BOOK 1 1 .] History of Nature. 43 



this, remaining in conjunction with the Sun two Days, forth 

 she goeth, and by the thirtieth Day, at the most, returneth 

 to the same Point again : the Mistress, if I may so say, and 

 the Teacher of all Things that may be known in the Sky. 

 By her means are we taught that the Year ought to be 

 divided into twelve Months : forasmuch as the Moon over- 

 taketh the Sun so many Times before he returneth to the 

 Point where he began his Course. Likewise that she loseth 

 her Light (as the Rest of the Planets) by the Brightness of 

 the Sun when she approacheth near. For she shineth by bor- 

 rowing of him her Light, much like to that which we see in 

 the Reflexion of the Sunbeams from the Water. And here- 

 upon it is that she, by her more mild and imperfect Power 

 dissolveth, and also increaseth, so much Moisture ; x which 

 the Sunbeams may consume. Hence it cometh also, that 

 her Light is not equal in Sight, because it is only when she 

 is opposite to the Sun that she appeareth full : but in all 

 other days she sheweth no more to the Earth than she con- 

 ceiveth from the Sun. In Time of Conjunction, she is not 

 seen at all : for that whilst she is turned away, all the 

 Draught of Light she casteth back again from whence she 

 received it. That these Stars are fed with earthly Moisture, 

 is evident by the Moon ; which, so long as she appeareth by 

 the Half, never sheweth any Spots, because as yet she hath 

 not her full Power of Light sufficient to draw Humour 

 unto her. For these Spots be nothing else but the Dregs 

 of the Earth, caught up with other Moisture among the 

 Vapours. 2 



1 Lucretius supposes that all animals, and all the stars, are fed by 

 exhalations from earth and air. Lucian also expresses the same idea. And 

 as Pliny was of an adverse sect to the Epicureans, and consequently did 

 not derive it from them, we may suppose the opinion to have been gene- 

 rally received. See the beginning of chapter Ixviii. Wern. Club. 



2 The reader will, of course, accept of these remarks and explanations, 

 as well of the moon as of the other planets, as descriptive of the condition 

 of the astronomical philosophy of the day ; which it is, at least, amusing 

 to compare with the results of modern observation. Wern. Club. 



