Dr. Wall on the Ufe of Symbols', 237 
covered, which juftified the application of the 
fytnbol of the planet to the metal. 
The Ufe of Iron 3 in framing the inftruments of 
war, prefents fo ftriking a relation, between this 
metal and the God Mars, that we need not won¬ 
der, that the fymbol of that planet was applied 
to difbinguifh iron. 
The mobility and unfixable nature of the me¬ 
tallic fluid ghiickfilver , was naturally, by minds 
thus difpofed to form analogies, compared with 
the rapid movements of the planet Mercury, and 
accordingly, the fymbol of the planet was appro¬ 
priated to the metal. 
On the other hand, the flow motion of Saturn, 
the coldnefs of his fituation, fo far removed from 
the Sun, * and his dull afpedl, which obtained 
him the epithets of frigida , gelida , rigens f 
prefented a fufikient refemblance to the obvious, 
as well as the medicinal qualities of Lead , to 
countenance the fuppofition of a relation be¬ 
tween the metal and the planet, and to autho¬ 
rize the application of the fymbol of Saturn to 
lead. 
* Hence Lucan, 
-. Summo fi frigida Cxlo 
Stella nocens nigros Saturni accenderit Ignes. 
Pharfal. B. I. 651. 
f Plinii Nat. Hill. L. II. C. 6, 
s 
VOL. I 
The 
