of the Ancients refpeHing Glafs, 97 



written out the procefs, I, taking this in my 

 hand, and (landing in this manner at a diftance, 

 oppofite to the Sun, may melt or confume the 

 letters of the writing."* 



We are not, indeed, certain that artificial Glafs 

 is here undcrftood, as the word 'iccXoc is faid to 

 fignify chryftal alfo. 



It is not, however, at all improbable that glafs 

 may be here meant, as it will be Hiewn, that the 

 making of it was well underflood, not many 

 years afterwards. If this be the fenfe of the 

 paffage, the manufailure muft have been brought 

 to confiderable perfection, as the glafs, iifed for 

 this purpofe, mufl: have been very clear, and ad- 

 jufted by grinding to a proper form for concen- 

 trating the fun's rays, and moreover highly po- 

 lifhed. 



From the exprefTion ('^§0; tov vtXw), it might 

 feem that a fpeculum was ufed, fince the tranflators 

 render it (adverfus folem) oppofite to the fun 5 

 but it may as well be rendered (inter) between, 

 and then it agrees with the operation of a lens, 

 which, it is plain, this was, from his calling it 



tr,\i y.x?^r,>, Ty,v otafcu-zj. a(p' ^5 to "ffv^ «,*'wT<s£ri ; la. r/iii vxXoit 



Arirtoph. Nubes, AQ. If. Scene T, 



Vol. II. H ^tx<p<K»n, 



