Without attending to the variety of opinions which philosophers and astronomers have entertained concerning the nature and use of comets, we may affirm, that they have been considered as alarming phenomena, displayed by the Divine Being to warn mankind of the near approach of some dreadful calamity, such as wars, pestilence, and famine. This opinion prevailed during the dark ages between the decline of the Roman empire, and the dawn of the Reformation. To this apprehension some of our modern poets have alluded in strong and descriptive language. Young says,
“Hast thou ne’er seen the comet’s flaming light?
Th’ illustrious stranger passing, terror sheds
On gazing nations, from his fiery train
Of length enormous; takes his ample round
Through depths of ether; coasts unnumber’d worlds
Of more than solar glory; doubles wide
Heaven’s mighty cape; and then revisits earth,
From the long travel of a thousand years.”
Milton uses still greater strength of language when he compares his hero to a comet: