Note 10 — VIII. MOONLIGHT.
Reading edition
It has been thought by some that, in the beginning, the moon was always opposite the sun, thus always ruling the night. Milton thus understood the account given in the first book of Genesis. For he says,—
Less bright the morn, But opposite in levell'd west was set His mirror, with full face, borrowing her light From him; for other light she needed none In that aspect; and still that distance keeps Till night, then in the east her turn she shines, Revolv'd on Heav'n's great axle.
It was only as a consequence of Adam's transgression that he conceives the angels sought to punish the human race by altering the movements of the celestial bodies—
To the blank moon Her office they prescribe—
It is hardly necessary to say, perhaps, that this interpretation is not scientifically admissible.