Now the one men call by name Cynosura and the other Helice. 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 they ever hold their heads each toward the flank of the other, and are borne along always shoulder-wise, turned alternate on their shoulders. Encompassing it two Bears wheel together – wherefore they are also called the Wains. 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. 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. They, all alike, many though they be and other star in other path, are drawn across the heavens always through all time continually. 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. Hail, O Father, mighty marvel, mighty blessing unto men. Wherefore him do men ever worship first and last. 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. 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 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. 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. The Weather Signs PHAENOMENA, TRANSLATED BY G.
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