Delphi Complete Works of Lucretius
Page 85
And now that I have shown this, I will go on to link to it a truth which depends on this and from this draws its proof: the first-beginnings of things have different shapes, but the number of shapes is finite.
If this were not so, then once more it would follow that some seeds must be of infinite bulk of body.
For in the same seed, in the single small size any first body you like the shapes cannot vary much from one another: say for instance that first bodies consist of three least parts, or augment them by a few more; when to wit in all possible ways, by placing each in turn at the top and at the bottom, by making the right change places with the left, you shall have tried all those parts of one first body and found what manner of shape each different arrangement gives to the whole of that body, if after all this haply you shall wish still to vary the shapes, you will have to add other parts; it will next follow that, for like reasons the arrangement will require other parts, if haply you shall wish still again to vary the shapes.
495 ergo formarum novitatem corporis augmen
subsequitur. quare non est ut credere possis
esse infinitis distantia semina formis,
ne quaedam cogas inmani maximitate
esse, supra quod iam docui non posse probari.
500 iam tibi barbaricae vestes Meliboeaque fulgens
purpura Thessalico concharum tacta colore,
aurea pavonum ridenti imbuta lepore
saecla novo rerum superata colore iacerent
et contemptus odor smyrnae mellisque sapores,
505 et cycnea mele Phoebeaque daedala chordis
carmina consimili ratione oppressa silerent;
namque aliis aliud praestantius exoreretur.
cedere item retro possent in deteriores
omnia sic partis, ut diximus in melioris;
510 namque aliis aliud retro quoque taetrius esset
naribus auribus atque oculis orisque sapori.
quae quoniam non sunt, sed rebus reddita certa
finis utrimque tenet summam, fateare necessest
materiem quoque finitis differe figuris.
515 denique ab ignibus ad gelidas hiemum usque pruinas
finitumst retroque pari ratione remensumst.
omnis enim calor ac frigus mediique tepores
interutrasque iacent explentes ordine summam.
ergo finita distant ratione creata,
520 ancipiti quoniam mucroni utrimque notantur,
hinc flammis illinc rigidis infesta pruinis.
Quod quoniam docui, pergam conectere rem quae
ex hoc apta fidem ducat, primordia rerum,
inter se simili quae sunt perfecta figura,
525 infinita cluere. etenim distantia cum sit
formarum finita, necesse est quae similes sint
esse infinitas aut summam materiai
finitam constare, id quod non esse probavi.
* * *
versibus ostendam corpuscula materiai
ex infinito summam rerum usque tenere
undique protelo plagarum continuato.
nam quod rara vides magis esse animalia quaedam
fecundamque magis naturam cernis in illis,
at regione locoque alio terrisque remotis
535 multa licet genere esse in eo numerumque repleri;
[494] From all this it results that increase of bulk in the body follows upon newness of the shapes.
Wherefore you cannot possibly believe that seeds have an infinite variety of forms, lest you force some to be of a monstrous hugeness, which as I have above shown cannot be proved.
Moreover I tell you barbaric robes and radiant Meliboean purple dipped in Thessalian dye of shells [and the hues which are displayed] by the golden brood of peacocks steeped in laughing beauty would all be thrown aside surpassed by some new color of things; the smell of myrrh would be despised and the flavors of honey, and the melodies of the swan and Phoebean tunes set off by the varied play of strings would in like sort be suppressed and silenced; for something ever would arise more surpassing than the rest.
All things likewise might fall back into worse states, even as we have said they might advance to better; for reversely too one thing would be more noisome than all other things to nostril, ear, and eye, and taste.
Now since these things are not so, but a fixed limit has been assigned to things which bounds their sum on each side, you must admit that matter also has a finite number of different shapes.
Once more from summer fires to chill frosts a definite path is traced out and in like manner is again traveled back; for every degree of cold and heat and intermediate warmth lie between those extremes, filling up in succession the sum.
Therefore the things produced differ by finite degrees, since at both ends they are marked off by points, one at one, another at the other end, molested on the one hand by flames, on the other by stiffening frosts.
And now that I have shown this, I will go on to link to it a truth which depends on this and from this draws its proof: the first-beginnings of things which have a like shape one with the other are infinite in number.
For since the difference of forms is finite, those which are like must be infinite or the sum of matter will be finite, which I proved not to be the case, when I showed in my verses that the minute bodies of matter from everlasting continually uphold the sum of things through an uninterrupted succession of blows on all sides.
For though you see that some animals are rarer than others and discern a less fruitful nature in them, yet in another quarter and spot and in distant lands there may be many of that kind and the full tale may be made up; just as we see that in the class of four-footed beasts snake-handed elephants are elsewhere especially numerous;
sicut quadripedum cum primis esse videmus
in genere anguimanus elephantos, India quorum
milibus e multis vallo munitur eburno,
ut penitus nequeat penetrari: tanta ferarum
540 vis est, quarum nos perpauca exempla videmus.
sed tamen id quoque uti concedam, quam lubet esto
unica res quaedem nativo corpore sola,
cui similis toto terrarum non sit, in orbi;
infinita tamen nisi erit vis materiai,
545 unde ea progigni possit concepta, creari
non poterit neque, quod super est, procrescere alique.
quippe etenim sumant alii finita per omne
corpora iactari unius genitalia rei,
unde ubi qua vi et quo pacto congressa coibunt
550 materiae tanto in pelago turbaque aliena?
non, ut opinor, habent rationem conciliandi:
sed quasi naufragiis magnis multisque coortis
disiactare solet magnum mare transtra cavernas
antemnas prorem malos tonsasque natantis,
555 per terrarum omnis oras fluitantia aplustra
ut videantur et indicium mortalibus edant,
infidi maris insidias virisque dolumque
ut vitare velint, neve ullo tempore credant,
subdola cum ridet placidi pellacia ponti,
560 sic tibi si finita semel primordia quaedam
constitues, aevom debebunt sparsa per omnem
disiectare aestus diversi materiai,
numquam in concilium ut possint compulsa coire
nec remorari in concilio nec crescere adaucta;
565 quorum utrumque palam fieri manifesta docet res,
et res progigni et genitas procrescere posse.
esse igitur genere in quovis primordia rerum
infinita palam est, unde omnia suppeditantur.
Nec superare queunt motus itaque exitiales
570 perpetuo neque in aeternum sepelire salutem,
nec porro rerum genitales auctificique
motus perpetuo possunt servare creata.
sic aequo geritur certamine principiorum
ex infinito contractum tempore bellum.
575 nunc hic nunc illic superant vitalia rerum
et superantur it
em. miscetur funere vagor,
quem pueri tollunt visentis luminis oras;
nec nox ulla diem neque noctem aurora secutast,
[537] for India is so fenced about with an ivory rampart made out of many thousands of these, that its inner parts cannot be reached, so great is the quantity of brutes, of which we see but very few samples.
But yet though I should grant this point too: be there even as you will some one thing sole in its kind existing alone with a body that had birth, and let no other thing resemble it in the whole world; yet unless there shall be an infinite supply of matter out of which it may be conceived and brought into being, it cannot be produced, and, more than this, it cannot have growth and food.
For though I should assume this point also that birth-giving bodies of some one thing are tossed about in finite quantity throughout the universe, whence, where, by what force and in what way shall they meet together and combine in so vast a sea, such an alien medley of matter? They have methinks no way of uniting; but even as when great and numerous shipwrecks have occurred, the great sea is wont to tumble about banks, rudders, yards, prow, masts and swimming oars, so that poop-fittings are seen floating about along every shore and utter to mortals a warning to try to shun the snares and violence and guile of the faithless sea, and never at any time to trust to it, when the winning face of calm ocean laughs treacherously; thus too if you shall once decide that certain first-beginnings are finite, different currents of matter must scatter and tumble them about through all time, so that they can never be brought into union and combine, nor abide in any union nor grow up and increase.
But plain matter of fact shows that each of these results manifestly does take place, that things can be brought into being and when begotten advance in growth.
It is clear, then, that in any class you like, the first-beginnings of things are infinite, out of which all supplies are furnished.
Thus neither can death-dealing motions keep the mastery always nor entomb existence for evermore, nor on the other hand can the birth and increase giving motions of things preserve them always after they are born.
Thus the war of first beginnings waged from eternity is carried on with dubious issue: now here, now there, the life-bringing elements of things get the mastery and are overmastered in turn: with the funeral wail blends the cry which babies raise when they enter the borders of light; and no night ever followed day nor morning night that heard not mingling with the sickly infant’s cries wailings the attendants on death and black funeral.
quae non audierit mixtos vagitibus aegris
580 ploratus, mortis comites et funeris atri.
Illud in his obsignatum quoque rebus habere
convenit et memori mandatum mente tenere,
nil esse, in promptu quorum natura videtur,
quod genere ex uno consistat principiorum,
585 nec quicquam quod non permixto semine constet.
et quod cumque magis vis multas possidet in se
atque potestates, ita plurima principiorum
in sese genera ac varias docet esse figuras.
Principio tellus habet in se corpora prima,
590 unde mare inmensum volventes frigora fontes
adsidue renovent, habet ignes unde oriantur;
nam multis succensa locis ardent sola terrae,
ex imis vero furit ignibus impetus Aetnae.
tum porro nitidas fruges arbustaque laeta
595 gentibus humanis habet unde extollere possit,
unde etiam fluvios frondes et pabula laeta
montivago generi possit praebere ferarum.
quare magna deum mater materque ferarum
et nostri genetrix haec dicta est corporis una.
600 Hanc veteres Graium docti cecinere poetae
sedibus in curru biiugos agitare leones,
aeris in spatio magnam pendere docentes
tellurem neque posse in terra sistere terram.
adiunxere feras, quia quamvis effera proles
605 officiis debet molliri victa parentum.
muralique caput summum cinxere corona,
eximiis munita locis quia sustinet urbes.
quo nunc insigni per magnas praedita terras
horrifice fertur divinae matris imago.
610 hanc variae gentes antiquo more sacrorum
Idaeam vocitant matrem Phrygiasque catervas
dant comites, quia primum ex illis finibus edunt
per terrarum orbes fruges coepisse creari.
Gallos attribuunt, quia, numen qui violarint
615 Matris et ingrati genitoribus inventi sint,
significare volunt indignos esse putandos,
vivam progeniem qui in oras luminis edant.
tympana tenta tonant palmis et cymbala circum
concava, raucisonoque minantur cornua cantu,
620 et Phrygio stimulat numero cava tibia mentis,
[579] And herein it is proper you should keep under seal, and guard, there consigned, in faithful memory this truth, that there is nothing whose nature is apparent to sense which consists of one kind of first-beginnings; nothing which is not formed by a mixing of seed.
And whenever a thing possesses in itself in larger measure many powers and properties, in that measure it shows that there are in it the greatest number of different kinds and varied shapes of first-beginnings.
First of all the earth has in her first bodies out of which springs rolling coolness along replenish without fail the boundless sea, she has bodies out of which fires rise up; for in many spots the earth’s crust is on fire and burns, though headstrong Aetna rages with fire of surpassing force.
Then too she has bodies out of which she can raise for mankind goodly crops and joyous trees, out of which too she can supply to the mountain-ranging race of wild beasts rivers leaves and glad pastures.
Wherefore she has alone been named great mother of gods and mother of beasts and parent of our body.
Of her the old and learned poets of the Greeks have sung, that [borne aloft on high-raised] seat in a chariot she drives a pair of lions, teaching that the great earth hangs in the expanse of air and that earth cannot rest on earth.
To her chariot they have yoked wild beasts, because a brood however savage ought to be tamed and softened by the kind offices of parents.
They have encircled the top of her head with a mural crown, because fortified in choice positions she sustains towns; adorned with which emblem the image of the divine mother is carried now-a-days through wide lands in awe-inspiring state.
Her different nations after old-established ritual term Idaean mother, and give for escort Phrygian bands, because they tell that from those lands corn first began to be produced throughout the world.
They assign her galli, because they would show by this type that they who have done violence to the divinity of the mother and have proved ungrateful to their parents are to be deemed unworthy to bring a living offspring into the borders of light.
Tight-stretched tambourines and hollow cymbals resound all round to the stroke of their open hands, and horns menace with hoarse-sounding music, and the hollow pipe stirs their minds in Phrygian mood.
telaque praeportant, violenti signa furoris,
ingratos animos atque impia pectora volgi
conterrere metu quae possint numine divae.
ergo cum primum magnas invecta per urbis
625 munificat tacita mortalis muta salute,
aere atque argento sternunt iter omne viarum
largifica stipe ditantes ninguntque rosarum
floribus umbrantes matrem comitumque catervam.
hic armata manus, Curetas nomine Grai
630 quos memorant, Phrygias inter si forte catervas
ludunt in numerumque exultant sanguine laeti
terrificas capitum quatientes numine cristas,
Dictaeos referunt Curetas, qui Iovis illum
vagitum in Creta quondam occultasse feruntur,
635 cum pueri circum puerum pernice chorea
>
armat et in numerum pernice chorea
armati in numerum pulsarent aeribus aera,
ne Saturnus eum malis mandaret adeptus
aeternumque daret matri sub pectore volnus.
640 propterea magnam armati matrem comitantur,
aut quia significant divam praedicere ut armis
ac virtute velint patriam defendere terram
praesidioque parent decorique parentibus esse.
quae bene et eximie quamvis disposta ferantur,
645 longe sunt tamen a vera ratione repulsa.
omnis enim per se divom natura necessest
inmortali aevo summa cum pace fruatur
semota ab nostris rebus seiunctaque longe;
nam privata dolore omni, privata periclis,
650 ipsa suis pollens opibus, nihil indiga nostri,
nec bene promeritis capitur neque tangitur ira.
terra quidem vero caret omni tempore sensu,
et quia multarum potitur primordia rerum,
multa modis multis effert in lumina solis.
655 hic siquis mare Neptunum Cereremque vocare
constituet fruges et Bacchi nomine abuti
mavolt quam laticis proprium proferre vocamen,
concedamus ut hic terrarum dictitet orbem
esse deum matrem, dum vera re tamen ipse
660 religione animum turpi contingere parcat.
Saepe itaque ex uno tondentes gramina campo
lanigerae pecudes et equorum duellica proles
buceriaeque greges eodem sub tegmine caeli
ex unoque sitim sedantes flumine aquai
dissimili vivont specie retinentque parentum
665 naturam et mores generatim quaeque imitantur.
[621] They carry weapons before them, emblems of furious rage, meet to fill the thankless souls and godless breasts of the rabble with terror for the divinity of the goddess.
Therefore when first borne in procession through great cities she mutely enriches mortals with a blessing not expressed in words, they straw all her path with brass and silver presenting her with bounteous alms, and scatter over her a snow-shower of roses, overshadowing the mother and her troops of attendants.
Here an armed band to which the Greeks give the name of Phrygian Curetes, in that it haply joins in the game of arms and springs up in measure all dripping with blood, shaking with its nodding the frightful crests upon the head, represents the Dictaean Curetes who, as the story is, erst drowned in Crete that infant cry of Jove, when the young band about the young babe in rapid dance arms in hand to measured tread beat brass on brass, that Saturn might not get him to consign to his devouring jaws and stab the mother to the heart with a never-healing wound.