320 OF ATMOSPHERICAL CHAP. 10. 2. 



transition, in a mind endowed with imagination, 

 from the metamorphoses of those substances 

 with which we are acquainted, to those whose 

 nature is hidden, is well exposed by Ovid, in 

 the beautiful oration which he has put into the 

 mouth of Pythagoras ; and some of the allu- 

 sions to the changes and shades of colour in 

 atmospheric phaenomena contained in this 

 speech, are particularly elegant and natural.* 



* " O genus attonitum gelidae formidine mortis, 



Quid Styga, quid tenebras, quid nomina vana timetis, 

 Materiem vatum, falsique piacula mundi ? 

 Corpora sive rogus flamma, seu tabe vetustas 

 Abstulerit, mala posse pati non ulla putetis. 

 Morte carent animae : semperque, priore relicta 

 Sede, novis domibus habitant vivuntque receptae." 

 Which he tries to illustrate by reference to the perpetual 

 changes of atmospheric atoms. 



" Cernis et emersas in lucem tendere noctes : 

 Et jubar hoc nitidum nigrae succedere nocti. 

 Nee color est idem coelo, cum lassa quiete 

 Cuncta jacent media, cumque albo Lucifer exit 

 Clarus equo : rursumque alius, cum praevia luci 

 Tradendum Phoebo Pallantias inficit orbem. 

 Ipse Dei clypeus, terra cum tollitur ima, 

 Mane rubet : terraque, rubet, cum conditur ima. 

 Candidus in summo est ; melior matura quod illic 

 Aetheris est, terraeque procul contagia vitat. 

 Nee per aut eadem nocturnae forma Dianae 

 Esse potest unquam : semperque hodierna sequente : 



