BOOK 1 1 .] History of Nature. 93 



it is a Sign of the Lightning proceeding of some natural 

 Cause, and not sent by some God : and yet a Breath cometh 

 before the Thunderbolt : and hereupon it is, that every Thing 

 is shaken and blasted before it is smitten : neither is any 

 Man struck, who either saw the Lightning before, or heard 

 the Thunderclap. Those Lightnings that are on the left 

 Hand are supposed to be prosperous, for that the East is the 

 left Side of the World : but the Coming thereof is not so 

 much regarded as the Return : whether it be that the Fire 

 leap back after the Stroke given ; or whether after the Deed 

 done and Fire spent, the Spirit abovesaid retire back again. 

 In that respect the Tuscans have divided the Heaven into 

 sixteen Parts. The first is from the North to the Sun's 

 Rising in the Equinoctial Line : the second, to the Meridian 

 Line, or the South : the third, to the Sun-setting in the 

 Equinoctial : and the fourth taketh up all the Rest from the 

 said West to the North Star. These Quarters again they 

 have parted each into four Regions : of which eight from the 

 Sun-rising they called the Left ; and as many again from 

 the contrary Part, the Right. Those Lightnings are most 

 dreadful which from the Sun-setting reach into the North : 

 and therefore it is of much importance from whence Light- 

 nings come, and whither they go : the best Thing observed 

 in them, is when they return into the easterly Parts. And, 

 therefore, when they come from that principal Part of the 

 Sky, and return again into the same, it portends the highest 

 Good : and such was the Sign given (by report) to Sylla 

 the Dictator. In all other Parts of the World, they be less 

 fortunate or dreadful. They believe that there be Light- 

 nings, which to utter abroad is held unlawful ; as also is to 

 give Ear unto them, unless they be declared either to Parents 

 or to a Friend. How great is the Folly of this Observation 

 was found at Rome upon the blasting of Juno's Temple by 

 Scaurus, the Consul, who soon after was President of the 

 Senate. It lightneth without Thunder, more in the Night 



his confidence staggered by this phenomenon ; and Suetonius informs us, 

 that it was viewed by Titus as a portent of evil to himself, just before his 

 death; and his spirits became proportionally depressed. Wern. Club. 



