1 Ἐκ Διὸς ἀρχώμεσθα ¹, τὸν οὐδέποτ’ ἄνδρες ἐῶμεν
ἄρρητον. Μεσταὶ δὲ Διὸς πᾶσαι μὲν ἀγυιαί,
πᾶσαι δ’ ἀνθρώπων ἀγοραί, μεστὴ δὲ θάλασσα
καὶ λιμένες· πάντη δὲ Διὸς κεχρήμεθα πάντες.
5 Τοῦ γὰρ καὶ γένος εἰμέν. ὁ δ’ ἤπιος ἀνθρώποισι
δεξιὰ σημαίνει, λαοὺς δ’ ἐπὶ ἔργον ἐγείρει
μιμνήσκων βιότοιο· λέγει δ’ ὅτε βῶλος ἀρίστη ²
βουσί τε καὶ μακέλῃσι, λέγει δ’ ὅτε δεξιαὶ ὧραι
καὶ φυτὰ γυρῶσαι καὶ σπέρματα πάντα βαλέσθαι.
10 Αὐτὸς γὰρ τά γε σήματ’ ἐν οὐρανῷ ἐστήριξεν ³,
ἄστρα διακρίνας, ἐσκέψατο δ’ εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
ἀστέρας οἵ κε μάλιστα τετυγμένα σημαίνοιεν
ἀνδράσιν ὡράων, ὄφρ’ ἔμπεδα πάντα φύωνται.
Τῷ μιν ἀεὶ πρῶτόν τε καὶ ὕστατον ἱλάσκονται.
15 Χαῖρε, πάτερ, μέγα θαῦμα, μέγ’ ἀνθρώποισιν ὄνειαρ,
αὐτὸς καὶ προτέρη γενεή, χαίροιτε δὲ, Μοῦσαι,
μειλίχιαι μάλα πᾶσαι. Ἐμοί γε μὲν ἀστέρας εἰπεῖν
ᾗ Θέμις εὐχομένῳ τεκμήρατε πᾶσαν ἀοιδήν.

     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.

Οἱ μὲν ὁμῶς πολέες τε καὶ ἄλλυδις ἄλλοι ἐόντες
20 οὐρανῷ ἕλκονται πάντ’ ἤματα συνεχὲς αἰεί·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ οὐδ’ ὀλίγον μετανίσσεται, ἀλλὰ μάλ’ αὕτως
ἄξων αἰὲν ἄρηρεν, ἔχει δ’ ἀτάλαντον ἁπάντη
μεσσηγὺς γαῖαν, περὶ δ’ οὐρανὸν αὐτὸν ἀγινεῖ.
Καί μιν πειραίνουσι δύω πόλοι ἀμφοτέρωθεν·
25 ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν οὐκ ἐπίοπτος, ὁ δ’ ἀντίος ἐκ βορέαο
ὑψόθεν ὠκεανοῖο. Δύω δέ μιν ἀμφὶς ἔχουσαι
Ἄρκτοι ἅμα τροχόωσι· τὸ δὴ καλέονται Ἅμαξαι ⁴.
Αἱ δ’ ἤτοι κεφαλὰς μὲν ἐπ’ ἰξύας αἰὲν ἔχουσιν
ἀλλήλων, αἰεὶ δὲ κατωμάδιαι φορέονται,
30 ἔμπαλιν εἰς ὤμους τετραμμέναι. Εἰ ἐτεὸν δή,
Κρήτηθεν κεῖναί γε Διὸς μεγάλου ἰότητι
οὐρανὸν εἰσανέβησαν, ὅ μιν τότε κουρίζοντα
Δίκτῃ ἐν εὐώδει, ὄρεος σχεδὸν Ἰδαίοιο,
ἄντρῳ ἐγκατέθεντο καὶ ἔτρεφον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν,
35 Δικταῖοι Κούρητες ὅτε Κρόνον ἐψεύδοντο.
Καὶ τὴν μὲν Κυνόσουραν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,
τὴν δ’ ἑτέρην Ἑλίκην. Ἑλίκῃ γε μὲν ἄνδρες Ἀχαιοὶ
εἰν ἁλὶ τεκμαίρονται ἵνα χρὴ νῆας ἀγινεῖν,
τῇ δ’ ἄρα Φοίνικες πίσυνοι περόωσι θάλασσαν.
40 Ἀλλ’ ἡ μὲν καθαρὴ καὶ ἐπιφράσσασθαι ἑτοίμη
πολλὴ φαινομένη Ἑλίκη πρώτης ἀπὸ νυκτός ⁵ ·
ἡ δ’ ἑτέρη ὀλίγη μέν, ἀτὰρ ναύτῃσιν ἀρείων·
μειοτέρῃ γὰρ πᾶσα περιστρέφεται στροφάλιγγι·
τῇ καὶ Σιδόνιοι ἰθύντατα ναυτίλλονται.

     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 midsts 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 [Ursa Major & Minor] 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 the 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.

45 Τὰς δὲ δι’ ἀμφοτέρας οἵη ποταμοῖο ἀπορρὼξ
εἰλεῖται, μέγα θαῦμα, Δράκων περί τ’ ἀμφί τ’ ἐαγὼς,
μυρίος· αἱ δ’ ἄρα οἱ σπείρης ἑκάτερθε φέρονται
Ἄρκτοι, κυανέου πεφυλαγμέναι ὠκεανοῖο.
Αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ἄλλης μὲν νεάτῃ ἐπιτείνεται οὐρῇ,
50 ἄλλην δὲ σπείρῃ περιτέμνεται· ἡ μέν οἱ ἄκρη
οὐρὴ πὰρ κεφαλὴν Ἑλίκης ἀποπαύεται Ἄρκτου·
σπείρῃ δ’ ἐν Κυνόσουρα κάρη ἔχει· ἡ δὲ κατ’ αὐτὴν
εἰλεῖται κεφαλὴν, καὶ οἱ ποδὸς ἔρχεται ἄχρις,
ἐκ δ’ αὖτις παλίνορσος ἀνατρέχει. Οὐ μὲν ἐκείνῳ
55 οἰόθεν, οὐδ’ οἶος κεφαλῇ ἐπιλάμπεται ἀστήρ,
ἀλλὰ δύο κροτάφοις, δύο δ’ ὄμμασιν· εἷς δ’ ὑπένερθεν
ἐσχατιὴν ἐπέχει γένυος δεινοῖο πελώρου.
Λοξὸν δ’ ἐστὶ κάρη, νεύοντι δὲ πάμπαν ἔοικεν
ἄκρην εἰς Ἑλίκης οὐρήν· μάλα δ’ ἐστὶ κατ’ ἰθὺ
60 καὶ στόμα καὶ κροτάφοιο τὰ δεξιὰ νειάτῳ οὐρῇ.
Κείνη που κεφαλὴ τῇ νίσσεται ἧχί περ ἄκραι
μίσγονται δύσιές τε καὶ ἀντολαὶ ἀλλήλῃσιν ⁶.
Τῇ δ’ αὐτοῦ μογέοντι κυλίνδεται ἀνδρὶ ἐοικὸς
εἴδωλον· τὸ μὲν οὔτις ἐπίσταται ἀμφαδὸν εἰπεῖν,
65 οὐδέ τινι κρέμαται κεῖνος πόνῳ, ἀλλά μιν αὕτως
Ἐν γόνασιν καλέουσι, τὸ δ’ αὖτ’ ἐν γούνασι κάμνον
ὀκλάζοντι ἔοικεν· ἀπ’ ἀμφοτέρων δέ οἱ ὤμων
χεῖρες ἀείρονται· τάνυταί γε μὲν ἄλλυδις ἄλλη
ὅσσον ἐπ’ ὄργυιαν· μέσσῳ δ’ ἔφ’ ὕπερθε καρήνῳ
70 δεξιτεροῦ ποδὸς ἄκρον ἔχει σκολιοῖο Δράκοντος.

     Between them, as it were the branch of a river, circles in wondrous way the Dragon [Draco], winding infinite around and about; on either side of his coil are borne along the Bears, that shun evermore 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 coiled 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 head 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 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.

Αὐτοῦ κἀκεῖνος Στέφανος ⁷, τὸν ἀγαυὸν ἔθηκε
σῆμ’ ἔμεναι Διόνυσος ἀποιχομένης Ἀριάδνης,
νώτῳ ὑποστρέφεται κεκμηότος εἰδώλοιο.
Νώτῳ μὲν Στέφανος πελάει, κεφαλῇ γε μὲν ἄκρῃ
75 σκέπτεο πὰρ κεφαλὴν Ὀφιούχεον, ἐκ δ’ ἄρ ἐκείνης
αὐτὸν ἐπιφράσσαιο φαεινόμενον Ὀφιοῦχον·
τοῖοί οἱ κεφαλῇ ὑποκείμενοι ἀγλαοὶ ὦμοι
εἴδονται. Κεῖνοί γε καὶ ἂν διχόμηνι σελήνῃ
εἰσωποὶ τελέθοιεν· ἀτὰρ χέρες οὐ μάλα ἶσαι·
80 λεπτοτέρη γὰρ τῇ καὶ τῇ ἐπιδέδρομεν αἴγλη,
ἀλλ’ ἔμπης κἀκεῖναι ἐπόψιαι· οὐ γὰρ ἐλαφραί.
Ἀμφότεραι δ’ Ὄφιος πεπονείαται ὅς ῥά τε μέσσον
δινεύει Ὀφιοῦχον· ὁ δ’ ἐμμενὲς εὖ ἐπαρηρὼς
ποσσὶν ἐπιθλίβει μέγα θηρίον ἀμφοτέροισιν,
85 Σκορπίον, ὀφθαλμῷ τε καὶ ἐν θώρηκι βεβηκὼς
ὀρθός, ἀτάρ οἱ Ὄφις γε δύο στρέφεται μετὰ χερσίν,
δεξιτερῇ ὀλίγος, σκαιῇ γε μὲν ὑψόθι πολλός,
καὶ δή οἱ Στεφάνῳ παρακέκλιται ἄκρα γένεια.
Νειόθι δὲ σπείρης μεγάλας ἐπιμαίεο Χηλάς ⁸.
90 Ἀλλ’ αἱ μὲν φαέων ἐπιμεμφέες, οὐδὲν ἀγαυαί.

     Here too that Crown [Corona], 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 [Libra]; they are scant of light and nowise brilliant.

Ἐξόπιθεν δ’ Ἑλίκης φέρεται ἐλάοντι ἐοικὼς
Ἀρκτοφυλαξ, τόν ῥ’ ἄνδρες ἐπικλείουσι Βοώτην,
οὕνεχ’ ἁμαξαίης ἐπαφώμενος εἴδεται Ἄρκτου,
καὶ μάλα πᾶς ἀρίδηλος· ὑπὸ ζώνῃ δέ οἱ αὐτὸς
95 ἐξ ἄλλων Ἀρκτοῦρος ἑλίσσεται ἀμφαδὸν ἀστήρ.
Ἀμφοτέροισι δὲ ποσσὶν ὑποσκέψαιο Βοώτου
Παρθένον ⁹, ἥ ῥ’ ἐν χειρὶ φέρει στάχυν αἰγλήεντα.
Εἴτ’ οὖν Ἀστραίου κείνη γένος, ὅν ῥά τέ φασιν
ἄστρων ἀρχαῖοι πάτερ’ ἔμμεναι, εἴτε τευ ἄλλου,
100 εὔκηλος φορέοιτο. Λόγος γε μὲν ἐντρέχει ἄλλος
ἀνθρώποις, ὡς δῆθεν ἐπιχθονίη πάρος ἦεν,
ἤρχετο δ’ ἀνθρώπων κατεναντίη, οὐδέποτ’ ἀνδρῶν
οὐδέποτ’ ἀρχαίων ἠνήνατο φῦλα γυναικῶν
ἀλλ’ ἀναμὶξ ἐκάθητο καὶ ἀθανάτη περ ἐοῦσα,
105 καὶ ἑ Δίκην καλέεσκον· ἀγειρομένη δὲ γέροντας
ἠέ που εἰν ἀγορῇ ἢ εὐρυχόρῳ ἐν ἀγυιῇ,
δημοτέρας ἤειδεν ἐπισπέρχουσα θέμιστας.
Οὔπω λευγαλέου τότε νείκεος ἠπίσταντο,
οὐδὲ διακρίσιος περιμεμφέος, οὐδὲ κυδοιμοῦ·
110 αὕτως δ’ ἔζωον. Χαλεπὴ δ’ ἀπέκειτο θάλασσα,
καὶ βίον οὔπω νῆες ἀπόπροθεν ἠγίνεσκον,
ἀλλὰ βόες καὶ ἄροτρα καὶ αὐτὴ πότνια λαῶν
μυρία πάντα παρεῖχε Δίκη δώτειρα δικαίων.

     Behind Helice, like to one that drives, is borne along Arctophylax whom men also call Boötes, 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 Boötes mark the Maiden [Virgo], who in her hands bears the gleaming Ear of Corn [Spica]. 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.

Τόφρ’ ἦν ὄφρ’ ἔτι γαῖα γένος χρύσειον ἔφερβεν,
115 ἀργυρέῳ δ’ ὀλίγη τε καὶ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἑτοίμη
ὡμίλει, ποθέουσα παλαιῶν ἤθεα λαῶν.
Ἀλλ’ ἔμπης ἔτι κεῖνο κατ’ ἀργύρεον γένος ἦεν·
ἤρχετο δ’ ἐξ ὀρέων ὑποδείελος ἠχηέντων
μουνάξ, οὐ δὴ τῷ ἐπεμίσγετο μειλίχιοισιν·
120 ἀλλ’ ὁπότ’ ἀνθρώπων μεγάλας πλήσαιτο κολώνας,
ἠπείλει δὴ ἔπειτα καθαπτομένη κακότητος,
οὐδ’ ἔτ’ ἔφη εἰσωπὸς ἐλεύσεσθαι καλέουσιν.
Οἵην χρύσειοι πατέρες γενεὴν ἐλίποντο,
χειροτέρην. Ὑμεῖς δὲ κακώτερα τέκνα τεκεῖσθε.
125 Kαὶ δή που πόλεμοι, καὶ δὴ καὶ ἀνάρσιον αἷμα
ἔσσεται ἀνθρώποισι, κακὸν δ’ ἐπικείσεται ἄλγος.
Ὡς εἰποῦσ’ ὀρέων ἐπεμαίετο, τοὺς δ’ ἄρα λαοὺς
εἰς αὐτὴν ἔτι πάντας ἐλίμπανε παπταίνοντας.
Ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ κἀκεῖνοι ἐτέθνασαν, οἱ δ’ ἐγένοντο,
130 χαλκείη γενεή, προτέρων ὀλοώτεροι ἄνδρες,
οἳ πρῶτοι κακοεργὸν ἐχαλκεύσαντο μάχαιραν
εἰνοδίην, πρῶτοι δὲ βοῶν ἐπάσαντ’ ἀροτήρων,
καὶ τότε μισήσασα Δίκη κείνων γένος ἀνδρῶν
ἔπταθ’ ὑπουρανίη, ταύτην δ’ ἄρα νάσσατο χώρην,
135 ἧχί περ ἐννυχίη ἔτι φαίνεται ἀνθρώποισι
Παρθένος ἐγγὺς ἐοῦσα πολυσκέπτοιο Βοώτου.

     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 ways of the men of old. Yet in that 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 Boötes.

Τῆς ὑπὲρ ἀμφοτέρων ὤμων εἱλίσσεται ἀστὴρ
[δεξιτερῇ πτέρυγι ¹⁰ · Προτρυγητὴρ δ’ αὖτε καλεῖται]
τόσσος μὲν μεγέθει, τοίῃ δ’ ἐγκείμενος αἴγλῃ
140 οἷος καὶ μεγάλης οὐρὴν ὑποφαίνεται Ἄρκτου·
δεινὴ γὰρ κείνη, δεινοὶ δέ οἱ ἐγγύθεν εἰσὶν
ἀστέρες· οὐκ ἂν τούς γε ἰδὼν ἐπιτεκμήραιο,
οἷός οἱ πρὸ ποδῶν φέρεται καλός τε μέγας τε,
εἷς μὲν ὑπωμαίων, εἷς δ’ ἰξυόθεν κατιόντων,
145 ἄλλος δ’ οὐραίοις ὑπὸ γούνασιν. Ἀλλ’ ἄρα πάντες
ἁπλόοι ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος ἀνωνυμίῃ φορέονται.
Κρατὶ δέ οἱ Δίδυμοι ¹¹, μέσσῃ δ’ ὑπὸ Καρκίνος ἐστίν·
ποσσὶ δ’ ὑπ’ ἀμφοτέροισι Λέων ὑπὸ καλὰ φαείνει.
Ἔνθα μὲν ἠελίοιο θερείταταί εἰσι κέλευθοι·
150 αἱ δέ που ἀσταχύων κενεαὶ φαίνονται ἄρουραι
ἠελίου τὰ πρῶτα συνερχομένοιο Λέοντι.
Τῆμος καὶ κελάδοντες ἐτήσιαι εὐρέι πόντῳ
ἀθρόοι ἐμπίπτουσιν, ὁ δὲ πλόος οὐκέτι κώπαις
ὥριος. Εὐρεῖαί μοι ἀρέσκοιεν τότε νῆες,
155 εἰς ἄνεμον δὲ τὰ πηδὰ κυβερνητῆρες ἔχοιεν.

     Above both her shoulders at her right wing wheels a star, whereof the name is the Vintager [Vindemiator] – 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, 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 [Leo] 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.

Εἰ δέ τοι Ἡνίοχόν ¹² τε καὶ ἀστέρας Ἡνιόχοιο
σκέπτεσθαι δοκέοι, καὶ τοι φάτις ἤλυθεν Αἰγὸς
αὐτῆς ἠδ’ Ἐρίφων, οἵ τ’ εἰν ἁλὶ πορφυρούσῃ
πολλάκις ἐσκέψαντο κεδαιομένους ἀνθρώπους,
160 αὐτὸν μέν μιν ἅπαντα μέγαν Διδύμων ἐπὶ λαιᾷ
κεκλιμένον δήεις, Ἑλίκης δέ οἱ ἄκρα κάρηνα
ἀντία δινεύει, σκαιῷ δ’ ἐπελήλαται ὤμῳ
Αἲξ ἱερή, τὴν μέν τε λόγος Διὶ μαζὸν ἐπισχεῖν·
Ὠλενίην δέ μιν Αἶγα Διὸς καλέουσ’ ὑποφῆται.
165 Ἀλλ’ ἡ μὲν πολλή τε καὶ ἀγλαή· οἱ δέ οἱ αὐτοῦ
λεπτὰ φαείνονται Ἔριφοι καρπὸν κάτα χειρός.
Πὰρ ποσὶ δ’ Ἡνιόχου κεραὸν πεπτηότα Ταῦρον
μαίεσθαι· τὰ δέ οἱ μάλ’ ἐοικότα σήματα κεῖται·
τοίη ἡ κεφαλὴ διακέκριται· οὐδέ τις ἄλλῳ
170 σήματι τεκμήραιτο κάρη βοός, οἷά μιν αὐτοὶ
ἀστέρες ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἑλισσόμενοι τυπόωσιν ¹³.
Καὶ λίην κείνων ὄνομ’ εἴρεται, οὐδέ τοι αὕτως
νήκουστοι Ὑάδες· ταὶ μέν ῥ’ ἐπὶ παντὶ μετώπῳ
Ταύρου βεβλέαται, λαιοῦ δὲ κεράατος ἄκρον
175 καὶ πόδα δεξιτερὸν παρακειμένου Ἡνιόχοιο
εἷς ἀστὴρ ἐπέχει, συνεληλάμενοι δὲ φέρονται·
ἀλλ’ αἰεὶ Ταῦρος προφερέστερος Ἡνιόχοιο
εἰς ἑτέρην καταβῆναι, ὁμηλυσίῃ περ ἀνελθὼν.

     But if it be thy wish to mark Charioteer [Auriga] and his stars, and if the fame has come to thee of the Goat [Capella] 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 [Taurus]. 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. Oft-spoken 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.

Οὐδ’ ἄρα Κηφῆος μογερὸν γένος Ἰασίδαο
180 αὕτως ἄρρητον κατακείσεται· ἀλλ’ ἄρα καὶ τῶν
οὐρανὸν εἰς ὄνομ’ ἦλθεν, ἐπεὶ Διὸς ἐγγύθεν ἦσαν.
Αὐτὸς μὲν κατόπισθεν ἐὼν Κυνοσουρίδος Ἄρκτου
Κηφεὺς ἀμφοτέρας χεῖρας τανύοντι ἔοικεν.
Ἴση οἱ στάθμη νεάτης ἀποτείνεται οὐρῆς ¹⁴
185 ἐς πόδας ἀμφοτέρους, ὅσση ποδὸς ἐς πόδα τείνει·
αὐτὰρ ἀπὸ ζώνης ὀλίγον κε μεταβλέψειας
πρώτης ἱέμενος καμπῆς μεγάλοιο Δράκοντος.
Τοῦ δ’ ἄρα δαιμονίη προκυλίνδεται οὐ μάλα πολλὴ
νυκτὶ φαεινομένη παμμήνιδι Κασσιέπεια·
190 οὐ γάρ μιν πολλοὶ καὶ ἐπημοιβοὶ γανόωσιν
ἀστέρες οἵ μιν πᾶσαν ἐπιρρήδην στιχόωσιν.
Οἵῃ δὲ κληῖδι θύρην ἔντοσθ’ ἀραρυῖαν ¹⁵
δικλίδ’ ἐπιπλήσσοντες ἀνακρούουσιν ὀχῆας,
τοῖοι οἱ μουνὰξ ὑποκείμενοι ἰνδάλλονται
195 ἀστέρες, ἡ δ’ αὕτως ὀλίγων ἀποτείνεται ὤμων
ὄργυιαν. Φαίης κεν ἀνιάζειν ἐπὶ παιδί.
Αὐτοῦ γὰρ κἀκεῖνο κυλίνδεται αἰνὸν ἄγαλμα
Ἀνδρομέδης ὑπὸ μητρὶ κεκασμένον. Οὔ σε μάλ’ οἴω
νύκτα περισκέψεσθαι, ἵν’ αὐτίκα μᾶλλον ἴδηαι·
200 τοίη οἱ κεφαλή, τοῖοι δέ οἱ ἀμφοτέρωθεν
ὦμοι καὶ πόδες ἀκρότατοι καὶ ζώματα πάντα.
Ἀλλ’ ἔμπης κἀκεῖθι διωλενίη τετάνυσται,
δεσμὰ δέ οἱ κεῖται καὶ ἐν οὐρανῷ· αἱ δ’ ἀνέχονται
αὐτοῦ πεπταμέναι πάντ’ ἤματα χεῖρες ἐκείνῃ.

     Nor all unnamed shall rest he 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.

205 Ἀλλ’ ἄρα οἱ καὶ κρατὶ πέλωρ ἐπελήλαται Ἵππος ¹⁶
γαστέρι νειαίρῃ· ξυνὸς δ’ ἐπιλάμπεται ἀστὴρ
τοῦ μὲν ἐπ’ ὀμφαλίῳ, τῆς δ’ ἐσχατόωντι καρήνω.
Οἱ δ’ ἄρ ἔτι τρεῖς ἄλλοι ἐπὶ πλευράς τε καὶ ὤμους ¹⁷
Ἵππου δεικανόωσι διασταδὸν ἶσα πέλεθρα,
210 καλοὶ καὶ μεγάλοι· κεφαλὴ δέ οἱ οὐδὲν ὁμοίη,
οὐδ’ αὐχὴν δολιχός περ ἐών· ἀτὰρ ἔσχατος ἀστὴρ
αἰθομένης γένυος καί κεν προτέροις ἐρίσειεν
τέτρασιν οἵ μιν ἔχουσι περίσκεπτοι μάλ’ ἐόντες.
Οὐδ’ ὅ γε τετράπος ἐστίν· ἀπ’ ὀμφαλίοιο γὰρ ἄκρου
215 μεσσόθεν ἡμιτελὴς περιτέλλεται ἱερὸς Ἵππος.
Κεῖνον δὴ καί φασι καθ’ ὑψηλοῦ Ἑλικῶνος
καλὸν ὕδωρ ἀγαγεῖν εὐαλδέος Ἵππου κρήνης.
Οὐ γάρ πω Ἑλικὼν ἄκρος κατελείβετο πηγαῖς·
ἀλλ’ Ἵππος μιν ἔτυψε· τὸ δ’ ἀθρόον αὐτόθεν ὕδωρ
220 ἐξέχυτο πληγῇ προτέρου ποδός· οἱ δὲ νομῆες
πρῶτοι κεῖνο ποτὸν διεφήμισαν Ἵππου κρήνην.
Ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν πέτρης ἀπολείβεται, οὐδέ ποτ’ αὐτὸ
Θεσπιέων ἀνδρῶν ἑκὰς ὄψεαι· αὐτὰρ ὁ Ἵππος
ἐν Διὸς εἰλεῖται, καί τοι πάρα θηήσασθαι.

     Beneath her head is spread the huge Horse [Pegasus], touching her with his lower belly. One common star 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 navel, 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 shalt 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.

225 Αὐτοῦ καὶ Κριοῖο θοώταταί εἰσι κέλευθοι,
ὅς ῥά τε καὶ μήκιστα διωκόμενος περὶ κύκλα
οὐδὲν ἀφαυρότερον τροχάει Κυνοσουρίδος Ἄρκτου.
Αὐτὸς μὲν νωθὴς καὶ ἀνάστερος οἷα σελήνῃ
σκέψασθαι, ζώνῃ δ’ ἂν ὅμως ἐπιτεκμήραιο
230 Ἀνδρομέδης· ὀλίγον γὰρ ὑπ’ αὐτὴν ἐστήρικται,
μεσσόθι δὲ τρίβει μέγαν οὐρανόν, ἧχί περ ἄκραι ¹⁸
Χηλαὶ καὶ ζώνη περιτέλλεται Ὠρίωνος.
Ἔστι δέ τοι καὶ ἔτ’ ἄλλο τετυγμένον ἐγγύθι σῆμα ¹⁹
νειόθεν Ἀνδρομέδης, τὸ δ’ ἐπὶ τρισὶν ἐστάθμηται
235 Δελτωτὸν πλευρῇσιν, ἰσαιομένῃσιν ἐοικὸς
ἀμφοτέρῃς, ἡ δ’ οὔτι τόση, μάλα δ’ ἐστὶν ἑτοίμη
εὑρέσθαι· περὶ γὰρ πολέων εὐάστερός ἐστιν.
Τῶν ὀλίγον Κριοῦ νοτιώτεροι ἀστέρες εἰσίν.
Οἱ δ’ ἄρ’ ἔτι προτέρω, ἔτι δ’ ἐν προμολῇσι νότοιο
240 Ἰχθύες, ἀλλ’ αἰεὶ ἕτερος προφερέστερος ἄλλου,
καὶ μᾶλλον βορέαο νέον κατιόντος ἀκούει.
Ἀμφοτέρων δέ σφεων ἀποτείνεται ἠύτε δεσμὰ ²⁰
οὐραίων, ἑκάτερθεν ἐπισχερὼ εἰς ἓν ἰόντα.
Καὶ τὰ μὲν εἷς ἀστὴρ ἐπέχει καλός τε μέγας τε,
245 ὅν ῥά τε καὶ Σύνδεσμον Ὑπουράνιον καλέουσιν.

     There too are the most swift courses of the Ram [Aries], 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 thou canst trace him out yet by the belt of Andromeda. 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 [Triangulum], 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 [Pisces]. 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 Tails.

Ἀνδρομέδης δέ τοι ὦμος ἀριστερὸς Ἰχθύος ἔστω
σῆμα βορειοτέρου· μάλα γὰρ νύ οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἐστίν,
ἀμφότεροι δὲ πόδες γαμβροῦ ἐπισημαίνοιεν
Περσέος, οἵ ῥά οἱ αἰὲν ἐπωμάδιοι φορέονται.
250 Αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ἐν βορέω φέρεται περιμήκετος ἄλλων ²¹.
Καί οἱ δεξιτερὴ μὲν ἐπὶ κλισμὸν τετάνυσται
πενθερίου δίφροιο· τὰ δ’ ἐν ποσὶν οἷα διώκων
ἴχνια μηκύνει κεκονιμένος ἐν Διὶ πατρί.
Ἄγχι δέ οἱ σκαιῆς ἐπιγουνίδος ἤλιθα πᾶσαι ²²
255 Πληιάδες φορέονται, ὁ δ’ οὐ μάλα πολλὸς ἁπάσας
χῶρος ἔχει, καὶ δ’ αὐταὶ ἐπισκέψασθαι ἀφαυραί.
Ἑπτάποροι δὴ ταί γε μετ’ ἀνθρώπους ὑδέονται,
ἓξ οἶαί περ ἐοῦσαι ἐπόψιαι ὀφθαλμοῖσιν.
Οὐ μέν πως ἀπόλωλεν ἀπευθὴς ἐκ Διὸς ἀστὴρ
260 ἐξ οὗ καὶ γενεῆθεν ἀκούομεν, ἀλλὰ μάλ’ αὕτως
εἴρεται· ἑπτὰ δ’ ἐκεῖναι ἐπιρρήδην καλέονται,
Ἀλκυόνη, Μερόπη τε Κελαινώ τ’ Ἠλἐκτρη τε
καὶ Στερόπη καὶ Τηϋγέτη καὶ πότνια Μαῖα.
Αἱ μὲν ὁμῶς ὀλίγαι καὶ ἀφεγγέες, ἀλλ’ ὀνομασταὶ
265 ἦρι καὶ ἑσπερίαι, Ζεὺς δ’ αἴτιος, εἱλίσσονται,
ὅς σφισι καὶ θέρεος καὶ χείματος ἀρχομένοιο
σημαίνειν ἐπένευσεν ἐπερχομένου τ’ ἀρότοιο.

     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 Winter and of the coming of the ploughing-time.

Καὶ χέλυς ἥδ’ ὀλίγη, τὴν δ’ ἆρ’ ἔτι καὶ παρὰ λίκνῳ
Ἑρμείης ἐτόρησε, Λύρην δέ μιν εἶπε λέγεσθαι,
270 κὰδ δ’ ἔθετο προπάροιθεν ἀπευθέος εἰδώλοιο
οὐρανὸν εἰσαγαγών, τὸ δ’ ἐπὶ σκελέεσσι πέτηλον
γούνατί οἱ σκαιῷ πελάει· κεφαλή γε μὲν ἄκρη
ἀντιπέρην Ὄρνιθος ἑλίσσεται· ἡ δὲ μεσηγὺ
ὀρνιθέης κεφαλῆς καὶ γούνατος ἐστήρικται.
275 Ἤτοι γὰρ καὶ Ζηνὶ παρατρέχει αἰόλος Ὄρνις,
ἄλλα μὲν ἠερόεις, τὰ δέ οἱ ἐπὶ τετρήχυνται
ἄστρασιν οὔτι λίην μεγάλοις, ἀτὰρ οὐ μὲν ἀφαυροῖς.
Αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ εὐδιόωντι ποτὴν ὄρνιθι ἐοικὼς
οὔριος εἰς ἑτέρην φέρεται, κατὰ δεξιὰ χειρὸς
280 Κηφείης ταρσοῖο τὰ δεξιὰ πείρατα τείνων.
λαιῇ δὲ πτέρυγι σκαρθμὸς παρακέκλιται Ἵππου.
Τὸν δὲ μετὰ σκαίροντα δύ’ Ἰχθύες ἀμφινέμονται
Ἵππον· πὰρ δ’ ἄρα οἱ κεφαλῆι χεὶρ Ὑδροχόοιο
δεξιτερὴ τάνυται, ὁ δ’ ὀπίστερος Αἰγοκερῆος
285 τέλλεται ²³· αὐτὰρ ὅ γε πρότερος καὶ νειόθι μᾶλλον
κέκλιται Αἰγόκερως, ἵνα τε τρέπετ’ ἠελίου ἴς.
Μὴ κείνωι ἐνὶ μηνὶ περικλύζοιο θαλάσσῃ,
πεπταμένῳ πελάγει κεχρημένος. Οὔτε κεν ἠοῖ
πολλὴν πειρήνειας, ἐπεὶ ταχινώταταί εἰσιν,
290 οὔτ’ ἄν τοι νυκτὸς πεφοβημένωι ἐγγύθεν ἠὼς
ἔλθοι καὶ μάλα πολλὰ βοωμένῳ, οἱ δ’ ἀλεγεινοὶ
τῆμος ἐπιρρήσσουσι νότοι, ὁπότ’ Αἰγοκερῆϊ
συμφέρετ’ ἠέλιος. Τότε δὲ κρύος ἐκ Διός ἐστι
ναύτῃ μαλκιόωντι κακώτερον. Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης

     Yonder, too, is the tiny Tortoise, which, while still beside his cradle, Hermes pierced for stings and bade it be called the Lyre [Lyra], 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 [Cygnus]. 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 Hydrochoüs [Aquarius]. He is behind Aegoceros [Capricorn], 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 sped the dawns; nor at night amid they 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.

295 ἤδη πάντ’ ἐνιαυτὸν ὑπὸ στείρῃσι θάλασσα
πορφύρει· ἴκελοι δὲ κολυμβίσιν αἰθυίῃσιν
πολλάκις ἐκ νηῶν πέλαγος περιπαπταίνοντες
ἥμεθ’ ἐπ’ αἰγιαλοὺς τετραμμένοι· οἱ δ’ ἔτι πόρσω
κλύζονται· ὀλίγον δὲ διὰ ξύλον ἄϊδ’ ἐρύκει.
300 Καὶ δ’ ἂν ἔτι προτέρω γε θαλάσσῃ πολλὰ πεπονθὼς ²⁴,
Τόξον ὅτ’ ἠέλιος καίῃ καὶ ῥύτορα Τόξου,
ἑσπέριος κατάγοιο, πεποιθὼς οὐκέτι νυκτί.
Σῆμα δέ τοι κείνης ὥρης καὶ μηνὸς ἐκείνου ²⁵
Σκορπίος ἀντέλλων εἴη πυμάτης ἔτι νυκτός.
305 Ἤτοι γὰρ μέγα τόξον ἀνέλκεται ἐγγύθι κέντρου
Τοξευτής· ὀλίγον δὲ παροίτερος ἵσταται αὐτοῦ
Σκορπίος ἀντέλλων, ὁ δ’ ἀνέρχεται αὐτίκα μᾶλλον.
Τῆμος καὶ κεφαλὴ Κυνοσουρίδος ἀκρόθι νυκτὸς
ὕψι μάλα τροχάει· ὁ δὲ δύεται ἠῶθι πρὸ
310 ἀθρόος Ὠρίων, Κηφεὺς δ’ ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἐπ’ ἰξύν ²⁶.
Ἔστι δέ τοι προτέρω βεβλημένος ἄλλος Ὀιστὸς
αὐτὸς ἄτερ τόξου· ὁ δέ οἱ παραπέπταται Ὄρνις
ἀσσότερος βορέω, σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἄλλος ἄηται ²⁷
οὐ τόσσος μεγέθει, χαλεπός γε μὲν ἐξ ἁλὸς ἐλθὼν
315 νυκτὸς ἀπερχομένης· καί μιν καλέουσιν Ἀητόν.

     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 sea, when the Sun scorches the Bow and the Wielder of the Bow [Saggitarius], trust no longer in the night but put to shore in the evening. Of that season and that month let the rising of 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 [Scorpio] 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 [Sagitta] shot – alone without a bow. By it is the Bird [Cygnus] outspread nearer the North, but hard at hand another bird tosses in storm, of smaller size but cruel in its rising from the sea when the night is waning, and men call it the Eagle [Aquila].

Δελφὶς δ’ οὐ μάλα πολλὸς ἐπιτρέχει Αἰγοκερῆϊ ²⁸
μεσσόθεν ἠερόεις· τὰ δέ οἱ περὶ τέσσαρα κεῖται
γλήνεα, παρβολάδην δύο πὰρ δύο πεπτηῶτα.
Καὶ τὰ μὲν οὖν βορέω καὶ ἀλήσιος ἠελίοιο
320 μεσσηγὺς κέχυται· τὰ δὲ νειόθι τέλλεται ἄλλα
πολλὰ μεταξὺ νότοιο καὶ ἠελίοιο κελεύθου.
Λοξὸς μὲν Ταύροιο τομῇ ὑποκέκλιται αὐτὸς
Ὠρίων. Μὴ κεῖνον ὅτις καθαρῇ ἐνὶ νυκτὶ
ὑψοῦ πεπτηῶτα παρέρχεται, ἄλλα πεποίθοι
325 οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδὼν προφερέστερα θηήσασθαι.
τοῖός οἱ καὶ φρουρὸς ἀειρομένωι ὑπὸ νώτῳ ²⁹
φαίνεται ἀμφοτέροισι Κύων ἐπὶ ποσσὶ βεβηκώς,
ποικίλος, ἀλλ’ οὐ πάντα πεφασμένος· ἀλλὰ κατ’ αὐτὴν
γαστέρα κυάνεος περιτέλλεται, ἡ δέ οἱ ἄκρη
330 ἀστέρι βέβληται δεινῷ γένυς, ὅς ῥα μάλιστα
ὀξέα σειριάει· καί μιν καλέουσ’ ἄνθρωποι
Σείριον. Οὐκέτι κεῖνον ἅμ’ ἠελίῳ ἀνίοντα
φυταλιαὶ ψεύδονται ἀναλδέα φυλλιόωσαι·
ῥεῖα γὰρ οὖν ἔκρινε διὰ στίχας ὀξὺς ἀΐξας,
335 καὶ τὰ μὲν ἔρρωσεν, τῶν δὲ φλόον ὤλεσε πάντα.
Κείνου καὶ κατιόντος ἀκούομεν, οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
σῆμ’ ἔμεναι μελέεσσιν ἐλαφρότεροι περίκεινται.

     Over Aegoceros floats the Dolphin [Delphinus] 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 [Ecliptic], 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, gazing 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 [Canis Major] 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 other s he blights the bark utterly. Of him too at this setting are we aware, but the other stars of the Dog are set round with fainter light to mark his legs.

Ποσσὶν δ’ Ὠρίωνος ὑπ’ ἀμφοτέροισι Λαγωὸς
ἐμμενὲς ἤματα πάντα διώκεται· αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ αἰεὶ
340 Σείριος ἐξόπιθεν φέρεται μετιόντι ἐοικὼς,
καὶ οἱ ἐπαντέλλει, καί μιν κατιόντα δοκεύει.
Ἡ δὲ Κυνὸς μεγάλοιο κατ’ οὐρὴν ἕλκεται Ἀργὼ
πρυμνόθεν· οὐ γὰρ τῇ γε κατὰ χρέος εἰσὶ κέλευθοι,
ἀλλ’ ὄπιθεν φέρεται τετραμμένη, οἷα καὶ αὐταὶ
345 νῆες, ὅτ’ ἤδη ναῦται ἐπιστρέψωσι κορώνην
ὅρμον ἐσερχόμενοι, τὴν δ’ αὐτίκα πᾶς ἀνακόπτει
νῆα, παλιρροθίη δὲ καθάπτεται ἠπείροιο·
ὣς ἥ γε πρύμνηθεν Ἰησονὶς ἕλκεται Ἀργὼ.
Καὶ τὰ μὲν ἠερίη καὶ ἀνάστερος ἄχρι παρ’ αὐτὸν
350 ἱστὸν ἀπὸ πρῴρης φέρεται, τὰ δὲ πᾶσα φαεινή,
καί οἱ πηδάλιον κεχαλασμένον ἐστήρικται
ποσσὶν ὑπ’ οὐραίοισι Κυνὸς προπάροιθεν ἰόντος.
Τὴν δὲ καὶ οὐκ ὀλίγον περ ἀπόπροθι πεπτηυῖαν
Ἀνδρομέδην μέγα Κῆτος ἐπερχόμενον κατεπείγει.
355 Ἡ μὲν γὰρ Θρῄκος ὑπὸ πνοιῇ βορέαο
κεκλιμένη φέρεται, τὸ δέ οἱ νότος ἐχθρὸν ἀγινεῖ
Κῆτος ὑπὸ Κριῷ τε καὶ Ἰχθύσιν ἀμφοτέροισι
βαιὸν ὑπὲρ Ποταμοῦ βεβλημένον ἀστερόεντος.

     Beneath both feet of Orion is the Hare [Lepus] pursued continually through all time, while Seirius behind 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 they 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, though she cowers a good way off, is pressed by the rush of the mighty Monster of the Sea [Cetus]. For her path lies under the blast 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.

Οἶον γὰρ κἀκεῖνο θεῶν ὑπὸ ποσσὶ φορεῖται
360 λείψανον Ἠριδανοῖο, πολυκλαύστου ποταμοῖο.
Καὶ τὸ μὲν Ὠρίωνος ὑπὸ σκαιὸν πόδα τείνει·
δεσμοὶ δ’ οὐράνιοι, τοις Ἰχθύες ἄκροι ἔχονται,
ἄμφω συμφορέονται ἀπ’ οὐραίων κατιόντες,
Κητείης δ’ ὄπιθεν λοφιῆς ἐπιμὶξ φορέονται
365 εἰς ἓν ἐλαυνόμενοι· ἑνὶ δ’ ἀστέρι πειραίνονται,
Κήτεος ὃς κείνου πρώτηι ἐπίκειται ἀκάνθῃ.
Οἱ δ’ ὀλίγῳ μέτρῳ, ὀλίγῃ δ’ ἐγκείμενοι αἴγλῃ,
μεσσόθι πηδαλίου καὶ Κήτεος εἱλίσσονται,
γλαυκοῦ πεπτηῶτες ὑπὸ πλευρῇσι Λαγωοῦ,
370 νώνυμοι· οὐ γὰρ τοί γε τετυγμένου εἰδώλοιο
βεβλέαται μελέεσσιν ἐοικότες, οἷά τε πολλὰ
ἑξείης στιχόωντα παρέρχεται αὐτὰ κέλευθα
ἀνομένων ἐτέων, τά τις ἀνδρῶν οὐκέτ’ ἐόντων
ἐφράσατ’ ἠδ’ ἐνόησεν ἅπαντ’ ὀνομαστὶ καλέσσαι
375 ἤλιθα μορφώσας· οὐ γὰρ κ’ ἐδυνήσατο πάντων
οἰόθι κεκριμένων ὄνομ’ εἰπέμεν οὐδὲ δαῆναι·
πολλοὶ γὰρ πάντη, πολέων δ’ ἐπὶ ἶσα πέλονται
μέτρα τε καὶ χροιή, πάντες γε μὲν ἀμφιέλικτοι.
Τῷ καὶ ὁμηγερέας οἱ ἐείσατο ποιήσασθαι
380 ἀστέρας, ὄφρ’ ἐπιτὰξ ἄλλῳ παρακείμενος ἄλλος
εἴδεα σημαίνοιεν. Ἄφαρ δ’ ὀνομαστὰ γένοντο
ἄστρα, καὶ οὐκέτι νῦν ὑπὸ θαύματι τέλλεται ἀστήρ·
ἀλλ’ οἱ μὲν καθαροῖς ἐναρηρότες εἰδώλοισι
φαίνονται, τὰ δ’ ἔνερθε διωκομένοιο Λαγωοῦ
385 πάντα μάλ’ ἠερόεντα καὶ οὐκ ὀνομαστὰ φέρονται.

     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 Fishes’ tails are held, reach form their tails and join 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.

Νειόθι δ’ Αἰγοκερῆος, ὑπὸ πνοιῇσι νότοιο,
Ἰχθῦς ἐς Κῆτος τετραμμένος αἰωρεῖται ³⁰
οἶος ἀπὸ προτέρων, Νότιον δέ ἑ κικλήσκουσιν.
Ἄλλοι δὲ σπορόδην ὑποκείμενοι Ὑδροχοῆι
390 Κήτεος αἰθερίοιο καὶ Ἰχθύος ἠερέθονται
μέσσοι νωχελέες καὶ ἀνώνυμοι, ἐγγύθι δέ σφέων,
δεξιτερῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἀγαυοῦ Ὑδροχόοιο,
οἵη τίς τ’ ὀλίγη χύσις ὕδατος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
σκιδναμένου, χαροποὶ καὶ ἀναλδέες εἱλίσσονται.
395 Ἐν δέ σφιν δύο μᾶλλον ἐειδόμενοι φορέονται
ἀστέρες οὔτε τι πολλὸν ἀπήοροι οὔτε μάλ’ ἐγγύς,
εἷς μὲν ὑπ’ ἀμφοτέροισι ποσὶν καλός τε μέγας τε
Ὑδροχόου, ὁ δὲ κυανέου ὑπὸ Κήτεος οὐρῇ·
τοὺς πάντας καλέουσιν Ὕδωρ. Ὀλίγοι γε μὲν ἄλλοι
400 νειόθι Τοξευτῆρος ὑπὸ προτέροισι πόδεσσιν
ἄγνωτοι κύκλῳ περιηγέες εἱλίσσονται.
Αὐτὰρ ὑπ’ αἰθομένῳ κέντρῳ τέραος μεγάλοιο
Σκορπίου, ἄγχι νότοιο, Θυτήριον αἰωρεῖται.
Τοῦ δ’ ἤτοι ὀλίγον μὲν ἐπὶ χρόνον ὑψόθ’ ἐόντος
405 πεύσεαι· ἀντιπέρην γὰρ ἀείρεται Ἀρκτούροιο.

     Below Aegoceros before the blasts of the South Wind swims a Fish, facing Cetus, alone and part from the former Fishes; and him men call the Southern Fish [Piscis Australis]. Other stars, sparsely set beneath Hydrochoüs [Aquarius], hang on high between Cetus in the heavens and the Fish, dim and nameless, and near them on the right hand of bright Hydrochoüs, like some sprinked 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 Hydrochoüs, 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, a tuned 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 [Ara]. Brief is the space thou wilt behold it above the horizon, for it rises over against Arcturus.

Καὶ τῷ μὲν μάλα πάγχυ μετήοροί εἰσι κέλευθοι
Ἀρκτούρῳ, τὸ δὲ θᾶσσον ὑφ’ ἑσπερίην ἅλα νεῖται.
Ἀλλ’ ἄρα καὶ περὶ κεῖνο Θυτήριον ἀρχαίη Νύξ ³¹,
ἀνθρώπων κλαίουσα πόνον, χειμῶνος ἔθηκεν
410 εἰναλίου μέγα σῆμα· κεδαιόμεναι γὰρ ἐκείνῃ
νῆες ἀπὸ φρενός εἰσι· τὰ δ’ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλα πιφαύσκει
σήματ’, ἐποικτείρουσα πολυρροθίους ἀνθρώπους.
Τῷ μή μοι πελάγει νεφέων εἰλυμένῳ, ἄλλων
εὔχεο μεσσόθι κεῖνο φανήμεναι οὐρανῷ ἄστρον,
415 αὐτὸ μὲν ἀνέφελόν τε καὶ ἀγλαόν, ὕψι δὲ μᾶλλον
κυμαίνοντι νέφει πεπιεσμένον, οἷά τε πολλὰ
θλίβετ’ ἀναστέλλοντος ὀπωρινοῦ βορέαο.
Πολλάκι γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο νότῳ ἔπι σῆμα τιτύσκει
Νὺξ αὐτὴ μογεροῖσι χαριζομένη ναύτῃσιν.
420 Οἱ δ’ εἰ μέν κε πίθωνται ἐναίσιμα σημαινούσῃ,
αἶψα δὲ κοῦφά τε πάντα καὶ ἄρτια ποιήσωνται,
αὐτίκ’ ἐλαφρότερος πέλεται πόνος· εἰ δέ κε νηὶ
ὑψόθεν ἐμπλήξῃ δεινὴ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα
αὕτως ἀπρόφατος, τὰ δὲ λαίφεα πάντα ταράξῃ,
425 ἄλλοτε μὲν καὶ πάμπαν ὑπόβρυχα ναυτίλλονται,
ἄλλοτε δ’, αἴ κε Διὸς παρανισσομένοιο τύχωσιν
εὐχόμενοι, βορέω δὲ παραστράψῃ ἀνέμοιο,
πολλὰ μάλ’ ὀτλήσαντες ὅμως πάλιν ἐσκέψαντο
ἀλλήλους ἐπὶ νῆα. Νότον δ’ ἐπὶ σήματι τούτῳ
430 δείδιθι, μέχρι βορῆος ἀπαστράψαντος ἴδηαι.

     High runs the path of Arcturus, but sooner passes the Altar to the western sea. But the Altar even beyond aught else hath ancient Night, weeping the woe of men, set to be a mighty sing 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 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.

Εἰ δέ κεν ἑσπερίης μὲν ἁλὸς Κενταύρου ἀπείη
ὦμος ὅσον προτέρης, ὀλίγη δέ μιν εἰλύοι ἀχλὺς
αὐτόν, ἀτὰρ μετόπισθεν ἐοικότα σήματα τεύχοι
Νύξ ἐπὶ παμφανόωντι Θυτηρίῳ, οὔ σε μάλα χρὴ
435 ἐς νότον, ἀλλ’ εὔροιο περισκοπέειν ἀνέμοιο.
Δήεις δ’ ἄστρον ἐκεῖνο δύω ὑποκείμενον ἄλλοις·
τοῦ γάρ τοι τὰ μὲν ἀνδρὶ ἐοικότα νειόθι κεῖται
Σκορπίου, ἱππούραια δ’ ὑπὸ σφίσι Χηλαὶ ἔχουσιν.
Αὐτὰρ ὁ δεξιτερὴν αἰεὶ τανύοντι ἔοικεν
440 ἀντία δινωτοῖο Θυτηρίου, ἐν δέ οἱ ἀπρὶξ
ἄλλο μάλ’ ἐσφήκωται ἐληλάμενον διὰ χειρὸς,
Θηρίον· ὣς γάρ μιν πρότεροι ἐπεφημίξαντο.
Ἀλλ’ ἔτι γὰρ καὶ ἔτ’ ἄλλο περαιόθεν ἕλκεται ἄστρον·
Ὕδρην μιν καλέουσι, τὸ δὲ ζώοντι ἐοικὸς
445 ἠνεκὲς εἰλεῖται, καί οἱ κεφαλὴ ὑπὸ μέσσον
Καρκίνον ἱκνεῖται, σπείρη δ’ ὑπὸ σῶμα Λέοντος,
οὐρὴ δὲ κρέμαται ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ Κενταύροιο ³² ·
μέσσῃ δὲ σπείρῃ Κρητήρ, πυμάτῃ δ’ ἐπίκειται
εἴδωλον Κόρακος σπείρην κόπτοντι ἐοικός.
450 Ναὶ μὴν καὶ Προκύων ³³ Διδύμοις ὕπο καλὰ φαείνει.

     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 Atlar, thou must not look for the South, but bethink thee of an East Wind. The constellation of Centaur [Centaurus] 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 though his hand is drawn and firmly grasped another sign – the Beast [Fera], 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 [Corvus] that seems to peck at the coil. There, too, by the Hydra beneath the Twins brightly shines Procyon.

Ταῦτά κε θηήσαιο παρερχομένων ἐνιαυτῶν
ἑξείης παλίνωρα· τὰ γὰρ καὶ πάντα μάλ’ αὕτως
οὐρανῷ εὖ ἐνάρηρεν ἀγάλματα νυκτὸς ἰούσης.
Οἱ δ’ ἐπιμὶξ ἄλλοι πέντ’ ἀστέρες οὐδὲν ὁμοῖοι ³⁴
455 πάντοθεν εἰδώλων δυοκαίδεκα δινεύονται.
Οὐκ ἂν ἔτ’ εἰς ἄλλους ὁρόων ἐπιτεκμήραιο
κείνων ἧχι κέονται, ἐπεὶ πάντες μετανάσται,
μακροὶ δὲ σφεών εἰσιν ἑλισσομένων ἐνιαυτοί,
μακρὰ δὲ σήματα κεῖται ἀπόπροθεν εἰς ἓν ἰόντων,
460 οὐδ’ ἔτι θαρσαλέος κείνων ἐγώ· ἄρκιος εἴην
ἀπλανέων τά τε κύκλα τά τ’ αἰθέρι σήματ’ ἐνισπεῖν.
Ἤτοι μὲν τά γε κεῖται ἀλίγκια δινωτοῖσιν ³⁵,
τέσσαρα, τῶν κε μάλιστα ποθὴ ὄφελός τε γένοιτο
μέτρα περισκοπέοντι κατανομένων ἐνιαυτῶν.
465 Σήματα δ’ εὖ μάλα πᾶσιν ἐπιρρήδην περίκειται
πολλά τε καὶ σχεδόθεν πάντη συνεεργμένα πάντα,
αὐτοὶ δ’ ἀπλατέες καὶ ἀρηρότες ἀλλήλοισιν
πάντες, ἀτὰρ μέτρῳ γε δύω δυσὶν ἀντιφέρονται.
Εἴ ποτέ τοι νυκτὸς καθαρῆς, ὅτε πάντας ἀγαυοὺς
470 ἀστέρας ἀνθρώποις ἐπιδείκνυται οὐρανίη Νύξ,
οὐδέ τις ἀδρανέων φέρεται διχόμηνι σελήνῃ,
ἀλλὰ τά γε κνέφαος διαφαίνεται ὀξέα πάντα,
εἴ ποτέ τοι τημόσδε περὶ φρένας ἵκετο θαῦμα
σκεψαμένῳ πάντη κεκεασμένον εὐρέι κύκλῳ
475 οὐρανόν, ἢ καί τίς τοι ἐπιστὰς ἄλλος ἔδειξεν
κεῖνο περιγληνὲς τροχαλόν (Γάλα μιν καλέουσιν),
τῷ δ’ ἤτοι χροιὴν μὲν ἀλίγκιος οὐκέτι κύκλος ³⁶
δινεῖται, τὰ δὲ μέτρα τόσοι πισύρων περ ἐόντων
οἱ δύο, τοὶ δέ σφεων μέγα μείονες εἱλίσσονται.

     All these constellations thou canst mark as the seasons pass, each returning at its appointed time: for all are unchangingly and firmly fixed in the heavens to be the 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 they 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 the 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 wonder rises in thy heart to mark on every side the heaven cleft by a broad belt, or if someone at they 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 as large, but the other two are far inferior.

480 Τῶν ὁ μὲν ἐγγύθεν ἐστὶ κατερχομένου βορέαο.
Ἐν δέ οἱ ἀμφότεραι κεφαλαὶ Διδύμων φορέονται,
ἐν δέ τε γούνατα κεῖται ἀρηρότος Ἡνιόχοιο,
λαιὴ δὲ κνήμη καὶ ἀριστερὸς ὦμος ἐπ’ αὐτῷ
Περσέος, Ἀνδρομέδης δὲ μέσην ἀγκῶνος ὕπερθεν
485 δεξιτερὴν ἐπέχει· τὸ μέν οἱ θέναρ ὑψόθι κεῖται
ἀσσότερον βορέαο, νότῳ δ’ ἐπικέκλιται ἀγκών.
Ὁπλαὶ δ’ Ἵππειοι, καὶ ὑπαύχενον Ὀρνίθειον
ἄκρῃ σὺν κεφαλῇ, καλοί τ’ Ὀφιούχεοι ὦμοι
αὐτὸν δινεύονται ἐληλάμενοι περὶ κύκλον,
490 ἡ δ’ ὀλίγον φέρεται νοτιωτέρη, οὐδ’ ἐπιβάλλει,
Παρθένος, ἀλλὰ Λέων καὶ Καρκίνος· οἱ μὲν ἅμ’ ἄμφω
ἑξείης κέαται βεβλημένοι, αὐτὰρ ὁ κύκλος
τὸν μὲν ὑπὸ στῆθος καὶ γαστέρα μέχρι παρ’ αἰδῶ
τέμνει, τὸν δὲ διηνεκέως ὑπένερθε χελείου
495 Καρκίνον, ἧχι μάλιστα διχαιόμενόν κε νοήσαις
ὀφθόν, ἵν’ ὀφθαλμοὶ κύκλου ἑκάτερθεν ἴοιεν.
Τοῦ μὲν ὅσον τε μάλιστα δι’ ὀκτὼ μετρηθέντος
πέντε μὲν ἔνδια στρέφεται καθ’ ὑπέρτερα γαίης ³⁷,
τὰ τρία δ’ ἐν περάτῃ, θέρεος δέ οἱ ἐν τροπαί εἰσιν.
500 Ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν ἐν βορέω περὶ Καρκίνον ἐστήρικται.

     Of the lesser circles one [Summer Tropic] is night 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.

Ἄλλος δ’ ἀντιόωντι νότῳ μέσον Αἰγοκερῆα
τέμνει καὶ πόδας Ὑδροχόου καὶ Κήτεος οὐρήν·
ἐν δέ οἵ ἐστι Λαγωός, ἀτὰρ Κυνὸς οὐ μάλα πολλὴν
αἴνυται, ἀλλ’ ὁπόσην ἐπέχει ποσίν· ἐν δέ οἱ Ἀργὼ
505 καὶ μέγα Κενταύροιο μετάφρενον, ἐν δέ τε κέντρον
Σκορπίου, ἐν καὶ τόξον ἐλαφροῦ Τοξευτῆρος.
Τὸν πύματον καθαροῖο παρερχόμενος βορέαο
ἐς νότον ἠέλιος φέρεται, τρέπεταί γε μὲν αὐτοῦ
χειμέριος, καί οἱ τρία μὲν περιτέλλεται ὑψοῦ
510 τῶν ὀκτώ, τὰ δὲ πέντε κατώρυχα δινεύονται.
Μεσσόθι δ’ ἀμφοτέρων, ὅσσος πολιοῖο Γάλακτος,
γαῖαν ὑποστρέφεται κύκλος διχόωντι ἐοικώς,
ἐν δέ οἱ ἤματα νυξὶν ἰσαίεται ἀμφοτέρῃσιν,
φθίνοντος θέρεος, τοτὲ δ’ εἴαρος ἱσταμένοιο.
515 Σῆμα δέ οἱ Κριὸς Ταύροιό τε γούνατα κεῖται,
Κριὸς μὲν κατὰ μῆκος ἐληλάμενος διὰ κύκλου,
Ταύρου δὲ σκελέων ὅσση περιφαίνεται ὀκλάς.
Ἐν δέ τέ οἱ ζήνη εὐφεγγέος Ὠρίωνος
καμπή τ’ αἰθομένης Ὕδρης· ἐνί οἱ καὶ ἐλαφρὸς
520 Κρητήρ, ἐν δὲ Κόραξ, ἐνὶ δ’ ἀστέρες οὐ μάλα πολλοὶ
Χηλάων, ἐν τῷ δ’ Ὀφιούχεα γοῦνα φορεῖται.
Οὐ μὴν Αἰητοῦ ἀπαμείρεται, ἀλλά οἱ ἐγγὺς
Ζηνὸς ἀητεῖται μέγας ἄγγελος· ἡ δὲ κατ’ αὐτὸν
Ἱππείη κεφαλὴ καὶ ὑπαύχενον εἱλίσσονται.

     But there is another circle [Winter Tropic] to match in the South. It cuts through the middle of Aegoceros, the feet of Hydrochoüs, and the tail of the sea-monster, 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 winter. Three parts of eight of his course are above and five below the horizon. Between the Tropics a Belt [the Equator], peer of the grey Milky Way, undergirds the earth 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 Equinoxes]. 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.

525 Τοὺς μὲν παρβολάδην ὀρθοὺς περιβάλλεται ἄξων,
μεσσόθι πάντας ἔχων, ὁ δὲ τέτρατος ἐσφήκωται
λοξὸς ἐν ἀμφοτέροις, οἵ μὲν ῥ’ ἑκάτερθεν ἔχουσιν
ἀντιπέρην τροπικοί, μέσσος δὲ ἐν μεσσόθι τέμνει.
Οὔκ ἂν Ἀθηναίης χειρῶν δεδιδαγμένος ἀνὴρ
530 ἄλλῃ κολλήσαιτο κυλινδόμενα τροχάλεια
τοῖά τε καὶ τόσα πάντα περὶ σφαιρηδὸν ἑλίσσων·
ὣς τά γ’ ἐν αἰθέριᾳ πλαγίῳ συναρηρότα κύκλῳ
ἐξ ἠοῦς ἐπὶ νύκτα διώκεται ἤματα πάντα.
Καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀντέλλει τε καὶ αὐτίκα νειόθι δύνει
535 πάντα παραβλήδην, μία δέ σφεων ἐστὶν ἑκάστου
ἑξείης ἑκάτερθε κατηλυσίη ἄνοδός τε·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ὠκεανοῦ τόσσον παραμείβεται ὕδωρ
ὅσσον ἀπ’ Αἰγοκερῆος ἀνερχομένοιο μάλιστα
Καρκίνον εἰς ἀνιόντα κυλίνδεται. ὅσσον ἁπάντη
540 ἀντέλλων ἐπέχει, τόσσον γε μὲν ἄλλοθι δύνων·
ὅσσον δ’ ὀφθαλμοῖο βολῆς ἀποτείνεται αὐγή ³⁸,
ἑξάκις ἂν τόσση μιν ὑποδράμοι· αὐτὰρ ἑκάστη
ἴση μετρηθεῖσα δύω περιτέμνεται ἄστρα.
Ζῳδίων δέ ἑ κύκλον ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσι.

     These three Belts [Two Tropics, Equator] are parallel, and at right angles to the Axis which they surround and which is the centre of them all, but the fourth [Ecliptic] 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 pint 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 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 the two constellations. This circle is called the Belt of the Zodiac.

545 Τῷ ἔνι Καρκίνος ἐστί, Λέων δ’ ἐπὶ τῷ, καὶ ὑπ’ αὐτὸν
Παρθένος, αἱ δ’ ἐπί οἱ Χηλαὶ καὶ Σκορπίος αὐτὸς
Τοξευτής τε καὶ Αἰγόκερως, ἐπὶ δ’ Αἰγοκερῆϊ
Ὑδροχόος, δύο δ’ αὐτῷ ἐπ’ Ἰχθύες ἀστερόεντες,
τοὺς δὲ μέτα Κριός, Ταῦρος δ’ ἐπὶ τῷ Δίδυμοί τε.
550 Ἐν τοῖς ἠέλιος φέρεται δυοκαίδεκα πᾶσιν
πάντ’ ἐνιαυτὸν ἄγων, καί οἱ περὶ τοῦτον ἰόντι
κύκλον ἀέξονται πᾶσαι ἐπικάρπιοι ὧραι.
Τοῦ δ’ ὅσσον κοίλοιο κατ’ ὠκεανοῖο δύηται ³⁹,
τόσσον ὑπὲρ γαίης φέρεται, πάσῃ δ’ ἐπὶ νυκτὶ
555 ἓξ αἰεὶ δύνουσι δυωδεκάδες κύκλοιο ⁴⁰,
τόσσαι δ’ ἀντέλλουσι· τόσον δ’ ἐπὶ μῆκος ἑκάστη ⁴¹
νὺξ αἰεὶ τετάνυσται, ὅσον τέ περ ἥμισυ κύκλου
ἀρχομένης ἀπὸ νυκτὸς ἀείρεται ὑψόθι γαίης.
Οὔ κεν ἀπόβλητον δεδοκημένῳ ἤματος εἴη
560 μοιράων σκέπτεσθαι ὅτ’ ἀντέλλῃσιν ἑκάστη·
αἰεὶ γὰρ τάων γε μιῇ συνανέρχεται αὐτὸς
ἠέλιος. Τας δ’ ἄν κε περισκέψαιο μάλιστα
εἰς αὐτὰς ὁρόων, ἀτὰρ εἰ νεφέεσσι μέλαιναι
γίνοιντ’ ἢ ὄρεος κεκρυμμέναι ἀντέλλοιεν,
565 σήματ’ ἐπερχομένῃσιν ἀρηρότα ποιήσασθαι.
Αὐτὸς δ’ ἂν μάλα τοι κεράων ἑκάτερθε διδοίη
ὠκεανὸς τά τε πολλὰ περιστέφεται ἑοῖ αὐτῷ
νειόθεν ὁππῆμος κείνων φορέῃσιν ἑκάστην.

     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 Hydrochoüs. 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 the 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.

Οὔ οἱ ἀφαυρότατοι, ὅτε Καρκίνος ἀντέλλῃσιν,
570 ἀστέρες ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἑλισσόμενοι περίκεινται ⁴²,
τοὶ μὲν δύνοντες, τοὶ δ’ ἐξ ἑτέρης ἀνιόντες.
Δύνει μὲν Στέφανος, δύνει δὲ κατὰ ῥάχιν Ἰχθῦς·
ἥμισυ μέν κεν ἴδοιο μετήορον, ἥμισυ δ’ ἤδη
ἐσχατιαὶ βάλλουσι κατερχομένου Στεφάνοιο.
575 Αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ἐξόπιθεν τετραμμένος ἄλλα μὲν οὔπω
γαστέρι νειαίρῃ, τὰ δ’ ὑπέρτερα νυκτὶ φορεῖται.
Τὸν δὲ καὶ εἰς ὤμους κατάγει μογερὸν Ὀφιοῦχον
Καρκίνος ἐκ γονάτων, κατάγει δ’ Ὄφιν αὐχένος ἐγγύς.
Οὐδ’ ἂν ἔτ’ Ἀρκτοφύλαξ εἴη πολὺς ἀμφοτέρωθεν,
580 μείων ἠμάτιος, τὸ δ’ ἐπὶ πλέον ἔννυχος ἤδη.
Τέτρασι γὰρ μοίραις ἄμυδις κατιόντα Βοώτην
ὠκεανὸς δέχεται· ὁ δ’ ἐπὴν φάεος κορέσηται,
βουλυτῷ ἐπέχει πλεῖον δίχα νυκτὸς ἰούσης,
ἦμος ὅτ’ ἠελίοιο κατερχομένοιο δύηται.
585 Κεῖναι οἱ καὶ νύκτες ἐπ’ ὀψὲ δύοντι λέγονται.
Ὡς οἱ μὲν δύνουσιν, ὁ δ’ ἀντίος οὐδὲν ἀεικής,
ἀλλ’ εὖ μὲν ζώνῃ, εὖ δ’ ἀμφοτέροισι φαεινὸς
ὤμοις Ὠρίων, ξίφεός γε μὲν ἶφι πεποιθώς,
πάντα φέρων Ποταμόν, κέραος παρατείνεται ἄλλου.

     When the Crab [Cancer] rises, not very faint are the wheeling constellations that are set about Ocean at East and West, some setting in the West and other rising in the East. The Corwn 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 the Phantom, 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 wretches 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 Boötes 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 this 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 brining all the River, rises from the other horn, the East.

590 Ἐρχομένῳ δὲ Λέοντι τὰ μὲν κατὰ πάντα φέρονται
Καρκίνῳ ὅσσ’ ἐδύοντο, καὶ Αἰετός. Αὐτὰρ ὅ γε γνὺξ
ἥμενος ἄλλα μὲν ἤδη, ἀτὰρ γονὺ καὶ πόδα λαιὸν
οὔπω κυμαίνοντος ὑποστρέφει ὠκεανοῖο.
Ἀντέλλει δ’ Ὕδρης κεφαλὴ χαροπός τε Λαγωὸς
595 καὶ Προκύων πρότεροί τε πόδες Κυνὸς αἰθομένοιο.
Οὐ μέν θην ὀλίγους γαίης ὑπὸ νείατα βάλλει
Παρθένος ἀντέλλουσα. Λύρη τότε Κυλληναίη
καὶ Δελφὶς δύνουσι καὶ εὐποίητος Ὀϊστός.
Σὺν τοῖς Ὄρνιθος πρῶτα πτερὰ μέσφα παρ’ αὐτὴν
600 οὐρὴν καὶ Ποταμοῖο παρηορίαι σκιόωνται.
Δύνει δ’ Ἱππείη κεφαλή, δύνει δὲ καὶ αὐχήν.
ἀντέλλει δ’ Ὕδρη μὲν ἐπὶ πλέον ἄχρι παρ’ αὐτὸν
Κρητῆρα, φθάμενος δὲ Κύων πόδας αἴνυται ἄλλους,
ἕλκων ἐξόπιθεν πρύμναν πολυτειρέος Ἀργοῦς,
605 ἡ δὲ θέει γαίης ἱστὸν διχόωσα κατ’ αὐτόν,
Παρθένος ἦμος ἅπασα περαιόθεν ἄρτι γένηται.
Οὐδ’ ἂν ἐπερχόμεναι Χηλαί, καὶ λεπτὰ φάουσαι ⁴³,
ἄφραστοι παρίοιεν, ἐπεὶ μέγα σῆμα Βοώτης
ἀθρόος ἀντέλλει βεβολημένος Ἀρκτούροιο.

     At the coming of the Lion [Leo] those constellations wholly set, which were setting when the Crab rose, and with them sets the Eagle. But the Phantom On His Knees winks 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 [Virgo] at her rising sends beneath the verge of the 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 earth, cleft right at the mast, just when the whole of the Maiden has risen. Nor can the rising Claws [Libra], though faintly shining, pass unremarked, when at a bound the mighty sign of Boötes rises, jeweled with Arcturus.

610 Ἀργὼ δ’ εὖ μάλα πᾶσα μετήορος ἵσταται ἤδη.
Ἀλλ’ Ὕδρη, κέχυται γὰρ ἐν οὐρανῷ ἤλιθα πολλή,
οὐρῆς ἂν δεύοιτο. Μόνην δ’ ἐπὶ Χηλαὶ ἄγουσι
[δεινὸν ἐφεστηῶτ’ Ὀφιούχεα· τοῦ μὲν ἔπειτα]
δεξιτερὴν κνήμην, αὐτῆς ἐπιγουνίδος ἄχρις,
615 αἰεὶ γνύξ, αἰεὶ δὲ Λύρη παραπεπτηῶτος,
ὅντινα τοῦτον ἄϊστον ὑπουρανίων εἰδώλων
ἀμφότερον δύνοντα καὶ ἐξ ἑτέρης ἀνιόντα
πολλάκις αὐτονυχεὶ θηεύμεθα. Τοῦ μὲν ἄρ’ οἴη
κνήμη σὺν Χηλῇσι φαείνεται ἀμφοτέρῃσιν ⁴⁴,
620 αὐτὸς δ’ ἐς κεφαλὴν ἔτι που τετραμμένος ἄλλῃ
Σκορπίον ἀντέλλοντα μένει καὶ ῥύτορα Τόξου·
οἳ γάρ μιν φορέουσιν, ὁ μὲν μέσον ἄλλα τε πάντα,
χεῖρα δέ οἱ σκαιὴν κεφαλῇ ἅμα Τόξον ἀγινεῖ·
ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν ὣς τρίχα πάντα καταμελεϊστὶ φορεῖται.
625 Ἥμισυ δὲ Στεφάνοιο καὶ αὐτὴν ἔσχατον οὐρὴν
Κενταύρου φορέουσιν ἀνερχόμεναι ἔτι Χηλαί.
Τῆμος ἀποιχομένην κεφαλὴν μέτα δύεται Ἵππος,
καὶ προτέρου Ὄρνιθος ἐφέλκεται ἔσχατος οὐρή.
Δύνει δ’ Ἀνδρομέδης κεφαλή, τὸ δέ οἱ μέγα δεῖμα
630 Κήτεος ἠερόεις ἐπάγει νότος, ἀντία δ’ αὐτὸς
Κηφεὺς ἐκ βορέω μεγάλῃ ἀνὰ χειρὶ κελεύει.
Καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐς λοφιὴν τετραμμένον ἄχρι παρ’ αὐτὴν
δύνει, ἀτὰρ Κηφεὺς κεφαλῇ καὶ χειρὶ καὶ ὤμῳ.
Καμπαὶ δ’ ἂν Ποταμοῖο καὶ αὐτίκ’ ἐπερχομένοιο
635 Σκορπίου ἐμπίπτοιεν ἐϋρρόου ὠκεανοῖο·
ὃς καὶ ἐπερχόμενος φοβέει μέγαν Ὠρίωνα.

     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 Scorpion [Scorpio], whose rising puts to flight even the mighty Orion.

Ἄρτεμις ἱλήκοι· προτέρων λόγος, οἵ μιν ἔφαντο
ἑλκῆσαι πέπλοιο, Χίῳ ὅτε θηρία πάντα
καρτερὸς Ὠρίων στιβαρῇ ἐπέκοπτε κορύνῃ
640 θήρης ἀρνύμενος κείνῳ χάριν Οἰνοπίωνι.
Ἡ δέ οἱ ἐξαυτῆς ἐπετείλατο θηρίον ἄλλο,
νήσου ἀναρρήξασα μέσας ἑκάτερθε κολώνας,
σκορπίον, ὅς ῥά μιν οὖτα καὶ ἔκτανε πολλὸν ἐόντα
πλειότερος προφανείς, ἐπεὶ Ἄρτεμιν ἤκαχεν αὐτήν.
645 Τοὔνεκα δὴ καί φασι περαιόθεν ἐρχομένοιο
Σκορπίου Ὠρίωνα περὶ χθονὸς ἔσχατα φεύγειν.
Οὐδὲ μὲν Ἀνδρομέδης καὶ Κήτεος ὅσσ’ ἐλέλειπτο
κείνου ἔτ’ ἀντέλλοντος ἀπευθέες, ἀλλ’ ἄρα καὶ τοὶ
πανσυδίῃ φεύγουσιν, ὁ δὲ ζώνῃ τότε Κηφεὺς
650 γαῖαν ἐπιξύει, τὰ μὲν ἐς κεφαλὴν μάλα πάντα
βάπτων ὠκεανοῖο, τὰ δ’ οὐ θέμις, ἀλλὰ τά γ’ αὐταὶ
Ἄρκτοι κωλύουσι, πόδας καὶ γοῦνα καὶ ἰξύν.
Ἡ δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ παιδὸς ἐπείγεται εἰδώλοιο
δειλὴ Κασσιέπεια· τὰ δ’ οὐκέτι οἱ κατὰ κόσμον
655 φαίνεται ἐκ δίφροιο πόδες καὶ γούναθ’ ὕπερθεν,
ἀλλ’ ἥ γ’ ἐς κεφαλὴν ἴση δύετ’ ἀρνευτῆρι
μειρομένη γονάτων, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρ’ ἔμελλεν ἐκείνη
Δωρίδι καὶ Πανόπῃ μεγάλων ἄτερ ἰσώσασθαι.

     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 up 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.

Ἡ μὲν ἄρ’ εἰς ἑτέρην φέρεται· τὰ δὲ νειόθεν ἄλλα
660 οὐρανὸς ἀντιφέρει, Στεφάνοιό τε δεύτερα κύκλα
Ὕδρης τ’ ἐσχατιήν· φορέει τ’ ἐπὶ Κενταύροιο
σῶμά τε καὶ κεφαλήν, καὶ Θηρίον ὅ ῥ’ ἐνὶ χειρὶ
δεξιτερῇ Κένταυρος ἔχει. Τοὶ δ’ αὖθι μένουσι
Τόξον ἐπερχόμενον πρότεροι πόδες ἱππότα φηρός.
665 Τόξῳ καὶ σπείρη Ὄφιος καὶ σῶμ’ Ὀφιούχου
ἀντέλλει ἐπιόντι, καρήατα δ’ αὐτὸς ἀγινεῖ
Σκορπίος ἀντέλλων, ἀνάγει δ’ αὐτὰς Ὀφιούχου
χεῖρας καὶ προτέρην Ὄφιος πολυτειρέος ἀγήν.
Τοῦ γε μὲν Ἐνγόνασιν (περὶ γὰρ τετραμμένος αἰεὶ
670 ἀντέλλει) τότε μὲν περάτης ἐξέρχεται ἄλλα,
γυῖά τε καὶ ζώνη καὶ στήθεα πάντα καὶ ὦμος
δεξιτερῇ σὺν χειρί, κάρη δ’ ἑτέρης μέτα χειρὸς
Τόξῳ ἀνέρχονται καὶ Τοξότῃ ἀντέλλοντι.
Σὺν τοῖς Ἑρμαίη τε Λύρη καὶ στήθεος ἄχρις
675 Κηφεὺς ἠῴου παρελαύνεται ὠκεανοῖο,
ἦμος καὶ μεγάλοιο Κυνὸς πᾶσαι ἀμαρυγαὶ
δύνουσιν καὶ πάντα κατέρχεται Ὠρίωνος,
πάντα γε μὴν ἀτέλεστα διωκομένοιο Λαγωοῦ.
Ἀλλ’ οὐχ Ἡνιόχῳ Ἔριφοι οὐδ’ Ὠλενίη Αἲξ
680 εὐθὺς ἀπέρχονται, τὰ δέ οἱ μεγάλην ἀνὰ χεῖρα
λάμπονται, καί οἱ μελέων διακέκριται ἄλλων
κινῆσαι χειμῶνας, ὅτ’ ἠελίῳ συνίωσιν.

     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 [Saggitarius] 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 On His Knees, who ever rises feet-foremost, to wit, his legs, wiast, all his breast, his shoulder with his right hand; but his other hand and his head arise with the rising Bow and the 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 Goat; by his great hand they shine, and are eminent beyond all his other limbs in raising storms, when they fare with the sun.

Ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν, κεφαλήν τε καὶ ἄλλην χεῖρα καὶ ἰξύν,
Αἰγόκερως ἀνιὼν κατάγει, τὰ δὲ νείατα πάντα
685 αὐτῷ Τοξευτῆρι κατέρχεται. Οὐδ’ ἔτι Περσεύς,
οὐδ’ ἔτι ἄκρα κόρυμβα μένει πολυτειρέος Ἀργοῦς,
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι Περσεὺς μὲν ἄτερ γουνός τε ποδός τε
δεξιτεροῦ δύεται, πρύμνης δ’ ὅσον ἐς περιαγήν.
Αὐτὴ δ’ Αἰγοκερῆι κατέρχεται ἀντέλλοντι,
690 ἦμος καὶ Προκύων δύεται, τὰ δ’ ἀνέρχεται ἄλλα,
Ὄρνις τ’ Αἰητός τε, τά τε πτερόεντος Ὀϊστοῦ
τείρεα, καὶ νοτίοιο Θυτηρίου ἱερὸς ἕδρη.
Ἵππος δ’ Ὑδροχόοιο μέσον περιτελλομένοιο
ποσσί τε καὶ κεφαλῇ ἀνελίσσεται· ἀντία δ’ Ἵππου
695 ἐξ οὐρῆς Κένταυρον ἐφέλκεται ἀστερίη νύξ.
Ἀλλ’ οὔ οἱ δύναται κεφαλὴν οὐδ’ εὐρέας ὤμους
αὐτῷ σὺν θώρηκι χαδεῖν, ἀλλ’ αἴθοπος Ὕδρης ⁴⁵
αὐχενίην κατάγει σπείρην καὶ πάντα μέτωπα,
ἡ δὲ καὶ ἐξόπιθεν πολλὴ μένει. Ἀλλ’ ἄρα καὶ τὴν
700 αὐτῷ Κενταύρῳ, ὁπότ’ Ἰχθύες ἀντέλλωσιν,
ἀθρόον ἐμφέρεται. Ὁ δ’ ἐπ’ Ἰχθύσιν ἔρχεται Ἰχθῦς
αὐτῷ κυανέῳ ὑποκείμενος Αἰγοκερῆϊ,
οὐ μὲν ἄδην, ὀλίγον δὲ δυωδεκάδ’ ἀμμένει ἄλλην.
Οὕτω καὶ μογεραὶ χεῖρες καὶ γοῦνα καὶ ὦμοι
705 Ἀνδρομέδης δίχα πάντα, τὰ μὲν πάρος, ἄλλα
δ’ ὀπίσσω τείνεται, ὠκεανοῖο νέον ὁπότε προγένωνται
Ἰχθύες ἀμφότεροι· τὰ μέν οἱ κατὰ δεξιὰ χειρὸς
αὐτοὶ ἐφέλκονται, τὰ δ’ ἀριστερὰ νειόθεν ἕλκει

     His head, hand and waist set at the rising of Aegoceros [Capricorn]; from waist to foot he sets at the rising of the Archer. Nor do Perseus and the end of the stern of jeweled 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 Hydrochoüs [Aquarius] 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 [Pisces] rise; with the Fishes the Fish which is placed beneath azure Aegoceros rises – not completely but par 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.

Κριὸς ἀνερχόμενος. Τοῦ καὶ περιτελλομένοιο
710 ἑσπερόθεν κεν ἴδοιο Θυτήριον, αὐτὰρ ἐν ἄλλῃ
Περσέος ἀντέλλοντος ὅσον κεφαλήν τε καὶ ὤμους·
αὐτὴ δὲ ζώνη καὶ κ’ ἀμφήριστα πέλοιτο
ἢ Κριῷ λήγοντι φαείνεται ἢ ἐπὶ Ταύρῳ·
σὺν τῷ πανσυδίῃ ἀνελίσσεται. Οὐδ’ ὅ γε Ταύρου
715 λείπεται ἀντέλλοντος, ἐπεὶ μάλα οἱ συναρηρὼς
Ἡνίοχος φέρεται· μοίρῃ γε μὲν οὐκ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ
ἀθρόος ἀντέλλει, Δίδυμοι δέ μιν οὖλον ἄγουσιν.
Ἀλλ’ Ἔριφοι λαιοῦ τε θέναρ ποδὸς Αἰγὶ σὺν αὐτῇ
Ταύρῳ συμφορέονται, ὅτε λοφιή τε καὶ οὐρὴ
720 Κήτεος αἰθερίοιο περαιόθεν ἀντέλλωσιν.
Δύνει δ’ Ἀρκτοφύλαξ ἤδη πρώτη τότε μοίρῃ
τάων, αἳ πίσυρές μιν ἄτερ χειρὸς κατάγουσιν
λαιῆς, ἡ δ’ αὐτῇ μεγάλῃ ὕπο τέλλεται Ἄρκτου.
Ἀμφότεροι δὲ πόδες καταδυομένου Ὀφιούχου,
725 μέσφ’ αὐτῶν γονάτων Διδύμοις ἔπι σῆμα τετύχθω
ἐξ ἑτέρης ἀνιοῦσι. Τότ’ οὐκέτι Κήτεος οὐδὲν
ἕλκεται ἀμφοτέρωθεν, ὅλον δέ μιν ὄψεαι ἤδη.
Ἤδη καὶ Ποταμοῦ πρώτην ἁλὸς ἐξανιοῦσαν
καμπὴν ἐν καθαρῷ πελάγει σκέψαιτό κε ναύτης,
730 αὐτὸν ἐπ’ Ὠρίωνα μένων, εἴ οἵ ποθι σῆμα
ἢ νυκτὸς μέτρων ἠὲ πλόου ἀγγείλειεν.
Πάντη γὰρ τά γε πολλὰ θεοὶ ἄνδρεσσι λέγουσιν.

     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 [Taurus], 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 to the gods reveal to man.

Οὐχ ὁράαις; Ὀλίγη μὲν ὅταν κεράεσσι σελήνη
ἑσπερόθεν φαίνηται, ἀεξομένοιο διδάσκει
735 μηνός, ὅτε πρώτη ἀποκίδναται αὐτόθεν αὐγὴ
ὅσσον ἐπισκιάειν, ἐπὶ τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἰοῦσα·
ὀκτὼ δ’ ἐν διχάσει, διχόμηνα δὲ παντὶ προσώπῳ,
αἰεὶ δ’ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλα παρακλίνουσα μέτωπα
εἴρει ὁποσταίη μηνὸς περιτέλλεται ἠώς.
740 Ἄκρα γε μὴν νυκτῶν κεῖναι δυοκαίδεκα μοῖραι
ἄρκιαι ἐξειπεῖν, τὰ δέ που μέγαν εἰς ἐνιαυτόν ⁴⁶,
ὥρη μέν τ’ ἀρόσαι νειούς, ὥρη δὲ φυτεῦσαι,
ἐκ Διὸς ἤδη πάντα πεφασμένα πάντοθι κεῖται.
Καὶ μέν τις καὶ νηὶ πολυκλύστου χειμῶνος
745 ἐφράσατ’ ἢ δεινοῦ μεμνημένος Ἀρκτούροιο
ἠέ τεων ἄλλων οἵ τ’ ὠκεανοῦ ἀρύονται
ἀστέρες ἀμφιλύκης, οἵ τε πρώτης ἔτι νυκτός.
Ἤτοι γὰρ τοὺς πάντας ἀμείβεται εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
ἠέλιος μέγαν ὄγμον ἐλαύνων, ἄλλοτε δ’ ἄλλῳ
750 ἐμπλήσσει, τοτὲ μέν τ’ ἀνιών, τοτὲ δ’ αὐτίκα δύνων,
ἄλλος δ’ ἀλλοίην ἀστὴρ ἐπιδέρκεται ἠῶ.
Γινώσκεις τάδε καὶ σύ· τὰ γὰρ συναείδεται ἤδη
ἐννεακαίδεκα κύκλα φαεινοῦ ἠελίοιο,
ὅσσα τ’ ἀπὸ ζώνης εἰς ἔσχατον Ὠρίωνα
755 νὺξ ἐπιδινεῖται Κύνα τε θρασὺν Ὠρίωνος,
οἵ τε Ποσειδάωνος ὁρώμενοι ἢ Διὸς αὐτοῦ
ἀστέρες ἀνθρώποισι τετυγμένα σημαίνουσι.

     Markest thou not? Whenever the Moon with slender horns shines forth in the West, she tells of a new month beginning: when first her rays are shed abroad just enough to cast a shadow, she is going to the fourth day: with orb half complete she proclaims eight days: with full face the mid-day of the month; and ever with varying phase she tells the date of the dawn that comes round. Those twelve signs of the Zodiac are sufficient to tell the limits of the night. But they to mark the great year – the season to plough and sow the fallow field and the season to plant the tree – are already revealed of Zeus and set on every side. Yea, and on the sea, too, many a sailor has marked the coming of the stormy tempest, remembering either dread Arcturus or other stars that draw from ocean in the morning twilight or tat he first fall of night. For verily through them all the Sun passes in yearly course, as he drives his mighty furrow, and now to one, now to another he draws near, now as he rises and anon as he sets, and ever another star looks upon another morn. This thou too knowest, for celebrated by all now are the nineteen cycles [Metonic cycle] of the bright Sun – thou knowest all the stars wheeled aloft by Night from Orion’s belt to the last of Orion and his bold hound, the stars of Poseidon, the stars of Zeus, which, if marked, display fit signs of the seasons.

Τῷ κείνων πεπόνησο, μέλοι δέ τοι, εἴ ποτε νηὶ
πιστεύεις, εὑρεῖν ὅσα που κεχρημένα κεῖται
760 σήματα χειμερίοις ἀνέμοις ἤ λαίλαπι πόντου.
Μόχθος μέν τ’ ὀλίγος, τὸ δὲ μυρίον αὐτίκ’ ὄνειαρ
γίνετ’ ἐπιφροσύνης αἰεὶ πεφυλαγμένωι ἀνδρί.
Αὐτὸς μὲν τὰ πρῶτα σαώτερος, εὖ δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ
παρειπὼν ὤνησεν, ὅτ’ ἐγγύθεν ὤρορε χειμών.
765 Πολλάκι γὰρ καί τίς τε γαληναίῃ ὑπὸ νυκτὶ
νῆα περιστέλλει πεφοβημένος ἦρι θαλάσσης,
ἄλλοτε δὲ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐπιτρέχει, ἄλλοτε πέμπτον,
ἄλλοτε δ’ ἀπρόφατον κακὸν ἵκετο· πάντα γὰρ οὔπω
ἐκ Διὸς ἄνθρωποι γινώσκομεν, ἀλλ’ ἔτι πολλὰ
770 κέκρυπται, τῶν αἴ κ’ ἐθέλῃ καὶ ἐς αὐτίκα δώσει
Ζεύς· ὁ γὰρ οὖν γενεὴν ἀνδρῶν ἀναφανδὸν ὀφέλλει
πάντοθεν εἰδόμενος, πάντη δ’ ὅ γε σήματα φαίνων.
Ἄλλα δέ τοι ἐρέει ἤ που διχόωσα σελήνη
πληθύος ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἢ αὐτίκα πεπληθυῖα,
775 ἄλλα δ’ ἀνερχόμενος, τοτὲ δ’ ἄκρηι νυκτὶ κελεύει
ἠέλιος· τὰ δέ που καὶ ἀπ’ ἄλλων ἔσσεται ἄλλα
σήματα καὶ περὶ νυκτὶ καὶ ἤματι ποιήσασθαι.

     Wherefore to them give careful heed and if ever they trust is in a ship, be it thine to watch what signs in the heavens are labouring under stormy winds or squall at sea. Small is the trouble and thousandfold the reward of his heedfulness who ever takes care. First he himself is safer, and well, too, he profits another by his warning, when a storm is rushing near. For oft, too, beneath a calm night the sailor shortens sail for fear of the morning sea. Sometimes the storm comes on the third day, sometimes on the fifth, but sometimes the evil comes all unforeseen. For not yet do we mortals know all from Zeus, but much still remains hidden, whereof, what he will, even hereafter will he reveal; for openly he aids the race of men, manifesting himself on every side and showing signs on every hand. Some messages the Moon will convey with orb half-full as she waxes or wanes, others when full; others the Sun by warnings at dawn and again at the edge of night, and other hints from other source can be drawn for day and night.

Σκέπτεο δὲ πρῶτον κεράων ἑκάτερθε σελήνην.
Ἄλλοτε γάρ τ’ ἄλλῃ μιν ἐπιγράφει ἕσπερος αἴγλῃ,
780 ἄλλοτε δ’ ἀλλοῖαι μορφαὶ κερόωσι σελήνην
εὐθὺς ἀεξομένην, αἱ μὲν τρίτῃ, αἱ δὲ τετάρτῃ·
τάων καὶ περὶ μηνὸς ἐφεσταότος κε πύθοιο.
Λεπτὴ μὲν καθαρή τε περὶ τρίτον ἦμαρ ἐοῦσα
εὔδιός κ’ εἴη· λεπτὴ δὲ καὶ εὖ μάλ’ ἐρευθὴς
785 πνευματίη· παχίων δὲ καὶ ἀμβλείῃσι κεραίαις
τέτρατον ἐκ τριτάτοιο φόως ἀμενηνὸν ἔχουσα
ἠὲ νότῳ ἀμβλύνετ’ ἤ ὕδατος ἐγγὺς ἐόντος.
Εἰ δέ κ’ ἀπ’ ἀμφοτέρων κεράων τρίτον ἦμαρ ἄγουσα
μήτ’ ἐπινευστ"άζῃ μήθ ὑπτιόωσα φαείνῃ,
790 ἀλλ’ ὀρθαὶ ἑκάτερθε περιγνάμπτωσι κεραῖαι,
ἑσπέριοί κ’ ἄνεμοι κείνην μέτα νύκτα φέροιντο.
Εἰ δ’ αὕτως ὀρθὴ καὶ τέτρατον ἦμαρ ἀγινεῖ,
ἦ τ’ ἂν χειμῶνος συναγειρομένοιο διδάσκοι.
Εἰ δέ κέ οἱ κεράων τὸ μετήορον εὖ ἐπινεύῃ,
795 δειδέχθαι βορέω, ὅτε δ’ ὑπτιάῃσι, νότοιο.
Αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν τριτόωσαν ὅλος περὶ κύκλος ἑλίσσῃ
πάντη ἐρευθόμενος, μάλα κεν τότε χείμερος εἴη·
μείζονι δ’ ἂν χειμῶνι πυρώτερα φοινίσσοιτο.

     Scan first the horns on either side the Moon. For with varying hue from time to time the evening paints her and of different shape are her horns at different times as the Moon is waxing – one form on the third day and other on the fourth. From them thou canst learn touching the month that is begun. If she is slender and clear about the third day, she heralds calm: if slender and very ruddy, wind; but if thick and with blunted horns she show but a feeble light on the third and fourth night, her beams are blunted by the South wind or imminent rain. If on the third night neither horn nod forward or lean backward, if vertical they curve their tips on either side, winds from the West will follow that night. But if still with vertical crescent she bring the fourth day too, she gives warning of gathering storm. If her upper horn nod forward, expect thou the North wind, but if it lean backward, the South. But when on the third day a complete halo, blushing red, encircles her, she foretells storm and, the fierier her blush, the fiercer the tempest.

Σκέπτεο δ’ ἐς πληθύν τε καὶ ἀμφότερον διχόωσαν,
800 ἠμὲν ἀεξομένην ἠδ’ ἐς κέρας αὖθις ἰοῦσαν.
Καί οἱ ἐπὶ χροιῇ τεκμαίρεο μηνὸς ἑκάστου·
πάντη γὰρ καθαρῇ κε μάλ’ εὔδια τεκμήραιο,
πάντα δ’ ἐρευθομένῇ δοκέειν ἀνέμοιο κελεύθους,
ἄλλοθι δ’ ἄλλο μελαινομένῃ δοκέειν ὑετοῖο.
805 Σήματα δ’ οὐ μάλα πᾶσιν ἐπ’ ἤμασι πάντα τέτυκται,
ἀλλ’ ὅσα μὲν τριτάτῃ τε τεταρταίῃ τε πέλονται
μέσφα διχαιομένης, διχάδος γε μὲν ἄχρις ἐπ’ αὐτὴν
σημαίνει διχόμηνον, ἀτὰρ πάλιν ἐκ διχομήνου
ἐς διχάδα φθιμένην, ἔχεται δέ οἱ αὐτίκα τετρὰς
810 μηνὸς ἀποιχομένου, τῇ δὲ τριτάτη ἐπιόντος.
Εἰ δέ κέ μιν περὶ πᾶσαν ἀλωαὶ κυκλώσωνται
ἢ τρεῖς ἠὲ δύω περικείμεναι ἠὲ μί’ οἴη,
τῇ μὲν ἰῇ ἀνέμοιο γαληναίης τε δοκεύειν,
ῥηγνυμένῃ ἀνέμοιο, μαραινομένῃ δὲ γαλήνης,
815 ταὶ δύο δ’ ἂν χειμῶνι περιτροχάοιντο σελήνην,
μείζονα δ’ ἂν χειμῶνα φέροι τριέλικτος ἀλωή,
καὶ μᾶλλον μελανεῦσα, καὶ εἰ ῥηγνύατο μᾶλλον.
Καὶ τὰ μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ μηνὶ σεληναίης κε πύθοιο.

   Scan her when full and when half-formed on either side of full, as she waxes from or wanes again to crescent form, and from her hue forecast each month. When quite bright her hue, forecast fair weather; when ruddy, expect the rushing wind; when dark stained with spots, look out for rain. But not for every day is appointed a separate sign, but the signs of the third and fourth day betoken the weather up to the half Moon; those of the half Moon up to full Moon; and in turn the signs of the full Moon up to the waning half Moon; the signs of the half Moon are followed by those of the fourth day from the end of the waning month, and they in their turn by those of the third day of the new month. But if halos encircle all the Moon, set triple or double about her or only single – with the single ring, expect wind or calm; when the ring is broken, wind; when faint and fading, calm; two rings girding the Moon forebode storm; a triple halo would bring a greater storm, and greater still, if black, and more furious still, if the rings are broken. Such warnings for the month thou canst learn from the Moon.

Ἠελίοιο δέ τοι μελέτω ἑκάτερθεν ἰόντος·
820 ἠελίῳ καὶ μᾶλλον ἐοικότα σήματα κεῖται
ἀμφότερον δύνοντι καὶ ἐκ περάτης ἀνιόντι.
Μή οἱ ποικίλλοιτο, νέον βάλλοντος ἀρούρας,
κύκλος, ὅτ’ εὐδίου κεχρημένος ἤματος εἴης,
μηδέ τι σῆμα φέροι, φαίνοιτο δὲ λιτὸς ἁπάντη.
825 Εἰ δ’ αὕτως καθαρόν μιν ἔχοι βουλύσιος ὥρη,
δύνοι δ’ ἀνέφελος μαλακὴν ὑποδείελος αἴγλην,
καί κεν ἐπερχομένης ἠοῦς ἔθ’ ὑπεύδιος εἴη,
ἀλλ’ οὐχ ὁππότε κοῖλος ἐειδόμενος περιτέλλῃ,
οὐδ’ ὁπότ’ ἀκτίνων αἱ μὲν νότον αἱ δὲ βορῆα
830 σχιζόμεναι βάλλωσι, τὰ δ’ αὖ περὶ μέσσα φαείνῃ,
ἀλλά που ἢ ὑετοῖο διέρχεται ἢ ἀνέμοιο.
Σκέπτεο δ’, εἴ κέ τοι αὐγαὶ ὑπείκωσ’ ἠελίοιο,
αὐτὸν ἐς ἠέλιον, τοῦ γὰρ σκοπιαὶ καὶ ἄρισται,
εἴ τί που ἤ οἱ ἔρευθος ἐπιτρέχει, οἷά τε πολλὰ
835 ἑλκομένων νεφέων ἐρυθαίνεται ἄλλοθεν ἄλλα,
ἢ εἴ που μελανεῖ· καί τοι τὰ μὲν ὕδατος ἔστω
σήματα μέλλοντος, τὰ δ’ ἐρεύθεα πάντ’ ἀνέμοιο.
Εἴ γε μὲν ἀμφοτέροις ἄμυδις κεχρωσμένος εἴη,
καί κεν ὕδωρ φορέοι καὶ ὑπηνέμιος τανύοιτο.

     To the Sun’s march at East and West give heed. His hints give even more pertinent warning both at setting, and when he comes from below the verge. May not his orb, whenever thou desirest a fair day, be variegated when first his arrows strike the earth, and may he wear no mark at all but shine stainless altogether. If again thus all pure he be in the hour when the oxen are loosed, and set cloudless in the evening with gentle beam, he will still be at the coming dawn attended with fair weather. But not so, when he rises with seemingly hollow disk, nor when his beams part to strike or North or South, while his centre is bright. But then in truth he journeys either through rain or through wind. Scan closely, if his beams allow thee, the Sun himself, for scanning him is best, to see if either some blush run over him, as often he shows a blush or here or there, when he fares through trailing clouds, or if haply he is darkened. Let the dark stain be sign to thee of coming rain, and every blush be sign of wind. But if he is draped both black and red at once, he will bring rain and will strain beneath the wind.

840 Εἰ δέ οἱ ἢ ἀνιόντος ἤ αὐτίκα δυομένοιο
ἀκτῖνες συνίωσι καὶ ἀμφ’ ἑνὶ πεπλήθωσιν,
ἤ ποτε καὶ νεφέων πεπιεσμένος ἢ ὅ γ’ ἐς ἠῶ
ἔρχηται παρὰ νυκτὸς ἢ ἐξ ἠοῦς ἐπὶ νύκτα,
ὕδατί κεν κατιόντι παρατρέχοι ἤματα κεῖνα.
845 Μηδ’ ὅτε οἱ ὀλίγη νεφέλη πάρος ἀντέλλῄσι,
τὴν δὲ μέτ’ ἀκτίνων κεχρημένος αὐτὸς ἀερθῇ,
ἀμνηστεῖν ὑετοῖο. Πολὺς δ’ ὅτε οἱ περὶ κύκλος
οἷον τηκομένῳ ἐναλίγκιος εὐρύνηται
πρῶτον ἀνερχομένοιο καὶ ἂψ ἐπὶ μεῖον ἴηισιν,
850 εὔδιός κε φέροιτο, καὶ εἴ ποτε χείματος ὥρῃ
ὠχρήσῃ κατιὼν. Ἀτὰρ ὕδατος ἡμερίοιο
γινομένου, κατόπισθε περὶ νέφεα σκοπέεσθαι·
καὶ δὴ δυομένου τετραμμένος ἠελίοιο,
ἢν μὲν ὑποσκιάῃσι μελαινομένῃ εἰκυῖα
855 ἠέλιον νεφέλη, ταὶ δ’ ἀμφί μιν ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
ἀκτῖνες μεσσηγὺς ἑλισσόμεναι διχόωνται,
ἦ τ’ ἂν ἔτ’ εἰς ἠῶ σκέπαος κεχρημένος εἴης.
Εἰ δ’ ὁ μὲν ἀνέφελος βάπτηι ῥόου ἑσπερίοιο,
ταὶ δὲ κατερχομένου νεφέλαι καὶ ἔτ’ οἰχομένοιο
860 πλησίαι ἑστήκωσιν ἐρευθέες, οὔ σε μάλα χρὴ
αὔριον οὐδ’ ἐπὶ νυκτὶ περιτρομέειν ὑετοῖο,
ἀλλ’ ὁπότ’ ἠελίοιο μαραινομένηισιν ὁμοῖαι
ἐξαπίνης ἀκτῖνες ἀπ’ οὐρανόθεν τανύωνται,
οἷον ἀμαλδύνονται ὅτε σκιάῃσι κατ’ ἰθὺ
865 ἱσταμένη γαίης τε καὶ ἠελίοιο σελήνη.

     But if the rays of the rising or setting Sun converge and crowd on one spot, or if he go from night to dawn, or from dawn to night, closely beset with clouds, those days will run in company with rushing rain. Nor be thou heedless of rain, what time before him rises a thin mist, after which the Sun himself ascends with scanty beams. But when a broad belt of mist seems to melt and widen before the rising Sun and anon narrows to less, fair will be his course, and fair too, if in the season of winter his hue wax wan at eventide. But for tomorrow’s rain face the setting Sun and scan the clouds. If a darkening cloud the beams that wheel between the Sun and it part to either side of the cloud, thou shalt still need shelter for the dawn. But if without a cloud he dip in the western ocean, and as he is sinking, or still when he is gone, the clouds stand near him blushing red, neither on the morrow nor in the night needst thou be over-fearful of rain. But fear the coming rain when on a sudden the Sun’s rays seem to thin and pale – just as they often fade when the Moon overshadows them, what time she stands straight between the earth and Sun.

Οὐδ’ ὅτε οἱ ἐπέχοντι φανήμεναι ἠῶθι πρὸ
φαίνωνται νεφέλαι ὑπερευθέες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλαι,
ἄρραντοι γίνονται ἐπ’ ἤματι κείνῳ ἄρουραι.
Μηδ’ αὕτως, ἔτ’ ἐόντι πέρην ὁπότε προταθεῖσαι
870 ἀκτῖνες φαίνωνται ἐπίσκιοι ἠῶθι πρό,
ὕδατος ἢ ἀνέμοιο κατοισομένου λελαθέσθαι.
Ἀλλ’ εἰ μὲν κεῖναι μᾶλλον κνέφαος φορέοιντο
ἀκτῖνες, μᾶλλόν κεν ἐφ’ ὕδατι σημαίνοιεν·
εἰ δ’ ὀλίγος τανύοιτο περὶ δνόφος ἀκτίνεσσιν,
875 οἷόν που μαλακαὶ νεφέλαι φορέουσι μάλιστα,
ἦ τ’ ἂν ἐπερχομένοιο περιδνοφέοιντ’ ἀνέμοιο.
Οὐδὲ μὲν ἠελίου σχεδόθεν μελανεῦσαι ἀλωαὶ
εὔδιοι· ἀσσότεραι δὲ καὶ ἀστεμφὲς μελανεῦσαι
μᾶλλον χειμέριαι, δύο δ’ ἂν χαλεπώτεραι εἶεν.
880 Σκέπτεο δ’ ἢ ἀνιόντος ἢ αὐτίκα δυομένοιο
εἴ πού οἱ νεφέων τὰ παρήλια κικλήσκονται
ἢ νότου ἠὲ βορῆος ἐρεύθεται ἢ ἑκάτρθεν,
μηδ’ αὕτως σκοπιὴν ταύτην ἀμενηνὰ φυλάσσειν.
Οὐ γάρ, ὅτ’ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ὁμοῦ περὶ μέσσον ἔχωσιν
885 ἠέλιον κεῖναι νεφέλαι σχεδὸν ὠκεανοῖο,
γίνεται ἀμβολίη Διόθεν χειμῶνος ἰόντος.
Εἴ γε μὲν ἐκ βορέαο μί’ οἴη φοινίσσοιτο,
ἐκ βορέω πνοιάς κε φέροι, νοτίη δὲ νότοιο·
ἢ καί που ῥαθάμιγγες ἐπιτροχόωσ’ ὑετοῖο.

     Nor are the fields unwetted on that day, when before the dawn, as the Sun delays to shine, reddish clouds appear here or there. Be not heedless either of wind or rain to come, when, while the Sun is still below the verge, his precursor beams shine shadowy in the dawn. The more those beams are borne in shadow, the surer the sign they give of rain, but if but faint the dusk that veils his beams, like a soft mist of vapour, that veil of dusk portends wind. Nor are dark halos near the Sun signs of fair weather: when nearer the Sun and dark without relief, they portend greater storms; if there are two rings, they will herald tempests fiercer still. Marks as the Sun is rising or setting, whether the clouds, called parhelia, blush (on South or North or both), nor make the observation in careless mood. For when on both sides at once those clouds gird the Sun, low down upon the horizon, there is no lingering of the storm that comes from Zeus. But if only one shine purple to the North, form the North will it bring the blast; if in the South, from the South; or down pour the pattering raindrops.

890 Ἑσπερίοις καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπίτρεπε σήμασι τούτοις·
ἑσπερόθεν γὰρ ὁμῶς σημαίνεται ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.
Σκέπτεο καὶ Φάτνην. Ἡ μέν τ’ ὀλίγῃ εἰκυῖα
ἀχλύι βορραίη ὑπὸ Καρκίνῳ ἡγηλάζει,
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν δύο λεπτὰ φαεινόμενοι φορέονται
895 ἀστέρες, οὔτε τι πολλὸν ἀπήοροι οὔτε μάλ’ ἐγγύς,
ἀλλ’ ὅσσον τε μάλιστα πυγούσιον ὠίσασθαι,
εἷς μὲν πὰρ βορέαο, νότῳ δ’ ἐπικέκλιται ἄλλος.
Καὶ τοὶ μὲν καλέονται Ὄνοι, μέσση δέ τε Φάτνη,
Ἥ τε κεἰ ἐξαπίνης πάντη Διὸς εὐδιόωντος
900 γίνετ’ ἄφαντος ὅλη, τοὶ δ’ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἰόντες
ἀστέρες ἀλλήλων ἀυτοσχεδὸν ἰνδάλλονται,
οὐκ ὀλίγωι χειμῶνι τότε κλύζονται ἄρουραι.
Εἰ δὲ μελαίνηται, τοὶ δ’ αὐτίκ’ ἐοικότες ὦσιν
ἀστέρες ἀμφότεροι, ἐπί χ’ ὕδατι σημαίνοιεν.
905 Εἰ δ’ ὁ μὲν ἐκ βορέω Φάτνης ἀμενηνὰ φαείνοι
λεπτὸν ἐπαχλύων, νότιος δ’ Ὄνος ἀγλαὸς εἴη,
δειδέχθαι ἀνέμοιο νότου, βορέω δὲ μάλα χρὴ
ἔμπαλιν ἀχλυόεντι φαεινομένῳ τε δοκεύειν.

     With even greater care mark those signals when in the West, for from the West the warnings are given ever with equal and unfailing certainty. Watch, too, the Manger. Like a faint mist in the North it plays the guide beneath Cancer. Around it are borne two faintly gleaming stars, not far apart nor very near but distant to the view a cubit’s length, one on the North, while the other looks towards the South. They are called the Asses, and between them is the Manger. On a sudden, when all the sky is clear, the Manger wholly disappears, while the stars that go on either side seem nearer drawn to one another: not slight then is the storm with which the fields are deluged. If the Manger darken and both stars remain unaltered, they herald rain. But if the Ass to the North of the Manger shine feebly through a faint mist, while the Southern Ass is gleaming bright, expect wind from the South: but if in turn the Southern Ass is cloudy and the Northern bright, watch for the North wind.

Σῆμα δέ τοι ἀνέμοιο καὶ οἰδαίνουσα θάλασσα
910 γινέσθω καὶ μακρὸν ἔπ’ αἰγιαλοὶ βοόωντες,
ἀκταί τ’ εἰνάλιαι ὁπότ’ εὔδιοι ἠχήεσσαι
γίνονται, κορυφαί τε βοώμεναι οὔρεος ἄκραι.
Καὶ δ’ ἂν ἐπὶ ξηρὴν ὅτ’ ἐρωδιὸς οὐ κατὰ κόσμον
ἐξ ἁλὸς ἔρχηται φωνῇ περιπολλὰ λεληκὼς,
915 κινυμένου κε θάλασσαν ὕπερ φορέοιτ’ ἀνέμοιο.
Καί ποτε καὶ κέπφοι, ὁπότ’ εὔδιοι ποτέωνται,
ἀντία μελλόντων ἀνέμων εἰληδὰ φέρονται.
Πολλάκι δ’ ἀγριάδες νῆσσαι ἢ εἰναλιδῖναι
αἴθυιαι χερσαῖα τινάσσονται πτερύγεσσιν,
920 ἢ νεφέλη ὄρεος μηκύνεται ἐν κορυφῇσιν.
Ἤδη καὶ πάπποι, λευκῆς γήρειον ἀκάνθης,
σῆμ’ ἐγένοντ’ ἀνέμου, κωφῆς ἁλὸς ὁππότε πολλοὶ
ἄκρον ἐπιπλώωσι, τὰ μὲν πάρος, ἄλλα δ’ ὀπίσσω.
Καὶ θέρεος βρονταί τε καὶ ἀστραπαὶ ἔνθεν ἴωσιν,
925 ἔνθεν ἐπερχομένοιο περισκοπέειν ἀνέμοιο.
Καὶ διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν ὅτ’ ἀστέρες ἀΐσσωσι
ταρφέα, τοὶ δ’ ὄπιθεν ῥυμοὶ ὑπολευκαίνωνται,
δειδέχθαι κείνοις αὐτὴν ὁδὸν ἐρχομένοιο
πνεύματος· ἢν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι ἐναντίοι ἀΐσσωσιν,
930 ἄλλοι δ’ ἐξ ἄλλων μερέων, τότε δὴ πεφύλαξο
παντοίων ἀνέμων, οἵ τ’ ἄκριτοί εἰσι μάλιστα,
ἄκριτα δὲ πνείουσιν ἐπ’ ἀνδράσι τεκμήρασθαι.

     A sign of wind be the swelling sea, the far sounding beach, the sea-crags when in calm they echo, and the moaning of the mountain crests. When, too, the heron in disordered flight comes landward from the sea with many a scream, he is precursor of the gale at sea. Anon, too, the stormy petrels when the flit in calm, move in companies to face the coming winds. Oft before a gale the wild ducks or sea-wheeling gulls beat their wings on the shore, or a cloud is lengthwise resting on the mountain peaks. Marked, too, ere now as sign of wind have been the withered petals, the down of the white thistle, when they abundant float, some in front and others behind, on the surface of the silent sea. From the quarter whence come the peals of summer thunder and the lightning flash, thence expect the onset of the gale. When through the dark night shooting stars fly thick and their track behind is white, except a wind coming in the same path. If other shooting stars confront them and others from other quarters dart, then be on they guard for winds from every quarter – winds, which beyond all else are hard to judge, and blow beyond man’s power to predict.

Αὐτὰρ ὅτ’ ἐξ εὔροιο καὶ ἐκ νότου ἀστράπτῃσιν,
ἄλλοτε δ’ ἐκ ζεφύροιο καὶ ἄλλοτε πὰρ βορέαο,
935 δὴ τότε τις πελάγει ἔνι δείδιε ναυτίλος ἀνὴρ
μή μιν τῇ μὲν ἔχῃ πέλαγος, τῇ δ’ ἐκ Διὸς ὕδωρ.
Ὕδατι γὰρ τοσσαί δε περὶ στεροπαὶ φορέονται.
Πολλάκι δ’ ἐρχομένων ὑετῶν νέφεα προπάροιθεν
οἷα μάλιστα πόκοισιν ἐοικότα ἰνδάλλονται,
940 ἢ διδύμη ἔζωσε διὰ μέγαν οὐρανὸν ἶρις,
ἢ καί πού τις ἅλωα μελαινομένην ἔχει ἀστήρ.
Πολλάκι λιμναῖαι ἢ εἰνάλιαι ὄρνιθες
ἄπληστον κλύζονται ἐνιέμεναι ὑδάτεσσιν,
ἢ λίμνην πέρι δηθὰ χελιδόνες ἀΐσσονται
945 γαστέρι τύπτουσαι αὔτως εἰλυμένον ὕδωρ,
ἢ μᾶλλον δειλαὶ γενεαί, ὕδροισιν ὄνειαρ,
αὐτόθεν ἐξ ὕδατος πατέρες βοόωσι γυρίνων,
ἢ τρύζει ὀρθρινὸν ἐρημαίη ὀλολυγών,
ἤ που καὶ λακέρυζα παρ’ ἠϊόνι προυχούσῃ
950 χείματος ἐρχομένου χέρσῳ ὑπέτυψε κορώνη,
ἤ που καὶ ποταμοῖο ἐβάψατο μέχρι παρ’ ἄκρους
ὤμους ἐκ κεφαλῆς, ἢ καὶ μάλα πᾶσα κολυμβᾷ,
ἢ πολλὴ στρέφεται παρ’ ὕδωρ παχέα κρώζουσα.

     But when from East and South the lightnings flash, and again from the West and anon from the North, verily then the sailor on the sea fears to be caught at once by the waves beneath and the rain from heaven. For such lightnings herald rain. Often before the coming rain fleece-like clouds appear or a double rainbow girds the wide sky or some star is rings with darkening halo. Often the birds of lake or sea insatiably dive and plunge in the water, or around the mere for long the swallows dart, smiting with their breasts the rippling water, or more hapless tribes, a boon to watersnakes, the fathers of the tadpoles croak from the lake itself, or from the lonely tree-frog drones his matin lay, or by jutting bank the chattering crow stalks on the dry land before the coming storm, or it may be dips from head to shoulder in the river, or even dives completely, or hoarsely cawing ruffles it beside the water.

Καὶ βόες ἤδη τοι πάρος ὕδατος ἐνδίοιο
955 οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδόντες ἀπ’ αἰθέρος ὀσφρήσαντο,
καὶ κοίλης μύρμηκες ὀχῆς ἐξ ὤεα πάντα
θᾶσσον ἀνηνέγκαντο, καὶ ἀθρόοι ὦφθεν ἴουλοι ⁴⁷
τείχε’ ἀνέρποντες, καὶ πλαζόμενοι σκώληκες
κεῖνοι τοὺς καλέουσι μελαίνης ἔντερα γαίης.
960 καὶ τιθαὶ ὄρνιθες, ταὶ ἀλέκτορος ἐξεγένοντο,
εὖ ἐφθειρίσσαντο καὶ ἔκρωξαν μάλα φωνῇ,
οἷόν τε σταλάον ψοφέει ἐπὶ ὕδατι ὕδωρ.
Δή ποτε καὶ γενεαὶ κοράκων καὶ φῦλα κολοιῶν
ὕδατος ἐρχομένοιο Διὸς πάρα σῆμ’ ἐγένοντο
965 φαινόμενοι ἀγεληδὰ καὶ ἰρήκεσσιν ὁμοῖα
φθεγξάμενοι· καί που κόρακες δίους σταλαγμοὺς
φωνῇ ἐμιμήσαντο σὺν ὕδατος ἐρχομένοιο,
ἐρχόμεναι σταθμὸν δὲ βόες βουλύσιον ὥρην,
ἤ ποτε καὶ κρώξαν τε βαρείῃ δισσάκι φωνῇ
970 μακρὸν ἐπιρροιζεῦσι τιναξάμενοι πτερὰ πυκνά,
καὶ νῆσσαι οἰκουροὶ ὑπωρόφιοί τε κολοιοὶ
ἐρχόμενοι κατὰ γεῖσα τινάσσονται πτερύγεσσιν,
ἢ ἐπὶ κῦμα διώκει ἐρωδιὸς ὀξὺ λεληκώς.

     And ere now before rain from the sky, the oxen gazing heavenward have been seen to sniff the air, and the ants from their hollow nests bring up in haste all their eggs, and in swarms the centipedes are seen to climb the walls, and wandering forth crawl those worms that men call dark earth’s intestines (earthworms). Tame fowl with father Chanticleer well preen their plumes and cluck aloud with voices like noise of water dripping upon water. Ere now, too, the generations of crows and tribes of jackdaws have been a sign of rain to come from Zeus, when they appear in flocks and screech like hawks. Crows, too, imitate with their note the heavy splash of clashing rain, or after twice croaking deeply they raise a loud whirring with frequent flapping of their wings, and ducks of the homestead and jackdaws which haunt the roof seek cover under the eaves and clap their wings, or seaward flies the heron with shrill screams.

Τῶν τοι μηδὲν ἀπόβλητον πεφυλαγμένωι ὕδωρ
975 γινέσθω, μηδ’ εἴ κεν ἐπιπλέον ἠὲ πάροιθεν
δάκνωσιν μυῖαι καὶ ἐφ’ αἵματος ἱμείρωνται,
ἢ λύχνοιο μύκητες ἀγείρωνται περὶ μύξαν
νύκτα κατὰ νοτίην, μηδ’ ἢν ὑπὸ χείματος ὥρην
λύχνων ἄλλοτε μέν τε φάος κατὰ κόσμον ὀρώρῃ,
980 ἄλλοτε δ’ ἀΐσσωσιν ἄπο φλόγες ἠΰτε κοῦφαι
πομφόλυγες, μηδ’ εἴ κεν ἐπ’ αὐτόφι μαρμαίρωσιν
ἀκτῖνες, μηδ’ ἢν θέρεος μέγα πεπταμένοιο
νησαῖοι ὄρνιθες ἐπασσύτεροι φορέωνται.
Μηδὲ σύ γ’ ἢ χύτρης ἠὲ τρίποδος πυριβήτεω
985 σπινθῆρες ὅτ’ ἔωσι πέρι πλέονες, λελαθέσθαι,
μηδὲ κατὰ σποδιὴν ὁπότ’ ἄνθρακος αἰθομένοιο
λάμπηται πέρι σήματ’ ἐοικότα κεγχρείοισιν.
Ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ καὶ τὰ δόκευε περισκοπέων ὑετοῖο.
Εἴ γε μὲν ἠερόεσσα παρὲξ ὄρεος μεγάλοιο
990 πυθμένα τείνηται νεφέλη, ἄκραι δὲ κολῶναι
φαίνωνται καθαραί, μάλα κεν τόθ’ ὑπεύδιος εἴης.
Εὔδιος κ’ εἴης καὶ ὅτε πλατέος παρὰ πόντου
φαίνηται χθαμαλὴ νεφέλη, μηδ’ ὑψόθι κύρῃ,
ἀλλ’ αὐτοῦ πλαταμῶνι παραθλίβηται ὁμοίη.
995 Σκέπτεο δ’ εὔδιος μὲν ἐὼν ἐπὶ χείματι μᾶλλον,
ἐς δὲ γαληναίην χειμωνόθεν. Εὖ δὲ μάλα χρὴ
ἐς Φάτνην ὁράαν, τὴν Καρκίνος ἀμφιελίσσει,
πρῶτα καθαιρομένην πάσης ὑπένερθεν ὀμίχλης·
κείνη γὰρ φθίνοντι καθαίρεται ἐν χειμῶνι.

     Slight not aught of these things when on thy guard for rain, and heed the warning, if beyond their wont the midges sting and are fain for blood, or if on a misty night snuff gather on the nozzle of the lamp, or if in winter’s season the flame of the lamp now rise steadily and anon sparks fly fast from it, like light bubbles, or if on the light itself there dart quivering rays, or if in height of summer the island birds are borne in crowding companies. Be not heedless of the pot or tripod on the fire, if many sparks encircle it, nor heedless when in the ashes of blazing coal there gleam spots like millet seed, but scan those too when seeking signs of rain. But if a misty cloud be stretched along the base of a high hill, while the upper peaks shine clear, very bright will be the sky. Fair weather, too, shalt thou have, when by the sea-verge is seen a cloud low on the ground, never reaching a height, but penned there like a flat reef of rock. Seek in clam for signs of storms, and in storm for signs of calm. Scan well the Manger, whereby wheels the Crab, when first it is freed of every covering cloud. For its clearing marks the waning tempest.

1000 Καὶ φλόγες ἡσύχιαι λύχνων καὶ νυκτερίη γλαὺξ
ἥσυχον ἀείδουσα μαραινομένου χειμῶνος
γινέσθω τοι σῆμα, καὶ ἥσυχα ποικίλλουσα
ὥρῃ ἐν ἑσπερίῃ κρώζῃ πολύφωνα κορώνη,
καὶ κόρακες μοῦνοι μὲν ἐρημαῖον βοόωντες
1005 δισσάκις, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα μέγ’ ἀθρόα κεκλήγοντες,
πλειότεροι δ’ ἀγεληδόν, ἐπὴν κοίτοιο μέδωνται,
φωνῆς ἔμπλειοι· χαίρειν κέ τις οἰίσσαιτο,
οἷα τὰ μὲν βοόωσι λιγαινομένοισιν ὁμοῖα,
πολλὰ δὲ δενδρείοιο περὶ φλόον, ἄλλοτ’ ἐπ’ αὐτοῦ
1010 ἧχί τε κείουσιν καὶ ὑπότροποι ἀπτερύονται.
Καὶ δ’ ἄν που γέρανοι μαλακῆς προπάροιθε γαλήνης
ἀσφαλέως τανύσαιεν ἕνα δρόμον ἤλιθα πᾶσαι,
οὐδὲ παλιρρόθιοί κεν ὑπεύδιοι φορέοιντο.
Ἦμος δ’ ἀστερόθεν καθαρὸν φάος ἀμβλύνηται,
1015 οὐδέ ποθεν νεφέλαι πεπιεσμέναι ἀντιόωσιν,
οὐδέ ποθεν ζόφος ἄλλος ὑποτρέχῃ οὐδὲ σελήνη,
ἀλλὰ τά γ’ ἐξαπίνης αὕτως ἀμενηνὰ φέρωνται,
μηκέτι τοι τόδε σῆμα γαληναίης ἐπικείσθω,
ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ χεῖμα δόκευε· καὶ ὁππότε ταὶ μένωσιν
1020 αὐτῇ ἐνὶ χώρῃ νεφέλαι, ταὶ δ’ ἄλλαι ἐπ’ αὐταῖς,
ταὶ μὲν ἀμειβόμεναι, ταὶ δ’ ἐξόπιθεν, φορέωνται.

     Take for sign of storm abating the steady-burning flame of the lamp, the gentle hooting of the owl at night, and the crow if with gentle varying note she caw at eventide, and the rooks, when singly they utter two lonely notes followed by frequent rapid screams, and when in fuller company they bethink them of the roost, full of voice. One would think them glad, seeing how they caw now in shrill screams, now with frequent flight around the foliage of the tree, now on the tree, whereon they roost, and anon they wheel and clap their wings. Cranes, too, before a gentle clam will wing their way steadily onward in one track, all in company, and in fair weather will be borne in no disordered flight. But when the clear light from the stars is dimmed, though no thronging clouds veil, nor other darkness hide nor Moon obscure, but the stars on a sudden thus causelessly wax wan, hold that no more for sign of calm but look for storm. Foul weather, too, will come, when of the clouds some are stationary, but others passing by and others following after.

Καὶ χῆνες κλαγγηδὸν ἐπειγόμεναι βρώμοιο
χειμῶνος μέγα σῆμα, καὶ ἐννεάγηρα κορώνη
νύκτερον ἀείδουσα, καὶ ὀψὲ βοῶντε κολοιοί,
1025 καὶ σπίνος ἠῷα σπίζων, καὶ ὄρνεα πάντα
ἐκ πελάγους φεύγοντα, καὶ ὀρχίλος ἢ καὶ ἐριθεὺς
δύνων ἐς κοίλας ὀχεάς, καὶ φῦλα κολοιῶν
ἐκ νομοῦ ἐρχόμενα τραφεροῦ ἐπὶ ὄψιον αὖλιν.
Οὐδ’ ἂν ἔτι ξουθαὶ μεγάλου χειμῶνος ἰόντος
1030 πρόσσω ποιήσαιντο νομὸν κηροῖο μέλισσαι,
ἀλλ’ αὐτοῦ μέλιτός τε καὶ ἔργων εἱλίσσονται.
Οὐδ’ ὑψοῦ γεράνων μακραὶ στίχες αὐτὰ κέλευθα
τείνονται, στροφάδες δὲ παλιμπετὲς ἀπονέονται.
Μηδ, ὅτε νηνεμίῃ κεν ἀράχνια λεπτὰ φέρηται,
1035 καὶ φλόγες αἰθύσσωσι μελαινόμεναι λύχνοιο,
ἢ πῦρ αὔηται σπουδῇ καὶ ὑπεύδια λύχνα,
πιστεύειν χειμῶνι. Τί τοι λέγω ὅσσα πέλονται
σήματ’ ἐπ’ ἀνθρώπους; Δὴ γὰρ καὶ ἀεικέι τέφρῃ
αὐτοῦ πηγνυμένῃ νιφετοῦ ἐπιτεκμήραιο,
1040 καὶ λυχνῳ χιόνος, κέγχροις ὅτ’ ἐοικότα πάντη
κύκλῳ σήματ’ ἔχει πυριλαμπέος ἐγγύθι μύξης·
ἄνθρακι δὲ ζώοντι χαλάζης, ὁππότε λαμπρὸς
αὐτὸς ἐείδηται, μέσσῳ δέ οἱ ἠΰτε λεπτὴ
φαίνηται νεφέλη πυρὸς ἔνδοθεν αἰθομένοιο.
1045 Πρῖνοι δ’ αὖ καρποῖο καταχθέες, οὐδὲ μέλαιναι
σχῖνοι ἀπείρητοι, πάντη δέ τε πολλὸς ἀλωεὺς
αἰεὶ παπταίνει, μή οἱ θέρος ἐκ χερὸς ἔρρῃ.
Πρῖνοι μὲν θαμινῆς ἀκύλου κατὰ μέτρον ἔχουσαι
χειμῶνός κε λέγοιεν ἐπὶ πλέον ἰσχύσοντος.
1050 Μηδὲ ἄδην ἔκπαγλα περιβρίθοιεν ἁπάντη,
τηλοτέρω δ’ αὐχμοῖο συνασταχύοιεν ἄρουραι.

     Sure signs of storm are geese hastening with many a cackle to their food, the nine-generation crow cawing at night, the jackdaw chattering late, the chaffinch piping in the dawn, waterfowl all fleeing inward from the sea, the wren or the robin retreating into hollow clefts, and tribes of jackdaws returning late to roost from dry feeding-grounds. When the furious tempest is imminent, the tawny bees go not far afield to cull wax, but wheel hard by their honey and their stores, nor do cranes on high in long lines wing their steady onward course, but wheel and double in their flight. Look, too, for foul weather, when in windless clam airy gossamers are flying, and when the rays of the lamp are wan and flickering, or when in fair weather fire and torches are hard to kindle. Why recount all the warning hints that come to men? The unsightly clotting of the ash is sign of snow: the ring of spots like millet seed around the blazing wick of the lamp betokens snow; but sign of hail are live coals, when they outward brightly shine, but in their centre appears, as it were, a hazy mist within the glowing fire. Nor are holm-oaks, laden with acorns, and the dark mastich untried. With frequent glance on every side the miller ever peers, anxious lest the summer slip from his hand. Holm-oaks with moderate crops of frequent acorns will tell of heavy storm to come. Pray that they may not be exceedingly heavy laden, but only that far from drought the cornfields flourish even as they.

Τριπλόα δὲ σχῖνος κυέει, τρισσαὶ δέ οἱ αὖξαι
γίνονται καρποῖο, φέρει δέ τε σήμαθ’ ἑκάστη
ἑξείης ἀρότῳ. Καὶ γάρ τ’ ἀροτήσιον ὥρην
1055 τριπλόα μείρονται, μέσσην καὶ ἐπ’ ἀμφότερ’ ἄκρα·
πρῶτος μὲν πρώτην ἄροσιν, μέσσος δέ τε μέσσην
καρπὸς ἀπαγγέλλει, πυμάτην γε μὲν ἔσχατος ἄλλων.
ὅντινα γὰρ κάλλιστα λοχαίη σχῖνος ἄρηται,
κείνῳ κ’ ἐξ ἄλλων ἄροσις πολυλήιος εἴη,
1060 τῷ δέ γ’ ἀφαυροτάτῳ ὀλίγη, μέσσῳ δέ τε μέσση.
Αὕτως δ’ ἀνθέρικος τριχθὰ σκίλλης ὑπερανθεῖ,
σήματ’ ἐπιφράσσασθαι ὁμοίϊου ἀμήτοιο.
ὅσσα δ’ ἐπὶ σχίνου ἀροτὴρ ἐφράσσατο καρπῷ,
τοσσάδε καὶ σκίλλης τεκμαίρεται ἄνθεϊ λευκῷ.
1065 Αὐτὰρ ὅτε σφῆκες μετοπωρινὸν ἤλιθα πολλοὶ
πάντη βεβρίθωσι, καὶ ἑσπερίων προπάροιθεν
Πληιάδων εἴποι τις ἐπερχόμενον χειμῶνα,
οἷος ἐπὶ σφήκεσσιν ἑλίσσεται αὐτίκα δῖνος.
Θήλειαι δὲ σύες, θήλεια δὲ μῆλα καὶ αἶγες
1070 ὁππότ’ ἀναστρωφῶσιν ὀχῆς, τὰ δέ γ’ ἄρσενα πάντα
δεξάμεναι πάλιν αὖτις ἀναβλήδην ὀχέωνται,
αὔτως κε σφήκεσσι μέγαν χειμῶνα λέγοιεν.
Ὀψὲ δὲ μισγομένων αἰγῶν μήλων τε συῶν τε
χαίρει ἄνολβος ἀνήρ, ὅ οἱ οὐ μάλα θαλπιόωντι
1075 εὔδιον φαίνουσι βιβαζόμεναι ἐνιαυτόν.
Χαίρει καὶ γεράνων ἀγέλαις ὡραῖος ἀροτρεὺς
ὥριον ἐρχομέναις, ὁ δ’ ἀώροις αὐτίκα μᾶλλον·

     Thrice the mastich buds and thrice wax ripe its berries. Each crop in turn brings a sign for the sowing. For men divide the sowing season into three – early, middle, late. The first crop of mastich heralds the first of grain; the second the middle; the latest the last of all. The richest crop that the teaming mastich bears will hint of the wealthiest harvest from the plough: the meanest crop foretells scanty grain, and average mastich heralds average corn. Likewise the stalk of the squill flowers thrice to give hint of corresponding harvest. All the hints the farmer marked in the mastich crop, the same he learns from the white blossom of the squill. But when in autumn frequent swarms of wasps crowd on every side, one can foretell the winter-storm to come even before the Pleiads are westering, swift and sudden as thee eddy wherein the wasps are wheeling. Sows and ewes and she-goats, when after mating with the male they mate again, equally with wasps foretell heavy storm. When she-goats and ewes and sows mate late in the season, the poor man rejoices, because their mating reveals to him that is thinly clad the coming of an open winter. In seasonable flight of thronging cranes rejoices the seasonable farmer: in untimely flight the untimely ploughman.

αὔτως γὰρ χειμῶνες ἐπέρχονται γεράνοισι,
πρώια μὲν καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμιλαδὸν ἐρχομένῃσιν
1080 πρώιοι· αὐτὰρ ὅτ’ ὀψὲ καὶ οὐκ ἀγεληδὰ φανεῖσαι
πλειότερον φορέονται ἐπὶ χρόνον, οὐδ’ ἅμα πολλαί,
ἀμβολίῃ χειμῶνος ὀφέλλεται ὕστερα ἔργα.
Εἰ δὲ βόες καὶ μῆλα μετὰ βρίθουσαν ὀπώρην
γαῖαν ὀρύσσωσιν, κεφαλὰς δ’ ἀνέμοιο βορῆος
1085 ἀντία τείνωσιν, μάλα κεν τότε χείμερον αὐταὶ
Πληιάδες χειμῶνα κατερχόμεναι φορέοιεν.
Μὴ δὲ λίην ὀρύχοιεν, ἐπεὶ μέγας οὐ κατὰ κόσμον
γίνεται οὔτε φυτοῖς χειμὼν φίλος οὔτ’ ἀρότοισιν.
Ἀλλὰ χιὼν εἴη πολλὴ μεγάλαις ἐπ’ ἀρούραις
1090 μήπω κεκριμένῃ μηδὲ βλωθρῇ ἐπὶ ποίῃ,
ὄφρα τις εὐεστοῖ χαίρῃ ποτιδέγμενος ἀνήρ.
μηδ’ εἶεν καθύπερθεν ἐοικότες ἀστέρες αἰεί,
μηδ’ εἷς μηδὲ δύω μηδὲ πλέονες κομόωντες·
πολλοὶ γὰρ κομόωσιν ἐπ’ αὐχμηρῷ ἐνιαυτῷ.
1095 Οὐδὲ μὲν ὀρνίθων ἀγέλαις ἠπειρόθεν ἀνήρ,
ἐκ νήσων ὅτε πολλαὶ ἐπιπλήσσωσιν ἀρούραις
ἐρχομένου θέρεος, χαίρει, περιδείδιε δ’ αἰνῶς
ἀμητῷ, μή οἱ κενεὸς καὶ ἀχύρμιος ἔλθῃ
αὐχμῷ ἀνιηθεὶς. Χαίρει δέ που αἰπόλος ἀνὴρ
1100 αὐταῖς ὀρνίθεσσιν, ἐπὴν κατὰ μέτρον ἴωσιν,
ἐλπόμενος μετέπειτα πολυγλαγέος ἐνιαυτοῦ.
Οὕτω γὰρ μογεροὶ καὶ ἀλήμονες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλοι
ζώομεν ἄνθρωποι, τὰ δὲ πὰρ ποσὶ πάντες ἑτοῖμοι
σήματ’ ἐπιγνῶναι καὶ ἐς αὐτίκα ποιήσασθαι.

     For ever so the winters follow the cranes: early winters, when their flight is early and in flocks: when they fly late and not in flocks, but over a longer period in small bands, the later farming benefits by the delay of winter. If oxen and sheep after the heavy-laden Autumn dig the ground and stretch their heads to face the North wind, verily the Pleiads at their setting will bring a stormy winter. Pray that their digging be not excessive, for then is the winter exceedingly severe and a foe both to tree and tilth. May deep snow clothe the mighty fields, veiling the tender shoot, not yet separate nor tall, so that the anxious husbandman may rejoice in well-being. May the stars above shine ever with due brightness; and may no comets, one nor two nor more, appear! for many comets herald a season of drought. Nor on the mainland does the husbandman rejoice at the coming of summer to see trooping flocks of birds, when from the islands they alight upon his fields, but exceeding dread is his for the harvest, lest vexed by drought it come with empty ears and chaff. But the goat-herd rejoices even in the birds, when they come in moderate flocks with promise of a season of plenteous milk. For thus do we poor, changeful mortals win in divers ways our livelihood, and all are ready to mark the warnings at their feet and adopt them for the moment.

1105 Ἀρνάσι μὲν χειμῶνας ἐτεκμήραντο νομῆες,
ἐς νομὸν ὁππότε μᾶλλον ἐπειγόμενοι τροχόωσιν,
ἄλλοι δ’ ἐξ ἀγέλης κριοί, ἄλλοι δὲ καὶ ἀμνοὶ
εἰνόδιοι παίζωσιν ἐρειδόμενοι κεράεσσιν·
ἢ ὁπότ’ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλοι ἀναπλίσσωσι πόδεσσιν
1110 τέτρασιν οἱ κοῦφοι, κεραοί γε μὲν ἀμφοτέροισιν·
ἢ καὶ ὅτ’ ἐξ ἀγέλης ἀεκούσια κινήσωσιν
δείελον εἰσελάοντες ὅμως, τὰ δὲ πάντοθι ποίης
δάκνωσιν πυκινῇσι κελευόμενα λιθάκεσσιν.
Ἐκ δὲ βοῶν ἐπύθοντ’ ἀρόται καὶ βουκόλοι ἄνδρες
1115 κινυμένου χειμῶνος, ἐπεὶ βόες ὁππότε χηλὰς
γλῶσσῃ ὑπωμαίοιο ποδὸς περιλιχμήσωνται
ἢ κοίτῳ πλευρὰς ἐπὶ δεξιτερὰς τανύσωνται,
ἀμβολίην ἀρότοιο γέρων ἐπιέλπετ’ ἀροτρεύς.
Οὐδ’ ὅτε μυκηθμοῖο περίπλειοι ἀγέρωνται
1120 ἐρχόμεναι σταθμόν δε βόες βουλύσιῳ ὥρῃ
σκυθραὶ λειμῶνος πόριες καὶ βουβοσίοιο,
αὐτίκα τεκμαίρονται ἀχείμεροι ἐμπλήσεσθαι.
Οὐδ’ αἶγες πρίνοιο περὶ σπεύδουσαι ἀκάνθαις
εὔδιοι, οὐδὲ σύες φορυτῷ ἐπὶ μαργαίνουσαι.
1125 Καὶ λύκος ὁππότε μακρὰ μονόλυκος ὠρύηται,
ἢ ὅτ’ ἀροτρήων ὀλίγον πεφυλαγμένος ἀνδρῶν
ἔργα κατέρχηται, σκέπαος χατέοντι ἐοικὼς,
ἐγγύθεν ἀνθρώπων, ἵνα οἱ λέχος αὐτόθεν εἴη,
τρὶς περιτελλομένης ἠοῦς χειμῶνα δοκεύειν.

     Sheep warn the shepherd of coming storm when they rush to pasture in haste beyond their wont, but some behind the flock, now rams, now lambs, sport by the way with butting horns, when some here, some there, they bound aloft, the sillier young with four feet off the ground, the horned elders with two, or when the shepherd moves an unwilling flock, though it be evening when he drives them to their pens, while ever and anon they pluck the grass, through urged by many a stone. From oxen too the ploughman and neat-herd learn of the stirring of the storm. When oxen lick with their tongue around the hooves of their fore-feet or in their stalls stretch themselves on their right side, the old ploughman expects the sowing to be delayed. When with ceaseless lowing the kine collectas they wend at eventide to their stalls, the heifers reluctant to leave the meadow pastureland give warning that anon they will not feed in stormless weather. Not fair weather do the goats betide when greedy for prickly holm-oak, and the sows rage furiously over their bedding. When a solitary wolf howls loud, or when, as if he sought for shelter, recking little of farmer men, he descends to the cultivated lands near to men to seek a lair there, expect a storm when the third dawn comes round.

1130 Οὕτω καὶ προτέροις ἐπὶ σήμασι τεκμήραιο
ἐσσομένων ἀνέμων ἢ χείματος ἢ ὑετοῖο
αὐτὴν ἤ μετὰ τὴν ἢ καὶ τριτάτην ἔτ’ ἐς ἠῶ.
Ἀλλὰ γὰρ οὐδὲ μύες, τετριγότες εἴ ποτε μᾶλλον
εὔδιοι ἐσκίρτησαν ἐοικότα ὀρχηθμοῖσιν,
1135 ἄσκεπτοι ἐγένοντο παλαιοτέροις ἀνθρώποις,
οὐδὲ κύνες· καὶ γάρ τε κύων ὠρύξατο ποσσὶν
ἀμφοτέροις χειμῶνος ἐπερχομένοιο δοκεύων,
Καὶ μὴν ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ καρκίνος ᾤχετο χέρσῳ
χειμῶνος μέλλοντος, ἐπαΐσσεσθαι ὁδοῖο.
1140 καὶ μύες ἡμέριοι ποσσὶ στιβάδα στρωφῶντες
κοίτης ἱμείρονται ὅτ’ ὄμβρου σήματα φαίνοι,
κἀκεῖνοι χειμῶνα μύες τότε μαντεύονται.
Τῶν μηδὲν κατόκνησο. Καλὸν δ’ ἐπὶ σήματι σῆμα
σκέπτεσθαι· μᾶλλον δὲ δύειν εἰς ταὐτὸν ἰόντων
1145 ἐλπωρὴ τελέθοι, τριτάτῳ δέ κε θαρσήσειας.
Αἰεὶ δ’ ἂν παριόντος ἀριθμοίης ἐνιαυτοῦ
σήματα συμβάλλων εἴ που καὶ ἐπ’ ἀστέρι τοίη
ἠὼς ἀντέλλοντι φαείνεται ἢ κατιόντι,
ὁπποίην καὶ σῆμα λέγοι. Μάλα δ’ ἄρκιον εἴη
1150 φράζεσθαι φθίνοντος ἐφισταμένοιό τε μηνὸς
τετράδας ἀμφοτέρας· αἱ γάρ τ’ ἄμυδις συνιόντων
μηνῶν πείρατ’ ἔχουσιν, ὅτε σφαλερώτερος αἰθὴρ
ὀκτὼ νυξὶ πέλει χήτει χαροποῖο σελήνης.
Τῶν ἄμυδις πάντων ἐσκεμμένος εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν
1155 οὐδέποτε σχεδίως κεν ἐπ’ αἰθέρι τεκμήραιο.

     So, too, by the previous signs thou canst forecast the winds or storm or rain to come on the self-same day or on the morrow or it may be on the third morn. Mice, too, as sign of storm, whenever with louder squeaking than their wont they gamboled and seemed to dance in fair weather, were not unmarked by the weather-seers of old. Nor were dogs. The dog with both his paws digs when he suspects the coming of a storm, and then too those mice turn prophets. And landward comes the crab, when the storm is about to burse. Mice in the daytime toss straw and are fain to build a nest when Zeus shows signs of rain. Make light of none of these warnings. Good rule it is to look for sign confirming sign. When two point the same way, forecast with hope; when three, with confidence. Thou canst always add the signs of the passing season, comparing whether at rising or at setting of a start the day dawn such as the calendar would herald. It would profit much to mark the last four days of the old and first four of the new month. They hold the terms of the meeting months, when the sky on eight nights is deceptive beyond its wont for lack of the bright-eyed moon. Study all the signs together throughout the year and never shall thy forecast of the weather be a random guess.