BOOK II.] History of Nature. 55 



gradation than in their direct Course forward, though their 

 utmost Extremity is ever the same. And from hence is the 

 Reason understood of the contrary Motions of these two 

 Planets. For the superior Planets move most swiftly in the 

 Evening Setting, but these most slowly. They be highest 

 above the Earth, when they move slowest ; and these, when 

 they go swiftest : for as in the former the Nearness of the 

 Centre hasteneth them, so, in these, the Extremity of the 

 Circle : they, from their Morning Rising, begin to slacken 

 their Celerity ; but these to increase it : they return back 

 from their Morning Station to their Evening Mansion ; but 

 Venus, contrariwise, is retrograde from the Evening Station 

 to that of the Morning. But, she from the Morning Rising 

 beginneth to climb the Latitude : but to follow the Altitude 

 and the Sun from the Morning Station : as being most swift 

 and at the highest in the Morning Setting. Moreover she 

 beginneth to digress in Latitude, and to diminish her Motion, 

 from the Morning Rising : but to be retrograde, and to digress 

 in Altitude, from the Evening Station. Again, the Planet 

 Mercury rising in the Morning, beginneth both Ways to 

 climb, but to digress in Latitude from the Evening Rising : 

 and when the Sun hath overtaken him within the Distance 

 of fifteen Degrees, he standeth still for four Days almost 

 immovable. Presently, he descendeth from his Altitude, 

 and goeth back from the Evening Setting to that of the 

 Morning. This Star only, and the Moon, descend in as 

 many Days as they ascend. But Venus ascendeth up to her 

 Station in fifteen Days and a little more. Again, Saturn and 

 Jupiter are twice as long descending, and Mars four Times. 

 So great Variety is in their Nature, but the Reason thereof is 

 evident. For they which go against the Vapour of the Sun 

 do also descend with Difficulty. Many Secrets more of 

 Nature, and Laws whereunto she is obedient, might be shewn 

 about these Things. As, for Example: the Planet Mars, 

 whose Course, of all others, can be least observed, never 

 maketh Station but in quadrate Aspect : and Jupiter, in 

 triangular Aspect ; and very seldom separated from the Sun 

 sixty Degrees, which Number maketh six angled Forms of 



