Chap. 35.J ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD. 63 
was consul along with Corn. Orfitus. "We have no accoiint 
transmitted to us of more than three having been seen at 
the same time. 
CHAP. 32.. (82.) — MANY MOONS. 
Three moons have also been seen, as was the case in the 
consulship of Cn. Domitius and C. Fannius ; they have 
generally been named nocturnal suns^ 
CHAP. 33. (33.) — DAYLIGHT IN THE NIOHT. 
A bright light has been seen proceeding from the heavens 
in the night time, as was the case in the consulship of C. 
Csecilius and Cn. Papirius, and at many other times, so that 
there has been a kind of daylight in the night^. 
CHAP. 34. (34.) — BUENINO SHIELDS^ 
i A burning shield darted across at sunset, from west to east, 
I throwing out sparks, in the consulship of L. Valerius and 
1 C. Marius^ 
CHAP. 35. (35.) — ^AN OMINOUS APPEARANCE IN THE HEAVENS, 
THAT WAS SEEN ONCE ONLY. 
We have an account of a spark falling from a star, and in- 
creasing as it approached the earth, until it became of the 
size of the moon, shining as through a cloud^ ; it afterwards 
returned into the heavens and was converted into a lampas ; 
I this occurred in the consulship of Cn. Octavius and C. Scri- 
^ This meteor has been named TrapaffeXrjvri ; they are supposed to 
f depend upon the same cause with the Parheha. A phsenomenon of this 
I description is mentioned by Jul. Obsequens, cap. 92, and by Plutarch, in 
Marcellus, ii. 360. In Shakspeare's King John the death of Prince 
Arthur is said to have been followed by the ominous appearance of five 
moons. 
This phsenomenon must be referred to the aurora borealis. See 
livy, xxviii. 11. and xxix. 14. ^ " clypei." 
^ Probably an aerohte. Jul. Obsequens describes a meteor as " orbia 
I dypei sinuhs," which was seen to pass from west to east, cap. 105. 
* " ceu nubilo die.'* 
