r, equally successful would be the issue of
their struggle.' Hence they made a loud noise, by ringing upon brazen
metal, and by blowing trumpets and cornets; as she appeared brighter or
darker they exulted or lamented."

There was an eclipse of the Moon on the generally recorded date of the
Crucifixion of our Lord, April 3, A.D. 33. Hind found that our satellite
emerged from the Earth's dark shadow about a quarter of an hour before
she rose at Jerusalem (6h. 36m. p.m.), but the penumbra continued upon
her disc for an hour afterwards.

On Jan. 1, A.D. 47, a total eclipse of the Moon was seen at Rome, and on
the same night an island rose up in the AEgean Sea.

The total eclipse of Feb. 22, A.D. 72, noted by Pliny,[127] is the first
in which it is recorded that Sun and Moon were both visible at the same
time, the eclipse occurring when the Sun was rising and the Moon
setting.

Trithenius speaks of an eclipse of the Moon observed in the time of
Merovaeus. Johnson identifies it with the eclipse of Sept. 15, 452 A.D.
It was from Merovaeus that the line of French kings known as Merovingians
received their name.

On April 16, A.D. 683, according to Anastasius the Papal historian, the
Moon for nearly the whole night exhibited a blood-red appearance, and
did not emerge from obscurity till cockcrowing.

In A.D. 690 an eclipse of the Moon was observed in Wales. We are
told[128] that "the Moon was turned to the colour of blood." This would
seem to be the first eclipse of the Moon recorded in Britain.

The _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_ tells us that in A.D. 734 "the Moon was as
if it had been sprinkled with blood, and Archbishop Tatwine and Beda
died and Ecgberht was hallowed bishop." The intended inference
apparently is that the Moon had something to do with the deaths of the
two ecclesiastics, but this theory will not hold water. Beda, it may be
remarked, is the correct name of the man generally known to us as the
"Venerable Bede." It is evident that from the description of the Moon it
exhibited on that occasion the well-known coppery hue which is a
recognised feature of many total eclipses of our satellite. This eclipse
occurred on January 24, beginning at about 1 a.m.

On the night of January 23, A.D. 753, "the Moon was covered with a
horrid black shield." This is the record of an eclipse. It occurred at
about midnight, and apparently we are entitled to infer that on this
occasion the Moon disappeared altogether, instead of be