Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/173

 couth Reasons, as shew that they only spoke by guess. Thales thinks that the Etesian Winds blew at that Time of the Year against the Mouths of the River, so that the fresh Water finding no Vent, was beaten back upon the Land. Democritus supposes that the Northern Snows being melted by the Summer Heats, are drawn up in Vapours into the Air, which Vapours circulating towards the South, are by the Coldness of the Etesian Winds condensed into Rain, by which the Nile is raised. Herodotus thinks that an equal Quantity of Water comes from the Fountains in Summer and Winter, only in Summer there are greater Quantities of Water drawn up by the Sun, and in Winter less, and so by Consequence all that Time it overflowed. Democritus's Opinion of the Phænomenon seems not amiss, though his Hypothesis of the Cause of it is wrong in all Probability: Yet it is plain, That Plutarch did not believe it to be the same with that which the Egyptian Priests gave to Eudoxus, which is the only true one, because he sets them both down apart. The Cause of this wonderful Phænomenon could not be pretended to be a Secret; no Honour could be got by concealing a thing, the pretended Ignorance whereof was rather a