160 The flifiory of Bens, 
The Moderns fay it is’ tather a Perfpis 
ration of the fineft Particles of the Sap in. 
Plants,which evaporating thro’ the Pores: 
afterwards: condenfe upon the F lowers,* 
_ Pliny was much in the Dark about it, 
and writes doubtfully of it, aflerting, it was 
either the Sweat of Heaven; the Spittle 
of the Stars, or the Moifture of the Air 
purging itfelf, +- Y oA 
Dr. Butler judges it to be the Quintef- 
fence of all the Earth’s Swectnefs (2, e. of 
the Flowers) exhaled, as other Dews in Vas 
pours, into the loweft Region of the Air, 
by the continued and exceeding Heat of the 
Sun, and condenfed therg. tal ote a ee 
_ And thence I have very often feen it des 
fcend, in a clear ‘Day, like an exceeding 
fine Rain ; and eafily difcerned it againft the 
Light of the Sun for many Hours, if not 
a whole Day together. The Doétor’s Rea- 
fons are thefe, | mend 
When the Year is backward in it’s Fruits, 
the Honey-Dews are the fame. 
. In hotter, more Southern Climates, where 
the Fruits and F lowers. are. moft forward, 
thefe. Dews are more timely. Alfo becanfe 
thofe Countries, which have the greateft 
Plenty of the -beft and. fweetett F lowers, 
have. always the pureft Honey, .. 2s 
~* Nat, Delin. p. 108. + Sive illad Sit Ceeli Sudor; 
Sive quedam Syderum faliva, five purgantis fe Aéris Succus: 
‘t Poem. Monar, p. arr, - 
