xxm UNIQUENESS OF COMETS 297 



some stars that have a separate distinctive orbit far 

 removed from them ? What reason is there why 

 there should not be passages into the heavens at 

 some part of them ? 1 But if you are convinced 

 that every star (planet) cannot but touch the zodiac, 

 then I say the comet might have such a wide orbit 

 that at some point it may coincide with the zodiac. 

 This is not necessary, but it is possible. 



XXIV 



CONSIDER whether it is not more in keeping with 

 the size of the universe that it be supposed to be 

 divided into many routes, and do not keep this one 

 beaten track while every other portion is a waste. 

 Do you suppose that in this great and fair creation, 

 among the countless stars that adorn the night with 

 varied beauty, never suffering the atmosphere to 

 become empty and sluggish, there are only five 

 stars that are allowed to move freely, while all the 

 rest stand still, a fixed, immovable crowd ? Should 

 any one here ask me : Why, then, has their course 

 not been observed like that of the five planets ? my 

 answer to him shall be : There are many things whose 

 existence we allow, but whose character we are still 

 in ignorance of. We shall all admit that we have a 

 mind, by whose behest we are urged forward and 

 called back ; but what that mind is which directs 

 and rules us, no one can explain any more than he 

 can tell where it resides. One will say that it is 

 breath ; another, a kind of harmony ; another, a 

 divine force and part of God ; another, subtlest air ; 



1 The meaning seems to be, there may be passages inlets and outlets 

 by which occasional visitants like comets may temporarily enter the heavens 

 as we know them, and subsequently pass out of them. The text is doubtful. 



