38 THE TRAMONTANE LOST. [169I. 



Phsenomena. I saw it but by chance, and my Mind was 

 then so employ'd about things of another Nature, that it had 

 no time for matters of Curiosity. I observ'd a Body of 

 blewish Light, as it were curl round one of our Masts, and I 

 did not look to see if there was any more ; what makes me 

 believe there was but one, is, our Seamen were frighted at 

 the sight of it ; Whereas, had there been two, these poor 

 Wretches wou'd have taken it for a Happy Omen. 'Twas 

 without doubt according to this Idasa, that the Name of one 

 of these two Fires only, is not mention'd by St. Paul speak- 

 ing of the Ship he was in, but of both together : I say of 

 both, because two was then spoken of. The two Children 

 that came out of the same Womb with Hellen and Glytem- 

 nestra, the two Eggs of Lxda, which some have transform'd 

 into the Constellation of Gemini, and others adore under 

 their Primitive Name of Castor and Pollux, as Gods of the 

 Sea, because they support Pirates : But I know there some- 

 times appear four or five together, and perhaps more. As 

 for Monsieur St. Elme succeeding Monsieur St. Castor, and 

 Monsieur St. Pollux, 'tis a question that I leave to some 

 Seraphick Doctor to decide how it came about. 



The M of April we saw Land, great News ! What it was 

 we cou'd not tell, for we had lost our Tramontane^ Never- 

 theless we flatter'd ourselves with Hopes that 'twas the Isle 

 of Eden ; and we made Merry with the thoughts of setting 

 foot on the Land, we so much desir'd as design'd for the 



1 Tramontana or Tresmontaine = the Pole Star, thus alluded to in a 

 document among the Ashburnham MSS. : — 



" La tresmontaine est de tel guise 

 Qu'ele est el firmament asisse 

 Oil ele luist et reflambie 

 Li maronier qui vont en Frise 

 En Gresse, en Acre, ou en Venise. 



* * * * 



Pour bise, ne jDour autre afaire 

 Ne laist sen dout servise a faire, 

 La tresmontaigne clere et pure 



