MEMOIR OF PLINY. 47 



moon ; thunder, comets, meteors, lightning, winds, 

 clouds, earthquakes, hail, frost, snow, mist, dew, 

 tides, and various other particulars concerning the 

 phenomena of the terraqueous globe. The world 

 and the heavens are represented to he infinite, with- 

 out beginning and without end ; the form of the lat- 

 ter is spherical, the motion circular, and they are im- 

 pressed with innumerable forms of animals and other 

 objects. To assign to the Deity any particular 

 shape, image, or existence distinct from the universe, 

 or to imagine that he should exercise a superintend- 

 ing providence over the human race, Pliny reckons 

 absurd, seeing God is himself all in all, and must ne- 

 cessarily be polluted by interfering in the affairs of 

 men who are prone to wickedness, and addicted to 

 the most grovelling superstitions. He admits, how- 

 ever, that it is beneficial to believe that the gods take 

 care of good men and punish malefactors. " In sum 

 (adds Dr Philemon Holland) there be in this booke 

 of histories, notable matters, and worthy obserua- 

 tions, foure hundred and eighteene in number ;" 

 amongst which he reckons " flames and learns seen 

 in the skie ; monstrous and prodigious showres of 

 raine, namely of milke, bloud, flesh, yron, wooll, 

 bricke, and tyle ; the rattling of harnesse and armour, 

 also the sound of trumpets heard from heauen." 



The four next books treat of geography, comprising 

 a description of the then known world ; its seas, rivers, 

 islands, mountains towns, nations, &c. from Spain 



