Note 27 — FIRST PART. The Story of Astronomy from Primitive Times until the Age of Dante.

His life was saved by his illustrious pupil, Pericles, of whom the story is told that on one occasion, just as his army was embarking for an expedition, the sun was eclipsed, and his pilot was terrified. Pericles snatched off his cloak, and held it so as to hide himself from the man’s eyes. “Is that terrible? is that an evil omen?” he cried. “Then do not fear the disappearance of the sun, for it is just the same, only the thing that hides it is larger than my cloak.”