105 



in the very terras of Aristotle, though somewhat more 

 clearly ; for he says, " they imagined the comets to be 

 wandering planets, which appeared only at certain, 

 times during their course. 



5. Upon the whole, Seneca, more than any other, 

 hath discussed this subject like a true philosopher. In 

 his seventh book of natural questions, he relates all 

 the different opinions respecting comets, and seems to 

 prefer that of Artemidorus, who imagined u that th?^e 

 was an immense number of them, but that their or 

 bits were so situated, that, so far from being always 

 within view, they could only be seen at one of tho 

 extremities." He afterwards reasons upon this with; 

 equal elegance and solidity. u Why should we be 

 astonished," says he, " that comets, which are so> 

 rare a spectacie in the world, have not yet come under 

 certain rules \ or that we have not hitherto been able 

 to determine where begins or ends the course of planets 

 as ancient as the universe, and whose returns are at 

 .such distant intervals? The time will come," cries he, 

 " that posterity will be amazed at our ignorance in. 

 things so, very evident; for what now appears to us 

 obscure, will one day or other, in the course of agcs^ 

 and through the industry of our descendants,, become 

 manifestly clear; but a small number of years passed 

 between study and the indulgence of passion, will not 

 avail for researches so important as those which pro- 

 pose to themselves the compression of natures so re* 

 mote." 



6. Upon a review of the several passages which we 

 have just now cited, it must now be admirted, that 

 the moderns have said nothing solid with regard tci 

 comets,, but what is to be found ia the writings of the 

 ancients, except what litter observations have furnish- 

 ed them with, which Seneca judged to be so necessary, 

 and which only can be the effect of a long succession 

 of ages. 



