Unsightly posture-Will she now compare
With graceful Panope and Doris fair?
While headlong to the west all these descend,
Up from the east the lower parts ascend
Of Hydra's snaky length—the crown appears—
The Centaur's head-and victim which he bears.
When the great ARCHER MONSTER from below
Rising obtrudes his outstretch'd arm and bow;
Then mounting with him Serpentarius shines-
Round him its speckled coils the serpent twines.
Engonasin above revers'd appears—
First to the sky his feet and legs he rears-
Sweet soother of his toils the Lyre he brings,
Harmonious warbling with its golden strings.
The stars that Sirius and Orion boast
In deepest night to human ken are lost.
Auriga stands upon the watery verge—
Touches his naked feet the rising surge.
Capella on his shoulder shines afar,
To sailors oft an unpropitious star.
Cepheus now rises on the eastern sky,
And Perseus half is lost to human eye.
When rising next appears with butting horn Half goat, half fish, the wintry CAPRICORN, Auriga setting bears his Kids away;
And ocean quenches Procyon's feverish ray.
Up from the east the Swan majestic sails-
Returning light Jove's mighty Eagle hails.
When dripping from his dreary watery bed
AQUARIUS lifts his cloud-environ'd head,
The rising Horse the starry pavement paws
With panting nostril and extended jaws.
Night drags the Centaur down to her domain-
Aloft his head and shoulders broad remain
Till from their native waves the FISHES glide;
Then the whole monster sinks beneath the tide.
Andromeda now gladly quits the main,
Where Neptune and th' offended Nereids reign.
Long time emerging from the briny waves,
One fetter'd hand in ocean still she laves.
When rises ARIES with his golden head,
And couching rests as on a flowery bed,
Quench'd in the ocean sinks the Altar's fire-
To hapless sailors oft an omen dire.
And Perseus arm'd emerges from the tide,
As rushing to defend his captive bride.
When quits the BULL the portals of the east,
Rises, attendant on the lordly beast,
Auriga. On him rests Capella bright,
And rivals Aldebaran's ruby light:
Not all his limbs the eastern ocean clear
Till in the heavens the brother Twins appear.
Now first Bootes sinks into the main,
Struggling through four long signs the shore to gain—
One hand he keeps above the arctic way,
As if intent to seize his grisly prey..
Dips Serpentarius both his feet and knees,
As mount the TWINS above the eastern seas;
And high in their meridian splendour shine
The numerous stars on Cetus' fin and spine.
Rising Eridanus the sailors cheers,
And soon Orion's splendid belt appears:
By Him the watches of the night they mark,
Intent on Him they steer the fragile bark.
The Gods, propitious to man's feeble race,
These signs in heaven his guides and beacons place.
HEN thou behold'st in evening's western sky
Cynthia's thin face, scarce seen by mortal eye,
She then begins her monthly course to run
Through the whole annual circle of the sun.
Observe her on the fourth returning day:
She casts a shadow from her strengthen'd ray.
With half her lustre the eighth night she cheers,
And in eight more with beauty full appears.
Then, waning through the month's remaining space,
Each night she rises with diminish'd face.
To mark the lengthening and the shortening day, To trace the sun throughout his annual way, The zodiac signs suffice. They also show The times ordain'd to plough, to plant, to sow. These all are taught by great immortal Jove, Who orders all below and all above.
The prudent mariner oft marks afar The coming tempest by Bootes' star.
Some warn him, rising at the dusk of night,
And some, forerunners of Aurora's light.
Across these starry plains the God of day
Furrows with burning wheel his annual way.
From east to west he runs his daily race
Rises and sets in no determin'd place.
These things thou know'st; and ancient men have told,
And trac'd in sacred characters of gold,
How Sol and Luna part again to meet
When the great cycle nineteen years complete.
Thou knowest all the stars that night rolls round
With great Orion, and his rabid hound.
Their influence some o'er Neptune's realm extend—
Others to Jove belong; and oft portend
Events forthcoming. These with care to scan
The task and wisdom of the prudent man.
Trust not in fragile bark, too rashly brave,
The calm but treacherous bosom of the wave.
Ofttimes at eve the balmy breezes blow,
And soft as milk the murmuring billows flow.
But ere again the rosy-finger'd hours
Unbar for Phœbus' car the golden doors,
The wild winds roar-tumultuous ocean heaves,
And hurls to mountain height his boiling waves.
By wise precaution thou may'st haply save
Thyself and comrades from a watery grave.
|