commander-in-chief.

Synesius, in his Letters.

Such huge stones, so many, with such force, and so far, did he with his engines hail among them out of the city.

Polybius.

Pliny.

Quintilian.

T. Livius.

And by sea likewise, though their ships might come to the walls of Syracuse, yet he utterly confounded the Roman navy. What with his mighty stones hurling:

Athenaeus.

what with pikes 18 feet long, made like shafts, which he forced almost a quarter of a mile; what with his catching hold of their ships, hoisting them up above the water, and suddenly letting them fall into the sea again;

Galen.

Anthemius.

what with his burning glasses, by which he fired their other ships afar off; what with his other policies, devices, and engines, he so manfully acquitted himself that all the force, courage, and policy of the Romans (for a great season) could nothing prevail for the winning of Syracuse. After which the Romans named Archimedes Briareus and Centimanus. Zonaras makes mention of one Proclus, who so well had perceived Archimedes' art of Menadrie, and had so well invented on his own, that with his burning glasses,

Burning glasses.

being placed upon the walls of Byzantium, he multiplied the heat of the sun so, and directed its beams against his enemies' navy with such force and so suddenly (like lightning), that he burned and destroyed both man and ship. And Dion specifies of Priscus, a geometrician in Byzantium, who invented and used sundry engines of force multiplied; which was the cause that Emperor Severus pardoned him his life after he had won Byzantium, because he honored the art, wit, and rare industry of Priscus. But nothing inferior to the invention of these engines of force was the invention of guns.

Guns.

Which took its occasion and order of first invention from an Englishman, though in another land and by other men it was first carried out. And those who should see the record where the occasion and general order of gunning is first discussed would think that "small things, slight and common, coming to wise men's consideration and industrious men's handling, may grow to be of force incredible."

Menadrie is a mathematical art. It shows how power and force can be multiplied beyond nature's simple power, so that you can direct, lift, pull toward you, and push or throw any power, weight, or force, simple or multiplied and fixed in amount, that nature would not otherwise let you direct or move.

Other arts help this art a great deal: perspective in some points, statics in others, Trochilike in others, and Helicosophy and Pneumatithmie in others.

By this art, every crane, gibbet, and engine for lifting something up, or for forcing it in any way, is managed, and the exact cause of its force is known. One example is the force one man has with a Dutch wagon rack, enough to set upright again a heavy loaded wagon that has been overturned.

The force of the crossbow rack is clearly demonstrated here.

It also gives the reason why one man can lift with a lever what six men, with only their hands, could not do as easily.

By this art, in the ordinary cranes in London, where the power is to crane up a weight of 2000 pounds, adding two more wheels in good order, the art concludes that a weight of 200000 pounds can be craned up, etc.

Archimedes knew this art so well that he alone, with his devices and engines, twice or three times routed and defeated the whole army and host of the Romans besieging Syracuse,

(Plutarchus in Marco Marcello.)

Marcus Marcellus the Consul was their general captain.

(Synesius, in his Letters.)

With his engines he hurled such huge stones out of the city and among them: so many, with such force, and from so far away.

(Polybius.)

(Plinius.)

(Quintilianus.)

(T. Liuius.)

And at sea likewise: though their ships could come right up to the walls of Syracuse, he completely routed the Roman fleet. Partly by hurling huge stones:

(Athenæus.)

Partly by casting pikes 18 feet long, made like shafts, which he drove almost a quarter of a mile. Partly by catching hold of their ships, hoisting them up above the water, and suddenly letting them drop back into the sea:

(Galenus.)

(Anthemius.)

Partly by his burning glasses, with which he set their other ships on fire at a distance. And partly by his other schemes, devices, and engines. He conducted himself so bravely that all the force, courage, and strategy of the Romans, for a long time, could accomplish nothing toward taking Syracuse. So the Romans called Archimedes Briareus and Centimanus. Zonaras mentions a certain Proclus, who had understood the art of Menadrie so well, and had invented so well on his own, that with his burning glasses,

(Burning Glasses.)

placed on the walls of Byzantium, he multiplied the heat of the sun so, and directed its beams against his enemy's fleet with such force and so suddenly, like lightning, that he burned and destroyed both man and ship. Dion also specifies Priscus, a geometrician in Byzantium, who invented and used sundry engines of force multiplied. This was the reason the Emperor Severus spared his life after he had taken Byzantium, because he honored the art, wit, and rare industry of Priscus. But the invention of guns was in no way inferior to the invention of these engines of force.

(Gunnes.)

Guns got the occasion and order of their first invention from an Englishman, though they were first carried out in another land and by other men. And whoever saw the record where the general cause and order of gunnery is first discussed would think that "small things, slight and common, coming to wise men's consideration and industrious men's handling, may grow to be of force incredible."