at the solar brilliancy is surpassed by sixty to seventy of
the Pleiades. And it must be in some cases enormously surpassed; by
Alcyone 1,000, by Electra 480, by Maia nearly 400 times. Sirius itself
takes a subordinate rank when compared with the five most brilliant
members of a group, the real magnificence of which we can thus in some
degree apprehend.' This is the only star cluster which can be perceived
to be moving in space, or which has an ascertained common proper motion.
Its constituents form a magnificent system in which the stars bear a
mutual relationship to each other, and perform intricate internal
revolutions, whilst they in systemic union drift along through the
depths of space. There are two allusions to the Pleiades in 'Paradise
Lost.' In describing the path of the newly created Sun, Milton
introduces them as indicative of the joyfulness associated with the
birth of the Universe--

First in his east the glorious lamp was seen,
Regent of day, and all the horizon round
Invested with bright rays, jocund to run
His longitude through heaven's high road; the grey
Dawn, and the Pleiades before him danced,
Shedding sweet influence.--vii. 370-75.

It was believed that the Earth was created in the spring; and towards
the end of April this group rises a little before the Sun and precedes
him in his course, 'shedding sweet influences.' The ancients believed
that the good or evil influences of the stars were exercised not in the
night but during the day, when their rays mingled with those of the Sun.
The pernicious influence of the Dog-star is mentioned by Latin writers
as being most pronounced during the dog-days, at the end of summer and
commencement of autumn, the time of the heliacal rising of this star.

The other allusion to the Pleiades is in Book X., line 673, where
Milton, in describing the altered path of the Sun consequent upon the
Fall, mentions how the orb travels through Taurus with the Seven
Atlantic Sisters--the seven daughters of Atlas, the Pleiades, which are
situated on the shoulder of the animal representing this zodiacal
constellation.

THE GALAXY

The Galaxy or Milky Way is the great luminous zone encircling the
heavens, which can be seen extending across the sky from horizon to
horizon. Its diffused nebulous appearance caused the ancients much
perplexity, and many quaint opinions were hazarded as to the nature of
this celestial highway; but the mystery associate