BOOK 11. Lv. 142-145 



rises on the left-hand "^ side of the firmament ; and 

 their approach is not so visible as their return, 

 whether after the blow a fire springs from it or the 

 breath returns when its Mork is done or its fire used 

 up. 



In making these observations the Tuscans divided Awjurvhv 

 the heaven into sixteen parts : the first quarter is ''"' erooiu. 

 from the North to the equinoctial sunrise (East), 

 the second to the South, the third to the equinoctial 

 sunset (West), and the fourth occupies the re- 

 maining space extending from West to North ; 

 these quarters they subdivided into four parts each, 

 of which tb.ey called the eight starting from the East 

 the left-hand regions and the eight opposite ones the 

 right-hand. Of these the most formidable are those 

 lying between West and North. Hence the line of 

 approach and the hne of retirement of thunderbolts 

 is of very great importance. It is best for them to 

 retui-n to parts in the region of sum-ise. Accordingly 

 it will be a portent of supreme happiness when they 

 come from the first part of the sky and retire to the 

 same part — a sign that history records to have been 

 vouchsafed to the dictator Sulla ; but all the others 

 are less fortunate or actually direful, in accordance 

 with the division of the actual firmament where they 

 occur. Some people think it \vrong to give or to 

 Hsten to reports of thunderbolts, exeept if they are 

 told to a guest or a parent. 



The great folly of paying attention to these occur- 

 rences was discovered when the Temple of Juno at 

 Rome was struck by h'ghtning in the consulship ** of 

 Scaurus, who was afterwards head of the state."^ 



Lightning unaccompanied by thunder occurs more Urihtning, 

 often by night than in the daytime. Man is the one '^^'^'^'^ °^' 



281 



