Chap. 68.] THE SUMMER SOLSTICE. P5 



third before 46 the calends of August, the Royal Star in the 

 breast of Leo rises in the morning, according to Caesar. On 

 the eighth before 47 the ides of August, one half of Arcturus 

 has ceased to be visible, and on the third before 48 the ides the 

 Lyre, by its setting, opens the autumn, according to Caesar at 

 least ; though a more exact calculation has since shown, that 

 this takes place on the sixth day before 49 the ides of that month. 

 The time that intervenes between these periods is one that 

 is of primary importance in the cultivation of the vine; as 

 the constellation of which we have spoken, under the name of 

 Canicula, has now to decide upon the fate of the grape. It is 

 at this period that the grapes are said to be charred, 50 a blight 

 falling upon them which burns them awaj r , as though red-hot 

 coals had been applied to them. There is no hail that can be 

 compared with this destructive malady, nor yet any of those 

 tempests, which have been productive of such scarcity and 

 dearth. For the evil effects of these, at the very utmost, are 

 only felt in isolated districts, while the coal blight, 51 on the other 

 hand, extends over whole countries, far and wide. Still, how- 

 ever, the remedy would not be very difficult, were it not that 

 men would much rather calumniate Nature, than help them- 

 selves. It is said that Dernocritus, 5 - who was the first to com- 

 prehend and demonstrate that close affinity which exists be- 

 tween the heavens and the earth, finding his laborious re- 

 searches upon that subject slighted by the more opulent of his 

 fellow- citizens, and presaging the high price of oil, which was 

 about to result upon the rising of the Yergiliae, (as we have 

 already mentioned, 53 and shall have to explain more fully here- 

 after), bought up all the oil in the country, which was then at 

 a very low figure, from the universal expectation of a fine crop 

 of olives ; a proceeding which greatly surprised all who knew 

 that a life of poverty and learned repose was so entirely the 

 object of his aspirations. When, however, his motives had 

 been fully justified by the result, and vast riches had flowed in 

 upon him apace, he returned all his profits to the disappointed 



48 Thirtieth of July. 47 Sixth of August. 



48 Eleventh of August. 49 Eighth of August. 



50 See B. xvii. c. 37. 5I Carbunculus. 



5 - Cicero, De Div., B. ii. 201, Aristotle, Polit. K i. c. 7, and Diogenes 

 Larrtius tell this story of Thales the philosopher ; Pliny beiug the only 

 one that applies it to Democritus. 



w In the lust Chapter. This passage is corrupt. 



