BOOK II. ciii. 222-cv. 224 



wide expanse of the sea, either because tlie sweet 

 and Hquid, which is easily attrticted by fiery force, is 

 drawn out of it, but all the harsher and denser 

 portion is left (this being wliy in a calm sea the water 

 at a depth is sweeter than that at the top, this being 

 the truer explanation of its harsh flavour, rather 

 than because the sea is the ceaseless perspiration of 

 the land), or because a great deal of warmth from 

 the dry is mixed with it, or because the nature of the 

 earth stains the waters as if they were drugged. One 

 instance is that when Dionysius the tyrant of Sicily 

 was expelled from that position, he encountered the 

 portent that on one day the sea-water in the harbour 

 became fresh water. 



CIV. The moon on the contrary is said to be a Effects oj 

 feminine and soft star, and to disengage moisture """''' '^ 

 at night and attract, not remove it. The proof 

 given for this is that the moon by her aspect melts 

 the bodies of wild animals that have been killed and 

 causes them to putrefy, and that when people are 

 fast asleep she recalls the torpor and collects it 

 into the head, and thaws ice, and unstiffens 

 everything with moistening breath : thus (it is said) 

 nature's alternations are held in balance, and there 

 is always a supply, some of the stars drawing the 

 elements toffether while others scatter them. But 



o 



the nutriment of the moon is stated to be contained 

 in bodies of fresh v.ater as that of the sun is in 

 seawater. 



CV. According to the account of Fabianus, the Depthaf 

 deepest sea has a depth of nearly two miles. Others 

 report an immense depth of water (called the Black 

 Sea Deeps) off the coast of the Coraxi tribe on the 

 Black Sea, about 37 miles from land, where soundings 



351 



