diff --git a/data/tlg0007/tlg126/tlg0007.tlg126.perseus-eng4.xml b/data/tlg0007/tlg126/tlg0007.tlg126.perseus-eng4.xml new file mode 100755 index 000000000..d0e68d616 --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tlg0007/tlg126/tlg0007.tlg126.perseus-eng4.xml @@ -0,0 +1,2278 @@ + + + + + + + Of the Face Appearing Within the Orb Of the Moon + Plutarch + William W. Goodwin + A.G. + Perseus Project, Tufts University + Gregory Crane + + Prepared under the supervision of + Lisa Cerrato + Rashmi Singhal + Bridget Almas + + The National Endowment for the Humanities + + + Trustees of Tufts University + Medford, MA + Perseus Project + 2010-12-13 + + + + + Plutarch + Plutarch's Morals. + + Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by + William W. Goodwin, PH. D. + + + Boston + Little, Brown, and Company + Cambridge + Press Of John Wilson and son + 1874 + + 5 + + The Internet Archive + + + + + + +

This pointer pattern extracts sections

+ + + + + + + English + Greek + + + + tagging + EpiDoc and CTS Conversion + + + + +
+ Of the face appearing within the orb of the moon.The beginning of this discourse is lost. + Lamprias, Apollonides, Lucius, Pharnaces, Sylla, Aristoteles, Theon, Menelaus. + +
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These things then, said Sylla, agree with my story, + and are taken thence. But I should first willingly ask, + what need there is of making such a preamble against + these opinions, which are at hand and in every man's + mouth, concerning the face that is seen within the orb of + the moon. Why should we not, said I, being, by the difficulty there is in these discourses, forced upon those? For, + as they who have long lain lingering under chronical diseases, after they have been worn out and tired with experimenting all ordinary remedies and the usual rules of + living and diet, have at last recourse to lustrations and + purifications, to charms and amulets fastened about the + neck, and to the interpretation of dreams; so in such obscure and abstruse questions and speculations, when the + common, apparent, and ordinary reasons are not satisfactory, there is a necessity of trying such as are more extravagant, and of not contemning but enchanting ourselves + (as one may say) with the discourses of the ancients, and + endeavoring always to find out the truth.

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For you see at the very first blush, how impertinent + his opinion is who said, that the form appearing in the + moon is an accident of our sight, by its weakness giving + way to her brightness, which we call the dazzling of our + + + + eyes; for he perceives not that this should rather befall + our looking against the sun, whose lustre is more resplendent, and whose rays are more quick and piercing; as + Empedocles also in a certain passage of his has not + unpleasantly noted the difference of these two planets, + saying, + + + + The sharp-rayed sun, and gently shining moon. + + +

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For thus does he call her alluring, favorable, and harmless + light. No less absurd appears the reason he afterwards + gives why dull and weak eyes discern no difference of + form in the moon, her orb appearing to them plain and + smooth, whereas those whose sight is more acute and penetrating better descry the lineaments and more perfectly + observe the impressions of a face, and more evidently distinguish its different parts. For it should, in my opinion, + be quite contrary, if this were a fancy caused by the weakness of the vanquished sight; so that where the patient's eye + is weaker, the appearance would be more express and evident. Moreover, the inequality every way confutes this + reason; for this face is not seen in a continuance and confused shadow, but the poet Agesianax not unelegantly + describes it, saying, + + + + With shining fire it circled does appear, + + And in the midst is seen the visage clear + + Of a young maid, whose eyes more gray than blue, + + Her brow and cheeks a blushing red do show. + + +

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For indeed dark and shady things, encompassed with + others that are bright and shining, sink underneath and + reciprocally rise again, being repelled by them; and in a + word, they are so interlaced one within another, that they + represent the figure of a face painted to the life; and there + seems to have been great probability in that which was + spoken against your Clearchus, my dear Aristotle. For + he appears not inconveniently to be called yours, for he + + + + was intimately acquainted with the ancient Aristotle, although he perverted many of the Peripatetic doctrines.

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Then Apollonides taking up the discourse, and asking + what that opinion of Clearchus was; It would more, said + I, beseem any man than you to be ignorant of this discourse, as being grounded on the very fundamental principles of geometry. For he affirms, that what we call a face, + is the image and figure of the great ocean, represented in + the moon as in a mirror. For the circumference of a + circle, when it is reflected back,See the account of various ancient doctrines of vision and the reflection of light + in the treatise on the Opinions of Philosophers, Book IV. Chapters 13 and 14. The + idea that vision was caused by something proceeding from the eye to the object is + especially to be noticed. (G.) is wont in many places + to touch objects which are not seen in a direct line. And + the full moon is for evenness and lustre the most beautiful + and purest of all mirrors. As then you hold, that the + heavenly bow appears, when the ray of light is reflected + back towards the sun, in a cloud which has got a little + liquid smoothness and consistence; so, said he, there is + seen in the moon the surface of the sea, not in the place + where it is situated, but from whence the reflection gives a + sight of it by its reverberated and reflexed light, as Agesianax again says in another passage, + + + + This flaming mirror offers to your eyes + + The vast sea's figure, as beneath it lies + + Foaming with raging billows. + + +

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Apollonides therefore, being delighted with this, said. + A singular opinion indeed is this of his, and (to speak in a + word) strangely and newly invented by a man sufficiently + presumptuous, but not void of learning and wit. But how, + I pray, was it refuted?

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First, said I, the superficies of the sea is all of a nature, + the current of it being uniform and continuous; but the + appearance of those black and dark spots which are seen + in the face of the moon is not continued, but has certain + + + + isthmuses or partitions clear and bright, which divide and + separate what is dark and shady. Whence every place + being distinguished and having its own limits apart, the + conjunctions of the clear with the obscure, taking a resemblance of high and low, express and represent the + similitude of a figure seeming to have eyes and lips; so + that we must of necessity suppose, either that there are + main oceans and main seas, distinguished by isthmuses and + continents of firm land, which is evidently absurd and + false; or that if there is but one, it is not credible its + image should appear so distracted and dissipated into + pieces. And as for this, there is less danger in asking than + in affirming in your presence, whether, since the habitable + earth has both length and breadth, it is possible that the + sight of all men, when it is reflected by the moon, should + equally touch the ocean, even of those that sail and + dwell in it, as do the Britons; especially since the earth, + as you have maintained, has but the proportion of a point, + if compared to the sphere of the moon. This therefore, + said I, it is your business to observe, but the reflection of + the sight against the moon belongs neither to you nor Hipparchus. And yet, my friend Lamprias, there are many + naturalists, who approve not this doctrine of his touching + the driving back of the sight, but affirm it to be more + probable that it has a certain obedient and agreeing temperature and compactness of structure, than such beatings + and repercussions as Epicurus feigned for his atoms.The text in this passage is defective, and the sense chiefly conjectural. (G.) Nor + am I of opinion that Clearchus would have us suppose the + moon to be a massy and weighty body, but a celestial and + light-giving star, as you say it is, which must have the + property of breaking and turning aside the sight; so that + all this reflection would come to nothing. But if we are + desired to receive and admit it, we shall ask why this face + or image of the sea is to be seen only in the body of the + + + + moon; and not in any of the other stars? For the laws + of probability require that the sight should suffer this + equally in all, or else in none.

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But pray, sir, said I, casting mine eyes upon Lucius, call + a little to mind what was said at first by those of our party.

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Nay rather, answered he,—lest we should seem too + injurious to Pharnaces, in thus passing by the opinion of + the Stoics, without opposing any thing against it,—let us + make some reply to this man, who supposes the moon to + be wholly a mixture of air and mild fire, and then says + that, as in a calm there sometimes arises on a sudden a + breeze of wind which curls and ruffles the superficies of + the sea, so, the air being darkened and rendered black, + there is an appearance and form of a face.

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You do courteously, Lucius, said I, thus to veil and cover + with specious expressions so absurd and false an opinion. + But so did not our friend; but he said, as the truth is, that + the Stoics disfigured and mortified the moon's face, filling + it with stains and black spots, one while invocating her by + the name of Diana and Minerva, and another while making + her a lump and mixture of dark air and charcoal-fire, not + kindling of itself or having any light of its own, but a + body hard to be judged and known, always smoking and + ever burning, like to those thunders which by the poets + are styled lightless and sooty. Now that a fire of coals, + such as they would have that of the moon to be, cannot + have any continuance nor yet so much as the least subsistence, unless it meets with some solid matter fit to maintain it, keep it in, and feed it, has, I think, far better than + it is by these philosophers, been understood by those poets + who in merriment affirm that Vulcan was therefore said to + be lame because fire can no more go forward without wood + or fuel than a cripple without a crutch. If then the moon + is fire, whence has it so much air? For that region above, + which is with a continual motion carried round, consists + + + + not of air, but some more excellent substance, whose nature it is to subtilize and set on fire all other things. And + if it has been since engendered there, how comes it that it + does not perish, being changed and transmuted by the fire + into an ethereal and heavenly substance? And how can it + maintain and preserve itself, cohabiting so long with the + fire, as a nail always fixed and fastened in one and the + same place? For being rare and diffused, as by Nature it + is, it is not fitted for permanency and continuance, but for + change and dissipation. Neither is it possible that it + should condense and grow compact, being mixed with fire, + and utterly void of water and earth, the only two elements + by which the nature of the air suffers itself to be brought + to a consistency and thickness. And since the swiftness + and violence of motion is wont to inflame the air which is + in stones, and even in lead itself, as cold as it is; much + more will it that which, being in fire, is with so great an + impetuosity whirled about. For they are displeased with + Empedocles for making the moon a mass of air congealed + after the manner of hail, included within a sphere of fire. + And yet they themselves say, that the moon, being a globe + of fire, contains in it much air dispersed here and there,— + and this, though it has neither ruptures, concavities, nor + depths (which they who affirm it to be earthly admit), + but the air lies superficially on its convexity. Now this is + both against the nature of permanency, and impossible to + be accorded with what we see in full moons; for it should + not appear separately black and dark, but either be wholly + obscured and concealed or else co-illuminated, when the + moon is overspread by the sun. For with us the air which + is in the pits and hollows of the earth, whither the rays of + the sun cannot penetrate, remains dark and lightless; but + that which is spread over its exterior parts has clearness + and a lightsome color. For it is by reason of its rarity + easily transformed into every quality and faculty, but principally + + + + that of light and brightness, by which, being never + so little touched, it incontinently changes and is illuminated. This reason therefore, as it seems greatly to help + and maintain the opinion of those who thrust the air into + certain deep valleys and caves in the moon, so confutes + you, who mix and compose her sphere, I know not how, + of air and fire. For it is not possible that there should remain any shadow or darkness in the superficies of the + moon, when the sun with his brightness clears and enlightens whatsoever we can discern of her and ken with + our sight.

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Whilst I was yet speaking, Pharnaces interrupting + my discourse said: See here again the usual stratagem of + the Academy brought into play against us, which is to busy + themselves at every turn in speaking against others, but + never to afford an opportunity for reproving what they say + themselves; so that those with whom they confer and dispute must always be respondents and defendants, and never + plaintiffs or opponents. You shall not therefore bring me + this day to give you an account of those things you charge + upon the Stoics, till you have first rendered me a reason + for your turning the world upside down.

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Then Lucius smiling said: This, good sir, I am well + contented to do, provided only that you will not accuse us + of impiety, as Cleanthes thought that the Greeks ought + to have called Aristarchus the Samian into question and + condemned him of blasphemy against the Gods, as shaking + the very foundations of the world, because this man, endeavoring to save the appearances, supposed that the + heavens remained immovable, and that the earth moved + through an oblique circle, at the same time turning about + its own axis. As for us therefore, we say nothing that we + take from them. But how do they, my good friend, who + suppose the moon to be earth, turn the world upside down + more than you, who say that the earth remains here hanging + + + + in the air, being much greater than the moon, as the + mathematicians measure their magnitude by the accidents + of eclipses, and by the passages of the moon through the + shadow of the earth, gathering thence how great a space + it takes up? For the shadow of the earth is less than itself, by reason it is cast by a greater light. And that the + end of this shadow upwards is slender and pointed, they + say that Homer himself was not ignorant, but plainly expressed it when he called the night θοή (that is, acute) from + the sharp-pointedness of the earth's shadow. And yet + the moon in her eclipses, being caught within this point + of the shadow, can scarce get out of it by going forward + thrice her own bigness in length. Consider then, how + many times the earth must needs be greater than the + moon, if it casts a shadow, the narrowest point of which + is thrice as broad as the moon. But you are perhaps + afraid lest the moon should fall, if it were acknowledged + to be earth; but as for the earth, Aeschylus has secured + you, when he says that Atlas + + + + Stands shouldering the pillar of the heaven and earth, + + A burden onerous. + Aesch. Prom. 349. + + +

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If then there runs under the moon only a light air, not firm + enough to bear a solid burthen, whereas under the earth + there are, as Pindar says, columns and pillars of adamant + for its support, therefore Pharnaces himself is out of all + dread of the earth's falling, but he pities the Ethiopians + and those of Taprobane, who lie directly under the course + of the moon, fearing lest so ponderous a mass should tumble upon their heads. And yet the moon has, for an help + to preserve her from falling, her motion and the impetuosity of her revolution; as stones, pebbles, and other + weights, put into slings, are kept from dropping out, + whilst they are swung round, by the swiftness of their motion. For every body is carried according to its natural + + + + motion, unless it be diverted by some other intervening + cause. Wherefore the moon does not move according to + the motion of her weight, her inclination being stopped + and hindered by the violence of a circular revolution. And + perhaps there would be more reason to wonder, if the + moon continued always immovable in the same place, as + does the earth. But now the moon has a great cause to + keep herself from tending hither downwards; but for the + earth, which has no other motion, it is probable that it has + also no other cause of its settlement but its own weight. + For the earth is heavier than the moon, not only because it + is greater, but also because the moon is rendered lighter + by the heat and inflammation that is in it. In brief, it appears by what you say, if it is true that the moon is fire, + that it stands in need of earth or some other matter, which + it may rest on and cleave to, for the maintaining and nourishing of its power. For it is not possible to imagine how + a fire can be preserved without some combustible matter. + And you yourselves say that the earth continues firm without any basis or pedestal to support it.

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Yes surely, said Pharnaces, being in its proper and natural place, the very middle and centre of the universe. For + this it is to which all heavy and ponderous things do from + every side naturally tend, incline, and aspire, and about + which they cling and are counterpoised. But every superior region, though it may perhaps receive some earthly + and weighty thing sent by violence up into it, immediately + repels and casts it down again by force, or (to speak better) lets it follow its own proper inclination, by which it + naturally tends downwards.

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For the refutation of which, being willing to give + Lucius time for the calling to mind his arguments, I addressed myself to Theon, and asked him which of the + tragic poets it was who said that physicians + + + + With bitter med'cines bitter choler purge. + + +

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And Theon having answered me that it was Sophocles; + This, said I to him, we must of necessity permit them to + do; but we are not to give ear to those philosophers who + would overthrow paradoxes by assertions no less strange + and paradoxical, and for the oppugning strange and extravagant opinions, devise others yet more wonderful and + absurd; as these men do, who broach and introduce this + doctrine of a motion tending towards the middle, in which + what sort of absurdity is there not to be found? Does it + not thence follow, that the earth is spherical, though we + nevertheless see it to have so many lofty hills, so many + deep valleys, and so great a number of inequalities? Does + it not follow that there are antipodes dwelling opposite to + another, sticking on every side to the earth, with their + heads downwards and their heels upwards, as if they were + woodworms or lizards? That we ourselves go not on the + earth straight upright, but obliquely and bending aside + like drunken men? That if bars and weights of a thousand talents apiece should be let fall into the hollow of + the earth, they would, when they were come to the centre, + stop and rest there, though nothing came against them or + sustained them; and that, if peradventure they should by + force pass the middle, they would of themselves return + and rebound back thither again? That if one should saw + off the two trunks or ends of a beam on either side of the + earth, they would not be always carried downwards, but + falling both from without into the earth, they would equally + meet, and hide themselves together in the middle? That + if a violent stream of water should run downwards into + the ground, it would, when it came to the centre of the + earth, which they hold to be an incorporeal point, there + gather together, and turn round like a whirlpool, with a + perpetual and endless suspension? Some of which positions are so absurd, that none can so much as force his + imagination, though falsely, to conceive them possible. + + + + For this is indeed to make that which is above to be + below; and to turn all things upside down, by making all + that is as far as the middle to be downwards, and all that + is beyond the middle to be upwards; so that if a man + should, by the sufferance and consent of the earth, stand + with his navel just against her centre, he would by this + means have his feet and head both upwards; and if one, + having digged through that place which is beyond the + middle, should come to pull him out from thence, that part + which is below would at one and the same time be drawn + upwards, and that which is above, downwards. And if + another should be imagined to stand the contrary way, + their feet, though the one's were opposite to the other's, + would both be and be said to be upwards.

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Bearing then upon their shoulders, and drawing after + them. I do not say a little bag or box, but a whole pack of + juggler's boxes, full of so many absurdities, with which + they play the hocus-pocus in philosophy, they nevertheless + accuse others of error for placing the moon, which they + hold to be earth, on high, and not in the middle or centre of the world. And yet, if every heavy body inclines + towards the same place, and does from all sides and with + every one of its parts tend to its own centre, the earth + certainly will appropriate and challenge to itself these + ponderous masses—which are its parts—not because it + is the centre of the universe, but rather because it is the + whole; and this gathering together of heavy bodies round + about it will not be a sign showing it to be the middle of + the world, but an argument to prove and testify that these + bodies which had been plucked from it and again return + to it have a communication and conformity of nature with + the earth. For as the sun draws into himself the parts + of which he is composed, so the earth receives a stone as + a part belonging to it, in such manner that every one of + such things is in time united and incorporated with it. + + + + And if peradventure there is some other body which was + not from the beginning allotted to the earth nor has been + separated from it, but had its own proper and peculiar + consistence and nature apart, as these men may say of the + moon, what hinders but it may continue separated by itself, being kept close, compacted, and bound together by + its own parts? For they do not demonstrate that the earth + is the middle of the universe; and this conglomeration of + heavy bodies which are here, and their coalition with the + earth, show us the manner how it is probable that the + parts which are assembled in the body of the moon continue also there. But as for him who drives and ranges + together in one place all earthly and ponderous things, + making them parts of one and the same body, I wonder + that he does not attribute also the same necessity and constraint to light substances, but leaves so many conglomerations of fire separated one from another; nor can I see + why he should not amass together all the stars, and think + that there ought to be but one body of all those substances + which fly upwards.

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But you mathematicians, friend Apollonides, say that + the sun is distant from our upper sphere infinite thousands + of miles, and after him the day-star or Venus, Mercury, + and other planets, which being situated under the fixed + stars, and separated from one another by great intervals, + make their revolutions; and in the mean time you think + that the world affords not to heavy and terrestrial bodies + any great and large place or distance one from another. + You plainly see, it would be ridiculous, if we should deny + the moon to be earth because it is not seated in the lowest + region of the world, and yet affirm it to be a star, though + so many thousands of miles remote from the upper firmanent, as if it were plunged into some deep gulf. For she + is so low before all other stars, that the measure of the + distances cannot be expressed, and you mathematicians + + + + want numbers to compute and reckon it; but she in a + manner touches the earth, making her revolution so near + the tops of the mountains, that she seems, as Empedocles + has it, to leave even the very tracks of her chariot-wheels + behind her. For oftentimes she surpasses not the shadow + of the earth, which is very short through the excessive + greatness of the sun that shines upon it, but seems to turn + so near the superficies, and (as one may say) between the + arms and in the bosom of the earth, that it withholds from + her the light of the sun, because she mounts that shady, + earthly, and nocturnal region which is the lot and inheritance of the earth. And therefore I am of opinion, we + may boldly say that the moon is within the limits and confines of the earth, seeing she is even darkened by the + summits of its mountains.

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But leaving the stars, as well erring as fixed, see + what Aristarchus proves and demonstrates in his treatise + of magnitudes and distances; that the distance of the sun + is above eighteen times and under twenty times greater + than that of the moon from us. And yet they who place + the moon lowest say that her distance from us contains six + and fifty of the earth's semidiameters, that is, that she is + six and fifty times as far from us as we are from the centre + of the earth; which is forty thousand stadia, according to + those that make their computation moderately. Therefore + the sun is above forty millions and three hundred thousand + stadia distant from the moon; so far is she from the sun + by reason of her gravity, and so near does she approach + to the earth. So that if substances are to be distinguished + by places, the portion and, region of the earth challenges + to itself the moon, which, by reason of neighborhood and + proximity, has a right to be reputed and reckoned amongst + the terrestrial natures and bodies. Nor shall we, in my + opinion, do amiss if, having given so vast an interval and + distance to these bodies which are said to be above, we + + + + leave also to those which are below some space and room + to turn them in, such as is that between the earth and the + moon. For neither is he who calls only the utmost superficies of the heaven above and all the rest beneath moderate or tolerable; nor is he to be endured who confines + beneath only to the earth, or rather to its centre; seeing + the vast greatness of the world may afford means for the + assigning farther to this lower part some such space as is + necessary for motion. Now against him who holds that + whatever is above the earth is immediately high and sublime, there is presently another opposition to encounter + and contradict it, that whatever is beneath the sphere of + the fixed stars ought to be called low and inferior.

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In a word, how is the earth said to be the middle, + and of what is it the middle? For the universe is infinite; + and infiniteness having neither beginning nor end, it is + convenient also that it should not have any middle; for the + middle is a certain end or limit, but infiniteness is a privation of all sorts of limits. Now he that affirms the earth + to be the middle, not of the universe but of the world, is + certainly a pleasant man, if he does not think that the + world itself is subject to the same doubts and difficulties. + For the universe has not left a middle even to the very + world, but this being without any certain seat or foundation, it is carried in an infinite voidness to no proper end; + or if perhaps it has stopped, it has met with some other + cause or stay, not according to the nature of the place. + As much may be conjectured of the moon, that by the + means of another soul and another Nature, or (to say + better) of another difference, the earth continues firm here + below, and the moon moves. Besides this, see whether + they are not ignorant of a great inconvenience and error. + For if it is true that all which is without the centre of the + earth, however it be, is above, there will then be no part + of the world below; but the earth and all that is upon it + + + + will be above; and in brief, every body that shall be placed + about the centre will be above, and there will be nothing below or underneath, but one only point which has no + body, which will of necessity make head against and oppose all the rest of the world's nature, if above and beneath + are naturally opposite to one another. Nor is this the only + absurdity that will follow; but all heavy and ponderous + bodies will also lose the cause for which they move and + tend downwards hither, for there will be no body below to + which they should move; and as for that which is incorporeal, it is not probable, neither will they themselves + allow, that it should be so forcible as to draw and retain + all things about itself. But if it is unreasonable and contrary to Nature that the whole world should be above, and + that there should be nothing below but an incorporeal and + indivisible term or limit, then is this, as we say, yet more + reasonable, that the region above and that below being + divided the one from the other, have nevertheless each of + them a large and spacious room.

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Nevertheless, supposing, if you please, that it is + against Nature for earthly bodies to have any motions in + heaven, let us consider leisurely and mildly-and not + violently, as is done in tragedies—that this is no proof of + the moon's not being earth, but only that earth is in a + place where by nature it should not be; for the fire of + Mount Aetna is indeed against nature under ground, nevertheless it ceases not to be fire. And the wind contained + within bottles is indeed of its own nature light and inclined + to ascend, but is yet by force constrained to be there where + naturally it should not be. And is not our very soul, I + beseech you in the name of Jupiter, which, as yourselves + say, is light, of a fiery substance, and imperceptible to + sense, included within the body, which is heavy, cold, and + palpable? Yet do we therefore say that the soul does not + belong to the body; or that it is not a divine substance + + + + under a gross and heavy mass, or that it does not in a + moment pass through heaven, earth, and sea, pierce into + the flesh, nerves, and marrow, and into the humors which + are the cause of a thousand passions? And even your + Jupiter, such as you imagine him and depaint him to be, + is he not of his own nature a great and perpetual fire? + Yet now he submits, is pliable, and transformed into all + things by several mutations. Take heed therefore, good + sir, lest, by transferring and reducing every thing to the + place assigned it by Nature, you so philosophize as to bring + in a dissolution of the whole world, and put all things + again into that state of enmity mentioned by Empedocles, + or (to speak more properly) lest you raise up again those + ancient Titans and Giants to put on arms against Nature, + and endeavor to introduce again that fabulous disorder and + confusion, where all that is heavy goes one way apart, and + all that is light another; + + + + Where neither sun's bright face is seen, + + Nor earth beheld, spread o'er with green, + + Nor the salt sea, + + +

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as Empedocles has it. Then the earth felt no heat, nor + the sea any wind; no heavy thing moved upwards, nor any + light thing downwards; but the principles of all things + were solitary, without any mutual love or dilection one to + another, not admitting any society or mixture together; + but shunning and avoiding all communication, moving + separately by particular motions, as being disdainful, + proud, and altogether carrying themselves in such manner as every thing does from which (as Plato says) God is + absent; that is, as those bodies do in which there is neither + soul nor understanding; till such time as, by Divine Providence, desire coming into Nature engendered mutual amity, + Venus, and Love,—as Empedocles, Parmenides, and + Hesiod have it,—to the end that changing their natural + places, and reciprocally communicating their faculties, + + + + some being by necessity bound to motion, others to quiet + and rest, and all tending to the better, every thing remitting + a little of its power and yielding a little from its place, + ...they might make at length a harmony, accord, and + society together.

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+

For if there had not been any other part of the + world against Nature, but every thing had been in the + same place and quality it naturally ought to be, without + standing in need of any change or transposition or having + had any occasion for it from the beginning, I know not + what the work of Divine Providence is or in what it consists, or of what Jupiter has been the father, creator, or + worker. For there would not in a camp be any need of + the art of ranging and ordering of battles, if every soldier + of himself knew and understood his rank, place, and + station, and the opportunity he ought to take and keep; + nor would there be any want of gardeners or builders, if + water were of itself framed to flow where it is necessary, + and irrigate such plants as stand in need of watering, or if + bricks, timber, and stones would of their own inclinations + and natural motion range and settle themselves in due and + fitting places and orders. Now if this discourse manifestly + takes away Providence, and if the ordering and distinction + of things that are in the world belongs to God, why should + we wonder at Nature's having been so disposed and ordained by him, that the fire should be here, and the stars + there, and again the earth should be situated here below, + and the moon above, lodged in a prison found out by + reason, more sure and straight than that which was first + ordained by Nature? For if it were of absolute necessity + that all things should follow their natural instinct and + move according to the motion given them by Nature, + neither the Sun, Venus, nor any other planet would any + more run a circular course; for light and fiery substances + have by Nature their motion directly upwards. And if + + + + perhaps Nature itself receives this permutation and change + by reason of the place, so that fire should here in a direct + line tend upwards, but being once arrived at heaven, should + turn round with the revolution of the heavens; what wonder would it be, if heavy and terrestrial bodies, being in + like manner out of their natural place, were vanquished + by the ambient air, and forced to take another sort of motion? For it cannot with any reason be said that heaven + has by Nature the power to take away from light things + the property of mounting directly upwards, and cannot + likewise have the force to overcome heavy things and such + as tend downwards; but that sometimes making use of + this power, and sometimes of the proper nature of the + things, it still orders every thing for the best.

+
+
+

But if, laying aside those servile habits and opinions + to which we have enslaved ourselves, we must frankly and + fearlessly deliver our judgment, it seems clear to me, that + there is not any part of the universe which has a peculiar + and separate rank, situation, or motion, that can simply be + said to be natural to it. But when every thing exhibits + and yields up itself to be moved, as is most profitable and + fit for that for whose sake it was made and to which it is + by Nature appointed,—suffering, doing, or being disposed, + as is most expedient and meet for the safety, beauty, and + power of the same,—then it appears to have its place, + motion, and disposition according to Nature. As a proof + of this, we may observe that man, who, if any thing in + the world be so, is made and disposed according to Nature; has upwards, especially about his head, heavy and + terrestrial things, and about the middle of his body such + as are hot and participate of fire; of his teeth also some + grow upwards and some downwards, and yet neither the + one nor the other are contrary to Nature; neither is the + fire which shines in his eyes according to Nature, and that + which is in his heart and stomach against it; but it is in + + + + each place properly and beneficially seated. Moreover, + consider the nature of all shell-fishes; and, that I may use + the words of Empedocles, + + + + Look on the crabs, the oysters of the sea, + + And shell-fish all, which heavy coats enfold, + + The tortoise too with arched back, whom we + + Covered with crust, as hard as stone, behold. + + View them but well, and plain it will appear, + + They hardened earth above their bodies bear. + + +

+

And yet this crust, stone-like, hard, and heavy, as it is thus + placed over their bodies, does not press and crush their + natural habit, nor on the contrary does their heat fly upwards by reason of its lightness, and vanish away, but they + are mingled and composed one with another, according to + the nature of each one.

+
+
+

Wherefore it is also probable that the world, if it is + an animal, has in many parts of its body earth, and in as + many fire and water and air, not thrust and driven into it + by force, but ordered and disposed by reason. For neither + was the eye by its lightness forced into that part of the body + where it is, nor the heart by its gravity pressed down into + the breast; but both the one and the other were thus + placed because it was better and more expedient. In like + manner we ought not to think of the parts of the world, + either that the earth settled where it is, being beaten down + thither by its ponderosity; or that the sun was carried + upwards by its levity, like a bottle or bladder full of wind + (which, being plunged into the bottom of the water, immediately rises up again), as Metrodorus of Chios was persuaded; or that the other stars, as if they had been put + into a balance, were swayed this way or that way, according to their weight or lightness, and so mounted higher or + lower to the places they now possess. But reason having + prevailed in the constitution of the world, the stars have, + like to glittering eyes, been fixed in the firmament, as it + were in the face of the universe, there to turn continually + + + + about; and the sun, having the force and vigor of the + heart, sends and distributes its heat and light, like blood + and spirits, throughout all; the earth and sea are in the + world, as the paunch and bladder in the body of a living + creature; and the moon placed between the sun and the + earth, as the liver, or some other soft entrail between the + heart and the belly, transmits down thither the heat of + the superior bodies, and draws round about her the vapors + which arise from hence, subtilizing them by way of concoction and purification. And whether its solid and terrestrial quality has any other property serving for some + profitable use, is indeed unknown to us; but everywhere + that which is better prevails over what is by necessity. + For what probability can we draw from that which they + Affirm? They say, that the most subtile and luminous + part of the air, by reason of its rarity, became heaven; + but what was thickened and closely driven together was + made into stars, of which the moon being the heaviest is + compacted of the grossest and muddiest matter. And yet + it is plainly to be seen, that the moon is not separated or + divided from the air, but moves and makes her revolution through that which is about her, to wit, the region + of the winds, and where the comets are engendered + and keep their course. These bodies then were not + by a natural inclination thus placed and situated as they + are, but have by some other reason been so ordered and + disposed.

+
+
+

These things being said, as I was giving Lucius his + turn to follow and continue the discourse,—there being + nothing left to be added but the demonstrations of this + doctrine,—Aristotle smiling said: I am a witness, that + you have directed all your contradictions and all your refutations against those who, supposing the moon to be half + fire, affirm in general that all bodies do of their own accord tend either upwards or downwards; but if there is + + + + any one who holds that the stars have of their own nature + a circular motion, and that they are of a substance wholly + different from the four elements, you have not thought of + saying any thing, so much as accidentally or by the way, + against him; and therefore I am wholly unconcerned in + your discourse.

+

Indeed, good sir, said Lucius, if you should suppose the + other stars, and the whole heaven apart, to be of a pure + and sincere nature, free from all change and alteration of + passion, and should bring in also a circle, in which they + make their motion by a perpetual revolution, you would + not perhaps find any one now to contradict you, though + there are in this infinite doubts and difficulties. But when + the discourse descends so far as to touch the moon, it cannot maintain in her that perfection of being exempt from + all passion and alteration, nor that heavenly beauty of her + body. But to let pass all other inequalities and differences, + the very face which appears in the body of the moon necessarily proceeds from some passion of her own substance + or the mixture of another; for what is mixed suffers, because it loses its first purity, being filled by force with that + which is worse. Besides, as for the slowness and dulness + of her course, her feeble and inefficacious heat, by which, + as Ion says, + + + + The black grape comes not to maturity, + + +

+

to what shall we attribute them but to her weakness and + passion, if an eternal and celestial body can be subject to + passion?

+

In brief, my friend Aristotle, if the moon is earth, she is + a most fair and admirable thing, and excellently well + adorned; but if you regard her as a star or light or a certain divine and heavenly body, I am afraid she will prove + deformed and foul, and disgrace that beautiful appellation, + if of all bodies, which are in heaven so numerous, she + + + + alone stands in need of light borrowed of another, and, as + Parmenides has it, + + + + Looks always backwards on the sun's bright rays. + + +

+

Our friend therefore indeed, having in a lecture of his + demonstrated this proposition of Anaxagoras, that the sun + communicates to the moon what brightness she has, was + well esteemed for it. As for me, I will not say what I + have learned of you or with you, but having taken it for + granted, will pass on to the rest. It is then probable that the + moon is illuminated, not like a glass or crystal, by the + brightness of the sun's rays shining through her, nor yet + again, by a certain collustration and conjunction of light + and brightness, as when many torches set together augment the light of one another. For so she would be no + less full in her conjunction or first quarter than in her opposition, if she did not obstruct or repel the rays of the + sun, but let them pass through her by reason of her rarity, or if he did by a contemperature shine upon her and + kindle the light within her. For we cannot allege her + declinations and aversions in the conjunction or new moon, + as when it is half-moon or when she appears crescent or + in the wane; but being then perpendicularly (as Democritus says) under him that illuminates her, she receives and + admits the sun; so that then it is probable she should appear, and he shine through her. But this she is so far + from doing, that she is not only then unseen, but also often + hides the sun, as Empedocles has it: + + + + The sun's bright beams from us she turns aside, + + And of the earth itself as much doth hide, + + As her orb's breadth can cover; + + +

+

as if the light of the sun fell not upon another star, but + upon night and darkness. And as for what Posidonius + says, that the depth of the moon's body is the cause why + the light of the sun cannot pierce through her to us, this + + + + is evidently refuted; for the air, which is infinite and of a + far greater depth than the body of the moon, is nevertheless all over illustrated and enlightened by the rays of the + sun.

+

It remains then that, according to the opinion of Empedocles, the light of the moon which appears to us comes + from the repercussion and reflection of the sun's beams. + And for this reason it comes not to us hot and bright, as in + all probability it would, if her shining proceeded either + from inflammation or the commixtion of two lights. But as + voices reverberated cause an echo more obscure and less + express than the speech that was pronounced, and as the + blows of darts and arrows, rebounding from some wall + against which they are shot, are more mild and gentle; + + + + So Titan's lustre, smiting the moon's orb, + + +

+

yields but a faint and feeble reflection and repercussion of + brightness upon us, its force being abated and weakened + by the refraction.

+
+
+

Sylla then, taking up the discourse, said: There is + indeed a great deal of probability in all that you have + spoken. But as to the strongest objection that is brought + against it, has it, think you, been any way weakened by + this discourse? Or has our friend quite passed it over in + silence?

+

What opposition do you mean, said Lucius? Is it the + difficulty about the moon, when one half of her appears + enlightened?

+

The very same, answered Sylla. For there is some + reason, seeing that all reflection is made by equal angles, + that when the half-moon is in the midst of heaven, the + light proceeding from her should not be carried upon the + earth, but glance and fall beyond and on one side of it. + For the sun, being placed in the horizon, touches the moon + with its beams; which, being equally reflected, will therefore + + + + necessarily fall on the other bound of the horizon, and + not send their light down hither; or else there will be a great + distortion and difference of the angle, which is impossible.

+

And yet, by Jupiter, replied Lucius, this has not been + forgotten or overpassed, but already spoken to. And casting his eye, as he was discoursing, upon the mathematician + Menelaus; I am ashamed, said he, in your presence, dear + Menelaus, to attempt the subverting and overthrowing of a + mathematical position, which is supposed as a basis and + foundation to the doctrine of the catoptrics concerning the + causes and reasons of mirrors. And yet of necessity I + must. For it neither appears of itself nor is confessed as + true, that all reflections are at equal angles; but this + position is first checked and contradicted in concave mirrors, when they represent the images of things, appearing + at one point of sight, greater than the things themselves. + And it is also disproved by double mirrors, which being + inclined or turned one towards the other, so that an angle + is made within, each of the glasses or plain superficies + yields a double resemblance; so that there are four images + from the same face, two answerable to the object without + on the left side, and two others obscure and not so evident + on the right side in the bottom of the mirror. Of which + Plato renders the efficient cause; for he says, that a mirror + being raised on the one and the other side, the sight varies + the reflection, falling from one side to the other. And + therefore, since of the views or visions some immediately + have recourse to us, and others, sliding to opposite parts + of the mirror, do again return upon us from thence, it is + not possible that all reflections should be made at equal + angles. Though those who closely impugn our opinion + contend that, by these reflections of light from the moon + upon the earth, the equality of angles is taken away, + thinking this to be much more probable than the other.

+

Nevertheless, if we must of necessity yield and grant + + + + thus much to our dearly beloved geometry, first, this should + in all likelihood befall those mirrors which are perfectly + smooth and exquisitely polished; whereas the moon has + many inequalities and roughnesses, so that the rays proceeding from a vast body, and carried to mighty altitudes, + receive one from another and intercommunicate their lights, + which, being sent to and fro and reciprocally distributed, + are refracted and interlaced all manner of ways, and the + counter-lights meet one another, as if they came to us from + several mirrors. And then, though we should suppose + these reflections on the superficies of the moon to be made + at equal angles, yet it is not impossible that the rays, coming down unto us by so long an interval, may have their + flexions, fractions, and delapsions, that the light being + compounded may shine the more. Some also there are + who prove by lineary demonstration, that many lights send + a ray down by a line drawn below the line of reflection; + but to make the description and delineation of it publicly, + especially where there were many auditors, would not be + very easy.

+
+
+

But in brief, said he, I wonder how they come thus + to allege against us the half-moon, there being the same + reason when she is gibbous and crescent. For if the sun + enlightened the moon, as a mass of ethereal or fiery matter, + he would never surely leave one hemisphere, or half of + her globe always appearing dark and shadowy to sense, as + it is seen to be; but how little soever he touched her superficies, it would be agreeable to reason that it should be + wholly replenished and totally changed by that light of his, + which by reason of its agility and swiftness so easily spreads + and passes through all. For, since wine touching water + only in one point, or one drop of blood falling into any + liquor, dyes and colors it all with a red or purple color; + and since they say, that the very air is altered and changed + with light, not by any defluxions or beams intermingled, + + + + but by a sudden conversion and change made in one only + point; how can they imagine that one star touching another star, and one light another light, should not be immediately mingled, nor make any thorough confusion or + change, but only exteriorly illuminate that whose superficies it touches? For that circle which the sun makes by + fetching a compass and turning towards the moon,—sometimes falling upon the very line that distinguishes her visible part from her invisible, and sometimes rising up directly, + so that it cuts her in two and is reciprocally cut by her, + causing in her, by several inclinations and habitudes of the + luminous to the dark, those various forms by which she + appears gibbous and crescent,—that more than any thing + else demonstrates, that all this illumination of the moon is + not a mixture, but only a touching; nor a conflux or + gathering together of sundry lights, but only an illustration round about.

+

But forasmuch as she is not only enlightened herself, + but also sends back hither the image of her illumination, + this confirms us yet further in what we say touching her + substance. For reflections and reverberations are not made + upon any thing which is rare, and of thin and subtile parts; + nor is it easily to be imagined how light can rebound from + light, or one fire from another. But that which is to make + the reverberation or reflection must be solid and firm, that + a blow may be given against it and a rebounding made + from it. As a proof of this, we see that the air transmits + the sun, and gives him a way to pierce quite through it, not + obstructing or driving back his rays; but on the contrary + from wood, stones, or clothes put in the sun, there are made + many reflections of light and many illuminations round + about. So we see that the earth is illuminated by him, not + to the very bottom, as the water, nor thoroughly and all + over, as the air, through which the beams of the sun have + a clear passage; but just such a circle as surrounds the + + + + moon surrounds also the earth; and as much of the earth + as this circle includes, so much does the sun enlighten, the + rest being left without light; for what is illuminated both + in the one and in the other is little more than an hemisphere. Permit me therefore now to conclude after the + manner of geometricians by proportions. If there are + three things which the light of the sun approaches, the + air, the moon, and the earth, and if we see that the moon + is enlightened by him, not as the air, but as the earth, it + is of necessity that those two things must have one and + the same nature, which of one and the same cause suffer + the same effects.

+
+
+

Now when all the company began highly to commend Lucius's harangue; This is excellently well done + of you, Lucius (said I to him), that you have to so fine a + discourse added as fine a proportion, for you must not be + defrauded of that which is your due.

+

Then Lucius, smiling, thus went on: I have yet a + second proportion to be added to the former, by which we + will clearly demonstrate that the moon altogether resembles the earth, not only because they suffer and receive the + same accidents from the same cause, but because they + work the same effect on the same object. For you will + without difficulty, I suppose, grant me that, of all the + accidents which befall the sun, there is none so like to his + setting as his eclipse, especially if you but call to mind that + recent conjunction which, beginning at noonday, showed + us many stars in many places of the heavens, and wrought + a temperature in the air like that of the twilight. But if + you will not grant me this, our friend Theon here will + bring us a Mimnermus, a Cydias, an Archilochus, and besides these, a Stesichorus and a Pindar, lamenting that in + eclipses the world is robbed of its brightest light, and saying that night comes on in the midst of the day, and that + the rays of the sun wander in the path of darkness; but + + + + above all he will produce Homer, saying that the faces of + men are in eclipses seized upon by night and darkness, + and the sun is quite lost out of heaven by the conjunction + of the moon. And... it is natural that this should + happen, + + + + When one moon's going, and another comes. + + +

+

For the rest of the demonstration is, in my opinion, as certain and exactly concluding, as are the acute arguments of + the mathematics. As night is the shadow of the earth, so + the eclipse of the sun is the shadow of the moon, when it + stands in the way of our sight. For the sun is at his setting kept from our sight by the interposition of the earth, + and at his eclipse by that of the moon. Now both of + these are obscurations; but that of his setting is from the + earth, and that of his being eclipsed from the moon, their + shadows intercepting our sight. Now the consequences + of these things are easily understood. For if the effect is + alike, the efficient causes are also alike; because it is of + necessity that the same effects, happening in the same + subjects, proceed from the same efficients. Now if the + darkness in eclipses is not so profound, nor does so forcibly and entirely seize the air, as does the night, we are not + to wonder at it; for the substance of the body which + makes the night, and of that which causes the eclipse, + is indeed the same, though their greatness is not equal. + For the Egyptians, if I am not mistaken, hold that the + moon is in bigness the two and seventieth part of the earth; + and Anaxagoras says, she is as big as Peloponnesus. And + Aristarchus shows the overthwart line or diameter of the + moon to have a proportion to that of the earth which is + less than if sixty were compared to nineteen, and somewhat greater than an hundred and eight compared to forty + and three. Whence it happens that the earth, by reason + of its greatness, wholly withdraws the sun from our sight; + + + + for it is a great obstacle and opposition, and lasts all the + night. But although the moon sometimes hides all the + sun, yet that eclipse continues not so long nor is so far extended, but there always appears about the circumference + a certain brightness, which permits not the darkness to be + black, deep, and perfectly obscure.

+

And Aristotle (I mean the ancient philosopher of that + name) rendering the reason why there are oftener seen to + happen eclipses of the moon than of the sun, among other + causes alleges this, that the sun is eclipsed by the interposition of the moon, and the moon by that of the earth, + which is much greater and consequently oftener opposes + itself. And Posidonius thus defines this accident: The + eclipse of the sun is the conjunction of the sun and moon, + the shadow of which darkens our sight.Here again the text is defective, and the sense conjectural. (G.) For there is no + eclipse except to those whose sight the shadow of the moon + intercepting hinders them from seeing the sun. Now in + confessing that the shadow of the moon descends down to + us, I know not what he has left himself to say. It is certainly impossible for a star to cast a shadow; for that + which is not enlightened is called a shadow, and light + makes no shadow, but on the contrary drives it away.

+
+
+

But what arguments, said he, were alleged after + this?

+

The moon, answered I then, suffered the same eclipse.

+

You have done well, replied he, to put me in mind of it. + But would you have me go on and prosecute the rest of + the discourse, as if you had already supposed and granted + that the moon is eclipsed, being intercepted within the + shadow of the earth? Or shall I take for the subject of a + declamation the making a demonstration of it, by rehearsing to you all the arguments, one after another?

+

Nay, by Jove, said Theon, let this be the argument of + your discourse. For I indeed stand in need of some persuasion, + + + + having only heard that when these three bodies, + the earth, the moon, and the sun, are in a direct line, then + eclipses happen; for that either the earth takes the sun + from the moon, or the moon takes him from the earth. For + the sun suffers an eclipse when the moon, and the moon + when the earth, is in the midst of the three; of which + the one happens in the conjunction or new moon, and the + other in the opposition or when the moon is full.

+

Then said Lucius: These are the principal points, and + the summary of what is said. But in the first place, if + you please, take the argument drawn from the form and + figure of the shadow. For this is a cone, as it must be + when a great fire or light that is spherical encompasses a + mass that is also globular but less; whence it comes that, + in the eclipses of the moon, the circumscriptions of the + black and dark from the clear and luminous have their + sections always round. For the sections given or received + by one round body applied to another, which way soever + they go, do by reason of the similitude always keep a circular form. Now as for the second argument, I suppose + you understand that the first part which is eclipsed in the + moon is always that which looks towards the east, and in + the sun that which regards the west. Now the shadow of + the earth moves from the east to the west, but the sun and + moon from the west eastward. The experience of the appearances gives us a visible knowledge of this, nor is there + need of many words to make us fully understand it; and + from these suppositions the cause of the eclipse is confirmed. For, inasmuch as the sun is eclipsed by being + overtaken, and the moon by meeting that which makes + the eclipse, it probably or rather necessarily follows that + the one is surprised behind, and the other before. + For the obstruction begins on that side whence that + which causes it first approaches. Now the moon comes + upon the sun from the west, as striving in course with + + + + him and hastening after him; but the shadow of the earth + comes from the east, as that which has a contrary motion.

+

The third argument is taken from the time and greatness of the eclipses. For the moon, if she is eclipsed + when she is on high in her apogee (or at her farthest distance from the earth), continues but a little while in her + defect or want of light; but when she suffers the same + accident being low and in her perigee (or near the earth), + she is very much oppressed, and slowly gets out of the + shadow; and yet, when she is low, she moves swifter, and + when high, slower. But the cause of the difference is in + the shadow, which is, like pyramids, broadest at the bottom or basis; and, growing still narrower by little and + little, terminates in a sharp point at the top. Whence it + comes, that when she is low, she is embarrassed within + greater circles, traversing the bottom of the shadow and + what is most obscure and dark; but when she is high, being through the narrowness of the shadow (as it were) but + in a shallow puddle, by which she is sullied, she immediately gets out again. I omit what was said particularly + about the bases and disposition of parts, for these admit + of a rational explanation, so far as this is possible; but I + return to the subject properly before us, which has its + foundation in our senses. For we see that fire shines + forth and appears brighter out of a dark and shady place, + through the thickness of the caliginous air, which admits + no effluxions or diffusions of the fire's virtue, but keeps in + and contains its substance within itself. Or rather,—if + this is a passion of the senses,—as hot things, when near + to cold ones, are felt to be hotter, and pleasures immediately after pains are found more vehement, so things + that are bright appear better when they are near to such + as are obscure, the imagination being more strained and + extended by means of different passions. But there seems + to be a greater appearance of probability in the first reason. + + + + For in the sun, all the nature of fire not only loses + its faculty of illuminating, but is also rendered duller and + more unapt to burn, because the heat of the sun dissipates + and scatters all its force.

+

If it were then true that the moon, being, as the Stoics + say, a muddy and troubled star, has a weak and duskish + fire, it would be meet that she should suffer none of these + accidents which she is now seen to suffer, but altogether + the contrary; to wit, that she should be seen when she is + hidden, and absconded when she appears; that is, she + should be concealed all the rest of the time, being obscured + by the environing air, and again shine forth and become + apparent and manifest for six months together, and afterwards disappear again five months, entering into the shadow + of the earth. For of four hundred and sixty-five revolutions of ecliptic full moons, four hundred and four are of + six months' duration, and the rest of five. The moon + then should all this time appear shining in the shadow; + but on the contrary we see, that in the shadow she is + eclipsed and loses her light, and recovers it again after + she is escaped and got forth of the shadow. Nay, she appears often in the daytime, so that she is rather any thing + else than a fiery and starry body.

+
+
+

As soon as Lucius had said these things, Pharnaces + and Apollonides ran both together upon him, to oppugn + and refute his discourse; and then Apollonides giving him + way, Pharnaces said: This it is that principally shows the + moon to be a star and of a fiery nature, that in her eclipses she is not wholly obscured and disappearing, but + shows herself with a certain coal-resembling color, terrible to the sight, yet such as is proper to her.

+

As for Apollonides, he insisted much in opposition to + the word shadow, saying, that the mathematicians always + give that name to the place which is not enlightened, and + that heaven admits no shadow.

+ +

To this I thus answered: This instance is rather alleged + obstinately against the name, than naturally or mathematically against the thing. For if one will not call the + place obfuscated by the opposition of the earth a shadow, + but a place deprived of light, yet be it what it will, you + must of necessity confess that the moon being there becomes obscure; and every way, said I, it is a folly to deny + that the shadow of the earth reaches thither from whence + the shadow of the moon, falling upon our sight here on + earth, causes the eclipse of the sun. And therefore I now + address myself to you, Pharnaces; for this coal-like and + burnt color of the moon, which you affirm to be proper to + her, belongs to a body that has thickness and depth. For + there is not wont to remain any relic, mark, or print of + flame in a body that is rare, nor can a coal be made where + there is not a solid body which may receive into it the + heat of the fire; as Homer himself shows in a certain passage, where he says, + + + + Then, when the languid flames at length subside, + + He strows a bed of glowing embers wide. + Il. IX. 212. + + +

+

For the coal seems not properly a fire, but a body enkindled and altered by the fire, which stays and remains + in a solid firmly rooted mass; and whereas flames are the + setting on fire and fluxions of a nutriment and matter, + which is of a rare substance, and by reason of its weakness + quickly dissolved and consumed; so that there could not + be any more evident and plain argument to demonstrate + that the moon is solid and earthly, than if 'her proper + color were that of a coal. But it is not so, my friend + Pharnaces; but in her eclipses she diversely changes her + colors, which the mathematicians, determining with respect + to the time and hour, thus distinguish. If she is eclipsed + in the evening, she appears horribly black until the middle + of the fourth hour of the night; if about midnight, she + + + + sends forth this reddish and fire-resembling color, and after + the middle of the eighth hour, the redness disappears; + and finally, if about the dawning of the morning, she takes + a blue or grayish color; which is the cause why she + is by the poets, and particularly by Empedocles, called + Glaucopis.

+

Since then they clearly see that the moon changes into + so many colors in the shadow, they do ill to attribute to + her only that of a burning coal, which may be said to be + less proper to her than any other, being only a small + remnant and semblance of light, appearing and shining + through a shadow, her own proper color being black and + earthy. And since that here below, red and purple garments, and rivers and lakes, which receive the rays of the + sun, cause neighboring shady places to take the same + appearances of colors and to be illuminated by them, casting and sending back by reason of reflections several rebated splendors; what wonder is it if a copious flux of + shadow, falling as it were into an immense celestial sea of + light, not steady and quiet, but agitated by innumerable + stars, and besides admitting several mixtures and mutations + in itself, takes from the moon the impression sometimes + of one color, sometimes of another, and sends them hither + to us? For it is not to be denied but that a star of fire + cannot appear in a shadow black, gray, or violet; but + there are seen upon hills, plains, and seas, several various + resemblances of colors, caused by the reflection of the sun, + which are the very tinctures that brightness mixed with + shadows and mists, as if it were with painters' colors, + brings upon them. And as for the tincture or colors of the + sea, Homer has indeed in some sort endeavored to name + and express them, when he sometimes terms the sea violet-colored or red as wine, at other times the waves purple, + and again the sea blue, and the calm white. As for the + diversities of tinctures and colors appearing upon the + + + + earth, he has, I suppose, omitted them, because they are + in number infinite. Now it is not probable that the moon + has but one superficies all plain and even, as the sea; but + rather that of its nature it principally resembles the earth, + of which old Socrates in Plato seemed to mythologize at + his pleasure; whether it were, that under covert and enigmatical speeches he meant it of the moon, or whether he + spake it of some other. For it is neither incredible nor + wonderful, if the moon, having in herself nothing corrupt + or muddy, but enjoying a pure and clear light from heaven, + and being full of heat, not of a burning and furious fire, + but of such as is mild and harmless, has in her places + admirably fair and pleasant, resplendent mountains, purple-colored cinctures or zones, and store of gold and silver, + not dispersed here and there within her bowels, but flourishing in great abundance on the superficies of her plains, + or spread all over her smooth hills and mountains.

+

And if the sight of all these things comes to us through + a shadow, sometimes in one manner and sometimes in another, by reason of the diversity and different change of + the ambient air, the moon does not therefore lose the + venerable persuasion that is had of her, or the reputation + of divinity; being esteemed by men a heavenly earth, or + rather (as the Stoics say) a troubled, thick, and dreggish + fire. For even the fire itself is honored with barbarian + honors among the Assyrians and Medes, who through fear + serve and adore such things as are hurtful, hallowing them + even above such things as are of themselves indeed holy + and honorable. But the very name of the earth is truly + dear and venerable to every Greek, and there is through + all Greece a custom received of adoring and revering it, + as much as any of the Gods. And we are very far from + thinking that the moon, which we hold to be a heavenly + earth, is a body without soul and spirit, exempt and deprived of all that is to be offered to the Gods. For both + + + + by law we yield her recompenses and thanksgivings, for + that we receive of her and by nature we adore what we + acknowledge to be of a more excellent virtue and a more + honorable power; and therefore we do not think that we + offend in supposing the moon to be earth.

+

Now as to the face which appears in her, as this earth + on which we are has in it many great sinuosities and valleys, so it is probable that the moon also lies open, and is + cleft with many deep caves and ruptures, in which there is + water or very obscure air, to the bottom of which the sun + cannot reach or penetrate, but failing there, sends back a + dissipated reflection to us here below.

+
+
+

Here Apollonides, taking up the discourse, said: + Tell me then, I beseech you, good sir, even by the moon + herself, do you think it possible that there should be there + shadows of caves and chinks, and that the sight of them + should come even to our eyes? Or do you not regard + what will come of it? And must I tell you what it is? + But hearken to me, although you are not ignorant of it. + The diameter of the moon, according to that bigness which + appears to us when she is in her mean and ordinary distances, is twelve digits, and every one of these black and + shady spots is above half a digit, that is above the four + and twentieth part of the diameter. Now if we suppose + the circumference of the moon to be only thirty thousand + stadia; and the diameter according to that supposition to + be ten thousand, every one of these shadowy marks within + her will not be less than five hundred stadia. Consider + then, first, whether there can possibly be in the moon such + great gaps and such inequalities as may make such a + shadow? And then how is it possible that, being so great, + they are not seen by us?

+

At this I, smiling upon him, said: You have done me a + pleasure, dear Apollonides, in having found out such a + demonstration by which you will prove that you and I + + + + shall be bigger than those giant sons of Aloeus,Otus and Ephialtes.—not + indeed every hour of the day, but principally morning and + evening,—if indeed you think that, when the sun makes + our shadows so long, he suggests to our minds this goodly + argument; if that which is shadowed is great, that which + shadows must of necessity be yet excessively greater. I + know well that neither you nor I have ever been in Lemnos; yet we have often heard that Iambic verse, so frequent + in every one's mouth: + + + + Mount Athos' shade shall hide the Lemnian cow. + + +

+

For the shadow of that mountain falls, as it seems, on + the image of a brazen heifer which is in Lemnos, extending itself in length over the sea not less than seven hundred stadia.... The mountain which makes the shadow + causes it, because the distance of the light renders the + shadow of bodies manifoldly greater than the bodies themselves. Consider then here, that when the moon is in the + full, and shows us the form of a visage most expressly, by + reason of the profundity of the shadow, it is then that she + is most remote from the sun; for it is the distance of the + light that makes the shadow bigger, and not the greatness + of the inequalities which are on the superficies of the + moon. And you moreover see, that the brightness of the + sun's beams suffers not the tops of the mountains to be discerned in open day; but on the contrary, the deep hollow + and shadowy parts appear from afar. It is not therefore + any way absurd or strange, if we cannot so exactly see + how the illumination of the moon and her reception of + the sunbeams take place, while yet the conjunction of + things that are obscure and dark to such as are clear and + shining is by reason of this diversity apparent to our + sight.

+
+
+

But this, said I, seems rather to refute and check + + + + the reflection and reverberation which is said to rebound + from the moon; because those who are within retorted + rays do not only see that which is enlightened, but also + that which enlightens. For when, at the resulting of + light from water upon a wall, the sight falls upon the + place which is thus illuminated by the reflection, the eye + there beholds three things, to wit, the ray or light that is + driven back, the water which makes the reflection, and the + sun himself, whose light, falling on the superficies of the + water, is repulsed and sent back. This being confessed, + as what is evidently seen, it is required of those who say + that the earth is enlightened from the moon by the reflections of the sun's rays upon it, that they show us by night + the sun appearing upon the superficies of the moon, in the + same manner as he may be seen by day appearing in the + water on which he shines when there is the said reflection + of his beams. But since the sun does not so appear, they + thence infer that the moon receives her illumination by + some other means, and not by reflection; and if there is + no reflection, the moon then is not earth.

+

What answer then is to be made them, said Apollonides? For the argument of this objection against reflection is common also to us.

+

It is indeed, answered I, in some sort common, and in + some sort not. But first consider the comparison, how + perversely and against the stream they take it. For the + water is here below on the earth, and the moon there + above in heaven. So that the reflected and reverberated + rays make the form of their angles quite opposite one to + the other, the one having their point upwards towards the + superficies of the moon, and the other downwards toward + the earth. Let them not then require that from every + form of mirror, nor that from every distance and remoteness, there should be a like and semblable reflection; for + so doing, they would repugn notorious and apparent evidence. + + + + And as for those who hold the moon to be a body + not smooth, even, and subtile as the water, but solid, massy, + and terrestrial, I cannot conceive why they should require + to see the image of the sun in her as in a glass. For + neither does mill itself render such peculiar images, nor + cause reflection of the sight, by reason of the inequality + and ruggedness of its parts. How then is it possible that + the moon should send back the sight from her superficies, + as mirrors do that are more polished? And if in these + also there is any scratch, filth, or dulness on their superficies whence the reflected sight is wont to receive a form, + they are dimmed, and although the mirrors may be seen, + they yield no counterlight. He then who requires that + either the sun should appear in the moon, or else the moon + should not reflect the sun's light to us, might as well require + that the eye be the sun, the sight light, and man heaven. + For it is probable, that the reflection of the sun's beams + which is made upon the moon does, by reason of their + vehemence and great brightness, rebound with a stroke + upon us. But our sight being weak and slender, what + wonder is it, if it neither give such a stroke as may rebound, or if it rebounds, that it does not maintain its + continuity, but is broken and fails, as not having such + abundance of light that it should not disgregate and be + dissipated within those inequalities and asperities? For + it is not impossible, that the reflection upon water or other + sorts of mirrors, being yet strong, powerful, and near its + origin, should from thence return upon the eye; but though + there may perhaps from the moon be some glimmerings, + yet they still will be weak and obscure, and will fail in the + way, by reason of so long a distance. For otherwise hollow and concave mirrors send back the reverberated and + reflected rays stronger than they came, so that they frequently burn and set on fire; and those that are convex + and embossed like a bowl, because they beat them not back + + + + on all sides, render them dark and feeble. You see for + certain, when two rainbows appear together in the heaven, + one cloud comprehending another, that the rainbow which + outwardly environs the other yields dim colors, and such + as are not sufficiently distinguished and expressed, because + the exterior cloud, being more remote, makes not a strong + and forcible reflection. And what needs there any more + to be said, seeing that the very light of the sun, reverberated and sent back by the moon, loses all its heat; and of + his brightness, there comes to us with much ado but a + small remainder, and that very languishing and weak? Is + it then possible, that our sight, turning the same course, + should bring back any part of the solar image from the + moon? I for my part think it is not. But consider, I + said, yourselves, that if our sight were in one and the + same manner affected and disposed towards the water and + towards the moon, the full moon would of necessity represent to us the images of the earth, plants, men, and stars, + as is done by the water and all other sorts of mirrors. + And if there is no such reflection of our sight as to bring + us back these images, either by reason of our said sight's + weakness, or through the rugged inequality of the moon's + superficies, let us no longer require that it should rebound + against the sun.

+
+
+

We have then, said I, related, as far as our memory + would carry it away, whatever was there said. It is now + time to desire Sylla, or rather to exact of him, that he + would make us his narration, as being on such condition + admitted to hear all this discourse. If you think good + therefore, let us give over walking, and sitting down on + these seats, make him a quiet and settled audience.

+

Every one approved this motion. And therefore, when + we had seated ourselves, Theon thus began: I am indeed, + O Lamprias, as desirous as any of you can be to hear + what shall be said; but I would gladly first understand + + + + something concerning those who are said to dwell in the + moon; not whether there are any persons inhabiting it, + but whether it is impossible there should be any; for if it + is not possible for the moon to be inhabited, it is also unreasonable to say that she is earth; otherwise she would + have been created in vain and to no end, not bearing any + fruits, not affording a place for the birth or education of + any men, for which causes and ends this earth wherein we + live was made and created, being (as Plato says) our nurse + and true guardian, producing and distinguishing the day + from the night. Now you know, that of this matter many + things have been said, as well merrily and in jest as + seriously and in earnest. For of those who dwell under + the moon, it is said that she hangs over their heads, as if + they were so many Tantaluses; and on the contrary, of + those who inhabit her, that being tied and bound to her, + like a sort of Ixious, they are with violence turned and + whirled about. Nor is the moon indeed moved by one + only motion, but is, as they were wont to call her, Trivia, + or Three-wayed; performing her course together according + to length, breadth, and depth in the Zodiac; the first of + which motions mathematicians call a direct revolution, the + second volutation, or an oblique winding and wheeling in + and out; and the third (I know not why) an inequality; + although they see that she has no motion uniform, settled, + and certain, in all her circuits and reversions. Wherefore + it is not greatly to be admired, if through violence of her + motion there sometime fell a lion from her into Peloponnesus, but it is rather to be wondered, that we do not daily + see ten thousand falls of men and women and shocks of + other animals tumbling down thence with their heels upwards on our heads; for it would be a mockery to dispute + about their habitation there, if they can have there neither + birth nor existence. For seeing the Egyptians and the + Troglodytes, over whose heads the sun directly stands only + + + + one moment of one day in the solstice, and then presently + retires, can hardly escape being burnt, by reason of the + air's excessive dryness; is it credible that those who are + in the moon can bear every year twelve solstices, the sun + being once a month just in their zenith, when the moon is + full? As for winds, clouds, and showers, without which + the plants can neither come up nor, when they are come + up, be preserved, it cannot be so much as imagined there + should be any, where the ambient air is so hot, dry, and + subtile; since even here below, the tops of mountains + never feel those hard and bitter winters, but the air, being + there pure and clear, without any agitation, by reason of + its lightness, avoids all that thickness and concretion which + is amongst us; unless, by Jupiter, we will say that, as + Minerva instilled nectar and ambrosia into the mouth of + Achilles, when he received no other food, so the moon, + which both is called and indeed is Minerva, nourishes men, + producing for them and sending them every day ambrosia, + with which, as old Pherecydes was wont to say, the Gods + themselves are fed. For as touching that Indian root, + which, as Megasthenes says, some people in those parts, + who neither eat nor drink, but have pure mouths, burn + and smoke, living on the smell of its perfume; whence + should they have any of it there, the moon not being + watered or refreshed with rain?

+
+
+

When Theon had spoken these things; You have + very dexterously and gently, said I to him, by this facetiousness of yours smoothed as it were the brow, and taken off + the chagrin and sourness of this discourse; which encourages and emboldens us to return an answer, since, however + we may chance to fail, we expect not any severe or rigorous + chastisement. For, to speak the truth, they who are extremely offended with these things and wholly discredit + them, not being willing mildly to consider what probability + and possibility there may be in them, are not much less in + + + + fault than those that are too excessively persuaded of them. + First then, I say, it is not necessary that the moon must + have been made in vain and to no end or purpose, if there + are not men who dwell in it; for we see that this very + earth here is not all cultivated or inhabited, but that only + a small part of it, like so many promontories or demi-islands arising out of the deep, engenders, brings forth, + and breeds plants and animals; the rest being through + excessive cold or heat wholly desert and barren, or (which + is indeed the greatest share of it) covered and plunged + under the vast ocean. But you, who are always so great a + lover and admirer of Aristarchus, give no ear to Crates + when he reads in Homer, + + + + The sea, which gave to Gods and men their birth, + + Covers with waves the most part of the earth. + See Il. XIV. 246. The second of these verses is not found in the present text + of the Iliad, but was probably defended by Crates against Aristarchus. (G.) + + +

+

And yet those parts are far from having been made in vain. + For the sea exhales and breathes out mild vapors; and the + snow, leisurely melting from the cold and uninhabited + regions, sends forth and spreads over all our countries + those gentle breezes which qualify the scorching heat of + summer; and in the midst, as Plato says, is placed the + faithful guardian and operator of night and day. There is + then nothing to hinder but that the moon may be without + living creatures, and yet give reflections to the light that is + diffused about her, and afford a receptacle to the rays of + the stars, which have their confluence and temperature in + her, for to digest the evaporation rising from the earth and + moderate the over-violent and fiery heat of the sun. And + attributing much to ancient fame, we will say that she is + styled Diana, as being a virgin and fruitless, but otherwise + greatly salutary, helpful, and profitable to the world. + Moreover, of all that has been said, my friend Theon, there + is nothing which shows it impossible for the moon to be + + + + inhabited. For her turning about, being gentle, mild, and + calm, dulcifies and polishes the ambient air, and distributes + it in so good order about her, that there is no occasion to + fear the falling or slipping out of those who live in her. + And as to the diversity and multiplicity of her motion, it + proceeds not from any inequality, error, or uncertainty, but + the astrologers show in this an admirable order and course, + enclosing her within circles, which are turned by other + circles; some supposing that she herself stirs not, others + making her always move equally, smoothly, and with the + same swiftness. For it is these ascensions of divers circles, + with their turnings and habitudes, one towards another and + with respect to us, which most exactly make those heights, + depths, and depressions, that appear to us in her motion, + and her digressions in latitude, all joined with the ordinary + revolution she makes in longitude. As to the great heat + and continual inflammation of the sun, you will cease to + fear it, if first to the eleven estival conjunctions you oppose + the full moons, and then to the excesses the continuity of + change which permits them not to last long, reducing them + to a proper and peculiar temperature, and taking from + them both what is over much; for the middle, or what is + between them, it is probable, has a season most like to the + spring. And, moreover, the sun sends his beams to us + through a gross and troubled air, and casts on us an heat + fed by exhalation; whereas the air, being there subtile and + transparent, dissipates and disperses his lustre, which has + no nourishment nor body on which it may settle. Trees + and fruits are here nourished by showers; but elsewhere, as + in the higher countries with you about Thebes and Syene, + the earth drinking in not aerial but earth-bred water, and + being assisted with refreshing winds and dew, will not + (such is the virtue and temperature of the soil) yield the + first place for fertility to the best watered land in the + world. And the same sorts of trees which in our country, + + + + having suffered a long and sharp winter, bring forth abundance of good fruit, are in Africa and with you in Egypt + soon offended with cold and very fearful of the winter. + And the provinces of Gedrosia and Troglodytis, which lie + near the ocean sea, being by reason of drought barren and + without any trees, there grow nevertheless in the adjacent + sea trees of a wonderful height and bigness, and green + even to the very bottom; some of which they call olive-trees, others laurels, and others the hair of Isis. And + those plants which are named anacampserotes, being + hanged up after they are plucked out of the ground, not + only live, but—which is more—bud and put forth green + leaves. Some seeds are sown in winter; and others in the + heat of summer, like sesame and millet. And thyme or + centaury, if it is sown in a rich and fat earth, and there + well drenched and watered, degenerates from its natural + quality and all its virtue, because it loves dryness and + thrives in its own proper natural soil. Others cannot bear + so much as the least dew, of which kind are the most part + of the Arabian plants, and if they are but once wet, they + wither, fade, and die. What wonder is it then, if there + grow in the moon roots, seeds, and plants which have no + need of rains or winter colds, and are appropriated to a + dry and subtile air, such as is that of summer? And why + may it not be probable that the moon sends forth warm + winds, and that her shaking and agitation, as she moves, is + accompanied by comfortable breezes, fine dews, and gentle + moistures, which are everywhere dispersed to furnish + nutriment for the verdant plants?—seeing she is not of + her temperature ardent or parched with drought, but rather + soft, moist, and engendering all humidity. For there come + not from her to us any effects of dryness, but many of a + feminine moisture and softness, such as are the growing of + plants, the putrefaction of flesh, the changing and flatness + of wines, the tenderness and rotting of wood, and the easy + + + + deliveries of child-bearing women. But because I am + afraid of irritating again and provoking Pharnaces—who + all this while speaks not a word—if I should allege the + flowing and ebbing of the great ocean (as they themselves + say), and the increasing of the friths and straits, which + swell and rise by the moon augmenting the moisture; + therefore I will rather turn myself to you, my friend + Theon. For you, interpreting this verse of the poet + Alcman, + + + + Such things as dew, Jove's daughter and the moon's, + + Does nourish, + + +

+

tell us, that in this place he calls the air Jupiter, which, + being moistened by the moon, is by Nature changed into + dew. For she seems, my good friend, to be of a nature + almost wholly contrary to the sun, not only in that she is + wonted to moisten, dissolve, and soften what he thickens, + dries, and hardens; but moreover, in that she allays and + cools his heat, when it lights upon her and is mingled with + her.

+

Those then who think the moon to be a fiery and burning body are in an error; and in like manner those who + would have all such things to be necessary for the generation, life, food, and entertainment of the animals dwelling + there as are requisite to those that are here below, consider not the vast diversity and inequality there is in Nature; in which there are found greater varieties and differences between animals and animals, than there are between + animals and other subjects that are not animated. There + are surely not in the world any men of such pure mouths + that they feed only on smells.... But that power of Nature which Ammonius himself has shown us, and which + Hesiod has obscurely signified in these words, + + + + Nor how great virtue is in asphodels and mallows, + Hesiod, Works and Days, 41. + + +

+

Epimenides has made plain to us in effect, teaching us that + + + + Nature sustains a living creature with very little food, and + that, provided it has but the quantity of an olive, it stands + in need of no other nourishment. Now, if any, those + surely who dwell within the moon should be active, light, + and easy to be nourished with any thing whatsoever; since + they affirm that the moon herself, as also the sun, which is + a fiery animal, and manifoldly greater than the earth, is + nourished and maintained by the moistures that come from + the earth, as are also all the other stars, whose number is in + a manner infinite; such light and slender animals do they + assign to the upper region, and with so small necessaries + do they think them contented and satisfied. But we + neither see these things, nor consider that a quite different + region, nature, and temperature is accommodated to those + lunar men.

+

As therefore, if we were unable to come near and touch + the sea, but could only see it at a distance, and had heard + that its water is brackish, salt, and undrinkable, any one + who should tell us that there are in its depths many and + great animals of various forms and shapes, and that it is + full of great and monstrous beasts who make the same + use of the water as we do of the air, would be thought + only to relate a parcel of strange and uncreditable stories, + newly found out and invented for delight and amusement; + in the same manner we seem to be affected and disposed + towards the moon, not believing that there are any who + inhabit it. And I am of opinion, that they themselves do + much more wonder, when they behold the earth,—which + is, as it were, the dregs and mud of the universe, appearing to them through moist and foggy clouds and mists, a + little place, a low, abject, and immovable thing without any + brightness or light whatever,—how this pitiful inconsiderable thing should be able to produce, nourish, and maintain + animals that have motion, respiration, and heat. And if + peradventure they had ever heard these verses of Homer, + + + + + + A filthy squalid place, abhorred even by + + The Gods themselves; + Il. XX. 65. + + +

+

and again, + + + + Hell is as far beneath, as heaven above + + The earth; + Il. VIII. 16. + + +

+

they would certainly think them to have been written of + this place where we live, and that here is hell and Tartarus, and that the earth which is equally distant from + heaven and hell is only the moon.

+
+
+

I had not well ended my discourse, when Sylla interrupting me said: Forbear Lamprias, and put a stop to + your discourse, lest running (as they say) the vessel of + your story on ground, you confound and spoil all the play, + which has at present another scene and disposition. I myself therefore shall be the actor, but shall, before I enter + upon my part, make known to you the poet or author; + beginning, if there is nothing to hinder, with that of + Homer, + + + + An isle Ogygia lies in Ocean's arms, + Odyss. VII. 244. + + +

+

distant about five days' sail westward from Britain; and + before it there are three others, of an equal distance from + one another and also from that, bearing north-west, where + the sun sets in summer. In one of these the barbarians + feign that Saturn is detained prisoner by Jupiter, who, as + his son, having the guard or keeping of those islands and + the adjacent sea, named the Saturnian, has his seat a little + below; and that the continent, by which the great sea is + circularly environed, is distant from Ogygia about five + thousand stadia, but from the others not so far, men using + to row thither in galleys, the sea being there low and ebb. + and difficult to be passed by great vessels because of the + mud brought thither by a multitude of rivers, which, coming from the mainland, discharge themselves into it, and + raise there great bars and shelves that choke up the river + + + + and render it hardly navigable; whence anciently there + arose an opinion of its being frozen. Moreover, the + coasts of this continent lying on the sea are inhabited by + the Greeks about a bay not much smaller than the Maeotic, the mouth of which lies in a direct line over against + that of the Caspian Sea. These name and esteem themselves the inhabitants of the firm land, calling all us others + islanders, as dwelling in a land encompassed round about + and washed by the sea. And they think that those who + heretofore came thither with Hercules and were left there + by him, mixing themselves with the people of Saturn, + raised up again the Greek nation, which was well near extinguished, brought under and supplanted by the language, + laws, and manners of the barbarians, and made it again + flourish and recover its pristine vigor. And therefore in + that place they give the first honor to Hercules, and the + second to Saturn. Now when the star of Saturn, by us + called Phaenon and by them Nycturus, comes to the sign + of Taurus, as it does once in the time of thirty years, they, + having been a long time preparing what is necessary for a + solemn sacrifice and a long voyage or navigation, send forth + those on whom the lots fall to row in that vast sea, and + make their abode for a great while in foreign countries. + These men then, being embarked and departed, meet with + different adventures, some in one manner, others in another. Now such as have in safety passed the danger of + the sea go first ashore in those opposite islands, which are + inhabited by the Greeks, where they see that the sun is + scarce hidden one full hour during the space of thirty + days, and that this is their night, of which the darkness is + but small, as having a twilight from the going down of the + sun not unlike the dawning of the day; that having continued there ninety days, during which they are highly + caressed and honored, as being reputed and termed holy + men, they are afterwards conducted by the winds, and + + + + transported into the isle of Saturn, where there are no + other inhabitants but themselves and such as have been + sent thither before them. For though it is lawful for + them, after they have served Saturn thirty years, to return + home to their own countries and houses, yet most of them + choose rather to remain quietly there; some, because they + are already accustomed to the place; others, because + without any labor and trouble they have abundance of all + things, as well for the offering of sacrifices and holding + festival solemnities, as to support the ordinary expenses + of those who are perpetually conversant in the study of + learning and philosophy. For they affirm the nature of + the island and the mildness of the air which environs + it to be admirable; and that there have been some + persons who, intending to depart thence, have been hindered by the Divinity or Genius of the place showing + himself to them, as to his familiar friends and acquaintance, not only in dreams and exterior signs, but also visibly + appearing to them by the means of familiar spirits discoursing and conversing with them. For they say, that + Saturn himself is personally there, lying asleep in the + deep cave of an hollow rock, shining like fine gold, Jupiter having prepared sleep instead of fetters and shackles + to keep him from stirring; but that there are on the top + of this rock certain birds, which fly down and carry him + ambrosia; that the whole island is filled with an admirable fragrancy and perfume, which is spread all over it, + arising from this cave, as from an odoriferous fountain; + that these Daemons serve and minister to Saturn, having + been his courtiers and nearest attendants when he held the + empire and exercised regal authority over men and Gods; + and that having the science of divining future occurrences, + they of themselves foretell many things; but the greatest + and of the highest importance, when they return from assisting Saturn, and reveal his dreams; for whatever Jupiter + + + + premeditates, Saturn dreams; but his awakenings are + Titanical passions or perturbations of the soul in him, + which sleep altogether controls, in order that the royal + and divine nature may be pure and incontaminate in itself.

+

This stranger then, having been brought thither, and + there serving the God in repose and at his ease, attained + to as great skill in astrology as it is possible for any one to + do that has made the greatest progress in geometry; as for + the rest of philosophy, having given himself to that which + is called natural, he was seized with an extraordinary desire and longing to visit and see the great island; for so + they call the continent inhabited by us. After therefore + his thirty years were passed and his successors arrived, + having taken leave of all his relations and friends, he put + to sea, in other respects soberly and moderately equipped, + but having good store of voyage-provision in vessels of + gold. Now one day would not suffice to relate unto you + in particular what adventures befell him, how many nations he visited, through how many countries he passed, + how he searched into sacred writings, and was initiated in + all holy confraternities and religious societies, as he himself recounted it to us, exactly particularizing every thing. + But give ear, I pray you, to what concerns the present + dispute. For he continued no small time at Carthage, a + city not a little also esteemed by us, where he found certain sacred skins of parchment, which had been secretly + conveyed thither when the old town was sacked, and had + there long lain hidden under ground. Now he told me + that, of all the Gods which appear to us in heaven, we + ought chiefly to honor the Moon, and earnestly exhorted + me to be diligent in venerating of her, as having the principal influence and dominion over our life.

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+

At these things when I was amazed, and entreated + him to declare and explain them a little more fully to me, + he said: The Greeks, O Sylla, deliver many things concerning + + + + the Gods, but they are not always in the right, + For first, when they tell us that there is a Ceres and a + Proserpine, they say well; but not so well, when they put + them both in one and the same place. For one, to wit + Ceres, is on the earth, and the lady and mistress of all + earthly things. The other, to wit Proserpine, is in the + moon, and the mistress of all lunar things; and she is + called both Cora and Persephone; Persephone, as being a + bringer of light and brightness, and Cora, because the + apple of the eye, in which the image of him who looks + into it is represented, as the brightness of the sun appears + in the moon, is by the Greeks called κόρη. And as to what + they say concerning the wandering about of Ceres and + Proserpine, and their mutual seeking of one another, there + is in it somewhat of truth, for they long after each other, + being separated, and often embrace in shadow. And that + Cora is sometimes in heaven and light, and sometimes in + darkness and night, is not untrue; only there is some error + in the computation of the time. For we see her not six + whole months, but every sixth month, caught in the shadow + by the earth, as by her mother; and this rarely happens + within five months, because it is impossible she should forsake Pluto (Hades), being herself the bound or limit of + Hades; which Homer also covertly but not unelegantly + signified, when he said, + + + + Into th' Elysian fields, earth's utmost bounds, + + The Gods will bring thee; + Odyss. IV. 563. + + +

+

for he has there placed the end and boundary of the earth, + where the shadow ceases and goes no farther. Now into + that place no wicked or impure person can have access. + But good folks, being after their decease carried thither, + lead there indeed an easy and quiet, but yet not a blessed + and divine life, till the second death.

+
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+

But what is that, O Sylla? said I. Ask me not, he + + + + replied, for I am of myself going to declare it to you. + The common opinion, which most persons hold, is that + man is a compound subject, and this they have reason to + believe. But they are mistaken in thinking him to be + compounded of two parts only. For they imagine that the + understanding is a part of the soul, but they err in this no + less than those who make the soul to be a part of the + body; for the understanding as far exceeds the soul, as the + soul is better and diviner than the body. Now this composition of the soul with the understanding makes reason; + and with the body, passion; of which the one is the beginning or principle of pleasure and pain, and the other + of virtue and vice. Of those three parts conjoined and + compacted together, the earth has given the body, the moon + the soul, and the sun the understanding to the generation + of man,... as therefore brightness to the moon. Now + of the deaths we die, the one makes man two of three. + and the other one of two. And the former indeed is in + the region and jurisdiction of Ceres, whence the name + given to her mysteries (τελεῖν) resembles that given to death + (τελευτᾶν). The Athenians also heretofore called the deceased sacred to Ceres. As for the other death, it is in the + moon, or region of Proserpine. And as with the one the + terrestrial, so with the other the celestial Mercury doth + dwell. This suddenly and with force and violence plucks + the soul from the body; but Proserpine mildly and in a + long time disjoins the understanding from the soul. And + for this reason is she called Μονογενής that is, only begotten, + or rather, begetting one alone; for the better part of man + becomes alone when it is separated by her. Now both + the one and the other happens thus according to Nature. + It is ordained by Fate that every soul, whether with or + without understanding, when gone out of the body, should + wander for a time, though not all for the same, in the + region lying between the earth and the moon. For those + + + + that have been unjust and dissolute suffer there the punishments due to their offences; but the good and virtuous + are there detained till they are purified, and have by expiation purged out of them all the infections they might + have contracted from the contagion of the body, as if from. + foul breath, living in the mildest part of the air, called + the meadows of Pluto, where they must remain for a certain perfixed and appointed time. And then, as if they + were returning from a wandering pilgrimage or long exile + into their country, they have a taste of joy, such as they + principally receive who are initiated in sacred mysteries, + mixed with trouble, admiration, and each one's proper and + peculiar hope. For the moon drives and chases out many + souls which already long after it. And some who are + already come thither, and yet take pleasure in things below, are seen descending down as it were into an abyss. + But those that are got on high, and are there securely + seated, first go about as victors, crowned with garlands + called the wings of constancy, because in their lives they + restrained the unreasonable and passible part of their soul, + rendering it subject and obedient to the curb of reason. + Secondly, they are like to the rays of the sun in appearance, and like to fire in their soul, which is borne aloft by + the clear air which is about the moon,—like fire here on + the earth,—from which they gather strength and solidity, + as iron and steel do by their being tempered and plunged + in water. For that which was hitherto rare and loose is + compacted and made firm, and becomes bright and transparent; so that it is nourished with the least exhalation in + the world. And this is what Heraclitus meant, when he + said that the souls in Pluto's region have their smell exceeding quick.

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+

Now they first see the moon's greatness, beauty, and + nature, which is not simple nor unmixed, but a composition as it were of earth and star. For as the earth mixed + + + + with wind and moisture becomes soft, and as the blood + tempered with the flesh gives it sense; so they say that the + moon, being mingled with an ethereal quintessence even to + the very bottom, is animated, becomes fruitful, and generative, and is equally counterpoised with ponderosity and + lightness. For even the world itself, being composed of + some things naturally moving upwards and others by nature tending downwards, is exempt from all local motion + or change of place. These things also Xenocrates seems + by a certain divine reasoning to have understood, having + taken his first light from Plato. For Plato it was who first + affirmed that every star is compounded of fire and earth, + by the means of certain intermediate natures given in proportion; forasmuch as nothing can be an object of human + sense which has not in some proportion a mixture of earth + and light. Now Xenocrates says that the stars and the + sun are composed of fire and the first or primitive solid; + the moon of the second solid and its own peculiar air; + and the earth, of water, fire, and the third solid. For + neither is the solid alone by itself, nor the rare alone by + itself, capable or susceptible of a soul. And let thus much + suffice for the substance of the moon.

+

Now as to her breadth and magnitude, it is not such as + the geometricians deliver, but manifoldly greater. And + she seldom measures the shadow of the earth by her + greatness, not because she is small, but because she adds + to her motion by heat, that she may quickly pass the shady + place, carrying with her the souls of the blessed, which + make haste and cry. For when they are in the shadow, + they can no longer hear the harmony of the heavenly + bodies. And withal, the souls of the damned are from + below presented to them, lamenting and wailing through + this shadow. Wherefore also in eclipses, many are wont + to ring vessels of brass, and to make a noise and clattering to be heard by these souls. Moreover, that which + + + + is called the face of the moon affrights them when they + draw near it, seeming to them a dreadful and terrible + sight; whereas indeed it is not so. But as our earth has + deep and great bays, one here running between Hercules's + pillars into the land to us, and others without, as the + Caspian, and those about the Red Sea; so in the moon + also there are hollows and great depths. Now of these, + the greatest they call the gulf of Hecate, where the souls + punish or are punished according to the evils they suffered + or did whilst they were Daemons. The two others are + long passages, through which the soul must go sometimes + to that part of the moon which is towards heaven, and + sometimes to that which is towards earth. Now that part + of the moon which is towards heaven is called the Elysian + fields; and that which is towards the earth, the fields of + Proserpine that is opposite to the earth.

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The Daemons do not always stay in the moon, but + sometimes descend down here below, to have the care and + superintendency of oracles. They are assistant also, and + join in celebrating the sublimest ceremonies, having their + eye upon misdeeds, which they punish, and preserving the + good as well in perils of war as of the sea. And if in the + performance of this charge they commit any fault, either + through anger, envy, or any unjust grace or favor, they + smart for it; for they are again thrust down to the earth, + and tied to human bodies. Now those who were about + Saturn said, that themselves were some of the better of + these Daemons; as were formerly those that were heretofore in Crete called Dactyli Idaei, the Corybantes in + Phrygia, and the Trophoniades in Lebadea, a city of + Boeotia, and infinite others in several places of the habitable earth, whose names, temples, and honors continue to + this day. But the powers of some fail, being by a most + happy change translated to another place; which translations some obtain sooner, others later, when the understanding + + + + comes to be separated from the soul; which + separation is made by the love and desire to enjoy the + image of the sun, in which and by which shines that + divine, desirable, and happy beauty, which every other + nature differently longs after and seeks, one after one + manner, another after another. For the moon herself + continually turns, through the desire she has to be joined + with him. But the nature of the soul remains in the + moon, retaining only some prints and dreams of life. And + of this I think it to have been well and truly said, + + + + The soul, like to a dream, flies quick away; + Odyss. XI. 221. + + +

+

which it does not immediately, as soon as it is separated + from the body, but afterwards, when it is alone and divided + from the understanding. And of all that Homer ever + writ, there is not any passage more divine than that in + which, speaking of those who are departed this life, he + says, + + + + Next these, I saw Alcides' image move; + + Himself is with th' immortal Gods above. + Odyss. XI. 601. + + +

+

For every one of us is neither courage, nor fear, nor desire, + —no more than flesh or humors,—but the part by which + we think and understand. And the soul being moulded + and formed by the understanding, and itself moulding and + forming the body, by embracing it on every side, receives + from it an impression and form; so that although it be + separated both from the understanding and the body, it + nevertheless so retains still its figure and semblance for a + long time, that it may with good right be called its image.

+

And of these souls (as I have already said) the moon is + the element, because souls resolve into her, as the bodies + of the deceased do into earth. Those indeed who have + been virtuous and honest, living a quiet and philosophical + life without embroiling themselves in troublesome affairs, + are quickly resolved; because being left by the understanding, + + + + and no longer using corporeal passions, they incontinently vanish away. But the souls of the ambitious and + such as have been busied in negotiations, of the amorous + and such as have been addicted to corporeal pleasures, as + also of the angry and revengeful, calling to mind the things + they did in their lives, as dreams in their sleep, walk wandering about here and there, like that of Endymion; because their inconstancy and their being over-subject to + passions transports them, and draws them out of the moon + to another generation, not letting them rest, but alluring + them and calling them away. For there is nothing small, + staid, constant, and accordant, after that being forsaken by + the understanding, they come to be seized by corporeal + passions. And of such souls, destitute of reason and suffering themselves to be carried away by the proud violence + of passion, were bred the Tityi and Typhons; and particularly that Typhon who, having by force and violence seized + the city of Delphi, overturned the sanctuary of the oracle + there. Nevertheless, after a long tract of time the moon + receives those souls and recomposes them; and the sun + inspiring again and sowing understanding in them, the + moon receives them by its vital power, and makes them + new souls; and the earth in the third place gives them a + body. For she gives nothing... after death of all that + she takes to generation. And the sun takes nothing, but + reassembles and receives again the understanding which + he gave. But the moon gives and receives, joins and disjoins, unites and separates, according to divers faculties + and powers; of which the one is named Ilithyia or Lucina + (to wit, that which joins), and the other Artemis or Diana + (to wit, that which separates and divides). And of the + three fatal Goddesses or Parcae, she which is called Atropos + is placed in the sun, and gives the principle of generation; + and Clotho, being lodged in the moon, is she who joins, + mingles, and unites; and the last, named Lachesis, is on + + + + the earth, where she adds her helping hand, and with her + does Fortune very much participate. For that which is + without a soul is weak in itself and liable to be affected by + others. The understanding is sovereign over all the rest, + and cannot be made to suffer by any. Now the soul is a + certain middle thing mixed of them both; as the moon + was by God made and created a composition and mixture + of things high and low, having the same proportion to the + sun as the earth has to her.

+

This (said Sylla) is what I understood from this guest + of mine, who was a stranger and a traveller; and this he + said he learned from the Daemons who served and ministered to Saturn. And you, O Lamprias, may take my + relation in such part as you please.

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