Chap. 13.] ACCOUNT OF THE WOELD. 45 



sun, occupies two^ The above is an account of the lati- 

 tudes as tney descend to the south or ascend to the north'. 

 Hence it is plain tliat the generality of persons are mistaken 

 in supposing the tliird cause of the apparent altitude to 

 depend on the stars rising from the ew-rth and climbing up 

 the heavens. But to refute this opinion it is necessary to 

 consider the subject with very great minuteness, and to 

 embrace all the causes. 



It is generally admitted, that the stars', at the time of 

 their evening setting, are nearest to the earth, both with 

 respect to latitude and altitude*, that they are at the com- 

 mencement of both at their morning risings, and that they 

 become stationary at the middle points of their latitudes, 

 what are called the ecliptics". It is, moreover, acknow- 

 ■edged, that their motion is increased when they are in the 

 vicinity of the earth, and diminished when they are removed 

 to a greater altitude* ; a point which is most clearly proved 

 by the different altitudes of the moon. There is no doubt 

 that it is also increased at the morning risings', and that the 

 three superior planets are retarded, as they advance from 

 the first station to the second. And since tins is the case, it 



^ As this remark appears to contradict what was said in the last sen- 

 tence respecting the sun, we may suspect some error in the text j see 

 Poinsinet, Alexandre, and Marcus, in loco. 



* The following comparative statement is given by Alexandre of the 

 geocentric latitudes of the planets, as assigned by Pliny, and as laid down 

 by the modems. Lemaire, ii. 273 : — 



Venus 

 Moon 

 Mercury . . . 



* It appears fi^m the remark at the end of this chapter, that this ex- 

 planation apphes to the superior planets alone. 



^ It is not easy, as Marcus observes, Ajasson, ii. 344, 345, to compre- 

 hend the exact meaning of this passage, or to reconcile it with the other 

 parts of our author's theory. 



5 " EcHptiea," called by the modems the nodes ; i. e. the two points 

 where the orbits of the planets cut the ecliptic. See the remarks of Mar- 

 cus on this term ; Ajasson, ii. 345, 346. 



^ We may presume that our author here refers to the apparent motion 

 of the planets, not to their actual acceleration or retardation. 



7 The editors have differed in the reading of this passage j I have fol- 

 lowed that of Lemaire. 



