It is the Rainbow. Of this you Expect ⟨p. 3⟩not from me, any Attempts at Philology. To tell you, that the Hebrew Name for it is, Ketcheth; The Greek [Greek or Hebrew], as well as the Latin, Iris; the French, L'arc du Ciel; (or, the Bow of Heaven;) and in like manner, the Italian L'arco del Cielo; and the Spanish, Ell arco del Cielo; (as also, El arco de las nueves, or, The Bow of the Clouds:) and the German (more akin to ours) Ein Regenbogen; This would perhaps as little Edify you, as to tell you, that our Indians call it by some such Name, as Ukqumogquoanuh. I shall as little attempt the Philosophy of it; For, after I have given you the common Definition of it, Arcus Coelestis, qui fit ex Solis Luce, in Nubem varie compositam et temperatam, sed ex Diametro Soli ipsi incurrente ac incident, pluvioso tempore; and should add more than as many more, as there be Colours in the Rainbow; and with the Modern Corrections of ancient Errors, proceed unto the Differences between the Solar Iris, and the Lunar: and between the Iris and the Halo; so little progress have we yet made in real and certain Knowledge, that I should Leave you after all, with the Subject of my Discourse, but in the Clouds.
It is the Rainbow. Of this you Expect ⟨p. 3⟩not from me, any Attempts at Philology. To tell you, that the Hebrew Name for it is, Ketcheth; The Greek 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, as well as the Latin, Iris; the French, L'arc du Ciel; (or, the Bow of Heaven;) and in like manner, the Italian L'arco del Cielo; and the Spanish, El arco del Cielo; (as also, El arco de las nueues, or, The Bow of the Clouds:) and the German (more akin to ours) Ein Regenbogen; This would perhaps as little Edify you, as to tell you, that our Indians call it by some such Name, as Ukqumogquoanuh. I shall as little attempt the Philosophy of it; For, after I have given you the common Definition of it, Arcus Coelestis, qui fit ex Solis Luce, in Nubem varie compositam et temperatam, sed ex Diametro Soli ipsi incurrente ac incidente, pluvioso tempore; and should add more than as many more, as there be Colours in the Rainbow; and with the Modern Corrections of ancient Errors, proceed unto the Differences between the Solar Iris, and the Lunar: and between the Iris and the Halo; so little progress have we yet made in real and certain Knowledge, that I should Leave you after all, with the Subject of my Discourse, but in the Clouds.
