LET. XXI. OF THE SUN, MOON, AND PLANETS. 367

breadth, which is about 21,000 miles. Somehave imagined that it is composed of a vast num-ber of satellites or moons, disposed in the fameplane, which being seen at such a great distance,may, by means of their blended light, give thewhole the appearance of a continued body.And indeed, if we consider how much the fun’slight must be weakened before it can reach Sa-turn, such a glorious assemblage of moons willnot appear an unnecessary appendage to thisplanet. The ring was first discovered by Huy-gens, about the year 1655, who likewise ob-served the fourth satellite ; but the fifth, and thefirst three, were not discovered till several yearsafterwards.

As these are the most interesting particularsrelating to the planets, I shall now proceed togive you some account of the comets, thoseerratic bodies, which the ancients considered asenormous meteors, formed in the atmosphere,and sent as harbingers of divine vengeance.This was the prevailing opinion as early as thetime of Homer, who speaks of

———" The red comet, by Saturnia sent,

To fright the nations with a dire portent;

A fatal sign to armies on the plain,

Or trembling sailors on the wat’ry main.”

And a similar allusion is also given by Milton,who compares the indignation of Satan, at being

opposed