Chap. 69.] CAUSES OF STJilULITT. 97 



by the heat which she receives by reason of her closer vicinity 

 to the sun. In winter, again, at the time of the conjunction, 

 she is farther off from us, the sun being also removed to a 

 greater distance. On the other hand, again, when the moon 

 is at the full in summer, she is more remote from the earth, 

 and in opposition with the sun ; while, in winter, she ap- 

 proaches nearer to us at that period, by adopting the same 

 orbit as at her conjunction in summer. ^Naturally humid her- 

 self, as often as from her position she is cold, she congeals to 

 an unlimited extent the dews which fall at that period of the 

 year. 



CHAP. 69, CAUSES OF STERILITY. 



But we ought always to bear in mind, more particularly, 

 that there are two varieties of evils that are inflicted upon the 

 earth by the heavens. The first of these, known by us under 

 the name of '* tempests," comprehends hail- storms, hurricanes 

 and other calamities of a similar nature ; when these take place 

 at the full moon, they come upon us with additional intensity. 

 These tempests take their rise in certain noxious constellations, 

 as already stated by us on several occasions, Arcturus, for in- 

 stance, Orion, and the Kids. 



The other e^ils that are thus inflicted upon us, supervene with 

 a bright, clear skj', and amid the silence of the night, no one 

 being sensible of them until we have perceived their effects. 

 These dispensations are universal and of a totally different 

 character from those previously mentioned, and have various 

 names given to them, sometimes mildew, sometimes blast, and 

 sometimes coal blight ; but in all cases sterility is the infallible 

 result. It is of these last that we have now to speak, entering 

 into details which have not hitherto been treated of by any 

 writer ; and first of all we will explain the causes of them. 



(29.) Independently of the moon, there are two principal 

 causes of these calamities, which emanate more particularly 

 from two quarters of the heavens of but limited extent. On 

 the one hand, the Vergiliae exercise an especial influence on our 

 harvests, as it is with their rising that the summer begins, and 

 with their setting, the winter; thus embracing, in the space of 

 six months, the harvest, the vintage, and the ripening of all the 

 vegetable productions. In addition to this, there is a circular 

 tract in the heavens, quite visible to the human ^ye even, known 



VOL. IV. H 



