BOOK II. XXXIV. loo-xxx-viii. 102 



and Gaius Marius a burning shield scattering 

 sparks ran across the sky at sunset from west to east. 



XXXV. In the consulship " of Gnaeus Octavius 

 and Gaius Scribonius a spark was seen to fall from a 

 star and increase in size as it approached the earth, 

 and after becoming as large as the moon it diffused a 

 sort of cloudy dayUght, and then returning to the 

 sky changed into a torch ; this is the only record of 

 this occurring. It was seen by the proconsul Silanus 

 and his suite. 



XXXVI. Also stars appear to shoot to and fro ; 

 this invariably portends the rise of a fierce hurricane 

 from the same quarter. 



XXXVII. Stars also come into existence at sea 

 and on land. I have seen a radiance of star-hke 

 appearance chnging to the javeHns of soldiers on 

 sentry duty at night in front of the rampart ; and on 

 a voyage stars aUght on the yards and other parts 

 of the ship, with a sound resembling a voice, hopping 

 from perch to perch in the manner of birds. These 

 when they come singly are disastrously heavy and 

 wreck ships, and if they fall into the hold burn them 

 up. If there are two of them, they denote safety 

 and portend a successful voyage ; and their approach 

 is said to put to flight the terrible star called Helena : 

 for this reason they are called Castor and Pollux, 

 and people pray to them as gods for aid at sea. They 

 also shine round men's heads at evening time ; this 

 is a great portent. AU these things adinit of no 

 certain explanation; they are hidden away in the 

 grandeur of nature. 



XXXVIII. So much as to the world itself and the Atmosrhn 

 stars. NoM' the remaining noteworthy facts as to ?"''"'"'"^'" 

 the heavens : for the name ' heaven ' was also given 



245 



