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]