Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/134

 100 pliny's natueal histoet. [Book II. pletely round the globe, and divide it, as it were, into two parts exclude us from one part of it, as there is no way open to it on either side. And as the contemplation of these things is adapted to detect the vanity of mortals, it seems incumbent on me tc display, and lay open to our eyes, the whole of it, whatever it be, in which there is nothing which can satisfy the desires of certain individuals. CHAP. 68. (68.) WHAT PAET OP THE EAETH IS INHABITED. In the first place, then, it appears, that this should be esti- mated at half the globe^, as if no portion of this half was encroached upon by the ocean. But surrounding as it does the whole of the land, pouring out and receiving all the other waters, furnishing whatever goes to the clouds, and feeding the stars themselves, so numerous and of such great size as they are, what a great space must we not suppose it to occupy ! This vast mass must fill up and occupy an infinite extent. To this we must add that portion of the remainder which the heavens^ take from us. For the globe is divided into five parts^, termed zones, and all that portion is subject to severe cold and perpetual frost which is under the two extremities, about each of the poles, the nearer of which is called the north, and the opposite the south, pole. In all these regions there is perpetual darkness, and, in consequence of the aspect of the milder stars being turned from them, the light is ma- lignant, and only like the whiteness which is produced by hoar frost. The middle of the earth, over which is the orbit of the sun, is parched and burned by the flame, and is con- sumed by being so near the heat. There are only two of the zones which are temperate, those which lie between the torrid and the frigid zones, and these are separated from each other, in consequence of the scorching heat of the heavenly bodies. be incorrect ; the reader who may be disposed to learn the opinions of the commentators on this point, may consult the notes in Poiasinet and Lemaire in loco. 1 Dividuo globo ; " Eoas partes a vespertinis dividente oceano." Alex- andre in Lemaire, i. 380. 2 " Jam primum in dimidio computari videtui'." 3 " Coelum ;" the rigour of the climate. ^ The division of the globe into five zones is referred to by Yirgil, Greor. i. 233-239, and by Ovid, Met. i. 45, 46.