E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Crystal’line (3 syl.).
The Crystalline sphere. According to Ptolemy, between the “primum mobile” and the firmament or sphere of the fixed stars comes the crystal’line sphere, which oscillates or has a shimmering motion that interferes with the regular motion of the stars.
1
“They pass the planets seven, and pass the ‘fixed’
And that crystal’line sphere, whose balance weighs
