LIBER II · CAPUT 20
WHY THUNDER IS ASCRIBED TO JUPITER
Latine · Mayhoff 1906
Latet plerosque magna caeli adsectatione conpertum principibus doctrinae viris, superiorum trium siderum ignes esse qui decidui ad terras fulminum nomen habeant, sed maxime Iovis medio loco siti, fortassis quoniam contagium nimii umoris ex superiore circulo atque ardoris ex subiecto per hunc modum egerat, ideoque dictum lovem fulmina iaculari. ergo ut e flagrante ligno carbo cum crepitu, sic a sidere caelestis ignis exspuitur praescita secum adferens, ne abdicata quidem sui parte in divinis cessante operibus. idque maxime turbato fit aëre, quia collectus umor abundantiam stimulat aut quia turbatur quodam ceu gravidi sideris partu.
English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57
It is not generally known, what has been discovered by men who are the most eminent for their learning, in consequence of their assiduous observations of the heavens, that the fires which fall upon the earth, and receive the name of thunder-bolts, proceed from the three superior stars, but principally from the one which is situated in the middle. It may perhaps depend on the superabundance of moisture from the superior orbit communicating with the heat from the inferior, which are expelled in this manner; and hence it is commonly said, the thunder-bolts are darted by Jupiter. And as, in burning wood, the burnt part is cast off with a crackling noise, so does the star throw off this celestial fire, bearing the omens of future events, even the part which is thrown off not losing its divine operation. And this takes place more particularly when the air is in an unsettled state, either because the moisture which is then collected excites the greatest quantity of fire, or because the air is disturbed, as if by the parturition of the pregnant star.