PLINY THE ELDER. 85 



innumerable forms of animals and other objects. The 

 elements are four; namely^ fire^ air^ earth, and water. 

 There are seven planets, or wandering stars, in the 

 midst of which moves the sun, the ruler of all things. 

 As to God, if indeed there be any Existence distinct 

 from the world, it were absurd, says he, to assign him 

 any form or image, He being all in all ; for which rea- 

 son the gods that the nations worship are mere fan- 

 cies. It is absurd to imagine that He should have 

 regard to the human race, for by interfering with 

 their affairs he would necessarily be polluted. Men, 

 he observes, are wretchedly prone to superstition of 

 all kinds ; however, it is beneficial, he admits, to 

 believe that the gods take care of them, and punish 

 malefactors. The nature of the planets, the moon, 

 eclipses, comets, lightning, winds, clouds, meteoric 

 stones, land, water, earthquakes, and many other 

 subjects, are discussed in this book. 



The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, treat of geo- 

 graphy ; and the seventh of the dijfferent races of 

 men, monsters, great characters, human inventions, 

 longevity, and other matters relating to the human 

 race, disposed without order, and selected without 

 discrimination. 



The eighth book, which is devoted to land-animals, 

 contains notices respecting the elephant, dragons, 

 serpents, lions, panthers, tigers, the camel, the ca- 

 melopard, the rhinoceros, and a multitude of other 

 mammalia, and reptiles. As a specimen of our 

 author's manner of discussing these subjects, we 

 give his account of the wolf: — 



It is commonly believed, says he, in Italy, that the 

 sight of wolves is hurtful, and that when they see a 

 man before he observes them, they cause him to lose 



