De Rerum Natura |
Translator: William Ellery Leonard
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89 |
Principio quoniam mittunt in rebus apertis corpora res multae , partim diffusa solute , robora ceu fumum mittunt ignesque vaporem , et partim contexta magis condensaque , ut olim cum teretis ponunt tunicas aestate cicadae , et vituli cum membranas de corpore summo nascentes mittunt , et item cum lubrica serpens exuit in spinis vestem ; nam saepe videmus illorum spoliis vepres volitantibus auctas . quae quoniam fiunt , tenuis quoque debet imago ab rebus mitti summo de corpore rerum . nam cur illa cadant magis ab rebusque recedant quam quae tenvia sunt , hiscendist nulla potestas ; praesertim cum sint in summis corpora rebus multa minuta , iaci quae possint ordine eodem quo fuerint et formai servare figuram , et multo citius , quanto minus indupediri pauca queunt et sunt prima fronte locata . nam certe iacere ac largiri multa videmus , non solum ex alto penitusque , ut diximus ante , verum de summis ipsum quoque saepe colorem . et volgo faciunt id lutea russaque vela et ferrugina , cum magnis intenta theatris per malos volgata trabesque trementia flutant ; namque ibi consessum caveai supter et omnem scaenai speciem patrum matrumque deorsum inficiunt coguntque suo fluitare colore . et quanto circum mage sunt inclusa theatri moenia , tam magis haec intus perfusa lepore omnia conrident correpta luce diei . ergo lintea de summo cum corpore fucum mittunt , effigias quoque debent mittere tenvis res quaeque , ex summo quoniam iaculantur utraque . sunt igitur iam formarum vestigia certa , quae volgo volitant subtili praedita filo nec singillatim possunt secreta videri .
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Well learn from this: mainly, because we see Even 'mongst visible objects many be That send forth bodies, loosely some diffused- Like smoke from oaken logs and heat from fires- And some more interwoven and condensed- As when the locusts in the summertime Put off their glossy tunics, or when calves At birth drop membranes from their body's surface, Or when, again, the slippery serpent doffs Its vestments 'mongst the thorns- for oft we see The breres augmented with their flying spoils: Since such takes place, 'tis likewise certain too That tenuous images from things are sent, From off the utmost outside of the things. For why those kinds should drop and part from things, Rather than others tenuous and thin, No power has man to open mouth to tell; Especially, since on outsides of things Are bodies many and minute which could, In the same order which they had before, And with the figure of their form preserved, Be thrown abroad, and much more swiftly too, Being less subject to impediments, As few in number and placed along the front. For truly many things we see discharge Their stuff at large, not only from their cores Deep-set within, as we have said above, But from their surfaces at times no less- Their very colours too. And commonly The awnings, saffron, red and dusky blue, Stretched overhead in mighty theatres, Upon their poles and cross-beams fluttering, Have such an action quite; for there they dye And make to undulate with their every hue The circled throng below, and all the stage, And rich attire in the patrician seats. And ever the more the theatre's dark walls Around them shut, the more all things within Laugh in the bright suffusion of strange glints, The daylight being withdrawn. And therefore, since The canvas hangings thus discharge their dye From off their surface, things in general must Likewise their tenuous effigies discharge, Because in either case they are off-thrown From off the surface. So there are indeed Such certain prints and vestiges of forms Which flit around, of subtlest texture made, Invisible, when separate, each and one. |
90 |
Praeterea omnis odor fumus vapor atque aliae res consimiles ideo diffusae rebus abundant , ex alto quia dum veniunt extrinsecus ortae scinduntur per iter flexum , nec recta viarum ostia sunt , qua contendant exire coortae . at contra tenuis summi membrana coloris cum iacitur , nihil est quod eam discerpere possit , in promptu quoniam est in prima fronte locata . Postremo speculis in aqua splendoreque in omni quae cumque apparent nobis simulacra , necessest , quandoquidem simili specie sunt praedita rerum , exin imaginibus missis consistere eorum . sunt igitur tenues formarum illis similesque effigiae , singillatim quas cernere nemo cum possit , tamen adsiduo crebroque repulsu reiectae reddunt speculorum ex aequore visum , nec ratione alia servari posse videntur , tanto opere ut similes reddantur cuique figurae .
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Again, all odour, smoke, and heat, and such Streams out of things diffusedly, because, Whilst coming from the deeps of body forth And rising out, along their bending path They're torn asunder, nor have gateways straight Wherethrough to mass themselves and struggle abroad. But contrariwise, when such a tenuous film Of outside colour is thrown off, there's naught Can rend it, since 'tis placed along the front Ready to hand. Lastly those images Which to our eyes in mirrors do appear, In water, or in any shining surface, Must be, since furnished with like look of things, Fashioned from images of things sent out. There are, then, tenuous effigies of forms, Like unto them, which no one can divine When taken singly, which do yet give back, When by continued and recurrent discharge Expelled, a picture from the mirrors' plane. Nor otherwise, it seems, can they be kept So well conserved that thus be given back Figures so like each object. |
91 |
Nunc age , quam tenui natura constet imago percipe . et in primis , quoniam primordia tantum sunt infra nostros sensus tantoque minora quam quae primum oculi coeptant non posse tueri , nunc tamen id quoque uti confirmem , exordia rerum cunctarum quam sint subtilia percipe paucis . primum animalia sunt iam partim tantula , corum tertia pars nulla possit ratione videri . horum intestinum quodvis quale esse putandumst ! quid cordis globus aut oculi ? quid membra ? quid artus ? quantula sunt ! quid praeterea primordia quaeque , unde anima atque animi constet natura necessumst , nonne vides quam sint subtilia quamque minuta ? praeterea quaecumque suo de corpore odorem expirant acrem , panaces absinthia taetra habrotonique graves et tristia centaurea , quorum unum quidvis leviter si forte duobus quin potius noscas rerum simulacra vagari multa modis multis , nulla vi cassaque sensu ? Sed ne forte putes ea demum sola vagari , quae cumque ab rebus rerum simulacra recedunt , sunt etiam quae sponte sua gignuntur et ipsa constituuntur in hoc caelo , qui dicitur aer , quae multis formata modis sublime feruntur , ut nubes facile inter dum concrescere in alto cernimus et mundi speciem violare serenam aëra mulcentes motu ; nam saepe Gigantum ora volare videntur et umbram ducere late , inter dum magni montes avolsaque saxa montibus ante ire et solem succedere praeter , inde alios trahere atque inducere belua nimbos . nec speciem mutare suam liquentia cessant et cuiusque modi formarum vertere in oras .
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Now then, learn How tenuous is the nature of an image. And in the first place, since primordials be So far beneath our senses, and much less E'en than those objects which begin to grow Too small for eyes to note, learn now in few How nice are the beginnings of all things- That this, too, I may yet confirm in proof: First, living creatures are sometimes so small That even their third part can nowise be seen; Judge, then, the size of any inward organ- What of their sphered heart, their eyes, their limbs, The skeleton?- How tiny thus they are! And what besides of those first particles Whence soul and mind must fashioned be?- Seest not How nice and how minute? Besides, whatever Exhales from out its body a sharp smell- The nauseous absinth, or the panacea, Strong southernwood, or bitter centaury- If never so lightly with thy [fingers] twain Perchance [thou touch] a one of them . . . . . . Then why not rather know that images Flit hither and thither, many, in many modes, Bodiless and invisible? But lest Haply thou holdest that those images Which come from objects are the sole that flit, Others indeed there be of own accord Begot, self-formed in earth's aery skies, Which, moulded to innumerable shapes, Are borne aloft, and, fluid as they are, Cease not to change appearance and to turn Into new outlines of all sorts of forms; As we behold the clouds grow thick on high And smirch the serene vision of the world, Stroking the air with motions. For oft are seen The giants' faces flying far along And trailing a spread of shadow; and at times The mighty mountains and mountain-sundered rocks Going before and crossing on the sun, Whereafter a monstrous beast dragging amain And leading in the other thunderheads. |
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Nunc ea quam facili et celeri ratione genantur perpetuoque fluant ab rebus lapsaque cedant semper enim summum quicquid de rebus abundat , quod iaculentur . et hoc alias cum pervenit in res , transit , ut in primis vestem ; sed ubi aspera saxa aut in materiam ligni pervenit , ibi iam scinditur , ut nullum simulacrum reddere possit . at cum splendida quae constant opposta fuerunt densaque , ut in primis speculum est , nihil accidit horum ; nam neque , uti vestem , possunt transire , neque autem scindi ; quam meminit levor praestare salutem . qua propter fit ut hinc nobis simulacra redundent . et quamvis subito quovis in tempore quamque rem contra speculum ponas , apparet imago ; perpetuo fluere ut noscas e corpore summo texturas rerum tenuis tenuisque figuras . ergo multa brevi spatio simulacra genuntur , ut merito celer his rebus dicatur origo . et quasi multa brevi spatio summittere debet lumina sol , ut perpetuo sint omnia plena , sic ab rebus item simili ratione necessest temporis in puncto rerum simulacra ferantur multa modis multis in cunctas undique partis ; quandoquidem speculum quo cumque obvertimus oris , res ibi respondent simili forma atque colore . Praeterea modo cum fuerit liquidissima caeli tempestas , perquam subito fit turbida foede , undique uti tenebras omnis Acherunta rearis liquisse et magnas caeli complesse cavernas . usque adeo taetra nimborum nocte coorta inpendent atrae Formidinis ora superne ; quorum quantula pars sit imago dicere nemost qui possit neque eam rationem reddere dictis .
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Now [hear] how easy and how swift they be Engendered, and perpetually flow off From things and gliding pass away.... . . . . . . For ever every outside streams away From off all objects, since discharge they may; And when this outside reaches other things, As chiefly glass, it passes through; but where It reaches the rough rocks or stuff of wood, There 'tis so rent that it cannot give back An image. But when gleaming objects dense, As chiefly mirrors, have been set before it, Nothing of this sort happens. For it can't Go, as through glass, nor yet be rent- its safety, By virtue of that smoothness, being sure. 'Tis therefore that from them the images Stream back to us; and howso suddenly Thou place, at any instant, anything Before a mirror, there an image shows; Proving that ever from a body's surface Flow off thin textures and thin shapes of things. Thus many images in little time Are gendered; so their origin is named Rightly a speedy. And even as the sun Must send below, in little time, to earth So many beams to keep all things so full Of light incessant; thus, on grounds the same, From things there must be borne, in many modes, To every quarter round, upon the moment, The many images of things; because Unto whatever face of things we turn The mirror, things of form and hue the same Respond. Besides, though but a moment since Serenest was the weather of the sky, So fiercely sudden is it foully thick That ye might think that round about all murk Had parted forth from Acheron and filled The mighty vaults of sky- so grievously, As gathers thus the storm-clouds' gruesome night, Do faces of black horror hang on high- Of which how small a part an image is There's none to tell or reckon out in words. |
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Nunc age , quam celeri motu simulacra ferantur , et quae mobilitas ollis tranantibus auras reddita sit , longo spatio ut brevis hora teratur , in quem quaeque locum diverso numine tendunt , suavidicis potius quam multis versibus edam ; parvus ut est cycni melior canor , ille gruum quam clamor in aetheriis dispersus nubibus austri . Principio persaepe levis res atque minutis corporibus factas celeris licet esse videre . in quo iam genere est solis lux et vapor eius , propterea quia sunt e primis facta minutis , quae quasi cuduntur perque aëris intervallum non dubitant transire sequenti concita plaga ; suppeditatur enim confestim lumine lumen et quasi protelo stimulatur fulgere fulgur . qua propter simulacra pari ratione necessest inmemorabile per spatium transcurrere posse temporis in puncto , primum quod parvola causa est procul a tergo quae provehat atque propellat , quod super est , ubi tam volucri levitate ferantur , deinde quod usque adeo textura praedita rara mittuntur , facile ut quasvis penetrare queant res et quasi permanare per aëris intervallum .
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Now come; with what swift motion they are borne, These images, and what the speed assigned To them across the breezes swimming on- So that o'er lengths of space a little hour Alone is wasted, toward whatever region Each with its divers impulse tends- I'll tell In verses sweeter than they many are; Even as the swan's slight note is better far Than that dispersed clamour of the cranes Among the southwind's aery clouds. And first, One oft may see that objects which are light And made of tiny bodies are the swift; In which class is the sun's light and his heat, Since made from small primordial elements Which, as it were, are forward knocked along And through the interspaces of the air To pass delay not, urged by blows behind; For light by light is instantly supplied And gleam by following gleam is spurred and driven. Thus likewise must the images have power Through unimaginable space to speed Within a point of time,- first, since a cause Exceeding small there is, which at their back Far forward drives them and propels, where, too, They're carried with such winged lightness on; And, secondly, since furnished, when sent off, With texture of such rareness that they can Through objects whatsoever penetrate And ooze, as 'twere, through intervening air. |
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Praeterea si quae penitus corpuscula rerum ex altoque foras mittuntur , solis uti lux ac vapor , haec puncto cernuntur lapsa diei per totum caeli spatium diffundere sese perque volare mare ac terras caelumque rigare . quid quae sunt igitur iam prima fronte parata , cum iaciuntur et emissum res nulla moratur ? quone vides citius debere et longius ire multiplexque loci spatium transcurrere eodem tempore quo solis pervolgant lumina caelum ? Hoc etiam in primis specimen verum esse videtur , quam celeri motu rerum simulacra ferantur , quod simul ac primum sub diu splendor aquai ponitur , extemplo caelo stellante serena sidera respondent in aqua radiantia mundi . iamne vides igitur quam puncto tempore imago aetheris ex oris in terrarum accidat oras ? quare etiam atque etiam mitti fateare necessest
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Besides, if those fine particles of things Which from so deep within are sent abroad, As light and heat of sun, are seen to glide And spread themselves through all the space of heaven Upon one instant of the day, and fly O'er sea and lands and flood the heaven, what then Of those which on the outside stand prepared, When they're hurled off with not a thing to check Their going out? Dost thou not see indeed How swifter and how farther must they go And speed through manifold the length of space In time the same that from the sun the rays O'erspread the heaven? This also seems to be Example chief and true with what swift speed The images of things are borne about: That soon as ever under open skies Is spread the shining water, all at once, If stars be out in heaven, upgleam from earth, Serene and radiant in the water there, The constellations of the universe- Now seest thou not in what a point of time An image from the shores of ether falls Unto the shores of earth? Wherefore, again, And yet again, 'tis needful to confess With wondrous... . . . . . . |
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corpora quae feriant oculos visumque lacessant . perpetuoque fluunt certis ab rebus odores , frigus ut a fluviis , calor ab sole , aestus ab undis aequoris , exesor moerorum litora circum , nec variae cessant voces volitare per auras . denique in os salsi venit umor saepe saporis , cum mare versamur propter , dilutaque contra cum tuimur misceri absinthia , tangit amaror . usque adeo omnibus ab rebus res quaeque fluenter fertur et in cunctas dimittitur undique partis nec mora nec requies interdatur ulla fluendi , perpetuo quoniam sentimus et omnia semper cernere odorari licet et sentire sonare .
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THE SENSES AND MENTAL PICTURES Bodies that strike the eyes, awaking sight. From certain things flow odours evermore, As cold from rivers, heat from sun, and spray From waves of ocean, eater-out of walls Around the coasts. Nor ever cease to flit The varied voices, sounds athrough the air. Then too there comes into the mouth at times The wet of a salt taste, when by the sea We roam about; and so, whene'er we watch The wormword being mixed, its bitter stings. To such degree from all things is each thing Borne streamingly along, and sent about To every region round; and nature grants Nor rest nor respite of the onward flow, Since 'tis incessantly we feeling have, And all the time are suffered to descry And smell all things at hand, and hear them sound. |
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Praeterea quoniam manibus tractata figura in tenebris quaedam cognoscitur esse eadem quae cernitur in luce et claro candore , necessest consimili causa tactum visumque moveri . nunc igitur si quadratum temptamus et id nos commovet in tenebris , in luci quae poterit res accidere ad speciem quadrata , nisi eius imago ? esse in imaginibus qua propter causa videtur cernundi neque posse sine his res ulla videri . Nunc ea quae dico rerum simulacra feruntur undique et in cunctas iaciuntur didita partis ; verum nos oculis quia solis cernere quimus , propterea fit uti , speciem quo vertimus , omnes res ibi eam contra feriant forma atque colore . et quantum quaeque ab nobis res absit , imago efficit ut videamus et internoscere curat ; nam cum mittitur , extemplo protrudit agitque aëra qui inter se cumque est oculosque locatus , isque ita per nostras acies perlabitur omnis et quasi perterget pupillas atque ita transit . propterea fit uti videamus quam procul absit res quaeque . et quanto plus aëris ante agitatur et nostros oculos perterget longior aura , tam procul esse magis res quaeque remota videtur . scilicet haec summe celeri ratione geruntur , quale sit ut videamus , et una quam procul absit . Illud in his rebus minime mirabile habendumst , cur , ea quae feriant oculos simulacra videri singula cum nequeant , res ipsae perspiciantur . ventus enim quoque paulatim cum verberat et cum acre fluit frigus , non privam quamque solemus particulam venti sentire et frigoris eius , sed magis unorsum , fierique perinde videmus corpore tum plagas in nostro tam quam aliquae res verberet atque sui det sensum corporis extra . praeterea lapidem digito cum tundimus , ipsum tangimus extremum saxi summumque colorem nec sentimus eum tactu , verum magis ipsam duritiem penitus saxi sentimus in alto .
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Besides, since shape examined by our hands Within the dark is known to be the same As that by eyes perceived within the light And lustrous day, both touch and sight must be By one like cause aroused. So, if we test A square and get its stimulus on us Within the dark, within the light what square Can fall upon our sight, except a square That images the things? Wherefore it seems The source of seeing is in images, Nor without these can anything be viewed. Now these same films I name are borne about And tossed and scattered into regions all. But since we do perceive alone through eyes, It follows hence that whitherso we turn Our sight, all things do strike against it there With form and hue. And just how far from us Each thing may be away, the image yields To us the power to see and chance to tell: For when 'tis sent, at once it shoves ahead And drives along the air that's in the space Betwixt it and our eyes. And thus this air All glides athrough our eyeballs, and, as 'twere, Brushes athrough our pupils and thuswise Passes across. Therefore it comes we see How far from us each thing may be away, And the more air there be that's driven before, And too the longer be the brushing breeze Against our eyes, the farther off removed Each thing is seen to be: forsooth, this work With mightily swift order all goes on, So that upon one instant we may see What kind the object and how far away. Nor over-marvellous must this be deemed In these affairs that, though the films which strike Upon the eyes cannot be singly seen, The things themselves may be perceived. For thus When the wind beats upon us stroke by stroke And when the sharp cold streams, 'tis not our wont To feel each private particle of wind Or of that cold, but rather all at once; And so we see how blows affect our body, As if one thing were beating on the same And giving us the feel of its own body Outside of us. Again, whene'er we thump With finger-tip upon a stone, we touch But the rock's surface and the outer hue, Nor feel that hue by contact- rather feel The very hardness deep within the rock. |