Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/165

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Chap. 106.]
WONDERS OF FOUNTAIN'S AND RIVRES.
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CHAP. 106.—(103.) THE WONDERS OF FOUNTAINS AND RIVERS.

It is very remarkable that fresh water should burst out close to the sea, as from pipes. But there is no end to the wonders that are connected with the nature of waters. Fresh water floats on sea water, no doubt from its being lighter; and therefore sea water, which is of a heavier nature[1] supports better what floats upon it. And, in some places, different kinds of fresh water float upon each other; as that of the river which falls into the Fucinus; that of the Addua into the Larius; of the Ticinus into the Yerbanus; of the Mincius into the Benacus; of the Ollius into the Sevinus; and of the Rhone into the Leman lake[2] (this last being beyond the Alps, the others in Italy): all which rivers passing through the lakes for many miles, generally carry off no more water than they bring with them. The same thing is said to occur in the Orontes, a river of Syria, and in many others Some rivers, from a real hatred of the sea, pass under it, as does Arethusa, a fountain of Syracuse, in which the sub- stances are found that are thrown into the Alpheus ; which, after flowing by Olympia, is discharged into the sea, on the shore of the Peloponnesus[3]. The Lycus in Asia[4], the Era-

  1. ↑ The specific gravity of sea water varies from 1.0269 to 1.0285. The saline contents of the water of the Enghsh Channel are stated to be 27 grs, in 1000. Turner's Chem. p. 1289, 1290.
  2. ↑ The modern names of the rivers and lakes here mentioned are the Liris, communicating with the Lago di Celano; the Adda, with the Lago di Como; the Ticino, with the Lago Maggiore; the Mincio, with the Lago di Guarda; the Ogho, with the Lago di Sero; and the Rhone with the Lake of Geneva. There may be some foundation for the alleged fact, because the specific gravity and the temperature of the lake may differ a little from that of the river which passes through it.
  3. ↑ According to Brotier, "fons ille olim nobihssimus, nunc ignobile est lavacrum, cujus aqua marino saporc inficitur." He conceives that there is no actual foundation for this so frequently related story; and conjectures that it originated from the similitude of the names, the fountain in Sicily and the river in the Peloponnesus being both named Alpheus. He goes on to mention some examples of springs of fresh water rising up on the sea-coast; Lemaire, i. 438. The allusion to the fountain of Arethusa, by Virgil, in the commencement of the 10th eclogue, is well known to all classical scholars. The lines of Virgil have been elegantly imitated by Voltaire, in the Henriade, ix. 269, 270.
  4. ↑ This is mentioned by Ovid, Met. xv. 273, 274.
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