took to Hell its Flight Or that made up of Atoms Nature's Frame Exists and shall resolve into the same Some thousand Ages hence and almost brought From Nothing fall again to almost Nought Or that the Heavenly Spheres and Globe of Earth From Fire not such blind Matter drew their Birth Whose flames in all things dwell kindled Heav'ns Eys And form the glittering Lightning of the Skies Or sprung from Water which dry Matter soaks And ravenous Fire that would devour it choaks Or unbegot were Earth Air Water Fire And these four Limbs make up the God entire And form this World nor will that ought be found Beyond themselves since All things they compound Applying Hot to Cold to Humid Dry To Heavy Light which kind Discordancy The Matrimonial Bands of Nature knits And Principles for all Production fits We can but guess its Birth obscur'd it lies Beyond the reach of Men and Deities Yet though its Birth be hid its Form's disclos'd And in due Order all its Parts dispos'd Fire up to the Aethereal Confines flew And a round Wall of Flame 'bout Nature drew The subtle Air possest the second Place Diffus'd throughout the vast Globes middle space Whence its hot Neighbour draws cool Nourishment The third Lot level'd the wide Seas Extent And in a liquid Plain the Waters spread Whence hungry Air is by thin Vapours fed Prest down b' its Sediment Earth lowest fell Whilst sand-mixt slime contracting did expel The subtler moysture which to flight constrain'd Rose by degrees 'till it the surface gain'd And the more that into pure Water went The more the squeez'd out Seas the drain'd Earth pent Settling in hollow Vales whilst Hills thrust out Their Heads from Waves circling the Globe about This lowest in the midst is still confin'd On all parts equally from Heaven disjoyn'd Secur'd from further falling by its fall The Middle both and Bottom of this All In whose concentring Parts on every side Bodies Encountring are to sink deny'd And did not Earth by its self-Poize suspend Phoebus the Stars approaching could not bend His Course to set nor set e're rise again Nor Phoebe drive through the Aereal plain Her Wave-drench'd Steeds nor Phosphorus the Light E're usher more if Hesperus to Night Now in the Middle Earth suspending thus Not sunk to th Bottom All is Pervious For We nor can the rising Stars conceive A casual Production nor believe Of the chang'd Heavens the oft-renascent State Sol's frequent Births and his Quotidian Fate Since the Signs always shew the self-same Face Heav'n keeps one Course the Sun one constant Race The Moon in certain although various ways The changes of her Light and Orb displays Nature the Tract which first she made observes Nor e're like an unskilful Novice swerves Day with eternal Light is carried round This the times shew in several Regions found Successively the same and we may see Eastward its Rise its Setting West to be The further unto either as we run Continued with Heavens Motion and the Sun Nor need the Pendent Earth wonder beget Since the whole World suspends as well as it Whose Foot upon no certain Bottom rests As its swift Course and Circular attests The radiant Sun suspended runs its Rounds Never transgressing his Aethereal Bounds The Moon and Stars in Skies suspended stray And Earth by Imitation hangs as they Poiz'd in the middle of circumfluent Air Not flatly stretch'd but swell'd into a Sphere Rising alike and falling every where This is the Face of Nature thus th' Heav'ns roll'd Swiftly about into round Figures mould The Sun and Stars round is the Moon to sight And with a swelling Body barrs the Light Hence never wholly Lucid is her Ball When the Sun's Beams on it obliquely fall A Form eternal like the Gods alone In which Beginning there or End is none But like throughout and every where the same Such are the Stars such is the whole Worlds Frame Hence 't is We see not in all Lands all Signs Canopus not till you reach Aegypt shines And they lack Helice who see his Light Earth's Tumour hind'ring th'intercepted Sight The Truth of this Thou Cynthia mayst attest When dark'ning Shadows thy bright Looks invest At once thou dost not all the World amaze But first the Eastern Nations miss thy Rays Then those which under the Mid-Heaven are plac'd Next tow'rd Hesperia fly'st thou cloudy-fac'd Then those who yet more distant have their Seat Later to aid thee brazen Vessels beat If then the Earth were flat this sad Defect Of Light the whole World might at once detect But since 't is Round to These first then to Those Her Rising self or setting Delia shows For carried Circular she first attains Th' Ascending Parts then the Descending gains Now climbs this Arch anon leaves that behind Whence that the Earth is Round we clearly find This is by Men and Beasts and Birds possest The North Parts Eminent the South deprest Beneath our Feet whose surface seems to be It's Breadth deceiving its Declivitie Stretch'd to a lengthful Plain the large Extent Compos'd of equal Rising and Descent Hence when Sol's Beams i' th' West our Orient Face There rising Day does sleep from Mortals chace And when the Light to Labour summons Those 'T is Night with Us and Time for our Repose The watry Girdle of the Ambient Main Does either Hemisphere divide and chain This Worlds huge Mass fram'd into One Entire Of different Parts as Earth Air Water Fire A Power Divine whose sacred Influence glides Through all its Limbs with tacit Reason guides And mutual Leagues inclines them to contract That some may suffer what the Others act And the whole Frame although diversify'd By various Figures be throughout ally'd Now we the radiant Signs in Order sing First those which guirt Heaven with an Oblique Ring And Phoebus by alternate Courses bear Through the successive Seasons of the Year Then those whose Course to Heav'n is Opposite All which may numbred be in a clear Night The Laws of Fate depending on their Power First then of Heav'ns chief Part its Starry Tower The Princely Ram glittering in Golden Wool Wonders to see the backward-rising Bull With submiss Looks beckon the Twins next whom Cancer who after him sees Leo come Him Virgo follows then the Scales that weigh In even Ballance equal Night and Day Draw on the Scorpion with the fiery Sting At which the Centaur his Shaft levelling Seems ready to let fâ—…y To these comes on The Goats contracted Constellation Aquarius next pours from his Urn a Flood Whilst the glad Fish to the lov'd Waters scud By Aries touch'd and make the closing Sign Now
Westward but if it appear in the Evening the Sun being set then it seems Caudata the Train flowing from behind the Sun Eastward But it is more properly said to be Barbata when the Head or Body of the Comet is above and the Train or Stream underneath flowâ—…ng downward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More Barbae in opposition to that which is called Crinita whose Hair or Bash is above the Head of the Comet See Stobaeus Eclog Physic. l. 1. And Suidas in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beard Pogonias or Stella Barbata Sometimes 'twixt equal-bounded Sides it flows And a square p This Comâ—… or Meteor is called in English a Beam or Post in Latine Trabs in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Igniâ—…a Trabs When extended to an extraordinary length it was by the Greeks likewise called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Via as Aâ—…istotle Meteorolog l. 1. c. 6. affiâ—…ms Pliny l. 2. c. 26 reports such a one to have appeared at what time the Lacedemonians vanquâ—…shed in Fight at Sea lost the Empire of Greece and Charimandâ—…r in his Book of Comets as cited by Seneca Natur. Quaest. l. 7. relaâ—…s the like Meteor of unusual Brightness and Greatness to have been observed by Anaxagoras for many days continuance Callisthenes likewise affirms such a one to have appeared a little before Buris and Helice were swallowed up in the Sea The difference between a Trabs and Columna is this The first is of an oblong Form in a down lying Posture the latter appears in an erected Figure Vide Fromond Meteor l. 2. c. 5. Post or a round Pillar shows Dokiâ—… or Trabs Like a big-bellied q Call'd therefore by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dolium and thence by the Latines Pithetes thus described by Pliny l. 2. c. 25. Pithetes Doliorum cernitur FiguraÌ„ in Câ—…ncavo fumidae Lucis i. e. Pithetes is seen in the form of a Barrel or Tun within the Concave of a fumid or smoaky Light which according to Seneca Natural Quaest. l. 7. vel fertur vel in uno loco flagrat And to this kind is to be reduced the Meteor called Tenaculum sub cinerâ—…o fumo Luridum says Ricciolus Almag Nov. Tom. 1. l. 8. Tun now its swoln Beams Pithetes Dilate and then contract to narrower Streams Like little r Known by the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Resemblance it bears to a small Lock or Curle of Hair which in Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cincinnulus Locks which in small Curles are ti'd Bostruchias Now like fir'd s Manilius here describes these kind of Meteors by the Periphrasis of Hirta Mâ—…ssis They are commonly called Stipulae Ardentes resembling the firing of Straw or Stubble in the Fields Which appear as Aristotle says when the Exhalation that causes them is extended to a considerable breadth and length sheafs now like branch'd t Called therefore Lampadias imitating burning Lamps or Torches which Manilius here divides into â—…issus Ramâ—…sos branched sprayes and are not seen but in their Fall Of these kinds Pliny l. 2. c. 26. reports one to have appeared at Noon in sight of all the Roman People at what time Caesar Germanicus exhibited a Prize or Spectacle of Fencers He makes of them a double difference the first called Lampades Lamps or Torches which burn only at the Tops though they draw a long fuming Train after them The other called Bolides commonly englished Lances burning through the whole Extent or Length of their Train Of which last sort says he there were some seen in the Calamity oâ—… 〈◊〉 when that City was sack'd lamps descri'd Stipulae Ardentes Now falling u Anaxagoras would have these kind of Meteors to be sparkles falling from the fiery Region By Eunapius in Aeâ—…es they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Effluentiae seu Trajectiones quaedam Stellarum by Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 discursus seu Stellae fluxus By the Arabs called Shihâb which as I find in the Commentator upon Ulugh â—…eight Tables is expounded Stella quae nocte incedit sicuâ—… Ignis and Stella Daemones pellens for the Antient Arabs and Eaâ—…ern People fancy'd falling Stars to be fiery Darts lanc'd from Heaven against the Devils or evil Spirits of the Aire as is likewise observed by the Learned Golius notis in Alferganum p. 65. But Fromondus Meteor l. 2. c. 3. according to the Doctrine of Aristotle describes them to be a fiery Exhalation expulsed out of a Cloud having the Resemblance of a true Star falling They are conceived to come from the same Cause and Origine as Lightning though they are not attended by Thunder at least as to us perceivable Bearing the same Proportion to Lightning as the firing of a Musquet does to that of a Canon For as at a great distance we may see the Fire of a Musquet but scarce hear its Noise but of a Canon within the same distance we may both see the Fire and hear the Noise So by reason of the Exility of the Exhalation we hear not the Noyse when these falling Stars break from a Cloud as we do Thunder when ushered by Lightning Fromondus compares these Meteors to ouâ—… kind of Fireworks called Rockets though their Motions be different the one being forced upward the other downward which run in a Train and fall in the manner of Stars And therefore Pliny calls them Scintillas Discursus Stellarum Ptolomy Trajectiones both which our Poet expresses when he says they shoot and sparkle Stars seem to shoot every where Lampadias Stella Cadens When wandring Lights do sparkle in the Aire And darted Flames swift x Call'd in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from thence in the Latine Acontiae which as Pliny says Iaculi mâ—…do vibrantur 〈◊〉 significatu Of which the Emperour Titus or as some will Tiberius is said to have written an excellent Poem This Meteor when it appears in a shorter form is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Ensis Gladius seu Pugio the Head or Body of the Comet representing the Hilt the Ray or Iubar the Blade of a Sword and appears of all others the most Pale Arrows imitate Acontiae When the dry Train runs in a narrow Strait For every Thing does mixed Fire infold That dwells in pregnant Clouds which Thunder mold Pierces Earths Veins Heavens Terrors counterfeits From Aetna's Caves in Springs cold Water heats Lurks in hard Flints and in green Bark finds Room When Woods by their y To this Accident Vitruvius l 2. c. 1. ascribes the Original of our Culmary Fire where he says Ab Tempestâ—… ventis densae crebriâ—…ibus Aâ—…bores agitatae inter se 〈◊〉 Ramos Ignem exâ—…itaverunt Which being observ'd by the Antients they from thence
away and rounded by the length of its passage through the Air. The cause of its congeal'd hardnes is the Ant peristasis of the lower Region of the Air which is the Reason likewise why it falls more frequently in Summer than in Winter and seldom in the Night unless the Night be warm Vide Fromond Meteorolog l. 5. c. 9. t Thales Democritus ascribe the Cause of Earth-quakes to Subterranean Waters breaking out and undermining the Bowels of the Earth The Stoicks to Moisture rarified into Air which seeking for room to break â—…orth when it meets as Anaxagoras likewise held with the thick and tough Body of the Earth by its strugling for vent it shakes it Others conceive it proceeds from inclosed Air or Spirits arising from combustible matter such as Sulphur Nitre Allom Sal Armoniack or Bitumen set on fire and consequently rarified causing the like effect as Gunpowder in Mines See Fromond Meteorolog l. 4. c. 1 2 3. and Kircher in his Mund. Subterran l. 4. c. 2. The several kinds of Earth-quakes are thus reckon'd up by Apuleius l. de Mundo The first is term'd Epiclintes seu Inclinator that is when it strikes at oblique Angles turning things sideward The second is called Brastes or â—…ffervescens from the similitude of boiling Water bearing up all above it in a direct Line The third is termed Chasmatias whose Violence makes a Breach or Hiatus in which the place forced is swallowed up The fourth is called Rhectes from forcing its way by a Rupture but not making such a Chasma as the former The fifth Ostes which at once shakes and overturns The sixth Palmatias which shakes but overturns not The last Mycematias from the bellowing Noise it makes Ammianus Marcellinus l. 16. and Coelius Rhodiginus from him reckon but four kinds u That there are Subterranean Fires and those great and many appears by the Vulcanian Islands by the Mountains Aetna Vesuvius Hecla and others ejecting Flames and by hot Baths and Fountains breaking out of the Earth which as Vitruâ—…iÌ„us l. 2. instances could not be Si non in imo haberent aut de Sulphure aut de Alumine aut Bitumine ardentes Maximos Ignes In which words he briefly declares their Causes To which as a further Proof to omit divers others may be added Earth-quakes deriving as but now alledged their Original from these Subterranean Fires and therefore by our Authour not unproperly joyn'd together in this Verse Who would be further satisfied touching this matter may consult Pliny l. 2. c. 106. Gassendus his Epicurean Animadversions and particularly Kircher in his Mund. Subterran l. 4. where the Natures of these Fires their Necessity Diffusiveness Foâ—…d and Prodigious Effects are exactly described See likewise Iâ—…tigius expresly upon this Subject in his Tract de Montium Incend and the Curious Disquisition of Alphonsus Borellus in Historia Meteorologia Incendiâ—… 〈◊〉 Anno 1669. x Rain is defin'd by Aristotle a Cloud converted into Water and distilling in drops Epicurus makes two ways or means of generating Rain One by Transmutation when the parts of a Cloud either by absence of Heat or accession of Cold are so transpos'd and varied as render them more apt to flow and fall as is exemplified by Vapoâ—… in a Limbeck gathering together and then falling in drops The other by Compression when by wind or cold the Cloud is comprest and the vaporous Corpuscula within the hollows thereof are crowded together and by accession get weight and fall Whence it appears that the drops of Rain are form'd by Coalition rather than Division And that Rain is not as vulgarly conceiv'd a watry Mass effus'd from a Cloud like water from a watring-Pot or as â—…repsiades jestingly in Aristophanes declar'd it to be caus'd when Iupiter urin'd through a sive For if there were any such stagnation of Water in a Cloud it would fall from thence like a Torrent or Spout rather than in Drops Of Rain there are reckon'd three kinds Sâ—…illicidium Imber and Nimbus The first is a small Misty Rain The second is more intense and composed of greater Drops The last is yet more violent and falls more thick and as Fromondus says Decumanis Guâ—…tis Apuleius de Mundo sums up the Matter when he saâ—…es Tot Diversitatibus pluviae cadunt quot modis Aer Nubium conditionibus cogitur y The Original of Wind is reckoned among the Abscondita of Nature But I find it reduc'd chiefly to three Heads or Causes Viz. the Earth the Water the Air. The first is maintain'd by Aristotle who makes it a dry Earthy Exhalation The second is maintain'd by Metrodorus and partly by Anaximander chiefly by Vitruvius l. 1. c. 6. Where he says Ventus est Aeris fluens unda cum incerta motus redundantia Nasciturque cum fervor offendit Humorem Impeâ—…us fervoris exprimit vim Spiritûs flantis Which he illustrates by your Aeolipilae or Wind-balls so demonstrated likewise by Descartes l. 4 Metear c. 4. and asserted by Salmasius l. de Ann. Climacter p. 811. in Vitruvius his own words The third seems to be most antient which makes Wind to be nothing else but Air moved Apuleius de Mundo is of the same Opinion Nec enim aliud est ventus nisi multum vehemens in unum coacti Aeris flumen But this not assigning the first Cause of that Motion leaves the matter undetermin'd The most probable Opinion is that Wind is an Earthy or Watry Exhalation mixed with saline Spirits and other Vapours drawn or forc'd out of the Earth or Sea by the power of the Sun or Subterranean Fires which being rarified by Heat or condensed by Cold and impelled for the most part by a transverse sometimes by a direct Motion exâ—…gitates the Earth Air and Sea But of this Subject see particularly the Lord Verulam in his Book de ventis Descartes loc cit Gassend Animadvers in Epicur Fromond Meteor Kircherus in Mund. Subterran and Mr. Isaac Vossius de Motu Marium ventorum z See Lucretius l. 6. arguing to this effect against the pretended and fabulous Power of Thundring Iupiter But far better and with more Analogy to Truth Seneca in Natural Quaest. l. 2. Interim hoc dico Fulmina non miâ—…i à Iove sed sic omnia disposita ut etiam ea quae ab illo non â—…ant sine ratione non fiunt quae illius est Vis eorum illius permissio est Nam etsi Iupiter illa nunc non facit fecit ut fierent singulis non adest sed signum Vim Causam dedit omnibus Thus far Seneca In which there only wants the true Name of the first Divine Cause Why Iupiter is said to be the Author of Thunder and Lightning Pliny l. 2. c. 20. gives this Physical reason That the Fires of the three uppermost Planets falling to the Earth carry the name of Lightning but that especially which is seated in the midst that is to say Jupiter because
Strabo l. 16. from the Authority of Pâ—…sidonius affirms was the first Authour or Introducer of these Indivisible Principles and liv'd before the time of the Trojan War By Atoms is to be understood what the Latines call Insectile that is a Body incapable of Division both by reason of its solidity ob vacui careâ—…iam and the Minuteness of its Body whence it is properly said to be quid minimum or as our Authour terms it penè Nihilum But see these explain'd in Lucretius de Rerum Naturâ and the Ingenious Interpreter of his first Book Mr. Evelyn more especially Gassendus in his incomparable Epicurean Animadversions h This was asserted by Hyppasus the Metapontine and from him by Heraclitus the Ephesian The Opinion thus delivered by Laertius All things consist of Fire and into that are resolv'd for since all things are made by Condensation and Rarâ—…faction and flow for the most part in manner of a River Fire when it is condens'd bumectates and becomes Air Air when comprest becomes Water Water contracting and growing concrete becomes Earth this is the way down On the contrary the Earth being diffus'd thereof Water is made of Water the rest after like manner this is the way up To this effect likewise Plutarch de Placit Philosoph l. 1. Stobaeus Eclog. Physic. l. 1. i Meaning the Stars according to the Stoicks who make the World to be a Corporeal Deity and the Stars its Eys See Plutarch de facie in Orbe Lunae and Lips Physiol Stoic l. 2. Dissert 10. k Of this Opinion was Thales the Milesian and Pherecydes of Scyrus who held Water to be the first principle of all natural Bodies whereof they consist and into which they resolve The Reasons or Grounds for which Opinion are these First because the Seminal and generating principle of all living Creatures is humid Secondly because all kinds of Plants are nourished by moisture wanting which they wither and decay Thirdly because Fire even the Sun it self and the Stars are maintained by Vapours proceeding from Water and consequently the whole World consists thereof See Plutarch de Placit Philosoph and particularly to omit divers others my learned Dear Friend Mr. Stanley in his History of Philosophy Part. I. l Not improperly is that Epithet given to Fire it being by some of the Antients believed to be a devouring Animal And for that reason the Aegyptians refused to burn their dead imagining fire to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Animata Bellua as Herodot l. 3. informs us m Asserted by Empedocles who held the Principles of all things to be the four Elements to which he added two Powers Amity and Discord the one Unitive the other Discretive See Plutarch de Placit Philosoph Laertius in Vit. Empedocl Achilles Tatius in Arat. Phaenâ—…men and Lactantius lib. 2. Which last conceives he deriv'd this Opinion from Hermes Trismegistus These Elements he called after this manner Fire he termed Iupiter the Air Iuno or as Laertius saies but not with so good reason Pluto The Water Nestis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. fluere The Earth Pluto or according to Laertius Iuno i. e. Vesta Consonant to this Opinion of Empedocles thus Ovid Metam l. 1. Quatuor aeternus genitalia Corpora Mundus Continet and again l. 15. Omnia fiunt Ex ipsis in ipsa Cadunt Lipsius Philosoph Stoic lib. 1. conceives our Authour in these Verses to touch at the Opinion of Strato the Peripatetick who hâ—…ld this Mundane Deity to be formed of these four Elemental Limbs Sine Mente gubernante Of which thus Sâ—…neca in a fragment of his cited by St. Augustine l. 6. de Civitat dei Egone feram Platonem aut Peripateticum Stratonem quorum alter scil Plato Deum sine Corpore fecit alter sine Anima n To this purpose Lactantius l. 2. Philosophi quidam Pâ—…e taedisâ—…ordi Concordia Mundum constare dixerunt i. e. some Philosophers and lâ—…oets report the World to consist â—…f discording Concord So likewâ—…se Cassiodorus lib. 2. Variarum Merito dicunt Philosophi Elementa sibi Mutuis complexiâ—…us illigari mirabili conjungi foederatione quae inter se contrariâ intelliguntur varietate pugnare This disâ—…onant Harmony of Nature being represented by Orpheus in his Tetrachord In which as there were four strings from the mixture of whose different Tones resulted a sweet Harmony so by concourse and mixture of the four Elements all things are generated And as in the Tetrachord the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred the gravest sound 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most acute and the nearest in gravity of sound to the first came the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the second in acuteness the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So among the Elements there is one the heaviest Earth and one the lightest Fire answering to the two first Notes Water and Air answering to the two intermediate Tones This admirable Consent of the contrary Elements is here not unaptly called The Matrimonial Band of Nature And for this reason saies Lactantius loco citato The Marriages of the Antients were confirmed and plighted by the Sacrament of two contrary Elements Fire and Water In regard that Heat and Moisture are the Parents of all Generation as Ovid l. 1. Metam hath likewise exprest it Quippe ubi Temperiem sumpsere Humorque Calorque Concipiunt ab his oriuntur â—…unctá duobus Cumque sit Ignis Aquae Pugnax vapor humidus omnes Res Creat Discors Concordia foetibus apta est Disposition and Order of its Parts o Our Authour here Confines not the Element of Fire within the Convex of the Lunary Sphere as Aristotle and his followers but with the Stoicks transmits it to the Aethereal Region which they will have so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. ab Ardore as consisting of Fire and to be Heaven it self imbracing all things as Cleanthes in Cicero i. e. de Natura Deorum describes it Ultimum altissimum atque undique circumfusum extremum omnia cingentem atque complexum Ardorem qui Aeaher nominatur To this purpose likewise Macrobius in Somnio Scipionis Quicquid ex omni Materiâ de quâ facta sunt omnia purissimum ac liquidissimum fuit id tenuit summitatem Aether vocatus est Fire Air. Water p So Ovid Tellus Elementaque grandia traxit Et pressa est gravitate suâ Upon which Words Iacobus Cruceus Per Elementa grandia nos materialem intelligimus Allâ—…vionem c. By the heavy Elements we understand that Material Conflux which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being the settling and Dregs of all the Elements To the same sence likewise Lucretius Terrae concreto corpore pondus Constitit atque omnis Mundi quasi Limus in Imum Confluxit gravis subsedit funditus ut faex So the Scholiast of Apollonius Rhodius in l. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Zeno affirm'd The Chaos whereof all things according to Hesiod were made was
good with the good bad with the bad Hence the Authour of the Fragment after Censorinus de Die Natal Stella Mercurii fit similis illi quam videt Maia's Son Plac'd under these 'twixt g Venus in Hebrew is call'd Nogah i. e. Lux. The Name Venus coming from the Hebrew Word Benot by the change of the first and last Letters as Mr. Selden de Diis Syris Syntagm 2. c. 7. and Vossius Idololatr l. 2. c. 22. derive it By the Greeks call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Phosphorus seu Lucifer when she is the Morning Star as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Hesperus Vesper and Vesperugo when she is the Evening Star by Timaeus Locrus call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Iunonis Astrum The Aegyptians call her Suroth the Chaldeans Spharphara and Astaroth by the Arabs named Elzahareth and Chabar i. e. Magna Venus and the h This Planet or Luminary is in Hebrew call'd Lebanah or Laneah from its white Colour by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the renewing of its Light She is by them likewise honoured with the Title of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Gaulmin notis in Psellum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the Latines Luna quasi Lucuna or Lucina the middle Syllable being cast away as Isidor Origin l. 8. and before him Cicero de Natur. Deorum l. 2. Luna à Lucendo eadem enim Lucina Or as Vâ—…ssius Idololatr l. 2. derives it from an Oriental Original Luna potius à Lon i. e. pernoctavit and Metaleptically quieâ—…it In regard as the Sun is President of the Days Labour so the Moon is Surintendent of the Nights Rest and Quiet By the Egyptian Copies call'd Isis Pcochos Actâ—…phcom i. e. Domina Maris humidorum by the Chaldeans Schaâ—…ro by the Persians Anaiâ—…is by the Arabs Alkamer and Abilat and Alitta by the Indians ador'd under the Name of Schendra Moon Others there are too of less usual kind For Suddain Flames streaming through Skies We find And Times more rare have Comets seen to blaze Comets and â—…iery Mâ—…teors i According to the Vulgar Belief who conceive Comets to be fore-runners of great Troubles and Commotions by which Manilius here signalizes their Exstinction And loose midst mighty stirs their threatning Rays Whither as k Alluding to the opinion of those who hold Comets to be generated of Elementary Matter that is of Exhalation and Vapour the first from the Earth hot and dry the other from the Water hot moist and unctuous carried by their Lightness above the Aiery Region where compacted they are by Motion of the superiour Orbs set on fire Of which Opinion is Aristotle and his followers and differing only as to place Galilaeo 〈◊〉 Guiduceius and some others See Gassendus Tom. 1. part 2. p. 702. and Ricciolus in Almagest Nov. Tom. 1. l. 8. and Fromond Meteorolog l. 3. Earth transpires its Native fumes Those humid Spirits the hot Air consumes Their Original When a long Drouth from Clouds hath clear'd the Sky And Heav'n by the Sun's scorching Beams grows dry Whence fitting Aliment is snatch'd by Fire And Matter like to Tinder flames acquire And since the Principles which Air compose Are not gross Bodies but like Smoke that flows The fiery Substance is not permanent But with the Comet l Touching the Duration of Comets Pliny l. 2. c. 25. makes the shortest to be Septem Dierum the longest Octâ—…ginta or rather as Muretus conceives the Text of Pliny ought to be read C. Octâ—…ginta a 180 Days which Emendation Tycho Brahe Progymn l. 1. p. 273 though Scaliger seem to disallow it approves of And so long Seneca Natural quaest l. 7. affirms the duration of one seen in the beginning of Nero's Reign Iosephus de Bello Iudaico l. 7. reports one to have continued a whâ—…le year a little before the Destruction of Ierusalem in the form of that which is called Xiphias or the Sword Comet But this Tycho conceives to have been supernatural and extraordinary so that the longest Duration of Comets their ordinary not extending to half that space seems not to be above six Moneths Of which coâ—…tinuance we find in History only three The first that of Nero's beforementioned in the year of Christ 64. the second in the year 603. not long before the appearrance of the Impostor Mahomet and the last in the year 1240. observed by Albertus Magnus soon as kindled spent Else if its Rise and Fall were not so nigh We should another Day in Night descry And the couch'd Sun when from the watery Deep Return'd would the whole World surprize in sleep Then since the arid Vapour is not us'd To be alike attracted or diffus'd Hence m The Word Comet though when strictly taken it signifies Stellam Crinitam and Sidus Cincinnatum yet in a larger sence it is us'd as a common and general Name for all sorts of fiery Meteors Of which Pliny l. 2. c. 25. reckons twelve several Specâ—…es Viz. Cometa Pogonias Acontias Xiphias Disceus Pithetes Ceratias Lampas Hippeus Argenticomus Hircus Longchites seu Hastâ—… Divers of which are by our Poet here enumerated whose Explanation we shall give in the following Notes and shall only add the Distinction which is made by a Reverend and Learned Authour upon this Subject who will have such Meteors to be peculiarly called Comets as are super-Lunary and have as he says proprium Aetherium Geometricum motum qualis esse solet Planetarum to the others he gives the Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as having some Resemblance with but differing as to their Motion Place and other Affections from Comets properly so called their Birth and existence being within the sublunary Sphere Vide D. Setb Wardi Praelect de Cometis several Shapes to Meteors are assign'd Their several kinds As in dark Nights their suddain Births they find For now like long hairs flowing from some head The Flame is in dishevell'd n These kind of Meteors are by the Greeks properly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Stellae Crinitae seu Cincinnatae as is before noted whose blaze rises upward above the Head or Body of the Comet whence Pliny calls them 〈◊〉 modo in vertice Hispidas But when the Cheveleure is round about equally diffused then the Comet is called Rosa. Tresses spred Cometa or Stella Cincinnata Then what a fiery Peruke first appear'd Assumes the Figure of a blazing o Thence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Barbata from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Barba which the Vulgar distinguish not from that which is called Caudata as Fromondus observes l. 3. c. 4. That difference being caused only by its Respect to the Sun for if it appear in the Morning before the Sun-rise it seems bearded the Blaze tending in Anteriora before the Sun
1485 56 60 1460 1433 â—… 60 Athanas. Kircherus 1940 ¾ 1906 ¼ 1872 〈◊〉 Anton. Maria de Rheita 2073 2000 1927 Godefridus Vendelinus 14905 14656 14407 Galilaeus †1208 †Marius Bettinus †1145 †Langrenus †3420 †Ricciolus 7580 7327 7074 Or 7600 7300 7000 Of the MOON THE MOON the nearest Neighbour of all the Planets to this our Elementary Sphere comes next to be considered whose Nature Composition and Constitution may best be judged of by its Opacity Asperity and Heterogeneity of Parts The first shews it to be altogether deprived of any innate or proper Light evidenced in its Total Eclipses wherein She altogether looses her Lustre which contrarily if She had any of her own would rather in the greatest darkness become more conspicuous Hence it may be inferred the Light She hath is from the Sun and that the Moon as She is an opacous so She is a dense Body apt to receive and reflect the Sun's Light The second argues the Globe of the Moon to be full of Eminencies and Depressions like our Hills and Valleys estimated to be such by the Conjectures of the Ancients mentioned by Plutarch l. de facie in Orbe Lunae but at present manifest to sight by help of the Telescope and ascertained to reason by those lesser Spots which are called New ones varying their Scituation and Magnitude according to the divers Access and Recess of the Sun to which their Site is alwayes opposite thence evidencing them to be the Shadows of the more eminent Parts of the Moons Globe emulating our Alps Hills and Mountains and here and there surpassing them for Height The third viz. The Heterogeneity of its Parts was long since believed by the Ancients as may appear by Plutarch l. 2. De Placit Philosoph c. 25. but at this day certainly demonstrated by the various Reflections of its Light whence We may conclude the brighter and more splendid Parts of the Moon to be those which are more dense solid and opacous like our Earth in regard they reflect a greater Portion of Light but the obscurer Parts commonly called the Ancient Spots for as much as they reflect a less and absorbe a greater Quantity of Light to be therefore Pellucid and Diaphanous and Analogous to our Ocean Seas Lakes and Rivers From what hath been already said We may probably inferr that the Moon is composed of Solid and Liquid Parts as this our Terraqueous Globe which we inhabit above which it is placed in such a â—…itting Degree of Neighbourhood that thereby the Light and Influence of the Celestial Bodies especially of the Sun 's fervent Rayes might by the Celerity of its Motion be so tempered and by the Asperity and Inequality of its Superficies so received and thence reflected that they might be transmitted to us with less Incommodity than otherwise they would if they were directly projected without that temperating Medium We are not yet to imagine though most Astronomers as well Ancient as Modern conceive the Moon to be as it were another Earth that it is composed of the same Sand Clay Stones as this Terrestrial Globe or that the Lunary Seas Lakes Pools c. are of the same Water with our Seas Lakes or Pools but happily of a quite different Matter and to us incomprehensible And therefore as to its Nature and Substance We shall forbear with Anaximander to determine that its Concave Orb is full of Fire breathing out at one Part as out of a Tunnel or with Xenophanes that it is a Constipated Cloud or with Pythagoras that it is a stony Body or with the Stoicks that it is composed of Fire and Air or as Plato will of a terrene Composition or as Anaxagoras pretends of a mixture cold and earthly darkness being mixed with her fiery Nature whence She is called a Star of false Light or with Heraclitus that it is another Earth inveloped within a misty dim Cloud or with Pliny and some of the Moderns that it is of a Watery Substance or as Otto de Guerrick conjectures that it is a Globe of Ice But shall leave these Opinions as being dubious and uncertain to the further Disquisition of the learned and give the Reader a view of its Figure and several Phases in the Annexed Scheme according to the Observations of Ricciolus and Grimaldus And seeing mention hath been made of the Maculae or Spots appearing in the Face or Body of the Moon as well those obvious to the Bare Eye as the others discernable by help of the Telescope We hold it necessary to make a more particular Description of them They are distinguished into the ANCIENT and the NEW The Ancient Spots are those greater and larger Spots at all Times discernable without the Help of a Telescope resembling large Seas Lakes and Bayes Heretofore known and taken Notice of by the Ancients of which Plutarch hath written a Particular Treatise under the Title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i. e. De facie in Orbe Lunae translated and commented upon by Kepler and annexed to his Somnium Lunare The New Ones are those Lesser Spots which are not discernable but by the help of a Telescope which are various differing in Magnitude Figure Scituation Colour c. observed and with exactness described by sundry eminent Modern Astronomers Some of whom have imposed as well upon the Old as New distinct Names and Appellations for the better Knowledge of them Among whom Langrenus in his Selenographia hath noted them by the Names of several Persons eminent either for their Skill in the Mathematicks or their Dignity and Honours or their Particular Friendship and Favour to him and his Studies Hevelius as if the Moon were another Earth hath described and distinguished them by Geographical Marks and Denominations transferring to them the Names proper to our Terrestrial Continents Promontories Mountains Islands Seas Lakes c. Grimaldus hath signalized them by the Names for the most Part of Persons peculiarly addicted to and eminent in the Study of Astronomy The Scheme and Tables of the two last that of Langrenus not yet come to my hand the Reader may here take notice of as being of great Use and Advantage to all Students in Astronomy and very Necessary not only for making their own but better Understanding others Observations The first Scheme is that of Hevelius whereof the Alphabetical Table follows The Names of HEVELIUS his Selenographical TABLE A. ABarim a Mountain called likewise Nebo and Phasga where Moses died Acabe a Mountain of Egypt near the Arabian Gulf. Aconitus a Hill where likewise is the Acherusian Cave Adriaticum Mare at this day called Golfo di Venetia by Vitruvius Gallicae Paludes the Inmost Recess of the Adriatick Sea where Venice is seated at this Day called Lagume di Venetia Aea an Island at this day called Satabella Aegyptus a famous Region of Africa heretofore known by the Names of Aeria Aetia Ogygia Hephaestia and Chemia according to Herodotus by the Iews called Chus by the
seventh is that of Galilaeo viz. that the Tayl of a Comet is of its own Nature straight as being produced by the Sun-Beams but appears to us to be crooked when near the Horizon and inclined thereunto by reason of the Refraction of the Species or of the Visual Rayes made in the Spherical Superficies of the Aire which near the Earth is filled with gross Vapours This he illustrates by the Example of an Oar which though straight seems in the Water by the force of Refraction to be crooked The eighth is that of Io. Baptista Cysatus who conceives the Tayl of a Comet not to be a Flame but a radious Cone or Pyramid made by the Sun's Beams transmitted through the Head of the Comet in the same manner as the Sun 's Light passing through a Hole or Convex Glass illustrates a Room or Chamber which he sayes is done partly by Refraction partly by Reflexion from the Poly-angular Sides of the Corpuscula that forme the Head of the Comet The ninth is of Nichol. Cabaeus who makes the Tayl of the Comet to be the Sun-Beams shineing through the Head of the Comet and refracted but since all Beams however refracted are propagated by right Lines he affirms the Tayl of a Comet cannot possibly be really crooked but only apparently such and the Cause of this apparent Crookedness he refers to the divers Site or Plane of the Eye and of the Tayl or Bush of the Comet The tenth is that of Fromondus Meteor l. 3. c. 4. where he affirms the Tayl of a Comet to be the Sun-Beams transverberated per Cerebrum Capitis Cometae as he terms it and at the beginning not to be of any Length nor directly to tend toward the Part turned from the Sun in regard of the various Diversion it meets with by reason of the Profundity and Opacity of the Head of the Comet but after that Opacity is a little cleared and the Matter better digested then the Sun-Beams issue forth directly and stream into a long Bush or Train The eleventh is that of Fortunius Licetus who conceives that to the Body of the Comet there is a certain Matter that adheres by some Extrinsecal Appulse and hath its coagmentation and generation near the Body of the Comet from the same Cause that formed the Comet and either by the innate or proper Light of its Head or by the Sun Beams is illuminated and becomes visible in the shadow of the Comet that is in that part of it which is directly turned from the Sun The twelfth is that of Ricciolus who first conceives it not improbable that the Tayl or Train of a Comet is of the same Substance with the Comet and to shine by its own Light propagated from its Head The Face of which is alwayes converted to the Sun like a Heliotrope or as a Magnet to the Pole and by a slow Vertiginous Motion about the Center of its Head to be so moved that the more perfect part of the Comet alwayes respects the Sun the other part to be turned from the Sun and to have divers Shapes and Figures according to the several Species of Comets and the diversity of its Matter and Configuration Secondly he holds it very probable that the Train or Bush of a Comet is a Multitude of most subtle Corpuscula in the Air or Aether flying about the Head of the Comet not such as We see through a Chink dancing in the Sun-Beams nor like those Exhalations which make the Crepusculum or Twilight but much more subtle and higher nor apt by reason of their smallness their little opacity and great distance from the Sun to be discerned by us through the Reflexion of the Sun's Beams unless very strongly illuminated that that strong Illumination is made by the Collection of the Sun's Beams by the Power of Refraction into one though not precisely after the same Manner as they unite after their trajection through a Sphere of Glass He likewise conceives the Head of the Comet to consist of divers minute Bodies Homogenial partly Polyangular partly Spherical partly Spheroeidal Hence by the Benefit of these various Superficies the Sun Beams passing after a divers Manner through the Head of the Comet according to the Rules as well of Refraction as Reflexion come forth much more multiplyed and collected together than otherwise they would do if they passed not through the Head of the Comet or were not refracted To these We might add the different Opinions of the Excellent Des Cartes and the much knowing Doctor Isaac Vossius but that We are obliged to keep within the Bounds of our prescribed Brevity and therefore shall referr the curious Reader to receive further satisfaction in this particular from their own better Pens as delivered by the first in Princip Philosoph Part. 3. by the other in his Learned Treatise De Natura Propriet Lucis c. 32. and in his Appendix thereunto c. 8. From the divers Figures and Appearances of these Trains or Bushes Comets are distinguished into several Kinds or Species reducible to two chief Heads that is to say Criniti seu Comati and Barbati to the first Head or Classis relate these following viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu Hircus to the latter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Veru seu Pertica and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Disceus sive Disci-formis Cometa is a Comet resembling in Shape or Form a round Dish or Platter among these kind the chief is that which is called Rosa sive Chryseus bright shining and of a Silver Colour mixed with Gold or Amber Colour Those of this sort which are not absolutely round resemble the Figure of a Shield and are accordingly called Clypei-Formes 2. Pitheus sive Doli-formis resembles the Form or Shape of a Tun of which there are divers Kinds some of an Oval Figure some like a Tun or Barrel erect or set on End some like one inclining and cut short off others have a Bush or Train annexed 3. Hippeus seu Equinus resembles a Horses Main not alwayes of the same Shape or Figure for now it spreads its Syrma or Train from the Fore-part or Front now from the hinder Part now of an Oval Figure now like a Rhomboides and therefore it is distinguished into Equinus Barbatus Equinus Angularis sive Quadrangularis and Equinus Ellipticus Of this Pliny sayes it is very swift in Motion and turneth round about it self 4. Argyrocomus sive Argenticomus is not much different from that which is called Solaris sive Rosa but that it is of a whiter Colour and shines with such a dazling silver haired Light as it can scarce be looked upon 5. Hircus or the Goat is environed with a kind of Main seemingly rough and hairy by the slender Fibrae of its Beams or Rayes it is sometimes of a round Figure without any Train or Bush. 6. Lampadias sive Lampadi-formis is a Comet resembling burning Lamps or Torches and is of several
water which settling became slime the slime condens'd into solid Earth Earth q Virgil Eclog. 6. Tum durare solum atque excludere Nerea Ponto Coeperit Our Authour perhaps in this place hints at Anaximander who said of the Sea that it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The remainder of Primitive Moisture after this Exclusion and Separation Plutarch l. 1. c. 4. de placit Philosoph thus expresses the sence of our Authour Of those Bodies which settled below was made the Earth and that part thereof which was mâ—…re subtile and of a thinner form and consistence gathered round together and engendred the Element of Water which being of a liquid and flâ—…wing nature ran downward to hollow placeâ—… lying low which were able to receive and hold it The Earth in the midst of the World r To this purpose Cicero l. 2. de Naturá Deorum Si Mundus Globâ—…sus est Omnesque ejus partes undique aequabiles c. If the World be round and of a Globose Figure and all its Parts contained in like proportion by and among themselves It must happen to the Earth by necessary Conseâ—…uence seeing all its parts press and tend to the middle now the middle in a Sphere is that which is lowest that nothing can pâ—…ssibly interpose which may be able to weaken or hinder so great a Convention of Gravity s Homer and Oâ—…id make the Moon to be drawn in a Chariot by two Horses whereof the one is said to be white the other black in regard as Bassus in Germanicum gives the reason she is sometimes apparent by Day as well as by Night Others will have her to be drawn by Oxen and therefore by Nâ—…nus in Dionys. l. 12. she is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Boum Agitatrix Luna Of both which we have express representations in the Roman Coyns and particularly in those of the Empress Iulia Domna touching which see Tristan in his Historic Commentar Tom. 2. p. 129 130. She is said likewise to be drawn by Mules in regard as Festus in vâ—…ce Mulus observes that as Mules are not generated ex suo genere sed Equi So the Moon is said to shine not by her own but as Catullus expresses it Notho Lumine which she derives from the Sun Claudian l. 3. de laudibus Stiliconis makes her to be drawn by Stags in regard of the swiftness of her Motion c. and so we have her likewise represented in divers Consular and Imperial Coyns in Ursinus Golzius and Gorlaeus t The Star or Planet Venus called likewise Lucifer as Cicero in 2. de Naturâ Deorum and Pliny l. 2. c. 8. when it precedes the rising Sun as being the Harbinger of Light and not as Iulius Scaliger Exercit. 75. conceives for being the brightest of all the Stars and from its splendour so nam'd It is likewise call'd Hesperus Vesper Vesperugo when it rises in the Evening and ushers the Night Of this thus Seneca in Hypolit Qualis est Primas râ—…ferens Tenebras Nuncius noctis modo lotus undis Hesperus pulsis Iterum Tenebris Lucifer idem Such the bright Usher of dark Night Rises from Seas with new-bath'd Light Hesper The same Night chac'd away Phosphor the Herald of the Day We shall only add as a further Illustration to this and the foregoing Note what Cassiodorus hath l. Variarum 3. in Explanation of the Circensian Games Big a quasâ—… Lunae quadriga Solis Imitatione reperâ—…a est Equi Desultorii per quos Circensium Ministri missâ—…s denuntianâ—… Exituâ—…os Luciferi Praecursoriâ—…s velocitâ—…tes imitantur u He points at the ridiculous Opinion of Xenophanes the Colopâ—…onian who held that the Moon and Stars were certain Clouds set on Fire extinguish'd every Day and re-kindled at Night as on the contrary the Sun extinguish'd every Night and re-kindled every Morning or to express it in Minucius Foelix his Words Congregatis ignium Seminibus Soles alios atque alios semper splendere For the Rising and Setting of the Sun Moon and Stars according to this Tenet is nothing else but their kindling and extinguishing Of the same Opinion like wise was Heraclitus whence the Proverb in Plato Heracliteo Sole ci ius extingui From them Epicurus receiv'd by Succession Haereditatem â—…tultitiae as Lactantius terms it This Inheritance of Folly which he left improv'd by himself and Lucretius who thus asserts it l. 5. conveniuâ—… Ignes semina multa Câ—…fluere Ardoris consuerunt tempore certo Quae faciunt Solis nâ—… semper Lumina gigni Quod genus Idaeis famâ—… est è montibus alâ—…is Dispersos ignes oriâ—…i Lumine cerni Inde câ—…ire Globum quasi in uâ—…um conficere Orbem By which instance of Lucretius iâ—… may appear that Epicurus did not hold so much the Quotidian Creation of a new Sun as the dayly Renovation of the Old To which Horace in Carmine Saecular seems to allude Alme Sol Currâ—… nitidâ—… diâ—…m Qui promis celas aliusque Et idem nasceris And to this purpose I find his Opinion expressed by Gassendus Seeing the Ocean compasses the Earth the Sun may be extinguished by it in the West and return all along it by the North into the East and thence rise re-kindled which yet little mends the matter x To this may be applied that of Plato in Timaeo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Thus interpreted by Cicero in his Fragment of Timaeus seu de universe Nec Maenus ei Deus affixit quia nec capiendum quicquam erat nec repellendum necpedes nec alia membra quibus Ingressu corpus sustineret c. i. e. God affixed to the World no hands because it was neither to take nor repel any thing nor Feet nor other Members whereby it might sustain its body by walking or going But gave it a Motion which is most sutable to its Figure wherefore by one and the same Conversion it is whirl'd and turn'd about it self y Aristotle Anaximander and their followers at this day hold the Heavens to be solid and the Stars fixed therein as Nails in a Wheel or Jewels in a Ring the contrary to which Opinion is here asserted by our Authour with whom concur among the Antients Homer Virgil Cicero Lucretius Seneca Ptolemy Pliny Metrodorus and others And of the Moderns the most Eminent Astronomers from Tycho to this present who all maintain the Heavens to be fluid and the Stars to move therein as Fishes in the Water or Birds in the Air. Between these there is a middle Opinion which maintains the Heaven of the fixed Stars to be solid but that of the Planets to be fluid The first Authour of which distinction is conceiv'd to be Empedocles Of which see Plutarch l. 2. de Placit Philosoph c. 13. and upon the whole subject matter Ricciolus in Almagest Nov. l. 9. c. 7. z This Libration or Suspension of the Earth Achilles Tatius in Arat. Phaenomen thus illustrates If any one should put a Millet-Seed or other small