THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN A BLAZE. 39 



Fig. 11. Comparative volume of the earth iu the gaseous and solid state. 

 A. The earth in its present condition. B. The volume of the earth when an ig 

 neous vapor. 



We dare go no farther ; we can go no farther. If sci 

 ence leads us here, she deserts us at this point, and leaves 



created the heaven and the earth ; and the earth was without form, and 

 void.&quot; These interesting utterances will be further considered in another 

 work. A primordial condition of things seems to have heen a favorite 

 conception of the ancient philosophers and poets. What a consistent pic 

 ture is given by Ovid in the &quot;Metamorphoses:&quot; 



&quot;Ante, mare et tellus, et quod tegit omnia ccelum, 



Unus erat toto Naturae vultus in orbe, 



Quern dixere chaos; rudis indigestaque moles; 



Nee quidquam, nisi pondus iners; congestaque eodem 



Nou bene junctarum discordia semina rerum. 



Nullus adhuc mundo prsebebat lumina Titan ; 



Nee nova crescendo reparabat corn n a Phoebe; 



Nee circumfuso pendebat in acre tellus 



Ponderibus librata suis ; nee brachia longo 



Margine terrarum porrexerat Amphitrite. 



Quaque fuit tellus, illic et pontus et aer ; 



Sic erat instabilis tellus, innabilis unda ; 



Lucis egens aer; nulli sua forma manebat,&quot; 



