94 History of Nature. [BoOK II. 



than by Day. Of all Creatures, Man only it doth not always 

 kill ; the Rest it despatcheth instantly. This Honour we see 

 Nature hath given to him ; whereas many great Beasts sur- 

 pass him in Strength. All other Creatures smitten with 

 Lightning fall down upon the contrary Side ; Man only (un- 

 less he turn upon the Parts stricken) dieth not. Those that 

 are smitten from above upon the Head, sink down directly. 

 He that is struck watching, is found dead with his Eyes close 

 shut: but whoever is smitten sleeping, is found with his Eyes 

 open. A Man thus coming by his Death, may not by Law 

 be burned : Religion hath taught that he ought to be buried 

 in the Earth. No living Creature is set on Fire by Light- 

 ning, unless it is breathless first. The Wounds of them 

 that be smitten with Lightning are colder than all the Body 

 besides. 



CHAPTER LV. 



What Things are not Smitten with Lightning. 



OF all those Things which grow out of the Earth, Light- 

 ning blasteth not the Bay-tree ; nor doth it enter at any Time 

 above five Feet deep into the Ground : and, therefore, Men 

 fearful of Lightning, suppose the deeper Caves to be the 

 most safe : or else Booths made of Skins of Beasts, which 

 they call Sea-Calves 1 ; for of all Creatures in the Sea, this 

 alone is not subject to the Stroke of Lightning : like as of 

 all Birds, the Eagle (which for this Cause is feigned to be 

 the Armour-bearer of Jupiter, for this Kind of Weapon). In 

 Italy, between Tarracina arid the Temple of Feronia, they 

 gave over in Time of War to build Towers ; for not one of 

 them escaped being overthrown with Lightning. 



1 Seals (Phocae) are the creatures here intended ; and, probably, not 

 any particular species. Suetonius informs us, that Augustus Caesar, who 

 was greatly afraid of thunder, was accustomed to carry the skin of a seal 

 along with him, wherever he went. Tiberius always wore a crown of 

 bay-leaves on his head, with the same object. Wern. Club. 



