Chap. 65.] A^-TIPODES. 



95 



and the vulgar. We inaintain, that there are men dispersed 

 over everv part of the earth, that they stand with their feet 

 turned towards each other, that the vault of the heavens ap» 

 pears alike to all of them, and that they, all of them, appear to 

 tread equally on the middle of the earth. If any one should 

 ask, why those situated opposite to us do not fall, we directly 

 ask in return, whether those on the opposite side do not 

 wonder tha*. we do not fall. But I may make a remark, that 

 will appear plausible even to the most unlearned, that if the 

 earth were of the figure of an unequal globe, like the seed of a 

 pine\ still it may be inhabited in every part. 



But of how little moment is this, when we have another 

 miracle rising up to our notice ! The earth itself is pendent 

 and does not fall Avith us ; it is doubtful whether this be from 

 the force of the spirit which is contained in the universe % or 

 whether it would fall, did not nature resist, by allo^ving of 

 no place where it might fall. Tor as the seat of fire is no- 

 where but in fire, nor of water except in water, nor of air 

 except in air, so there is no situation for the earth except in 

 itself, everything else repelling it. It is indeed wonderful 

 that it should form a globe, when there is so much flat sur- 

 face of the sea and of the plains. And this was the opinion 

 of Dic£earchus, a peculiarly learned man, who measured the 

 heights of mountains, under the direction of the kings, and 

 estimated Pelion, which was the highest, at 1250 paces per- 

 pendicular, and considered this as not affecting the round 

 figure of the globe. But this appears to me to be doubtful, 

 as I well know that the summits of some of the Alps rise 

 up by a long space of not less than 50,000 paces^ But what 



» As our author admits of the existence of antipodes, and expressly 

 states that the earth is a perfect sphere, we may conclude that the re- 

 semblance to the cone of the pine is to be taken in a very general sense. 

 IIow far the ancients entertained correct opinions respecting the globular 

 figure of the earth, or rather, at what period tliis opinion became geneniUy 

 admitted, it is perhaps not easy to ascertain. The lines in the Georgics, 

 i, 242, 213, which may be supjiosed to express the popular opinion in the 

 time of Virgil, certainly do not convey the idea of a sphere capable of 

 being inhabited m all its parts : 



Hie vertex nobis semper subUmis ; at illuni 

 Sub pedibus Styx atra vidct, Dinnesquc profundi. 



' " spiritus vis mimdo nclusi." 



3 « Alpium vertices, longo tractu, ncc breviorc quinquagluta 



