482 SENECA AND VIRGIL. 



Similar views were entertained by Seneca, and 

 the most celebrated of the Roman poets, who 

 speak of the anima mundi as an all- pervading 

 fiery aether, which they regarded as the cause of 

 motion throughout nature, and of life in men, 

 beasts, and birds, as in the following lines from 

 the 6th jEneid of Virgil : 



" Principio ccelum, ac terras, camposque liquentes 

 Lucentemque globum lunse, Titaniaque astra, 

 Spiritus intus alit, totamque infusa per artus. 

 Mens agitat molem, et magno se corpore miscet," &c.* 



The fire that was kept perpetually burning in 

 the temple of Vesta, termed color vitalis, and ardor 

 ccelestis, was also a type of that eternal globe of 

 fire the sun, from which it was kindled. 



From the foregoing brief summary, the follow- 

 ing conclusions may be deduced : 



1. That amidst the innumerable conflicting 

 opinions that have prevailed among the most en- 

 lightened nations of antiquity, they nearly all 

 united in the belief that fire is the active principle 

 in nature, and the physical cause of life. 



2. That the whole universe is composed of 

 two descriptions of matter, the one active, the 



* " Know first, a spirit with an active flame 



Pervades and animates this mighty frame ; 



Runs through the watery worlds, the fields of air. 



The ponderous earth, the depths of heaven, and there 



Glows in the sun, and moon, and every star: 



Thus mingling with the mass, the general soul 



Lives in the parts, and animates the whole." WARTON. 



