“Rescuing the Âtu from its backward course” can mean nothing less than being able to correct or (in technical language) to equate the phenomena.
It might perhaps be suggested that the backward course here spoken of has reference to the year of 360 days, corrected at an early period by the addition of the five supplementary days. This would certainly have been a very probable explanation of the clause, but for the direct connection which this has with what precedes, concerning the equilibrium between Day and Night; that is, the Equinox.
[2.] Posterity,
literally, minores. The word in the present context seems to have a different meaning from what it has in Chapter 110, where it is put in contrast with