10593That the Moon may be a World.
appeared as dull and ruddy almoſt as the Moon
in her Eclipſes; in ſo much that the Stars have
been ſeen at Mid-day. Nay, he hath been
conſtantly darkned for almoſt a whole Year,
and never ſhined, but with a kind of heavy and
duskiſh Light, ſo that there was ſcarce heat
enough to Ripen the Fruits. As it was about
the time when Gæſar was kill'd. Which was
recorded by ſome of the Poets. Thus Virgil,
ſpeaking of the Sun.
in her Eclipſes; in ſo much that the Stars have
been ſeen at Mid-day. Nay, he hath been
conſtantly darkned for almoſt a whole Year,
and never ſhined, but with a kind of heavy and
duskiſh Light, ſo that there was ſcarce heat
enough to Ripen the Fruits. As it was about
the time when Gæſar was kill'd. Which was
recorded by ſome of the Poets. Thus Virgil,
ſpeaking of the Sun.
Ille etiam extincto miſeratus Gæſare Romam.
Gum caput obſcurâ nitidum ferrugine texit,
Impiaque æternam timuerunt ſæcula noctem.
He pitying Rome, when as great Cæſar dy'd,
His Head within a mourning-vail did hide;
And thus the wicked guilty World did fright
With doubtful Fears of an Eternal Night.
Ovid ſpeaking likewife of his Death,
--Solis quoque triſtis Imago
Lurida ſollicitis præbebat lumina terris.
--The Suns ſad Image then
Did yield a lowring light to fearful Men.
Gum caput obſcurâ nitidum ferrugine texit,
Impiaque æternam timuerunt ſæcula noctem.
He pitying Rome, when as great Cæſar dy'd,
His Head within a mourning-vail did hide;
And thus the wicked guilty World did fright
With doubtful Fears of an Eternal Night.
Ovid ſpeaking likewife of his Death,
--Solis quoque triſtis Imago
Lurida ſollicitis præbebat lumina terris.
--The Suns ſad Image then
Did yield a lowring light to fearful Men.
Now theſe appearances could not ariſe from
any lower Vapour. For then 1. They would
not have been ſo univerſal as they were, being
ſeen through all Europe; or elſe 2. That Va-
pour muſt have cover'd the Stars as well as the
Sun, which yet notwitſtanding were plainly
diſcern'd in the day time. You may ſee this
Argument illuſtrated in another the like caſe,
Chap. 12. Hence then it will follow, that
this Fuliginous matter, which did thus obſcure
the Sun, muſt needs be very near his Body;
and if ſo, then, what can we more probably
gueſs it to be, then Evaporations from it?
any lower Vapour. For then 1. They would
not have been ſo univerſal as they were, being
ſeen through all Europe; or elſe 2. That Va-
pour muſt have cover'd the Stars as well as the
Sun, which yet notwitſtanding were plainly
diſcern'd in the day time. You may ſee this
Argument illuſtrated in another the like caſe,
Chap. 12. Hence then it will follow, that
this Fuliginous matter, which did thus obſcure
the Sun, muſt needs be very near his Body;
and if ſo, then, what can we more probably
gueſs it to be, then Evaporations from it?