NH 2.6
Chiara Palladino / Pliny, Naturalis Historia
- Created on 2022-03-11 11:44:22
- Translated by H. Rackam, 1952
- Aligned by Chiara Palladino
The English translation is from Attalus.org, the Latin text from Perseus.
Latin
English
Hanc ergo formam eius aeterno et inrequieto ambitu , inenarrabili celeritate , viginti quattuor horarum spatio circumagi solis exortus et occasus haut dubium reliquere . an sit inmensus et ideo sensum aurium excedens tantae molis rotatae vertigine adsidua sonitus , non equidem facile dixerim , non , Hercule , magis quam circumactorum simul tinnitus siderum suosque volventium orbes an dulcis quidam et incredibili suavitate concentus . nobis qui intus agimus iuxta diebus noctibusque tacitus labitur mundus .
The
world
thus
shaped
then
is
not
at
rest
but
eternally
revolves
with
indescribable
velocity
,
each
revolution
occupying
the
space
of
24
hours
:
the
rising
and
setting
of
the
sun
have
left
this
not
doubtful
.
Whether
the
sound
of
this
vast
mass
whirling
in
unceasing
rotation
is
of
enormous
volume
and
consequently
beyond
the
capacity
of
our
ears
to
perceive
,
for
my
own
part
I
cannot
easily
say
-
any
more
in
fact
than
whether
this
is
true
of
the
tinkling
of
the
stars
that
travel
round
with
it
,
revolving
in
their
own
orbits
;
or
whether
it
emits
a
sweet
harmonious
music
that
is
beyond
belief
charming
.
To
us
who
live
within
it
the
world
glides
silently
alike
by
day
and
night
.