Sir Hudibras, His Passing Worth

...

In Mathematicks he was greater

Than Tycho Brahe, or Ezra Pater:

For he by Geometrick scale

Could take the size of Pots of Ale;

Resolve by Signes and Tangents straight,

If Bread or Butter wanted weight;

And wisely tell what hour o'th day

The Clock does strike, by Algebra.

...

Samuel Butler (1612-1680)