BOOK II. cx. 238-cxi. 240 



the AUies' War Holy Island and Lipari among the 

 Aeolian Islands near Italy burnt in mid sea for 

 several days, as did the sea itself, till a deputation 

 from the senate performed a propitiatory ceremony. 

 Nevertheless the largest volcanic blaze is that of the 

 ridge in Ethiopia called the Gods' Carriage," which 

 discharges flames that glow with truly solar heat. 



In so many places and by so many fires does 

 nature bm-n the countries of the earth. 



CXI. Moreover, as this one element has a fertile Uai veis of 

 principle that engenders itself and grows out of the ^*"*' 

 smallest sparks, what must be expected to happen in 

 future among all these funeral pyres of the earth ? 

 What is the natural principle that pastures a most 

 voracious appetite on the whole world while itself 

 unimpaired ? Add thereto the innumerable stars 

 and the mighty sun, add the fires of man's making 

 and also those implanted in the nature of stone and 

 of timber rubbing against itself, and again the fire 

 of clouds, and the sources of thunderbolts — and 

 doubtless all marvels will be surpassed by the fact 

 that there has ever been a single day on which there 

 has not been a universal conflagration, when also 

 hoUow mirrors ^ facing the sun's rays set things ahght 

 more easily than any other fire. What of the 

 countless small but natural eruptions of fire ? In the 

 river Nymphaeus " a flame comes out of a rock that 

 is kindled by rain ; also one comes out at the 

 Scantian Springs,'* not a strong one, it is true, as it 

 passes away, and not lasting long on any substance 

 which it touches — an ash tree shading this fiery spring 

 is everlastingly green ; one comes out in the district of 

 Modena on the days appointed as sacred to Vulcan.* 

 It is found in the authorities that iu the fields lying 



365 



