The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

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Title
The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome
Author
Pliny, the Elder.
Publication
London :: Printed by Adam Islip,
1634.
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Subject terms
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09763.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09763.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 21, 2025.

Pages

CHAP. CVII.

¶ Wonders of fires by themselues.

MOreouer, since the Nature of this onely element of fire is to be so fruitfull, to breed it selfe, & to grow infinitely of the least sparks; what may be thought will be the end of so many funerall fires of the earth? what a nature is that which feedeth the most greedy vo∣racitie in the whole world without losse of it selfe? Put thereto the infinit number of stars, the mighty great Sun; moreouer, the fires in mens bodies, & those that are inbred in some stones; [unspec F] the attrition also of certain woods one against another; yea, and those within clouds, the verie original of lightnings. Surely, it exceedeth all miracles, that any one day should passe, & not al the world be set on a light burning fire, since that the hollow firy glasses also set opposit against the Sun beams, sooner set things a burning than any other fire. What should I speake of innu∣merable

Page 48

others, which be indeed little, but yet naturally issuing out in great abundance? In the [unspec G] Promontorie Nymphaeum there commeth forth a flaming fire out of a rock, which is set a bur∣ning with rain. The like is to be seene also at the waters called Scantiae. But this verily is but feeble when it passeth and remoueth, neither indureth it long in any other matter. An ash there is growing ouer his fiery fountain, and couering it, which notwithstanding is alwaies green. In the territorie of Mutina there riseth vp fire also, vpon certaine set holy-daies vnto Vulcan. It is found written, That if a cole of fire fall down vpon the arable fields vnder Aricia, the very soile presently is on fire. In the Sabines territorie, as also in the Sidicines, stones if they be anoin∣ted or greased, will be set on a light fire. In a towne of the Salantines called Egnatia, if fire be laid vpon a certaine hallowed stone there, it will immediatly flame out. Vpon the alter of Iuno Lacinia standing as it doth in the open aire, the ashes lie vnmoueable and stir not, blow what [unspec H] stormy winds that will on euery side. Ouer and besides, there be fires seene suddenly to arise, both in waters and also about the bodies of men. Valerius Antias reporteth, That the lake Thra∣symenus once burned all ouer: also that Serv. Tullius in his childehood, as he lay asleepe, had a light fire shone out of his head: likewise, as L. Martius made an oration in open audience to the army, after the two Scipios, were slain in Spain, and exhorted his soldiers to reuenge their death, his head was on a flaming fire in the same sort. More of this argument, and in better order, will we write soone hereafter. For now we exhibit and shew the maruells of all things hudled and intermingled together. But in the mean while, my mind being passed béyond the interpretati∣on of Nature, hasteneth to leade as it were by the hand the minds also of the readers, through∣out the whole world. [unspec I]

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