62 History of Nature. [BooK V. 



drawn up by the force of Heat, and while it hangeth aloft it 

 overfloweth : and then, lest it should be devoured, it hideth 

 again. And this happeneth from the rising of the Dog 

 through the Sun's entrance into Leo, while the Star standeth 

 perpendicularly over the Fountain : when in that Tract there 

 are no Shadows to be seen. Many again were of a different 

 Opinion : that a River floweth more abundantly when the 

 Sun is departed toward the North Pole, which happeneth in 

 Cancer and Leo, and therefore at that time it is not so easily 

 dried : but when it is returned again toward Capricorn and 

 the South Pole, it is drunk up, and therefore floweth more 

 sparily. But if, according to Timceus, it would be thought 

 possible that the Water should be drawn up, the want of 

 Shadows during those Days, and in those Places, continueth 

 still without end. For the River beginneth to increase at 

 the New Moon, that is after the Solstice, by little and little 

 gently, so long as the Sun passeth through Cancer, but most 

 abundantly when he is in Leo. And when he is entered 

 into Virgo it falleth in the same measure as it rose before. 

 And it is altogether brought within its banks in Libra, as 

 Herodotus thinketh, by the hundredth day. While it riseth 

 it hath been thought unlawful for Kings or Governors to sail 

 upon it. Its increasings are measured by Marks in certain 

 Pits. The ordinary Height is sixteen Cubits. The Waters 

 short of this do not overflow all ; when more than that they 

 are a hinderance, by reason that they retire more slowly. By 

 these the Seed Time is consumed, by the Earth being too 

 Wet ; by the other there is none, because the Ground is 

 Thirsty. The Province taketh reckoning of both. For 

 in 12 Cubits it findeth Famine : at 13 it feeleth Hunger ; 14 

 Cubits comfort their Hearts; 15 bring Safety; and 16 

 Dainties. The greatest Increase that ever was known until 

 these Days was 18 Cubits, in the time of Prince Claudius : 

 and the least, in the Pharsalian War : as if the River by 

 that Prodigy turned away with horror from the Slaughter of 

 that great Man. 1 When the Waters have stood, they are 



1 Pompey the Great, slain by treachery in Egypt. Wern. Club. 



