OF THE ORIGIN OF CHEMISTRY. 15 



Tlie Siberian iron examined by Pallas wa c > 

 found to be malleable, though cold, or mode* 



rately 



41 anil Prometheus taught firft to prcfcrvr it in a reed," L. 7. 

 C. 57. And clfe where, " It is well known, that fre is bed chc- 

 * rilhi'd in reed*, and Ui.it thofe in Egypt excel all others." 

 Lil>. 13. e. 22. 



The vulgar opinion fnppofes Ariftophancs to be the firfl 

 who made any mention of burning-glades. But if thofc vcr- 

 fcs are gcn\iine, which arc attributed to Orpheus, it will ap~ 

 pear that this prince of poets, who lived long before Arifto- 

 phancs, had dcfcnbcd the effect of the folar rays received into 

 cryflaT, in the f Ilowing lines : 



' Take into yorr hands a fplcndid and pellucid cryftal, 

 " A ftonc pofTcfTing fuch divine brilliancy, 

 *' As docs the hearts of the immortal gods delight, ia hcav'n 



" cntliron'd : 



" This, if to the temple then you bear, 

 " No god upon your vows (hall unpropitious frown. 

 '* The virtue of this wond'rous Hone attend and learn : 

 *' Should you, without b-.rning fire, chufe to excite a flam<% 

 * To ft^gots dr) M approach it near. 

 " Upon the wood anon a gentle ray appears: 

 M Which, when once the dr)' and fat materials it hat fuVd, 

 " Smoke fnft, then fire and dreadful flame 

 " Afcend : Earth's facr d fire by the ancients nam*d. 

 " With other flame than this, facritices to the god 

 " Acceptable, I hope, will never b rn. 

 * Moreover, of tins wond'roi:s cryil il ad<!, 

 < That, though itfclf the caufc of heat, yet, foon 

 " At from the blazing fire withdrawn, *ti ilraight way cold, 

 " And fafcly lobe handled ; and, to the rcinj applied, 

 " AH paini and aches remover,." 



Plutarch, in the life of Numa, after ts that the holy fire of 

 the vcfiali was kinUlcd by burning-a^^'- 







