A TRIP TO THE MOON. 285 



it one of the most glorious effects of that great and mys- 

 terious power of attraction, which binds and holds the 

 universe together. The moon, though so near to us, 

 cannot move the firm continent, but she allures the 

 elastic waters of the earth, until they raise huge foam- 

 covered masses up towards the distant charmer. In one 

 great, unbroken wave of vast dimensions they follow the 

 receding moon with eager haste, and in the short space 

 of twenty-four hours rush round our globe, until con- 

 tinent and island break their imposing power. Twice 

 in the day and twice at night does this immense giant- 

 snake, wound round our globe, breathe; for six hours it 

 swells and rises high into the pure air of the atmos- 

 phere; for six hours afterwards it sinks and vanishes, 

 falling back into its eternal limits. Although the mys- 

 terious sympathies of the great worlds of the universe 

 are all alike, and sun and moon work jointly in this 

 great movement, the power of the latter far exceeds, in 

 this respect, by its greater vicinity to the earth, that of 

 the sun. Hence the tides follow closely the magic course 

 of the moon in the heavens, and recur regularly once in 

 every twelve hours, twenty-five minutes, as far as they 

 are not retarded by the resistance of the water itself, by 

 coasts and winds, or by opposing currents. When sun 

 and moon happen both to attract at the same time, the 

 effect is, of course, incredibly heightened ; so-called spring- 

 tides rise at the period of full or new moon, rush with 

 irresistible power high over cliffs and chalky ramparts, 

 their gigantic arms long stretched out towards the moon, 

 and fall upon the peaceful plain and the fertile fields of 



