ARATUS: PHAENOMENA
From Zeus let us begin; him do we mortals never leave unnamed;
full of Zeus are all the streets and all the market-places of men; full
is the sea and the havens thereof; always we all have need of Zeus. For
we are also his offspring; and he in his kindness unto men giveth
favourable signs and wakeneth the people to work, reminding them of
livelihood. He tells what time the soil is best for the labour of the
ox and for the mattock, and what time the seasons are favourable both
for the planting of trees and for casting all manner of seeds. For
himself it was who set the signs in heaven, and marked out the
constellations, and for the year devised what stars chiefly should give
to men right signs of the seasons, to the end that all things might
grow unfailingly. Wherefore him do men ever worship first and last.
Hail, O Father, mighty marvel, mighty blessing unto men. Hail to thee
and to the Elder Race! Hail, ye Muses, right kindly, every one! But for
me, too, in answer to my prayer direct all my lay, even as is meet, to
tell the stars.
They, all alike, many though they be and other star in other
path, are drawn across the heavens always through all time continually.
But the Axis shifts not a whit, but unchanging is for ever fixed, and
in the midst it holds the earth in equipoise, and wheels the heaven
itself around.
On either side the Axis ends in two Poles, but thereof the one
is not seen, whereas the other faces us in the north high above the
ocean. Encompassing it two Bears
wheel together - wherefore they are also called the Wains. Now they
ever hold their heads each toward the flank of the other, and are borne
along always shoulder-wise, turned alternate on their shoulders. If,
indeed, the tale be true, from Crete they by the will of mighty Zeus
entered up into heaven, for that when in olden days he played as a
child in fragrant Dicton, near the hill of Ida, they set him in a cave
and nurtured him for the space of a year, what time the Dictaean
Curetes were deceiving Cronus. Now the one men call by name Cynosura
and other Helice. It is by Helice that the Achaeans on the sea divine
which way to steer their ships, but in the other the Phoenicians put
their trust when they cross the sea. But Helice, appearing large at
earliest night, is bright and easy to mark; but the other is small, yet
better for sailors: for in a smaller orbit wheel all her stars. By her
guidance, then, the men of Sidon steer the straightest course.
Between them, as it were the branch of a river, circles in wondrous way the Dragon,
winding infinite around and about; on either side of his coil are borne
along the Bears, that shun ever more the blue sea. Now towards the one
he stretches the end of his tail, but with the coil he intercepts the
Lesser Bear. The tip of his tail ends by the head of Helice, but in the
coil Cynosura has her head. For his coil circles past her very head and
comes near her feet, but again, turning back, runs upward. Not one lone
star shines on his head, but on his brows are two stars lit, and two in
his eyes, and one beneath is set upon the chin-point of the dread
monster. Aslant is his head, and he seems most like as if he were
nodding to the tip of the tail of Helice; his mouth and right temple
straight confront the end of her tail. That heads wheels near where the
limits of setting and rising blend.
Right there in its orbit wheels a Phantom
form, like to a man that strives at a task. That sign no man knows how
to read clearly, nor on what task he is bent, but men simply call him
On His Knees. Now that Phantom, that toils on his knees, seems to sit
on bended knee, and from both his shoulders his hands are upraised and
stretch, one this way, one that, a fathom's length. Over the middle of
the head of the crooked Dragon, he has the tip of his right foot.
Here too that Crown, which glorious Dionysus set to be memorial of the dead Ariadne, wheels beneath the back of the toil-spent Phantom.
To the Phantom's back the Crown is near, but by his head mark near at hand the head of Ophiuchus,
and then from it you can trace the starlit Ophiuchus himself: so
brightly set beneath his head appear his gleaming shoulders. They would
be clear to mark even at the midmonth moon, but his hands are not at
all so bright; for faint runs the gleam of stars along on this side and
on that. Yet they too can be seen, for they are not feeble. Both firmly
clutch the Serpent, which encircles the waist of Ophiuchus, but he, stedfast with both his feet well set, tramples a huge monster, even the Scorpion,
standing upright on his eye and breast. Now the Serpent is wreathed
about his two hands - a little above his right hand, but in many folds
high above his left.
Toward the Crown leans the Serpent's jaw, but beneath his coiling form seek thou for the mighty Claws; they are scant of light and nowise brilliant.
Behind Helice, like to one that drives, is borne along Arctophylax
whom men also call Bootes, since he seems to lay hand on the wain-like
Bear. Very bright is he all; but beneath his belt wheels a star, bright
beyond the others, Arcturus himself.
Beneath both feet of Bootes mark the Maiden,
who in her hands bears the gleaming Ear of Corn. Whether she be
daughter of Astraeus, who, men say, was of old the father of the stars,
or child of other sire, untroubled be her course! But another tale is
current among men, how of old she dwelt on earth and met men face to
face, nor ever disdained in olden time the tribes of men and women, but
mingling with them took her seat, immortal though she was. Her men
called Justice; but she assembling the elders, it might be in the
market-place or in the wide-wayed streets, uttered her voice, ever
urging on them judgements kinder to the people. Not yet in that age had
men knowledge of hateful strife, or carping contention, or din of
battle, but a simple life they lived. Far from them was the cruel sea
and not yet from afar did ships bring their livelihood, but the oxen
and the plough and Justice herself, queen of the peoples, giver of
things just, abundantly supplied their every need. Even so long as the
earth still nurtured the Golden Race, she had her dwelling on earth.
But with the Silver Race only a little and no longer with utter
readiness did she mingle, for that she yearned for the days of the men
of old. Yet in the Silver Age was she still upon the earth; but from
the echoing hills at eventide she came alone, nor spake to any man in
gentle words. But when she had filled the great heights with gathering
crowds, then would she with threats rebuke their evil ways, and declare
that never more at their prayer would she reveal her face to man.
"Behold what manner of race the fathers of the Golden Age left behind
them! Far meaner than themselves! but ye will breed a viler progeny!
Verily wars and cruel bloodshed shall be unto men and grievous woe
shall be laid upon them." Even so she spake and sought the hills and
left the people all gazing towards her still. But when they, too, were
dead, and when, more ruinous than they which went before, the Race of
Bronze was born, who were the first to forge the sword of the
highwayman, and the first to eat of the flesh of the ploughing-ox, then
verily did Justice loathe that race of men and fly heavenward and took
up that abode, where even now in the night time the Maiden is seen of
men, established near to far-seen Bootes.
Above both her shoulders at her right wing wheels a star,
whereof the name is the Vintager - of such size and with such
brightness set, as the star that shines beneath the tail of the Great
Bear. For dread is the Bear and dread stars are near her. Seeing them
thou needest not further conjecture what stars beyond them model all
her form. Such stars are borne along, beautiful and great, one in front
of her forefeet, one on her flank, and one beneath her hind knees. But
all singly one here, one there, are wheeled along without a name.
Beneath the head of Helice are the Twins; beneath her waist is the Crab; beneath her hind feet the Lion
brightly shines. There is the Sun's hottest summer path. Then the
fields are seen bereft of corn-ears, when first the Sun comes together
with the Lion. Then the roaring Etesian winds fall swooping on the
vasty deep, and voyaging is no longer seasonable for oars. Then let
broad-beamed ships be my choice, and let steersmen hold the helm into
the wind.
But if it be thy wish to mark Charioteer
and his stars, and if the fame has come to thee of the Goat herself and
the Kids, who often on the darkening deep have seen men storm-tossed,
thou wilt find him in all his might, leaning forward at the left hand
of the Twins. Over against him wheels the top of Helice's head, but on
his left shoulder is set the holy Goat, that, as legend tells, gave the
breast to Zeus. Her the interpreters of Zeus call the Olenian Goat.
Large is she and bright, but there at the wrist of the Charioteer
faintly gleam the Kids.
At the feet of Charioteer seek for the crouching horned Bull.
Very lifelike are his signs;
so clear defined his head: not by other sign would one mark the head of
an ox, since in such wise those very stars, wheeling on either side,
fashion it. Oftspoken is their name and not all unheard-of are the
Hyades. Broadcast are they on the forehead of the Bull. One star
occupies the tip of his left horn and the right foot of the Charioteer,
who is close by. Together they are carried in their course, but ever
earlier is the Bull than the Charioteer to set beneath the West, albeit
they fare together at their rising.
Nor all unnamed shall rest the hapless family of Iasid Cepheus.
For their name, too, has come unto heaven, for that they were near akin
to Zeus. Cepheus himself is set behind the Bear Cynosura, like to one
that stretches out both his hands. From her tail-tip to both his feet
stretches a measure equal to that from foot to foot. But a little aside
from his belt look to find the first coil of the mighty Dragon.
Eastward his hapless wife, Cassiepeia,
gleaming when by night the moon is full, wheels with her scanty stars.
For few and alternate stars adorn her, which expressly mark her form
with lines of light. Like the key of a twofold door barred within,
wherewith men striking shoot back the bolts, so singly set shine her
stars. But from her shoulders so faint she stretches a fathom's length.
Thou would'st say she was sorrowing over her daughter.
For there, too, wheels that woeful form of Andromeda,
enstarred beneath her mother. Thou hast not to wait for a night, I
ween, whereon to see her more distinct! So bright is her head and so
clearly marked are both the shoulders, the tips of her feet and all her
belt. Yet even there she is racked, with arms stretched far apart, and
even in Heaven bonds are her portion. Uplifted and outspread there for
all time are those hands of hers.
Beneath her head is spread the huge Horse,
touching her with his lower belly. One common stars gleams on the
Horse's navel and the crown of her head. Three other separate stars,
large and bright, at equal distance set on flank and shoulders, trace a
square upon the Horse. His head is not so brightly marked, nor his
neck, though it be long. But the farthest star on his blazing nostril
could fitly rival the former four, that invest him with such splendour.
Nor is he four-footed. Parted at the naval, with only half a body,
wheels in heaven the sacred Horse. He it was, men say, that brought
down from lofty Helicon the bright water of bounteous Hippocrene. For
not yet on Helicon's summit trickled the fountain's springs, but the
Horse smote it and straightway the gushing water was shed abroad at the
stamp of his forefoot, and herdsmen were the first to call that stream
the fountain of the Horse. From the rock the water wells and never
shall thou see it far from the men of Thespiae; but the Horse himself
circles in the heaven of Zeus and is there for thee to behold.
There too are the most swift courses of the Ram,
who, pursued through the longest circuit, runs not a whit slower than
the Bear Cynosura - himself weak and starless as on a moonlit night,
but yet by the belt of Andromeda thou canst trace him out. For a little
below her is he set. Midway he treads the mighty heavens, where wheel
the tips of the Scorpion's Claws and the Belt of Orion.
There is also another sign, fashioned near, below Andromeda, Deltoton,
drawn with three sides, whereof two appear equal but the third is less,
yet very easy to find, for beyond many is it endowed with stars.
Southward a little from Deltoton are the stars of the Ram.
Still farther in front of the Ram and still in the vestibule of the South are the Fishes.
Ever one is higher than the other, and louder hears the fresh rush of
the North wind. From both there stretch, as it were, chains, whereby
their tails on either side are joined. The meeting chains are knit by a
single beautiful and great star, which is called the Knot of the Tails.
Let the left shoulder of Andromeda be thy guide to the northern Fish,
for it is very near.
Her two feet will guide thee to her bridegroom, Perseus,
over whose shoulder they are for ever carried. But he moves in the
North a taller form than the others. His right hand is stretched toward
the throne of the mother of his bride, and, as if pursuing that which
lies before his feet, he greatly strides, dust-stained, in the heaven
of Zeus.
Near his left thigh move the Pleiades,
all in a cluster, but small is the space that holds them and singly
they dimly shine. Seven are they in the songs of men, albeit only six
are visible to the eyes. Yet not a star, I ween, has perished from the
sky unmarked since the earliest memory of man, but even so the tale is
told. Those seven are called by name Halcyone, Merope, Celaeno,
Electra, Sterope, Taygete, and queenly Maia. Small and dim are they all
alike, but widely famed they wheel in heaven at morn and eventide, by
the will of Zeus, who bade them tell of the beginning of Summer and of
Winter and of the coming of the ploughing-time.
Yonder, too, is the tiny Tortoise,
which, while still beside his cradle, Hermes pierced for strings and
bade it be called the Lyre: and he brought it into heaven and set it in
front of the unknown Phantom. That Croucher on his Knees comes near the
Lyre with his left knee, but the top of the Bird's head wheels on the other side, and between the Bird's head and the Phantom's knee is enstarred the Lyre.
For verily in heaven there is outspread a glittering Bird. Wreathed in
mist is the Bird, but yet the parts above him are rough with stars, not
very large, yet not obscure. Like a bird in joyous flight, with fair
weather it glides to the west, with the tip of its right wing
outstretched towards the right hand of Cepheus, and by its left wing is
hung in the heavens the prancing Horse.
Round the prancing Horse range the two Fishes. By the Horse's head is stretched the right hand of Hydrochous. He is behind Aegoceros,
who is set in front and further down, where the mighty Sun turns. In
that month use not the open sea lest thou be engulfed in the waves.
Neither in the dawn canst thou accomplish a far journey, for fast to
evening speed the dawns; nor at night amid thy fears will the dawn draw
earlier near, though loud and instant be thy cry. Grievous then is the
crashing swoop of the South winds when the Sun joins Aegoceros, and
then is the frost from heaven hard on the benumbed sailor. Not but that
throughout the year's length the sea ever grows dark beneath the keels,
and, like to diving seagulls, we often sit, spying out the deep from
our ship with faces turned to the shore; but ever farther back the
shores are swept by the waves and only a thin plank staves off Death.
But even in the previous month, storm-tossed at sea, when the Sun scorches the Bow and the Wielder of the Bow,
trust no longer in the night but put to shore in the evening. Of that
season and that month let the rising of the Scorpion at the close of
night be a sign to thee. For verily his great Bow does the Bowman draw
close by the Scorpion's sting, and a little in front stands the
Scorpion at his rising, but the Archer rises right after him. Then,
too, at the close of night Cynosura's head runs very high, but Orion
just before the dawn wholly sets and Cepheus from hand to waist.
Further up there is another Arrow
shot - alone without a bow. By it is the Bird outspread nearer the
North, but hard at hand another bird tosses in storm, of smaller in
size but cruel in its rising from the sea when the night is waning, and
men call it the Eagle (Storm-bird).
Over Aegoceros floats the Dolphin with few bright stars and body wreathed in mist, but four brilliants adorn him, set side by side in pairs.
Now these constellations lie between the North and the Sun's wandering
path, but others many in number rise beneath between the South and the
Sun's course.
Aslant beneath the fore-body of the Bull is set the great Orion.
Let none who pass him spread out on high on a cloudless night imagine
that, gazingn on the heavens, one shall see other stars more fair.
Such a guardian, too, beneath his towering back is seen to stand on his hind legs, the Dog
starenwrought, yet not clearly marked in all his form, but right by his
belly he shows dark. The tip of his terrible jaw is marked by a star
that keenest of all blazes with a searing flame and him men call
Seirius. When he rises with the Sun, no longer do the trees deceive him
by the feeble freshness of their leaves. For easily with his keen
glance he pierces their ranks, and to some he gives strength but of
others he blights the bark utterly. Of him too at his setting are we
aware, but the other stars of the Dog are set round with fainter light
to mark his legs.
Beneath both feet of Orion is the Hare
pursued continually through all time, while Seirius (sic) behind is for
ever borne as in pursuit. Close behind he rises and as he sets he eyes
the setting Hare.
Beside the tail of the Great Dog the ship Argo
is hauled stern-foremost. For not hers is the proper course of a ship
in motion, but she is borne backwards, reversed even as real ships,
when already the sailors turn the stern to the land as the enter the
haven, and every one back-paddles the ship, but she rushing sternward
lays hold of the shore. Even so is the Argo of Jason borne along
stern-foremost. Partly in mist is she borne along, and starless from
her prow even to the mast, but the hull is wholly wreathed in light.
Loosed is her Rudder and is set beneath the hind feet of the Dog, as he
runs in front.
Andromeda, thought she cowers a good way off, is pressed by the rush of the mighty Monster,
of the Sea. For her path lies under the path of Thracian Boreas, but
the South wind drives against her, beneath the Ram and the Pair of Fishes, the hateful Monster, Cetus, set as he is a little above the Starry River.
For alone are those poor remains of Eridanus, River of many tears, also
borne beneath the feet of the Gods. He winds beneath Orion's left foot,
but the Shackles, wherewith the Fish's tails are held, reach from their
tails together, and behind the neck of Cetus they mingle their path and
fare together. They end in a single star of Cetus, set where meet his
spine and head.
Other stars, mean in size and feeble in splendour, wheel
between the Rudder of Argo and Cetus, and beneath the Grey Hare's sides
they are set without a name. For they are not set like the limbs of a
fashioned figure, such as, many in number, fare in order along their
constant paths, as the years are fulfilled - stars, which someone of
the men that are no more noted and marked how to group in figures and
call all by a single name. For it had passed his skill to know each
single star or name them one by one. Many are they on every hand and of
many the magnitudes and colours are the same, while all go circling
round. Wherefore he deemed fit to group the stars in companies, so that
in order, set each by other, they might form figures. Hence the
constellations got their names, and now no longer does any star rise a
marvel from beneath the horizon. Now the other stars are grouped in
clear figures and brightly shine, but those beneath the hunted Hare are
all clad in mist and nameless in their course.
Below Aegoceros before the blasts of the South wind swims a Fish, facing Cetus, alone and apart from the former Fishes; and him men call the Southern Fish.
Other stars, sparsely set beneath Hydrochous, hang on high between
Cetus in the heavens and the Fish, dim and nameless, and near them on
the right hand of bright Hydrochous, like some sprinkled drops of water
lightly shed on this side and on that, other stars wheel bright-eyed
though weak. But among them are borne two of more lustrous form, not
far apart and yet not near: one beneath both feet of Hydrochous, a
goodly star and bright, the other beneath the tail of dark-blue Cetus.
This cluster as a whole men call the Water. But others low beneath the
forefeet of the Archer (Centaur), turned in a circled ring, go wheeling round the sky.
Below the fiery sting of the dread monster, Scorpion, and near the South is hung the Altar.
Brief is the space thou wilt behold it above the horizon: for it rises
over against Arcturus. High runs the path of Arcturus, but sooner
passes the Altar to the western sea. But that Altar even beyond aught
else hath ancient Night, weeping the woe of men, set to be a mighty
sign of storm at sea. For ships in trouble pain her heart, and other
signs in other quarters she kindles in sorrow for mariners,
storm-buffeted at sea. Wherefore I bid thee pray, when in the open sea,
that that constellation wrapt in clouds appear not amidst the others in
the heavens, herself unclouded and resplendent but banked above with
billowing clouds, as often it is beset when the autumn wind drives them
back. For often Night herself reveals this sign, also, for the South
Wind in her kindness to toiling sailors. If they heed her favouring
signs and quickly lighten their craft and set all in order, on a sudden
lo! their task is easier: but if from on high a dread gust of wind
smite their ship, all unforeseen, and throw in turmoil all the sails,
sometimes they make their voyage all beneath the waves, but at other
times, if they win by their prayers Zeus to their aid, and the might of
the north wind pass in lightning, after much toil they yet again see
each other on the ship. But at this sign fear the South Wind, until
thou see'st the North Wind come with lightning. But if the shoulder of
Centaur is as far from the western as from the eastern sea, and a faint
mist veils it, while behind Night kindles like signs of storm upon the
gleaming Altar, thou must not look for the South, but bethink thee of
an East Wind.
The constellation of Centaur
thou wilt find beneath two others. For part in human form lies beneath
Scorpio, but the rest, a horse's trunk and tail, are beneath the Claws.
He ever seems to stretch his right hand towards the round Altar, but
through his hand is drawn and firmly grasped another sign - the Beast, for so men of old have named it.
Another constellation trails beyond, which men call the Hydra.
Like a living creature it winds afar its coiling form. Its head comes
beneath the middle of the Crab, its coil beneath the body of the Lion,
and its tail hangs above the Centaur himself. Midway on its coiling
form is set the Crater, and at the tip the figure of a Raven that seems to peck at the coil.
There, too, by the Hydra beneath the Twins brightly shines Procyon.
All these constellations thou canst mark as the seasons pass, each
returning at its appointed time: for all are unchanging and firmly
fixed in the heavens to be ornaments of the passing night.
But of quite a different class are those five other orbs,
that intermingle with them and wheel wandering on every side of the
twelve figures of the Zodiac. No longer with the others as thy guide
couldst thou mark where lies the path of those, since all pursue a
shifty course, and long are the periods of their revolution and far
distant lies the goal of their conjunction. When I come to them my
daring fails, but mine be the power to tell of the orbits of the Fixed
Stars and Signs in heaven.
These orbits lie like rings, four in number, chief in
interest and in profit, if thou wouldst mark the measures of the waning
and waxing of the Seasons. On all are set beacon lights, many in
number, all every way closely penned together. The circles are
immovable, and fitted each to other, but in size two are matched with
two.
If ever on a clear night, when Night in the heavens shows to
men all her stars in their brightness and no star is borne faintly
gleaming at the mid-month moon, but they all sharply pierce the
darkness - if in such an hour woder rises in thy heart to mark on every
side the heaven cleft by a broad belt, or if someone at thy side point
out that circle set with brilliants - that is what men call the Milky
Way. A match for it in colour thou wilt find no circle wheel, but in
size two of the four belts are as large, but the other two are far
inferior.
Of the lesser circles one is nigh to Boreas at his coming,
and on it are borne both the heads of the Twins and the knees of the
stedfast Charioteer, and above him are the left shoulder and shin of
Perseus. It crosses Andromeda's right arm above the elbow. Above it is
set her palm, nearer the north, and southward leans her elbow. The
hoofs of the Horse, the head and neck of the Bird and Ophiuchus' bright
shoulders wheel along this circle in their course. The Maiden is borne
a little to the South and does not touch the Belt, but on it are the
Lion and the Crab. Thereon are they both established side by side, but
the circle cuts the Lion beneath the breast and belly lengthwise to the
loins, and the Crab it cuts clean through by the shell where thou canst
see him most clearly cut, as he stands upright with his eyes on either
side of the Belt. The circle is divided, as well as may be, into eight
parts, whereof five in the daytime wheel on high above the earth and
three beneath the horizon. In it is the Turning-point of the Sun in
summer. This circle is set round the Crab in the North.
But there is another circle to match in the South. It cuts
through the middle of Aegoceros, the feet of Hydrochous, and the htail
of the seamonster, Cetus, and on it is the Hare. It claims no great
share of the Dog, but only the space that he occupies with his feet. In
it is Argo and the mighty back of the Centaur, the sting of Scorpio,
and the Bow of the bright Archer. This circle the sun passes last as he
is southward borne from the bright north, and here is the Turning-point
of the sun in the winter. Three parts of eight of his course are above
and five below the horizon.
Between the Tropics a Belt, peer of the grey Milky Way,
undergirds the earth and with imaginary line bisects the sphere. In it
the days are equal to the nights both at the waning of the summer and
the waxing of the spring. The sign appointed for it is the Ram and the
knees of the Bull - the Ram being borne lengthwise through it, but of
the Bull just the visible bend of the knees. In it are the Belt of the
well-starred Orion and the coil of the gleaming Hydra: in it, too, the
dim-lit Crater and the Crow and the scanty-starred Claws and the knees
of Ophiuchus are borne. But it has no share in the Eagle, but near it
flies the mighty messenger of Zeus. Facing the Eagle wheel the head and
neck of the Horse.
These three Belts are parallel, and at right angles to the
Axis which they surround and which is the centre of them all, but the
fourth aslant is fixed athwart the Tropics: they on opposite sides of
the Equator support it at either limit, but the Equator bisects it. Not
otherwise would a man skilled in the handicraft of Athena join the
whirling Belts, wheeling them all around, so many and so great like
rings, just as the Belts in the heavens, clasped by the transverse
circle, hasten from dawn to night throughout all time. The three Belts
rise and set all parallel but ever single and the same is the point
where in due order each rises or sets at East or West. But the fourth
circle passes over as much water of ocean as rolls between the rising
of Aegoceros, and the rising of the Crab: as much as it occupies in
rising, so much it occupies in setting. As long as is the ray cast to
heaven from the glance of the eye, six times as long a line would
subtend this Belt. Each ray, measured of equal length, intercepts two
constellations. This circle is called the Belt of the Zodiac.
In it is the Crab; after the Crab the Lion and beneath him
the Maiden; after the Maiden the Claws and the Scorpion himself and the
Archer and Aegoceros, and after Aegoceros Hydrochous. Beneath him are
enstarred the Two Fishes and after them the Ram and next the Bull and
the Twins. In them, twelve in all, has the sun his course as he leads
on the whole year, and as he fares around this belt, all the fruitful
seasons have their growth.
Half this Belt is set below the hollow of the horizon, and
half is above the earth. Every night six constellations of this
circle's twelve set and as many rise; as long is each night ever
stretched as half the belt rises above the earth from the fall of
night.
Not useless were it for one who seeks for signs of coming
day to mark when each sign of the Zodiac rises. For ever with one of
them the sun himself rises. One could best search out those
constellations by looking on themselves, but if they be dark with
clouds or rise hidden behind a hill, get thee fixed signs for their
coming. Ocean himself will give thee signs at either horn - the East or
the West - in the many constellations that wheel about him, when from
below he sends forth each rising sign.
Not very faint are the wheeling constellations that are set
about Ocean at East or West, when the Crab rises, some setting in the
West and others rising in the East. The Crown sets and the Southern
Fish as far as its back. Half the setting Crown is visible in the sky
but half already sinks beneath the verge. Of Engonasin, backward
turned, the waist is still visible but his upper parts are borne in
night. The rise of the Crab brings down from knee to shoulder the
wretched Ophiuchus and Ophis to the neck. No longer great on both sides
of the horizon is Arctophylax but only the lesser portion is visible,
while the greater part is wrapt in night. For with four signs of the
Zodiac Bootes sets and is received in the bosom of ocean; and when he
is sated with the light he takes till past midnight in the loosing of
his oxen, in the season when he sets with the sinking sun. Those nights
are named after his late setting. So these stars are setting, but
another, facing them, no dim star, even Orion with glittering belt and
shining shoulders and trusting in the might of his sword, and bringing
all the River, rises from the other horn, the East.
At the coming of the Lion those constellations wholly set,
which were setting when the Crab rose, and with them sets the Eagle.
But the Phantom On His Knees sinks all save knee and left foot beneath
the stormy ocean. Up rises the Hydra's head and the bright-eyed Hare
and Procyon and the forefeet of the flaming Dog.
Not few, either, are the constellations which the Maiden at
her rising sends beneath the verge of earth. Then set the Cyllenian
Lyre, the Dolphin and the shapely Arrow. With them the wing-tips of the
Bird up to her very tail and the farthest reaches of the River are
overshadowed. The head of the Horse sets, sets too his neck. The Hydra
rises higher as far as Crater, and before her the Dog brings up his
hind feet, dragging behind him the stern of Argo of many stars. And she
rises above the earth, cleft right at the mast, just when the whole of
the Maiden has risen.
Nor can the rising Claws, though faintly shining, pass
unremarked, when at a bound the mighty sign of Bootes rises, jewelled
with Arcturus. Aloft is risen all of Argo, but the Hydra, shed as she
is afar over the heavens, will lack her tail. The Claws bring only the
right leg as far as the thigh of that Phantom that is ever On his
Knees, ever crouching by the Lyre - that Phantom, unknown among the
figures of the heavens, whom we often see both rise and set on the
selfsame night. Of him only the leg is visible at the rising of both
the Claws: he himself head-downward on the other side awaits the rising
Scorpion and the Drawer of the Bow. For they bring him: Scorpion brings
his waist and all aforesaid; the Bow his left hand and head. Even so in
three portions is he all brought up piecemeal above the horizon. Half
the Crown and the tip of the Centaur's tail are upraised with the
rising Claws. Then is the Horse setting after his vanished head, and
dragged below is the tail-tip of the Bird, already set. The head of
Andromeda is setting and against her is brought by the misty South the
mighty terror, Cetus, but over against him in the North Cepheus with
mighty hand upraised warns him back. Cetus, neck downward, sets to his
neck, and Cepheus with head and hand and shoulder.
The winding River will straightway sink in fair flowing
ocean at the coming of the Scorpion, whose rising puts to flight even
the mighty Orion. Thy pardon, Artemis, we crave! There is a tale told
by the men of old, who said that stout Orion laid hands upon her robe,
what time in Chios he was smiting with his strong club all manner of
beasts, as a service of the hunt to that King Oenopion. But she
forthwith rent in twain the surrounding hills of the island and roused
against him another kind of beast - even the Scorpion, who proving
mightier wounded him, mighty though he was, and slew him, for that he
had vexed Artemis. Wherefore, too, men say that at the rising of the
Scorpion in the East Orion flees at the Western verge. Nor does what
was left of Andromeda and of Cetus fail to mark his rise but in full
career they too flee. In that hour the belt of Cepheus grazes earth as
he dips his upper parts in the sea, but the rest he may not - his feet
and knees and loins, for the Bears themselves forbid. The hapless
Cassiepeia herself too hastes after the figure of her child. No longer
in seemly wise does she shine upon her throne, feet and knees withal,
but she headlong plunges like a diver, parted at the knees; for not
scatheless was she to rival Doris and Panope. So she is borne towards
the West, but other signs in the East the vault of heaven brings from
below, the remaining half of the Crown and the tail of the Hydra, and
uplifts the body and head of the Centaur and the Beast that the Centaur
holds in his right hand. But the fore-feet of the Centaur-Knight await
the rising of the Bow.
At the coming of the Bow up rises the coil of the Serpent
and the body of Ophiuchus. Their heads the rising of the Scorpion
himself brings and raises even the hands of Ophiuchus and the foremost
coil of the star-bespangled Serpent. Then emerge from below some parts
of Engonasin, who ever rises feet-foremost, to wit, his legs, waist,
all his breast, his shoulder with his right hand; but his other hand
and his head arise with the rising Bow and his Archer. With them the
Lyre of Hermes and Cepheus to his breast drive up from the Eastern
Ocean, what time all the rays of the mighty Dog are sinking and all of
Orion setting, yea, all the Hare, which the Dog pursues in an unending
race. But not yet depart the Kids of the Charioteer and the Arm-borne
(Olenian) Goat; by his great hand they shine, and are eminent beyond
all his other limbs in raising storms, when they fare with the sun.
His head, hand and waist set at the rising of Aegoceros:
from waist to foot he sets at the rising of the Archer. Nor do Perseus
and the end of the stern of jewelled Argo remain on high, but Perseus
sets all save his knee and right foot and Argo is gone save her curved
stern. She sinks wholly at the rising of Aegoceros, when Procyon sets
too, and there rise the Bird and the Eagle and the gems of the winged
Arrow and the sacred Altar, that is established in the South.
When Hydrochous is just risen, up wheel the feet and head of
the Horse. But opposite the Horse starry Night draws the Centaur,
tail-first, beneath the horizon, but cannot yet engulf his head and his
broad shoulders, breast and all. But she sinks beneath the verge the
coiling neck and all the brow of the gleaming Hydra. Yet many a coil of
the Hydra remains, but night engulfs her wholly with the Centaur, when
the Fishes rise; with the Fishes the Fish which is placed beneath the
azure Aegoceros rises - not completely but part awaits another sign of
the Zodiac. So the weary hands and knees and shoulders of Andromeda are
parted - stretched some below and others above the horizon, when the
Two Fishes are newly risen from the ocean. Her right side the Fishes
bring, but the left the rising Ram. When the latter rises, the Altar is
seen setting in the West, while in the East may be seen rising as much
as the head and shoulders of Perseus.
As to his belt itself disputed might it be whether it rises
as the Ram ceases to rise or at the rising of the Bull, with whom he
rises wholly. Nor lags behind the Charioteer at the rising of the Bull,
for close are set their courses. But not with that sign does he rise
completely, but the Twins bring him wholly up. The Kids and the sole of
the Charioteer's left foot and the Goat herself journey with the Bull,
what time the neck and tail of Cetus, leviathan of the sky, rise from
below. Now Arctophylax is beginning to set with the first of those four
constellations of the Zodiac that see him sink wholly, save his never
setting left hand that rises by the Great Bear.
Let Ophiuchus setting from both feet even to his knees be a
sign of the rising of the Twins in the East. Then no longer is aught of
Cetus beneath the verge, but thou shalt see him all. Then, too, can the
sailor on the open sea mark the first bend of the River rising from the
deep, as he watches for Orion himself to see if he might give him any
hint of the measure of the night or of his voyage. For on every hand
signs in multitude do the gods reveal to man.
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