Cliap. 38.] CAUSES OF NATTJEAL PHiEKOMEKA. 
65 
as predicting something very important. But there is great 
uncertainty respecting the cause of all these things, and they 
are concealed in the majesty of nature. 
CHAP. 38. (38.) — OP THE AIH AND OK THE CAUSE OP THE 
SHOWEES OP STONES. 
So far I have spoken of the world itself and of the stars. 
I must now give an account of the other remarkable phseno- 
mena of the heavens. Eor our ancestors have given the 
name of heavens, or, sometimes, another name, air, to all the 
seemingly void space, which diffuses around us this vital 
spirit. It is situated beneath the moon, indeed much lower, 
I as is admitted by every one who has made observations on 
it, and is composed of a great quantity of air from the upper 
regions, mixed with a great quantity of terrestrial vapour, the 
two forming a compound. Hence proceed clouds, thunder 
and lightning of all kinds ; hence also hail, frost, showers, 
storms and whirlwinds ; hence proceed many of the evils 
incident to mortals, and the mutual contests of the various 
parts of nature. The force of the stars keeps down all terres- 
I trial things which tend towards the heavens, and the same 
force attracts to itself those things which do not go there 
spontaneously. The showers fall, mists rise up, rivers are 
dried up, hail-storms rush down, the rays of the sun parch 
the earth, and impel it from all quarters towards the centre. 
The same rays, still unbroken, dart back again, and carry 
with them whatever they can take up. Vapour falls from 
on high and returns again to the same place. "Winds arise 
which contain nothing, but which return loaded with spoils. 
The breathing of so many animals draws down the spirit from 
the higher regions ; but this tends to go in a contrary direc- 
\ tion, and the earth pours out its spirit into the void space 
of the heavens. Thus nature moving to and fro, as if im- 
pelled by some machine \ discord is kindled by the rapid 
motion of the world. Nor is the contest allowed to cease, 
for she is continually whirled round and lays open the causes 
of all things, forming an immense globe about the earth, 
while she again, from time to time., covers this other firma- 
^ " TJt circumagendo baUstae vel fimdsQ impetus augetur." Alexandre 
I in Lemaire, i. 313. 
TOL. I, B 
