Beasts Pliny ascribes to the Delphians Cicero de divin to one Tageâ—… who appearing suddainly out of the Ground to the Hâ—…trurians as they were plowing is said to have instructed them therein 〈◊〉 yet reâ—…ers the Invention thereof to Prometheus The Divination was made from the Site Colour and Marks of the Entrails The Parts inspected were the Heart Lungs Liver and Gall. That of the Heart not practic'd by the Romans until the 123 Olympiad That of the Liver most antient and usual The Parts of this Inspected were the Fiâ—…rae Fissum and Caput Of which see particularly Brissonius de formulis l. 1. Yet this kind of Divination seems by the Romans themselves in the time of their Greatness to have been despis'd as may appear by Tacitus and Quintus Curtius The later of whom condemns Alexander the Great for being addicted to those Superstitions which he terms Humanarum Mentium Ludibriâ—… c. n The Charming of Serpents even from the Testimony of Scripture it self Psalm 58. ver 5. Ierem. 8. ver 17. Eccles. 10. â—…er 11. appears to have been frequent with the Antients To which we may add the farther Testimony of Virgil. Eclog. 8. Frigidus in Pratis cantando rumpitur Anguis And Ovid l. Metam 7. in whom Medeâ—… boasts of her self Vipereas rumpo verbis carmine fauceâ—… As likewise Nemesianus Eclog. 4. Cantavit quod Luna timet quo rumpitur anguis See Pliny l. 8. c. 16. and l. 28. c. 2. where treating of the power of Enchantments he writes Figlinarum opera multi credunt rumpi tali mâ—…do Nâ—…n pauci etiam Serpentes Upon which place Turnebus notes That Serpents if aware of the Charmer have the faculty recanere i. e. retorquere dissolvere Incantationem to dissolve the Charme Pliny loco citato asserting hunc unum esse illis intellectum The people most notorious for these kind of Incantations were the Psylli a people of Africa and the Marsi a People of Italy of which later thus Lucilius in Satyr Iam disrumpetur medius jam ut Marsus Colubras Disrumpit cantu venas cum extenderit omnes Horace likewise in Caâ—…id Caputque Marsae dissilire Naenia And Ovid de Medicamine faciâ—…i Et mediae Marsis findantur cantibus Angues The Aegyptians were likewise of old famous for the charming of Serpents as at this Day the Indians Negros and those of Peru Vide Bâ—…art in Praefat. ad Hieroz o In this many of the Antients vainly gloried So Empedocles in Laertius l. 8. boasts he could teach the Art by which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Extinctumque Hominem nigra revocabis ab Orco So Canidia in Horace Epod. ult Possum crematos excitare mortuos And Tibullus of a certain Witch Haec cantu finditque solum Manesque Sepulchriâ—… Elicit So the Nurse in Seneca his Hercul Oct. Mea jussi prece Mâ—…nes loquuntur And Alecto in Claudian in Ruffin Condita funera traxi Carminibus victura meir See Delrius Disquis Magic l. 8. quaest 26. and particularly Leo Allatius refuting this Diabolical Vanity in his Learned Syntagma de Engastrimytho p So in Seneca Medea boasts she had Heavens Laws invertâ—…d shown the World the Light Of Sun and Stars at once Mundus Lege confusa Aetheris Et Solem Astra vidit But this is more than Mâ—…gick can perform Divine Providence not permitting the Divel or his Agents to interrupt or disturb the Course and Motion of the Heavens or Stars or confound the Order of the Universe however by Poetical Licence 't is allowed Hence the Tragoedian Seneca in Hercule furente Nox media Solem vidit Noctem Dies And Petronius Trepidusque furentes Flâ—…ctere Phoeâ—…us Equos revoluto cogitur Orbe Tantum dicta valent So likewise Aâ—…eius l. 2. de Auâ—… Asin. speaking of a certain Witch Omnem istam Lucem Mundi sideraliâ—… imis Tartari in Vâ—…tustum Chaâ—…s submergere noâ—…it q Anaximander and Metrodorus supposed Thunder to be a Wind conceiv'd and inclos'd within a thick Cloud which breaking forth with violence makes a crack the Lightning being caused by the breaking of the Cloud as is illustrated by Anaximenes his Comparison of the Sea which being broken with Oares sparkles and shines Anaxagoras held it to be a portion of ardent matter quencht in a moist Cloud which makes a noise as red hot Iron dipt in water The Stoicks believ'd it to be a Noise occasioned by the Collision of two hollow Clouds Lightning proceeding from their attrition Descartes not much differing from them conceives Thunder to be occasioned when divers â—…at Clouds Tabulatorum instar like so many Floores or Scaffolds are driven with violence the higher upon the lower and clatter one upon another the Lightning proceeding from the Nature of the Exhalations included in the Interstitiâ—… or spaces between the Clouds which by them falling one upon another is violently crusht out Our Countrey-man Mr. Hobbs will have it to be the breaking of a Cloud congeal'd to Ice by the strugling of inclosed Air which he borrowed from Lucretius l. 6. Denique saepe geli multus fragor atque Ruina Grandinis in magnis sonitum dat nubibus â—…lte But much more consonant to Truth is the Opinion of those who hold Thunder to be an Exhalation hot and dry of a Sulphâ—…reous and Nitrous matter contracted within a cold and moist Cloud from which striving to get out it kindles by Agitation and violently breaks through its Prison r Pliny l. 17. c. 2. calls Snow the Foam of Coelestial Waters Aristotle and from him most Modern Philosophers describe it to be begotten of a moist but rare and thin Cloud which being condensed by a sharp cold falling down parts that it may the easilier divide the Air into Flakes like Fleeces of Wool to which the Psalmist alludes Qui dat Nivem sicut Lanam Though Bodin in Theatro Naturae conceives the Psalmist resembles Snow to Wool for the warmth it affords to Plants and Vegetables in the cold time of Winter as Woollen Vestments do to men rather than for its Fleece-like Similitude It s whiteness though Anaxagoras maintain'd it to be black and in Armenia it is found of a ruddy colour by reason the Terrestrial Particles or Atoms of that soil which abounds in Minium mixing with those of the Air tinge it and give it that hue as Eustath in Iliad 2. is derived from its Efficient cause Cold and the copious mixture of Aerial Spirits Of the Admirable Contexture and Figure of its Parts which are said to be always Sexangular See Kepler in his particular Tract upon that Subject s Hail is nothing else but Rain congeal'd in its fall and this Concretion or Congelation happens not far from the Earth as is Manifest by high Mountains on which Snow is often found but never Hail The nearer to the Earth it hath its fall the more Triangular or Pyramidal is its Figure the higher its fall the rounder Those Angles or Inequalities being worn
good with the good bad with the bad Hence the Authour of the Fragment after Censorinus de Die Natal Stella Mercurii fit similis illi quam videt Maia's Son Plac'd under these 'twixt g Venus in Hebrew is call'd Nogah i. e. Lux. The Name Venus coming from the Hebrew Word Benot by the change of the first and last Letters as Mr. Selden de Diis Syris Syntagm 2. c. 7. and Vossius Idololatr l. 2. c. 22. derive it By the Greeks call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Phosphorus seu Lucifer when she is the Morning Star as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Hesperus Vesper and Vesperugo when she is the Evening Star by Timaeus Locrus call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Iunonis Astrum The Aegyptians call her Suroth the Chaldeans Spharphara and Astaroth by the Arabs named Elzahareth and Chabar i. e. Magna Venus and the h This Planet or Luminary is in Hebrew call'd Lebanah or Laneah from its white Colour by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the renewing of its Light She is by them likewise honoured with the Title of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Gaulmin notis in Psellum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the Latines Luna quasi Lucuna or Lucina the middle Syllable being cast away as Isidor Origin l. 8. and before him Cicero de Natur. Deorum l. 2. Luna à Lucendo eadem enim Lucina Or as Vâ—…ssius Idololatr l. 2. derives it from an Oriental Original Luna potius à Lon i. e. pernoctavit and Metaleptically quieâ—…it In regard as the Sun is President of the Days Labour so the Moon is Surintendent of the Nights Rest and Quiet By the Egyptian Copies call'd Isis Pcochos Actâ—…phcom i. e. Domina Maris humidorum by the Chaldeans Schaâ—…ro by the Persians Anaiâ—…is by the Arabs Alkamer and Abilat and Alitta by the Indians ador'd under the Name of Schendra Moon Others there are too of less usual kind For Suddain Flames streaming through Skies We find And Times more rare have Comets seen to blaze Comets and â—…iery Mâ—…teors i According to the Vulgar Belief who conceive Comets to be fore-runners of great Troubles and Commotions by which Manilius here signalizes their Exstinction And loose midst mighty stirs their threatning Rays Whither as k Alluding to the opinion of those who hold Comets to be generated of Elementary Matter that is of Exhalation and Vapour the first from the Earth hot and dry the other from the Water hot moist and unctuous carried by their Lightness above the Aiery Region where compacted they are by Motion of the superiour Orbs set on fire Of which Opinion is Aristotle and his followers and differing only as to place Galilaeo 〈◊〉 Guiduceius and some others See Gassendus Tom. 1. part 2. p. 702. and Ricciolus in Almagest Nov. Tom. 1. l. 8. and Fromond Meteorolog l. 3. Earth transpires its Native fumes Those humid Spirits the hot Air consumes Their Original When a long Drouth from Clouds hath clear'd the Sky And Heav'n by the Sun's scorching Beams grows dry Whence fitting Aliment is snatch'd by Fire And Matter like to Tinder flames acquire And since the Principles which Air compose Are not gross Bodies but like Smoke that flows The fiery Substance is not permanent But with the Comet l Touching the Duration of Comets Pliny l. 2. c. 25. makes the shortest to be Septem Dierum the longest Octâ—…ginta or rather as Muretus conceives the Text of Pliny ought to be read C. Octâ—…ginta a 180 Days which Emendation Tycho Brahe Progymn l. 1. p. 273 though Scaliger seem to disallow it approves of And so long Seneca Natural quaest l. 7. affirms the duration of one seen in the beginning of Nero's Reign Iosephus de Bello Iudaico l. 7. reports one to have continued a whâ—…le year a little before the Destruction of Ierusalem in the form of that which is called Xiphias or the Sword Comet But this Tycho conceives to have been supernatural and extraordinary so that the longest Duration of Comets their ordinary not extending to half that space seems not to be above six Moneths Of which coâ—…tinuance we find in History only three The first that of Nero's beforementioned in the year of Christ 64. the second in the year 603. not long before the appearrance of the Impostor Mahomet and the last in the year 1240. observed by Albertus Magnus soon as kindled spent Else if its Rise and Fall were not so nigh We should another Day in Night descry And the couch'd Sun when from the watery Deep Return'd would the whole World surprize in sleep Then since the arid Vapour is not us'd To be alike attracted or diffus'd Hence m The Word Comet though when strictly taken it signifies Stellam Crinitam and Sidus Cincinnatum yet in a larger sence it is us'd as a common and general Name for all sorts of fiery Meteors Of which Pliny l. 2. c. 25. reckons twelve several Specâ—…es Viz. Cometa Pogonias Acontias Xiphias Disceus Pithetes Ceratias Lampas Hippeus Argenticomus Hircus Longchites seu Hastâ—… Divers of which are by our Poet here enumerated whose Explanation we shall give in the following Notes and shall only add the Distinction which is made by a Reverend and Learned Authour upon this Subject who will have such Meteors to be peculiarly called Comets as are super-Lunary and have as he says proprium Aetherium Geometricum motum qualis esse solet Planetarum to the others he gives the Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as having some Resemblance with but differing as to their Motion Place and other Affections from Comets properly so called their Birth and existence being within the sublunary Sphere Vide D. Setb Wardi Praelect de Cometis several Shapes to Meteors are assign'd Their several kinds As in dark Nights their suddain Births they find For now like long hairs flowing from some head The Flame is in dishevell'd n These kind of Meteors are by the Greeks properly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Stellae Crinitae seu Cincinnatae as is before noted whose blaze rises upward above the Head or Body of the Comet whence Pliny calls them 〈◊〉 modo in vertice Hispidas But when the Cheveleure is round about equally diffused then the Comet is called Rosa. Tresses spred Cometa or Stella Cincinnata Then what a fiery Peruke first appear'd Assumes the Figure of a blazing o Thence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Barbata from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Barba which the Vulgar distinguish not from that which is called Caudata as Fromondus observes l. 3. c. 4. That difference being caused only by its Respect to the Sun for if it appear in the Morning before the Sun-rise it seems bearded the Blaze tending in Anteriora before the Sun
Westward but if it appear in the Evening the Sun being set then it seems Caudata the Train flowing from behind the Sun Eastward But it is more properly said to be Barbata when the Head or Body of the Comet is above and the Train or Stream underneath flowâ—…ng downward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 More Barbae in opposition to that which is called Crinita whose Hair or Bash is above the Head of the Comet See Stobaeus Eclog Physic. l. 1. And Suidas in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beard Pogonias or Stella Barbata Sometimes 'twixt equal-bounded Sides it flows And a square p This Comâ—… or Meteor is called in English a Beam or Post in Latine Trabs in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Igniâ—…a Trabs When extended to an extraordinary length it was by the Greeks likewise called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Via as Aâ—…istotle Meteorolog l. 1. c. 6. affiâ—…ms Pliny l. 2. c. 26 reports such a one to have appeared at what time the Lacedemonians vanquâ—…shed in Fight at Sea lost the Empire of Greece and Charimandâ—…r in his Book of Comets as cited by Seneca Natur. Quaest. l. 7. relaâ—…s the like Meteor of unusual Brightness and Greatness to have been observed by Anaxagoras for many days continuance Callisthenes likewise affirms such a one to have appeared a little before Buris and Helice were swallowed up in the Sea The difference between a Trabs and Columna is this The first is of an oblong Form in a down lying Posture the latter appears in an erected Figure Vide Fromond Meteor l. 2. c. 5. Post or a round Pillar shows Dokiâ—… or Trabs Like a big-bellied q Call'd therefore by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dolium and thence by the Latines Pithetes thus described by Pliny l. 2. c. 25. Pithetes Doliorum cernitur FiguraÌ„ in Câ—…ncavo fumidae Lucis i. e. Pithetes is seen in the form of a Barrel or Tun within the Concave of a fumid or smoaky Light which according to Seneca Natural Quaest. l. 7. vel fertur vel in uno loco flagrat And to this kind is to be reduced the Meteor called Tenaculum sub cinerâ—…o fumo Luridum says Ricciolus Almag Nov. Tom. 1. l. 8. Tun now its swoln Beams Pithetes Dilate and then contract to narrower Streams Like little r Known by the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Resemblance it bears to a small Lock or Curle of Hair which in Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cincinnulus Locks which in small Curles are ti'd Bostruchias Now like fir'd s Manilius here describes these kind of Meteors by the Periphrasis of Hirta Mâ—…ssis They are commonly called Stipulae Ardentes resembling the firing of Straw or Stubble in the Fields Which appear as Aristotle says when the Exhalation that causes them is extended to a considerable breadth and length sheafs now like branch'd t Called therefore Lampadias imitating burning Lamps or Torches which Manilius here divides into â—…issus Ramâ—…sos branched sprayes and are not seen but in their Fall Of these kinds Pliny l. 2. c. 26. reports one to have appeared at Noon in sight of all the Roman People at what time Caesar Germanicus exhibited a Prize or Spectacle of Fencers He makes of them a double difference the first called Lampades Lamps or Torches which burn only at the Tops though they draw a long fuming Train after them The other called Bolides commonly englished Lances burning through the whole Extent or Length of their Train Of which last sort says he there were some seen in the Calamity oâ—… 〈◊〉 when that City was sack'd lamps descri'd Stipulae Ardentes Now falling u Anaxagoras would have these kind of Meteors to be sparkles falling from the fiery Region By Eunapius in Aeâ—…es they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Effluentiae seu Trajectiones quaedam Stellarum by Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 discursus seu Stellae fluxus By the Arabs called Shihâb which as I find in the Commentator upon Ulugh â—…eight Tables is expounded Stella quae nocte incedit sicuâ—… Ignis and Stella Daemones pellens for the Antient Arabs and Eaâ—…ern People fancy'd falling Stars to be fiery Darts lanc'd from Heaven against the Devils or evil Spirits of the Aire as is likewise observed by the Learned Golius notis in Alferganum p. 65. But Fromondus Meteor l. 2. c. 3. according to the Doctrine of Aristotle describes them to be a fiery Exhalation expulsed out of a Cloud having the Resemblance of a true Star falling They are conceived to come from the same Cause and Origine as Lightning though they are not attended by Thunder at least as to us perceivable Bearing the same Proportion to Lightning as the firing of a Musquet does to that of a Canon For as at a great distance we may see the Fire of a Musquet but scarce hear its Noise but of a Canon within the same distance we may both see the Fire and hear the Noise So by reason of the Exility of the Exhalation we hear not the Noyse when these falling Stars break from a Cloud as we do Thunder when ushered by Lightning Fromondus compares these Meteors to ouâ—… kind of Fireworks called Rockets though their Motions be different the one being forced upward the other downward which run in a Train and fall in the manner of Stars And therefore Pliny calls them Scintillas Discursus Stellarum Ptolomy Trajectiones both which our Poet expresses when he says they shoot and sparkle Stars seem to shoot every where Lampadias Stella Cadens When wandring Lights do sparkle in the Aire And darted Flames swift x Call'd in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from thence in the Latine Acontiae which as Pliny says Iaculi mâ—…do vibrantur 〈◊〉 significatu Of which the Emperour Titus or as some will Tiberius is said to have written an excellent Poem This Meteor when it appears in a shorter form is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Ensis Gladius seu Pugio the Head or Body of the Comet representing the Hilt the Ray or Iubar the Blade of a Sword and appears of all others the most Pale Arrows imitate Acontiae When the dry Train runs in a narrow Strait For every Thing does mixed Fire infold That dwells in pregnant Clouds which Thunder mold Pierces Earths Veins Heavens Terrors counterfeits From Aetna's Caves in Springs cold Water heats Lurks in hard Flints and in green Bark finds Room When Woods by their y To this Accident Vitruvius l 2. c. 1. ascribes the Original of our Culmary Fire where he says Ab Tempestâ—… ventis densae crebriâ—…ibus Aâ—…bores agitatae inter se 〈◊〉 Ramos Ignem exâ—…itaverunt Which being observ'd by the Antients they from thence