84 Flint's nattjeal histort. [Book ti. voked by King Porsenna. And L. Piso a ycyj respectable author, states in the first book of his Annals, that this had been frequently done before his time by Numa, and that Tullus Hostilius, imitating him, but not having properly performed the ceremonies, was struck A'^dth the lightning^. We have also groves, and altars, and sacred places, and, among the titles of Jupiter, as Stator, Tonans, and Teretrius, we have a Jupiter Elicius^. The opinions entertained on this point are very various, and depend much on the dispositions of different individuals. To believe that we can command nature is the mark of a bold mind, nor is it less the mark of a feeble one to reject her kindness^. Our knowledge has been so far useful to us in the interpretation of thimder, that it enables us to predict what is to happen on a certain day, and ,we learn either that our fortune is to be entirely changed, or it discloses events which are concealed from us ; as is proved by an infinite number of examples, public and private. Wherefore let these things remain, according to the order of nature, to some persons certain, to others doubt- ful, by some approved, by others condemned. I must not, however, omit the other circumstances connected with them which deserve to be related. CHAP. 55. (54.) — GEIfERAL LAWS OF LIGHTNIlirGI-. It is certain that the lightning is seen before the thunder is heard, although they both take place at the same time. Nor is this wonderful, since light has a greater velocity than sound. Nature so regulates it, that the stroke and the sound coincide^ ; the sound is, however, produced by the discharge of the thunder, not by its stroke. But the air is impelled 1 For a notice of Piso, see Lemaire, i. 208. ^ We have an account of the death of Tullus Hostilius in Livy, i. 31. '* "ab ehciendo, seu quod precationibus coelo evcoaretur, id nomen traxit." This is confirmed by the following lines Irom Ovid, Fast. iii. 327, 328 :— " EHciunt coelo te, Jupiter : mide minores Nunc quoque te celebrant, Ehciumqvie vocant." "* " beneficiis abrogare vires."
- " ictum autem et sonitum congruere, ita modulante natura." This
remark is not only incorrect, but appears to be at yariance both with what precedes and what follows.
