Note 145 — Chapter I

Calpùrnia speaks of the appearance of comets at the death of princes, but merely in a general way, not as a presage then to be observed: and there is no mention in the play of disasters in the sun or eclipses of the moon. Near the end of the Life of Caesar, Plutarch records the first two portents, and his language suggests the idea of a solar, which, for variety’s sake, might easily be changed to a lunar eclipse. “The great comet which seven nightes together was seene very bright after Caesar’s death, the eight night after was never seene more. Also the brightnes of the sunne was darkened, the which all that yeare through was very pale, and shined not out, whereby it gave but small heate.”