ABSTRACT
THE huge power which the frost, or cold, possesses in the North, as if this were its own native region, can be demonstrated in many ways, through the sense of feeling rather than by authorities; for its forceful blight is felt by a great number of creatures who go in fear of it even though they live many thousands of furlongs 1 away from that region; and, when it steals even slightly upon them, they shrink their bodies and limbs, and shudder violently. What would they not do where cold itself holds sway by its own strength and through the laws of Nature? Since I was born and lived subject to this cold, even at a latitude of about 86°, 2 I think that I am capable of proving this and, in many succeeding chapters, of showing somewhat more plainly than all those others who write from uncertain conjecture how savage and fearsome it is. It extends progressively, as 47rays do, from the centre and at last over the whole world, in such a way that all peoples among whom it penetrates bear witness to the distressing effects of its harshness. It is therefore acknowledged as one of the first principles of physical science that the northern regions of the world have harder frost, or cold, than other parts, and a harsher winter than other places, in accordance with the nature of this hemisphere; for there at that season the sun revolves in a shorter circle and is farther away, while it moves obliquely through the winter signs of the zodiac, so that during this time earth and water, elements that are naturally cold, are more firmly hardened and frozen. Also, those places are situated under the positions of the Great and Little Bears, or Wains, the coldest constellations, and by the Ocean, which, especially towards the north-west and east, is of an unfathomable depth; and, since according to Albertus, in Bk XIX, Ch. 6, the sun cannot reach as far as this, an even more dreadful cold, or frost, is produced. 3
Living things are frightened by cold
Evidence from the author’s experience
Furthest peoples are smitten by the harshness of winter
Reason for harder frost in the North
Another theory Coldest constellations
