Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/79

 Chap. 13.] ACCOrNT OF THE WOELD. 45 sun, occupies two^ The above is an account of the lati- tudes as they descend to the south or ascend to the norths Hence it is plain that the generality of persons are mistaken m supposing the third cause of the apparent altitude to depend on the stars rising from the earth and climbing up the heavens. But to refute this opinion it is necessary to consider the subject with very great minuteness, and to embrace all the causes. It is generally admitted, that the stars^ at the time of their evening setting, are nearest to the earth, both dth respect to latitude and altitude^ that they are at the com- mencement of both at their morning risings, and that they become stationary at the middle points of their latitudes, jvhat are called the ecliptics ^ It is, moreover, acknow- ledged, that their motion is increased when they are in the ncinity of the earth, and diminished when they are removed to a greater altitude^ ; a point which is most clearly proved by the different altitudes of the moon. There is no doubt that it is also increased at the morning risings^ and that the three superior planets are retarded, as they advance from the first station to the second. And since this is the case, it 1 As this remark appears to contradict what was said in the last sen- tence respecting the sun, we may suspect some error in the text j see Poinsinet, Alexandre, and Marcus, in loco. 2 The following comparative statement is given by Alexandre of the geocentric latitudes of the planets, as assigned by Pliny, and as laid down by the modems. Lemaire, ii. 273 : — Plinzf. Moderns. Venus .... 8°. . . 9° 22' Moon .... 6 ... 6 Mercury ... 5 ... 6 54 PJiny. Moderns. Mars .... 2° 0'. . 1° 51' Jupiter ... 1 30 .. 1 30 Saturn ... 1 (or 2°) 2 30 3 It appears from the remark at the end of this chapter, that this ex- planation appHes to the superior planets alone. ■* It is not easy, as Marcus observes, Ajasson, ii. 344, 345, to compre- hend the exact meaning of this passage, or to reconcile it with the other parts of our author's theory. 5 " EcUptica," called by the modems the nodes ; i. e. the two points where the orbits of the planets cut the ecliptic. See the remarks of Mar- cus on tliis term ; Ajasson, ii. 345, 346, ^ We may presume that our author here refers to the apparent motion of the planets, not to tlieir actual acceleration or retardation. T The editors have differed in the reading of this passage : I have fol- lowed that of Lemaire.