NERISSA
When the moon shone we did not see the candle.
__g
PORTIA
So doth the greater glory dim the less.
A substitute shines brightly as a king
Until a king be by, and then his state
Empties itself, as doth an inland brook 0 -- 4
Into the main of waters . . . . g
4-' t~
(Act V, Scene 1, II. 89-97).
~ .g g
0 lxl ,I-
ra 0 / ,' 2 ~
T h e basic p h e n o m e n o n is a c c u r a t e l y d e s c r i b e d 4-"
here, the f a d i n g to d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f a w e a k
E
I1) - I -
i n c r e m e n t o n a b a c k g r o u n d . Since the b a c k g r o u n d
b B
was m o o n l i g h t in S h a k e s p e a r e ' s " e x p e r i m e n t " ,
N e r i s s a m u s t have b e e n o b s e r v i n g light a d a p t a t i o n
~-2-- --I
o f the r o d system. This we n o w c o n s i d e r m o r e
quantitatively.
Scare 06
-31
-- -- 0.4
~ ~ --0.2
2.1. The Rod System
-4
-4 -2 0 2 4
2.1.1. SENSITIVITYAS A FUNCTION OF BACKGROUND Log ( f i e L d radiance,scotopic ±roLands)