ON THEORIES OF THE EARTH. 387 



ever as new as it is now, to those who know not 

 "quam multa renovantur quae jam cecidere." And as 

 if human invention was really never to be new, here 

 also do we find the parentage of that more modern 

 system which is at length a theory under evidence ; 

 though he who may vainly seek geological knowledge 

 in Sanconiatho, will search to as little purpose the 

 records of Hindustan. 



If the Chaldean cosmosgony deserves notice here, it 

 is chiefly from having furnished that of our Northern 

 ancestors. The Chaos, of water and darkness alone, 

 contained certain monstrous animals, which were 

 slain by Bel, together with the goddess Omorca, who, 

 being divided, produced the earth and the heavens : 

 while, as man was formed from her head, thence, says 

 Berosns, his intellectual powers. In the Voluspa, 

 Alfader created all things ; before which, all was a 

 continuous abyss. Heaven and earth were no where: 

 yet Niflheim and Muspelsheim, the hell of frost and 

 storms, and the luminous world, had been prepared. 

 Hence shall issue Surtur, the genius of darkness, with 

 his flaming sword, vanquish the Gods, and consume 

 the universe. The reader can turn to the Edda for 

 the contest of the sons of Bore with the giant Ymir, 

 the result imitating the fate of Omorca, as for much 

 more : but the conflagration is succeeded by a new 

 earth, fruitful without cultivation ; while the death of 

 the Gods is their absorption into the Supreme Cause. 

 I need not again point out that origin which is amply 

 confirmed by the history and language of the Gothic 

 race. 



On certain modern Cosmogonies. 



If, under this division, there are some rivals of the 

 former inventions, so are there some, partially sup- 

 ported by facts. I have no intention to examine this 



c c 2 



