Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/478

 442 Readings in European History Eclipse of the sun. Meteors. The planets. Comets. 184. The pelican. (From a book on beasts Bestiary ; early twelfth century.) varies. ... It happens sometimes when the moon runs on the same track that the sun runs, that its orb intercepts the sun's, so that the sun is all darkened and the stars appear as by night. This happens seldom, and never but at new moons. By this it is clear that the moon is very large, since it thus darkens the sun. Some men say stars fall from heaven, but it is not stars that fall, but it is fire from the sky, which flies down from the heavenly bodies as sparks do from fire. Certainly there are still as many stars in the heavens as there were at the beginning, when God made them. They are almost all fixed in the firmament, and will not fall thence while this world endures. The sun, and the moon, and the evening star, and morning star, and three other stars are not fast in the firmament, but they have their own course severally. These seven stars are called planets. Those stars are called comets which appear suddenly and unusually, and which are rayed so that the ray goes from them like a sunbeam. They are not seen for any long time, and as oft as they appear they foreshadow something new toward the people over whom they shine. A few examples of mediaeval zoology and of the edifying habits of beasts and birds may be added. The pelican is a bird of such fashion as is the crane, and it is found in Egypt. ... Its nature is such that when it comes to its little ones, and they are large and beautiful, it wishes to fondle them, and to cover them with its wings. But the little ones are fierce ; they seize him to peck him, and wish to de- vour him and pick out Jiis two eyes. Then he takes them and pecks them, and slays them with torment, and thereupon leaves them, leaves them lying dead. On the third day he returns, and is grieved to find them dead, and makes sore lamentations when he sees his little ones dead ; with his beak he strikes his body so that the blood gushes forth: the blood goes dropping down and falls upon his birdlings : the blood has such virtue that by it they come to life. . ..