Cicero's Tusculan Disputations Part 19

Of these, the Greeks one Cynosura call, The other Helice.[171]

The brightest stars,[172] indeed, of Helice are discernible all night,

Which are by us Septentriones call'd.

Cynosura moves about the same pole, with a like number of stars, and ranged in the same order:

This[173] the Phoenicians choose to make their guide When on the ocean in the night they ride.

Adorned with stars of more refulgent light, The other[174] shines, and first appears at night.

Though this is small, sailors its use have found; More inward is its course, and short its round.

XLII. The aspect of those stars is the more admirable, because,

The Dragon grim between them bends his way, As through the winding banks the currents stray, And up and down in sinuous bending rolls.[175]

His whole form is excellent; but the shape of his head and the ardor of his eyes are most remarkable.

Various the stars which deck his glittering head; His temples are with double glory spread; From his fierce eyes two fervid lights afar Flash, and his chin shines with one radiant star; Bow'd is his head; and his round neck he bends, And to the tail of Helice[176] extends.

The rest of the Dragon's body we see[177] at every hour in the night.

Here[178] suddenly the head a little hides Itself, where all its parts, which are in sight, And those unseen in the same place unite.

Near to this head

Is placed the figure of a man that moves Weary and sad,

which the Greeks

Engonasis do call, because he's borne[179]

About with bended knee. Near him is placed The crown with a refulgent l.u.s.tre graced.

This indeed is at his back; but Anguitenens (the Snake-holder) is near his head:[180]

The Greeks him Ophiuchus call, renown'd The name. He strongly grasps the serpent round With both his hands; himself the serpent folds Beneath his breast, and round his middle holds; Yet gravely he, bright shining in the skies, Moves on, and treads on Nepa's[181] breast and eyes.

The Septentriones[182] are followed by--

Arctophylax,[183] that's said to be the same Which we Bootes call, who has the name, Because he drives the Greater Bear along Yoked to a wain.

Besides, in Bootes,

A star of glittering rays about his waist, Arcturus called, a name renown'd, is placed.[184]

Beneath which is

The Virgin of ill.u.s.trious form, whose hand Holds a bright spike.

XLIII. And truly these signs are so regularly disposed that a divine wisdom evidently appears in them:

Beneath the Bear's[185] head have the Twins their seat, Under his chest the Crab, beneath his feet The mighty Lion darts a trembling flame.[186]

The Charioteer

On the left side of Gemini we see,[187]

And at his head behold fierce Helice; On his left shoulder the bright Goat appears.

But to proceed--

This is indeed a great and glorious star, On th' other side the Kids, inferior far, Yield but a slender light to mortal eyes.

Under his feet

The horned bull,[188] with st.u.r.dy limbs, is placed:

his head is spangled with a number of stars;

These by the Greeks are called the Hyades,

from raining; for [Greek: hyein] is to rain: therefore they are injudiciously called _Suculae_ by our people, as if they had their name from [Greek: hys], a sow, and not from [Greek: hyo].

Behind the Lesser Bear, Cepheus[189] follows with extended hands,

For close behind the Lesser Bear he comes.

Before him goes

Ca.s.siopea[190] with a faintish light; But near her moves (fair and ill.u.s.trious sight!) Andromeda,[191] who, with an eager pace, Seems to avoid her parent's mournful face.[192]

With glittering mane the Horse[193] now seems to tread, So near he comes, on her refulgent head; With a fair star, that close to him appears, A double form[194] and but one light he wears; By which he seems ambitious in the sky An everlasting knot of stars to tie.

Near him the Ram, with wreathed horns, is placed;

by whom

The Fishes[195] are; of which one seems to haste Somewhat before the other, to the blast Of the north wind exposed.

XLIV. Perseus is described as placed at the feet of Andromeda:

And him the sharp blasts of the north wind beat.

Near his left knee, but dim their light, their seat The small Pleiades[196] maintain. We find, Not far from them, the Lyre[197] but slightly join'd.

Next is the winged Bird,[198] that seems to fly Beneath the s.p.a.cious covering of the sky.

Near the head of the Horse[199] lies the right hand of Aquarius, then all Aquarius himself.[200]

Then Capricorn, with half the form of beast, Breathes chill and piercing colds from his strong breast, And in a s.p.a.cious circle takes his round; When him, while in the winter solstice bound, The sun has visited with constant light, He turns his course, and shorter makes the night.[201]

Not far from hence is seen

The Scorpion[202] rising lofty from below; By him the Archer,[203] with his bended bow; Near him the Bird, with gaudy feathers spread; And the fierce Eagle[204] hovers o'er his head.