卷四·第四节第六至七章　彗星的种类、征象与凶兆的自然原因

CHAP. VI. Of Comets and Blazing-Stars, what they are, the many sorts thereof, their Portences, and how long they appear at any time.

第六章　论彗星与扫帚星，它们是什么，有多少种，有什么征兆，以及每次出现多久。

ELsewhere you may remember you have been shewn what a Comet is, viz. in the 16. Chpater of the 3. Section of this Book, it being no other then a dry exhalation, viscuous and slimy, exhaled by the Sun and power of the Stars by degrees into the upper Region of the Ayr; for by how much the dryer or moister are the vapours whereof they are compounded, the higher or lower are they placed and drawn up.

你也许记得，在别处已经向你说明过彗星是什么，即在本卷第三节第十六章，它不过是一种干燥、黏稠而胶滞的蒸气，被太阳与诸星的力量逐渐吸到空气的上层；因为构成它们的蒸气越干或越湿，它们被放置、被吸上去的位置就越高或越低。

This word Comet we borrow from the Greeks, who call it Κομήτης, Cometes quasi comata stella, an hairy Star, as the word signifies in English, whence the Latines call it Crinita, because many times they appear like hair made of fire, or fire in the manner and form of a mans head, or an horses main, and we in England do vulgarly call them Comets or Blazing-Stars, of which there are divers sorts, as mentioneth Pliny, Lib. 2. cap. 25. de Nat. and others.

「彗星」这个词我们借自希腊人，他们称之为「戴发之星」，即仿佛有头发的星，一颗有毛发的星，这就是这个词在英语里的意思，所以拉丁人称之为「有发者」，因为它们常常看来像火做的头发，或者像人头、像马鬃那样形状的火，我们在英格兰俗称之为彗星或扫帚星，它们有好几种，如普林尼在《博物志》第二卷第二十五章以及其他人所提到的。

The first by the Greeks called πωγωνίας, à barba, resembling a beard, because it hath a circle about it of that form or shape, I mean about the nether part thereof.

第一种希腊人称为「须彗」，取义于胡须，像一把胡须，因为它周围有一圈那样形状的光，我是说在它的下部周围。

The second they call ἀκοντίας ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀκοντίου, id est, a jaculo, because it is shapen in form of a dart or spear.

第二种他们称为「标枪彗」，取名于标枪，即取义于投枪，因为它的形状像一支投枪或长矛。

The third ξιφίας, which is the same as is the former, save only they are shorter and sharper-pointed at the top then the other, and pale like a sword and without raies.

第三种「剑彗」，与前一种相同，只是比前者更短、顶端更尖，苍白如剑，没有光芒。

The fourth δίσκος, discus, id est, a dish or platter; this Comet is so called for that it is round resembling a dish, yet now and then it putteth forth one of the brims thereof.

第四种「盘彗」，即圆盘，也就是一只盘子或碟子；这颗彗星之所以这样称呼，是因为它是圆的，像一只盘子，不过偶尔会伸出它的一边。

The fifth ⟨?⟩, Pitheus, and this is in form like a Tun, invironed in a smoaky light.

第五种称为「瓮」，形状像一只大酒桶，周围环绕着烟雾般的光。

The sixth κερατίας, Ceratias, thus called for that it resembleth an horn, and such an one Pliny testifieth appeared when the whole manhood of Greece fought the battel of Salamis.

第六种「角彗」，这样称呼是因为它像一只角，普林尼证明，当希腊的全部男丁打萨拉米斯之战时，就出现过这样一颗。

The seventh λαμπὰς lampas à λάμπειν, splendeo, to shine like a lamp, and therefore hath it this name.

第七种「火炬彗」，取义于「发光」，像一盏灯那样发光，所以有这个名字。

The eighth ἱππεὺς, Hippeus; this emitteth streams like unto an Horse main, and therefore it is thus called; this is swift in motion and often turneth round, as saith Pliny.

第八种「马鬃彗」；它放出像马鬃一样的光流，所以这样称呼；如普林尼所说，它行动快速，常常旋转。

A ninth he recordeth to be white and bright like silver hair, and of that splendor that a man is hardly able to behold it, and others become shaggy and compassed as it were with hair or frindge round about.

他记载的第九种是白而亮，像银色的头发，亮得人几乎不能直视，还有一些变得蓬乱，周围仿佛环绕着毛发或流苏。

They are in a manner all seen under the Great Bear, or that constellation which we vulgarly call Charlimains Wain, or Charles his Wain, yet some have been discerned to appear in that white part of the Heaven called commonly the Milky way from the fictions of the Poet; they denote many boisterous winds and excessive heat; seldome are any seen in the West part of Heaven, but about the South or Antartick Pole some have been seen, as Pliny in the same aforesaid Chapter testifieth, to whom I here refer thee where thou shalt finde what Prodigies they were the fore-runners of in the time of Claudius Caesar, Pompey, and Octavius the Consul.

它们差不多都在大熊座之下被看见，即我们俗称查理曼之车、或查理之车的那个星群，不过也有一些曾被看见出现在天上那片白色的部分，即从诗人的虚构而俗称为银河的地方；它们表示许多狂暴的风与过度的热；很少在天的西方看见，但在南方即南天极附近曾看见过一些，如普林尼在前面所说的同一章里所证明的，我在这里请你去看他，你会在那里找到它们在克劳狄乌斯·恺撒、庞培与执政官屋大维的时代是什么异兆的先驱。

It hath been observed and noted by the diligent care, industry and pains of the Antients, that they never appear a shorter time then a seven-night, nor longer then 80 dayes; some have said 40; others 75, from Plutarch, who noted so much from the Comet which appeared before the Peloponsian wars in Greece; but their continuance is according to their magnitude; for if they be but small, they will be soon burnt out, unless they be daily fed with new exhalations:

古人以勤谨、用功与辛劳观察并记下，它们出现的时间从不短于七天，也不长于八十天；有人说四十天；另有人说七十五天，出自普鲁塔克，他是从希腊伯罗奔尼撒战争之前出现的那颗彗星注意到这一点的；但它们持续的时间依其大小而定；因为若它们只是小的，就会很快燃尽，除非每天有新的蒸气补给它们：

I shall not here trouble my self to recite what Seneca, Aristotle, and others write in Histories concerning such horrid accidents which have followed in many places on the appearance of Comets, since all the learned in the works of Nature do unanimously conclude they are the fore-runners of much tribulation, alteration, anxiety, and trouble, which I shall by and by more amply deliver unto thee.

我不在这里费心复述塞涅卡、亚里士多德以及其他人在史书中所写的、彗星出现之后在许多地方随之而来的那些可怕事故，因为一切通晓自然之作的学者都一致断定，它们是许多苦难、变动、焦虑与麻烦的先驱，这我很快就会更详细地交给你。

You are to take notice that some Comets do move, as the Planets; and again, others, stir not but are fixed as are the other Stars.

你要留意，有些彗星像行星一样移动；又有一些不动，而是像其他恒星一样固定。

To judge of the accidents portended by Comets, the place of their appearance in the Heavens is to be observed, and what Stars are in Configuration therewith; also in what similitude they appear, and where they appear and shine.

要判断彗星所预示的事故，就要观察它们出现在天上的位置，有什么星与之成格局；也要看它们以什么样子出现，在哪里出现、照耀。

If they appear like swords, wars are threatned, and destruction of mankinde; like Flutes or Hout-boys, it portends mischief to Musitians; if in the middle of a sign, to whore-masters, and women gamesters; in form of a triangle or quadrange, viz. a Trine or Square Aspect to any of the fixed Stars, to wits and learned men; if a Comet appear in either of the Nodes, or those places which we commonly call the Head and Tail of the Dragon, it proves infectious and pestiferous.

若它们看来像剑，就威胁战争与人类的毁灭；像笛子或双簧管，预示乐师受害；若在一个星座的中间，及于嫖客与女赌徒；成三角形或四方形，即与任何恒星成三分或四分相位，及于才智之士与学者；若彗星出现在任一个交点，即我们俗称龙头与龙尾的那些位置，就会带来传染与瘟疫。

We come now to shew the events of Comets, or such things as they are the forerunners of; yet I cannot but first let my Reader know the strange foreknowledge Sybilla Tiburtina had in this Science, who from the apparition of that great and famous Comets which was seen in Caesar Augustus his time (in whose dayes and reign was our Saviour Christ born) told the Emperour that it pointed out a child born of a Virgin, which should be great then he; and therefore she exhorted him to worship and adore him, &c.

我们现在来说明彗星的事件，即它们是什么事的先驱；但我不能不先让我的读者知道，提布尔的西比尔在这门学问上有过多么奇异的先见，她从恺撒·奥古斯都时代所见的那颗著名大彗星（在他的时代与统治期间我们的救主基督降生）的出现，告诉皇帝说，它指向一个由童贞女所生的孩子，他要比他更伟大；所以她劝他敬拜他，等等。

Histories, antient Writers, and common experience in former ages testifieth unto us that these signs in the Heaven, or appearance of Comets, are the assured forerunners of the sterility of the Earth, Pestilence, Famin, War, alterations of Kingdoms, States and Empires, Laws and Customs, Winds, Earth-quakes, Iuundations, extream heat and drought, greiveous diseases and infirmities, and such like horrid evils.

历史、古代作家以及以往各世的普通经验都向我们证明，天上的这些征兆，即彗星的出现，是大地不毛、瘟疫、饥荒、战争、王国、国家与帝国的变更、法律与习俗的变更、风、地震、洪水、酷热与干旱、沉重的疾病与病患，以及诸如此类可怕之祸的确实先驱。

CHAP. VII. Shewing the Physical reasons of the horrid and terrible portences of Conmets and Blazing-Stars.

第七章　说明彗星与扫帚星那些可怕骇人的征兆的自然原因。

THat they are the cause of inordinate heat, is apparent by their ardent burning in the ayr, and their matter of which they are made.

它们是过度炎热的原因，这从它们在空气中炽烈燃烧，以及构成它们的物质就很明显。

Of sterility, by reason the fatness of the Earth is (together with the exhaled matter whereof they are composed) drawn out, and the Earth left dry, and lean, and so the moisture and convenient humidity, whereby it fructified all things growing therein, is dried up by excessive heat, and consequently rendred barren, whence there must needs follow famine or sterility in those Regions as places where they are seen, or from whence their matter or substance was drawn.

是不毛的原因，因为大地的肥力（连同构成它们的被吸出的物质）被吸了出来，大地被弄得又干又瘦，于是大地借以使其中生长的一切结实的水分与适宜的湿润，被过度的热烤干，因而变得不毛，由此在看见它们的那些地区与地方，或它们的物质与实体被吸出的地方，必然随之有饥荒或不毛。

Of Pestilence and Diseases, in that they ayr is by them infected through hot, thick cloudy exhalations, the which being drawn in at the mouth of living creatures, infecteth and killeth them; also by excessive and inordinate heat the radical himidity and moisture of living creatures whereby they subsist, is dryed up, whereby they become no other then dead carkasses: wherefore it is necessary in such times to use colling and moistning preparatives which are of that nature as to restore and conserve radicall moisture.

是瘟疫与疾病的原因，在于空气被它们以热、浓、多云的蒸气所污染，生物从口中吸入，就受感染而死；还有，过度失常的热把生物赖以存活的根本湿润与水分烤干，使它们无异于死尸：所以在这种时候，必须用清凉、滋润的调理之剂，这类东西的本性能恢复、保存根本之湿。

Of war and alterations in Kingdoms, States, Laws and Customs, in that when a Comet or Blazing-Star appears, there are many exhalations in the Ayr, and those of nature hot and dry, the which do so dry up the humors in men, and increase choler, that they are easily excited to quarrels, after which follow blows, wars and blood-shed; and so consequently alterations in States, Governments, Laws, Customs, and Empires.

是战争与王国、国家、法律与习俗变更的原因，在于当彗星或扫帚星出现时，空气中有许多蒸气，而且本性又热又干，它们使人的体液干燥，胆汁增多，以致人很容易被激起争吵，随后就有殴斗、战争与流血；结果就是国家、政府、法律、习俗与帝国的变更。

Of Winds, for that they are of the same matter whereof Comets are, as you have heard in the 16 Chapter and 2 Section of this fourth Book; and when any Comet or Blazing-Star appears, many such dry vapours are exhaled; besides, when they vanish, they become windy vapours.

是风的原因，因为风与彗星是同一种物质构成的，如你在这第四卷第二节第十六章所听过的；彗星或扫帚星出现时，有许多这样的干蒸气被吸上去；此外，它们消散时，就变成风的蒸气。

Of Earth-quakes, for the same aforesaid reason; for they are the occasion of winds, and winds of Earth-quakes, as in the same aforesaid 16 Chapter you have been taught.

是地震的原因，理由同上；因为它们是风的起因，而风是地震的起因，如你在前面所说的同一个第十六章所学过的。

Of Inundations, for the same reason also; for Comets cause winds, winds cause the Sea to roar and rage, whence follows inundations.

也是洪水的原因，理由同样；因为彗星引起风，风使海咆哮汹涌，由此随之有洪水。

Thus have I delivered you the reasons of their portences the which I would not have thee nor any to fear, though never so horrid and terrible, but rather take courage thereby to call earnestly to God for mercy, that he might evert his judgments whereof he doth so fairly warn us by these his messengers.

这样我就把它们征兆的理由交给了你，我不希望你或任何人害怕这些征兆，不论多么可怕骇人，而是要借此鼓起勇气，恳切地向上帝求怜悯，求他转移他借这些使者如此明白地警告我们的审判。