2. Grosse absurdities have beene entertained by generall consent. I might instance in many remarkeable examples, but I will onely speake of the supposed labour of the Moone in her eclipses, because this is neerest to the chiefe matter in hand, and was received as a common opinion amongst many of the ancients, and therefore _Plutarch_ speaking of a Lunary eclipse, relates, that at such times ’twas a custome amongst the _Romanes_ (the most civill and learned people in the world) to sound brasse Instruments, and hold great torches toward the heaven. Τῶν δὲ Ρωμαίων (ὥσπερ ἐστω ἐνομισμένον) χαλκοῦ τε πατάγοις ἀνακαλουμένων τὸ φῶς αὐτὸς καὶ πυρὰ πολλὰ δαλοῖς καὶ δασσὶν ἀνεχόντων πρὸς τὸν οὐρανὸν,[1] for by this meanes they supposed the Moone was much eased in her labours, and therfore _Ovid_ calls such loud Instruments the auxiliaries or helpes of the Moone.[2] _Cum frustra resonant æra auxiliaria Lunæ._ and therefore the Satyrist too describing a loud scold, saies, she was able to make noise enough to deliver the labouring Moone.[3] _Vna laboranti poterit succurrere Lunæ._ [Sidenote 1: _In vita Paul. Æmil._] [Sidenote 2: _Metam. l. 4._] [Sidenote 3: _Iuven. Sat. 6_] Now the reason of all this their ceremonie, was, because they feared the world would fall asleepe, when one of its eyes began to winke, and therefore they would doe what they could by loud sounds to rouse it from its drowsinesse, and keepe it awake by bright torches, to bestow that light upon it which it began to lose. Some of them thought hereby to keepe the Moone in her orbe, whereas otherwise she would have fallen downe upon the earth, and the world would have lost one of its lights, for the credulous people believed, that Inchanters, and Witches could bring the Moone downe, which made _Virgil_ say, _Cantus & è cœlo possunt deducere Lunam._ And those Wizards knowing the times of her eclipses, would then threaten to shew their skill, by pulling her out of her orbe. So that when the silly multitude saw that she began to looke red, they presently feared they should lose the benefit of her light, and therefore made a great noise that she might not heare the sound of those Charmes, which would otherwise bring her downe, and this is rendered for a reason of this custome by _Pliny_ and _Propertius_: _Cantus & è curru lunam deducere tentant, Et facerent, si non æra repulsa sonent._[1] [Sidenote 1: _Nat. hist. lib. 2. c. 12._]