Sung by the Priests of Babylon.
Sun-god, in the midst of heaven, At thy setting May the latch of the glorious heavens Speak thee peace. May heaven’s door to thee be gracious, May the Director, thy beloved messenger, direct thee.
Lord of E-bara, may the road of thy path be prosperous, Sun-god, cause thy highway to prosper, Going the everlasting road to thy rest. Sun-god, thou art he who is judge of the land, Causing her decisions to be prosperous.
From a lecture by T. G. Pinches. (Nature, Dec. 31, 1891).
III.
GREEK ASTRONOMY.
First Period. b.c. 900 to b.c. 350.
“Great men! elevated above the common standard of human nature by discovering the laws which celestial occurrences obey, and by freeing the wretched mind of man from the fears which eclipses inspired! Hail to you and to your genius, interpreters of heaven, worthy recipients of the laws of the universe, authors of the principles which connect gods and men!”