De Rerum Natura |
Translator: William Ellery Leonard
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Denique si vocem rerum natura repente . mittat et hoc alicui nostrum sic increpet ipsa : ' quid tibi tanto operest , mortalis , quod nimis aegris luctibus indulges ? quid mortem congemis ac fles ? nam grata fuit tibi vita ante acta priorque et non omnia pertusum congesta quasi in vas commoda perfluxere atque ingrata interiere ; cur non ut plenus vitae conviva recedis aequo animoque capis securam , stulte , quietem ? sin ea quae fructus cumque es periere profusa vitaque in offensost , cur amplius addere quaeris , rursum quod pereat male et ingratum occidat omne , non potius vitae finem facis atque laboris ? nam tibi praeterea quod machiner inveniamque , quod placeat , nihil est ; eadem sunt omnia semper . si tibi non annis corpus iam marcet et artus confecti languent , eadem tamen omnia restant , omnia si perges vivendo vincere saecla , atque etiam potius , si numquam sis moriturus ', quid respondemus , nisi iustam intendere litem naturam et veram verbis exponere causam ? grandior hic vero si iam seniorque queratur atque obitum lamentetur miser amplius aequo , non merito inclamet magis et voce increpet acri : ' aufer abhinc lacrimas , baratre , et compesce querellas . omnia perfunctus vitai praemia marces ; sed quia semper aves quod abest , praesentia temnis , inperfecta tibi elapsast ingrataque vita , et nec opinanti mors ad caput adstitit ante quam satur ac plenus possis discedere rerum . nunc aliena tua tamen aetate omnia mitte aequo animoque , age dum , magnis concede necessis ?' iure , ut opinor , agat , iure increpet inciletque ; cedit enim rerum novitate extrusa vetustas semper , et ex aliis aliud reparare necessest . Nec quisquam in barathrum nec Tartara deditur atra ; materies opus est , ut crescant postera saecla ; quae tamen omnia te vita perfuncta sequentur ; nec minus ergo ante haec quam tu cecidere cadentque . sic alid ex alio numquam desistet oriri vitaque mancipio nulli datur , omnibus usu . respice item quam nil ad nos ante acta vetustas temporis aeterni fuerit , quam nascimur ante . hoc igitur speculum nobis natura futuri temporis exponit post mortem denique nostram . numquid ibi horribile apparet , num triste videtur quicquam , non omni somno securius exstat ?
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Once more, if Nature Should of a sudden send a voice abroad, And her own self inveigh against us so: "Mortal, what hast thou of such grave concern That thou indulgest in too sickly plaints? Why this bemoaning and beweeping death? For if thy life aforetime and behind To thee was grateful, and not all thy good Was heaped as in sieve to flow away And perish unavailingly, why not, Even like a banqueter, depart the halls, Laden with life? why not with mind content Take now, thou fool, thy unafflicted rest? But if whatever thou enjoyed hath been Lavished and lost, and life is now offence, Why seekest more to add- which in its turn Will perish foully and fall out in vain? O why not rather make an end of life, Of labour? For all I may devise or find To pleasure thee is nothing: all things are The same forever. Though not yet thy body Wrinkles with years, nor yet the frame exhausts Outworn, still things abide the same, even if Thou goest on to conquer all of time With length of days, yea, if thou never diest"- What were our answer, but that Nature here Urges just suit and in her words lays down True cause of action? Yet should one complain, Riper in years and elder, and lament, Poor devil, his death more sorely than is fit, Then would she not, with greater right, on him Cry out, inveighing with a voice more shrill: "Off with thy tears, and choke thy whines, buffoon! Thou wrinklest- after thou hast had the sum Of the guerdons of life; yet, since thou cravest ever What's not at hand, contemning present good, That life has slipped away, unperfected And unavailing unto thee. And now, Or ere thou guessed it, death beside thy head Stands- and before thou canst be going home Sated and laden with the goodly feast. But now yield all that's alien to thine age,- Up, with good grace! make room for sons: thou must." Justly, I fancy, would she reason thus, Justly inveigh and gird: since ever the old Outcrowded by the new gives way, and ever The one thing from the others is repaired. Nor no man is consigned to the abyss Of Tartarus, the black. For stuff must be, That thus the after-generations grow,- Though these, their life completed, follow thee; And thus like thee are generations all- Already fallen, or some time to fall. So one thing from another rises ever; And in fee-simple life is given to none, But unto all mere usufruct. Look back: Nothing to us was all fore-passed eld Of time the eternal, ere we had a birth. And Nature holds this like a mirror up Of time-to-be when we are dead and gone. And what is there so horrible appears? Now what is there so sad about it all? Is't not serener far than any sleep? |
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Atque ea ni mirum quae cumque Acherunte profundo prodita sunt esse , in vita sunt omnia nobis . nec miser inpendens magnum timet aëre saxum Tantalus , ut famast , cassa formidine torpens ; sed magis in vita divom metus urget inanis mortalis casumque timent quem cuique ferat fors . nec Tityon volucres ineunt Acherunte iacentem nec quod sub magno scrutentur pectore quicquam perpetuam aetatem possunt reperire profecto . quam libet immani proiectu corporis exstet , qui non sola novem dispessis iugera membris optineat , sed qui terrai totius orbem , non tamen aeternum poterit perferre dolorem nec praebere cibum proprio de corpore semper . sed Tityos nobis hic est , in amore iacentem quem volucres lacerant atque exest anxius angor aut alia quavis scindunt cuppedine curae . Sisyphus in vita quoque nobis ante oculos est , qui petere a populo fasces saevasque secures imbibit et semper victus tristisque recedit . nam petere imperium , quod inanest nec datur umquam , atque in eo semper durum sufferre laborem , hoc est adverso nixantem trudere monte saxum , quod tamen summo iam vertice rusum volvitur et plani raptim petit aequora campi . deinde animi ingratam naturam pascere semper atque explere bonis rebus satiareque numquam , quod faciunt nobis annorum tempora , circum cum redeunt fetusque ferunt variosque lepores , nec tamen explemur vitai fructibus umquam , hoc , ut opinor , id est , aevo florente puellas quod memorant laticem pertusum congerere in vas , quod tamen expleri nulla ratione potestur . Cerberus et Furiae iam vero et lucis egestas , Tartarus horriferos eructans faucibus aestus ! qui neque sunt usquam nec possunt esse profecto ; sed metus in vita poenarum pro male factis est insignibus insignis scelerisque luela , carcer et horribilis de saxo iactus deorsum , verbera carnifices robur pix lammina taedae ; quae tamen etsi absunt , at mens sibi conscia factis praemetuens adhibet stimulos torretque flagellis , nec videt interea qui terminus esse malorum possit nec quae sit poenarum denique finis , atque eadem metuit magis haec ne in morte gravescant . hic Acherusia fit stultorum denique vita .
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And, verily, those tortures said to be In Acheron, the deep, they all are ours Here in this life. No Tantalus, benumbed With baseless terror, as the fables tell, Fears the huge boulder hanging in the air: But, rather, in life an empty dread of Gods Urges mortality, and each one fears Such fall of fortune as may chance to him. Nor eat the vultures into Tityus Prostrate in Acheron, nor can they find, Forsooth, throughout eternal ages, aught To pry around for in that mighty breast. However hugely he extend his bulk- Who hath for outspread limbs not acres nine, But the whole earth- he shall not able be To bear eternal pain nor furnish food From his own frame forever. But for us A Tityus is he whom vultures rend Prostrate in love, whom anxious anguish eats, Whom troubles of any unappeased desires Asunder rip. We have before our eyes Here in this life also a Sisyphus In him who seeketh of the populace The rods, the axes fell, and evermore Retires a beaten and a gloomy man. For to seek after power- an empty name, Nor given at all- and ever in the search To endure a world of toil, O this it is To shove with shoulder up the hill a stone Which yet comes rolling back from off the top, And headlong makes for levels of the plain. Then to be always feeding an ingrate mind, Filling with good things, satisfying never- As do the seasons of the year for us, When they return and bring their progenies And varied charms, and we are never filled With the fruits of life- O this, I fancy, 'tis To pour, like those young virgins in the tale, Waters into a sieve, unfilled forever. . . . . . . Cerberus and Furies, and that Lack of Light . . . . . . Tartarus, out-belching from his mouth the surge Of horrible heat- the which are nowhere, nor Indeed can be: but in this life is fear Of retributions just and expiations For evil acts: the dungeon and the leap From that dread rock of infamy, the stripes, The executioners, the oaken rack, The iron plates, bitumen, and the torch. And even though these are absent, yet the mind, With a fore-fearing conscience, plies its goads And burns beneath the lash, nor sees meanwhile What terminus of ills, what end of pine Can ever be, and feareth lest the same But grow more heavy after death. Of truth, The life of fools is Acheron on earth. |
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Hoc etiam tibi tute interdum dicere possis . ' lumina sis oculis etiam bonus Ancus reliquit , qui melior multis quam tu fuit , improbe , rebus . inde alii multi reges rerumque potentes occiderunt , magnis qui gentibus imperitarunt . ille quoque ipse , viam qui quondam per mare magnum stravit iterque dedit legionibus ire per altum ac pedibus salsas docuit super ire lucunas et contempsit equis insultans murmura ponti , lumine adempto animam moribundo corpore fudit . Scipiadas , belli fulmen , Carthaginis horror , ossa dedit terrae proinde ac famul infimus esset . adde repertores doctrinarum atque leporum , adde Heliconiadum comites ; quorum unus Homerus sceptra potitus eadem aliis sopitus quietest . denique Democritum post quam matura vetustas admonuit memores motus languescere mentis , sponte sua leto caput obvius optulit ipse . ipse Epicurus obit decurso lumine vitae , qui genus humanum ingenio superavit et omnis restinxit stellas exortus ut aetherius sol . tu vero dubitabis et indignabere obire ? mortua cui vita est prope iam vivo atque videnti , qui somno partem maiorem conteris aevi , et viligans stertis nec somnia cernere cessas sollicitamque geris cassa formidine mentem nec reperire potes tibi quid sit saepe mali , cum ebrius urgeris multis miser undique curis atque animo incerto fluitans errore vagaris .'
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This also to thy very self sometimes Repeat thou mayst: "Lo, even good Ancus left The sunshine with his eyes, in divers things A better man than thou, O worthless hind; And many other kings and lords of rule Thereafter have gone under, once who swayed O'er mighty peoples. And he also, he- Who whilom paved a highway down the sea, And gave his legionaries thoroughfare Along the deep, and taught them how to cross The pools of brine afoot, and did contemn, Trampling upon it with his cavalry, The bellowings of ocean- poured his soul From dying body, as his light was ta'en. And Scipio's son, the thunderbolt of war, Horror of Carthage, gave his bones to earth, Like to the lowliest villein in the house. Add finders-out of sciences and arts; Add comrades of the Heliconian dames, Among whom Homer, sceptered o'er them all, Now lies in slumber sunken with the rest. Then, too, Democritus, when ripened eld Admonished him his memory waned away, Of own accord offered his head to death. Even Epicurus went, his light of life Run out, the man in genius who o'er-topped The human race, extinguishing all others, As sun, in ether arisen, all the stars. Wilt thou, then, dally, thou complain to go?- For whom already life's as good as dead, Whilst yet thou livest and lookest?- who in sleep Wastest thy life- time's major part, and snorest Even when awake, and ceasest not to see The stuff of dreams, and bearest a mind beset By baseless terror, nor discoverest oft What's wrong with thee, when, like a sotted wretch, Thou'rt jostled along by many crowding cares, And wanderest reeling round, with mind aswim." |
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Si possent homines , proinde ac sentire videntur pondus inesse animo , quod se gravitate fatiget , e quibus id fiat causis quoque noscere et unde tanta mali tam quam moles in pectore constet , haut ita vitam agerent , ut nunc plerumque videmus quid sibi quisque velit nescire et quaerere semper , commutare locum , quasi onus deponere possit . exit saepe foras magnis ex aedibus ille , esse domi quem pertaesumst , subitoque , quippe foris nihilo melius qui sentiat esse . currit agens mannos ad villam praecipitanter auxilium tectis quasi ferre ardentibus instans ; oscitat extemplo , tetigit cum limina villae , aut abit in somnum gravis atque oblivia quaerit , aut etiam properans urbem petit atque revisit . hoc se quisque modo fugit , at quem scilicet , ut fit , effugere haut potis est : ingratius haeret et odit propterea , morbi quia causam non tenet aeger ; quam bene si videat , iam rebus quisque relictis naturam primum studeat cognoscere rerum , temporis aeterni quoniam , non unius horae , ambigitur status , in quo sit mortalibus omnis aetas , post mortem quae restat cumque manendo .
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If men, in that same way as on the mind They feel the load that wearies with its weight, Could also know the causes whence it comes, And why so great the heap of ill on heart, O not in this sort would they live their life, As now so much we see them, knowing not What 'tis they want, and seeking ever and ever A change of place, as if to drop the burden. The man who sickens of his home goes out, Forth from his splendid halls, and straight- returns, Feeling i'faith no better off abroad. He races, driving his Gallic ponies along, Down to his villa, madly,- as in haste To hurry help to a house afire.- At once He yawns, as soon as foot has touched the threshold, Or drowsily goes off in sleep and seeks Forgetfulness, or maybe bustles about And makes for town again. In such a way Each human flees himself- a self in sooth, As happens, he by no means can escape; And willy-nilly he cleaves to it and loathes, Sick, sick, and guessing not the cause of ail. Yet should he see but that, O chiefly then, Leaving all else, he'd study to divine The nature of things, since here is in debate Eternal time and not the single hour, Mortal's estate in whatsoever remains After great death. |
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Denique tanto opere in dubiis trepidare periclis quae mala nos subigit vitai tanta cupido ? certe equidem finis vitae mortalibus adstat nec devitari letum pote , quin obeamus . praeterea versamur ibidem atque insumus usque nec nova vivendo procuditur ulla voluptas ; sed dum abest quod avemus , id exsuperare videtur cetera ; post aliud , cum contigit illud , avemus et sitis aequa tenet vitai semper hiantis . posteraque in dubiost fortunam quam vehat aetas , quidve ferat nobis casus quive exitus instet . nec prorsum vitam ducendo demimus hilum tempore de mortis nec delibare valemus , quo minus esse diu possimus forte perempti . proinde licet quod vis vivendo condere saecla , mors aeterna tamen nihilo minus illa manebit , nec minus ille diu iam non erit , ex hodierno lumine qui finem vitai fecit , et ille , mensibus atque annis qui multis occidit ante .
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And too, when all is said, What evil lust of life is this so great Subdues us to live, so dreadfully distraught In perils and alarms? one fixed end Of life abideth for mortality; Death's not to shun, and we must go to meet. Besides we're busied with the same devices, Ever and ever, and we are at them ever, And there's no new delight that may be forged By living on. But whilst the thing we long for Is lacking, that seems good above all else; Thereafter, when we've touched it, something else We long for; ever one equal thirst of life Grips us agape. And doubtful 'tis what fortune The future times may carry, or what be That chance may bring, or what the issue next Awaiting us. Nor by prolonging life Take we the least away from death's own time, Nor can we pluck one moment off, whereby To minish the aeons of our state of death. Therefore, O man, by living on, fulfil As many generations as thou may: Eternal death shall there be waiting still; And he who died with light of yesterday Shall be no briefer time in death's No-more Than he who perished months or years before. |
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Liber Quartus
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BOOK IV |
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Avia Pieridum peragro loca nullius ante trita solo . iuvat integros accedere fontis atque haurire , iuvatque novos decerpere flores insignemque meo capiti petere inde coronam , unde prius nulli velarint tempora musae ; primum quod magnis doceo de rebus et artis religionum animum nodis exsolvere pergo , deinde quod obscura de re tam lucida pango carmina musaeo contingens cuncta lepore . id quoque enim non ab nulla ratione videtur ; nam vel uti pueris absinthia taetra medentes cum dare conantur , prius oras pocula circum contingunt mellis dulci flavoque liquore , ut puerorum aetas inprovida ludificetur labrorum tenus , interea perpotet amarum absinthi laticem deceptaque non capiatur , sed potius tali facto recreata valescat , sic ego nunc , quoniam haec ratio plerumque videtur tristior esse quibus non est tractata , retroque volgus abhorret ab hac , volui tibi suaviloquenti carmine Pierio rationem exponere nostram et quasi musaeo dulci contingere melle ; si tibi forte animum tali ratione tenere versibus in nostris possem , dum percipis omnem naturam rerum ac persentis utilitatem .
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PROEM I wander afield, thriving in sturdy thought, Through unpathed haunts of the Pierides, Trodden by step of none before. I joy To come on undefiled fountains there, To drain them deep; I joy to pluck new flowers, To seek for this my head a signal crown From regions where the Muses never yet Have garlanded the temples of a man: First, since I teach concerning mighty things, And go right on to loose from round the mind The tightened coils of dread religion; Next, since, concerning themes so dark, I frame Song so pellucid, touching all throughout Even with the Muses' charm- which, as 'twould seem, Is not without a reasonable ground: For as physicians, when they seek to give Young boys the nauseous wormwood, first do touch The brim around the cup with the sweet juice And yellow of the honey, in order that The thoughtless age of boyhood be cajoled As far as the lips, and meanwhile swallow down The wormwood's bitter draught, and, though befooled, Be yet not merely duped, but rather thus Grow strong again with recreated health: So now I too (since this my doctrine seems In general somewhat woeful unto those Who've had it not in hand, and since the crowd Starts back from it in horror) have desired To expound our doctrine unto thee in song Soft-speaking and Pierian, and, as 'twere, To touch it with sweet honey of the Muse- If by such method haply I might hold The mind of thee upon these lines of ours, Till thou dost learn the nature of all things And understandest their utility. |
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Sed quoniam docui cunctarum exordia rerum qualia sint et quam variis distantia formis sponte sua volitent aeterno percita motu quoque modo possit res ex his quaeque creari , atque animi quoniam docui natura quid esset et quibus e rebus cum corpore compta vigeret quove modo distracta rediret in ordia prima , nunc agere incipiam tibi , quod vehementer ad has res attinet esse ea quae rerum simulacra vocamus , quod speciem ac formam similem gerit eius imago , cuius cumque cluet de corpore fusa vagari ; quae quasi membranae summo de corpore rerum dereptae volitant ultroque citroque per auras , atque eadem nobis vigilantibus obvia mentes terrificant atque in somnis , cum saepe figuras contuimur miras simulacraque luce carentum , quae nos horrifice languentis saepe sopore excierunt ne forte animas Acherunte reamur effugere aut umbras inter vivos volitare neve aliquid nostri post mortem posse relinqui , cum corpus simul atque animi natura perempta in sua discessum dederint primordia quaeque . dico igitur rerum effigias tenuisque figuras mittier ab rebus summo de cortice eorum ; id licet hinc quamvis hebeti cognoscere corde .
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EXISTENCE AND CHARACTER OF THE IMAGES But since I've taught already of what sort The seeds of all things are, and how distinct In divers forms they flit of own accord, Stirred with a motion everlasting on, And in what mode things be from them create, And since I've taught what the mind's nature is, And of what things 'tis with the body knit And thrives in strength, and by what mode uptorn That mind returns to its primordials, Now will I undertake an argument- One for these matters of supreme concern- That there exist those somewhats which we call The images of things: these, like to films Scaled off the utmost outside of the things, Flit hither and thither through the atmosphere, And the same terrify our intellects, Coming upon us waking or in sleep, When oft we peer at wonderful strange shapes And images of people lorn of light, Which oft have horribly roused us when we lay In slumber- that haply nevermore may we Suppose that souls get loose from Acheron, Or shades go floating in among the living, Or aught of us is left behind at death, When body and mind, destroyed together, each Back to its own primordials goes away. And thus I say that effigies of things, And tenuous shapes from off the things are sent, From off the utmost outside of the things, Which are like films or may be named a rind, Because the image bears like look and form With whatso body has shed it fluttering forth- A fact thou mayst, however dull thy wits, |