Note 44 — LETTER V.
Reading edition
May not the air in countries replete with sulphur be more impregnated with electrical matter than the air of other soils? and may not the sort of lightning, which is mentioned by several ancient authors to have fallen in a serene day, and was considered as an omen, have proceeded from such a cause?
Horace says, Ode xxxiv.
"—Namque Diespeter "Igni corusco nubila dividens "Plerumque per purum tonantes "Egit equos volucremque currum." "Non alias cœlo ceciderunt plura sereno "Fulgura——"
Virgil. Georgic. i.
"Aut cum terribili perculsus fulmine civis "Luce serenanti vitalia lumina liquit."
Cic. i. de Divin. n. 18.
"—Sabinos petit aliquanto tristior, quod sacrificanti hostia aufugerat: quodque tempestate serena tonuerat."
Sueton. Tit. cap. 10.