BOOK II.] History of Nature. 113 



CHAPTER LXIX. 

 That the Earth is in the midst of the World. 



THAT the Earth is in the midst of the whole World, 

 appeareth by undoubted Reasons : but most evidently by the 

 equal Hours of the Equinox. For, unless it were in the 

 midst, the Instruments called Dioptrce have proved that 

 Nights and Days could not be found equal : and those In- 

 struments, above all other, confirm the same : seeing that in 

 the Equinox, by the same Line, both Rising and Setting of 

 the Sun are seen ; but the Summer Sun rising, and the Win- 

 ter setting, by their own several Lines. Which could by no 

 means happen if the Earth resteth not in the Centre. 







CHAPTER LXX. 



Of the Unequal Rising of the Stars: of the Eclipse, both 

 where and how it cometh. 



THERE are three Circles closed within the Zones afore- 

 named, which distinguish the Inequalities of the Days : 

 which are, the (Summer) Solstitial Tropic, from the highest 

 Part of the Zodiac, in regard of us, toward the North Clime ; 

 and against it, another called the Winter Tropic, toward the 

 Southern Pole : and in like Manner the Equinoctial, which 

 goeth in the midst of the Zodiac Circle. The Cause of the 

 rest, which we wonder at, is in the Figure of the Earth itself, 

 which, together with the Water, is, by the same Arguments, 

 known to be like a Globe : for so, doubtless, it cometh to 

 pass, that with us the Stars about the North Pole never set ; 

 and those contrariwise of the South, never rise. And again, 

 those which are here be not seen of them, by Reason that the 

 Globe of the Earth swelleth up in the midst between. Again, 

 Trogloditine, and Egypt bordering upon it, never see the 

 North Pole Stars : neither hath Italy a Sight of Canopus, or 

 that which they name Berenice's Hair. Likewise another, 

 which, under the Empire of Augustus, men surnamed Ccesaris 



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