1450. The inhabitants of the planet Venus are described as giants, so that the inhabitants of our earth reach only to their navel. And they are rather stupid, not seeking to know what Heaven is, or eternal life, but only concerned about what has to do with their land and their herds. Where these people live, they are not outside during the daytime, but only at night, due to the excessive heat. Therefore, they live, and they see, in darkness. 1748, 16 March.
1450. The inhabitants of the planet Venus were described as being giants, so that the inhabitants of our earth only reach to their navel. They are rather stupid, not inquiring about heaven or eternal life, but caring only for those things which relate to their land and their herds. On account of the excessive heat where they dwell they do not consociate during the day-time, but at night; wherefore they live in darkness, yet they see. 1748, Mar. 16.
1450. Describuntur incolae telluris Veneris, quod sint gigantes, sic ut nostrae telluris incolae modo ad umbilicum eorum pertingant: suntque stupidiores, non quaerentes quid Coelum, aut vita aeterna, solum ea curant, quae sunt eorum terrae, et eorum pecorum, ubi hi habitant, interdiu non foris 1
sunt, sed noctu, ob nimium aestum; quare in tenebris vixerunt, et vident. 1748, 16 Martius.
Footnotes:
1. in J.F.I. Tafel's edition erronee socii cum annotatione: "non socii, in quo literae ci alio atramento, ut videtur, manu Benedicti Chastanier, sinistre mutatae sunt in ss, qui in suo apographo etiam scripsit confossi"