Chiara Palladino / Pliny, Naturalis Historia
Furman University
NH 2.11
Chiara Palladino / Pliny, Naturalis Historia
- Created on 2022-03-11 12:05:41
- Translated by H. Rackam, 1952
- Aligned by Chiara Palladino
Latin
English
ita mutuo conplexu diversitatis effici nexum et levia ponderibus inhiberi quo minus evolent , contraque gravia ne ruant suspendi , levibus in sublime tendentibus . sic pari in diversa nisu in suo quaeque consistere , inrequieto mundi ipsius constricta circuitu , quo semper in se recurrente imam atque mediam in toto esse terram , eandemque universo cardine stare pendentem , librantem per quae pendeat , ita solam inmobilem circa eam volubili universitate ; eandem ex omnibus necti eidemque omnia inniti .
Thus
the
mutual
embrace
of
the
unlike
results
in
an
interlacing
,
the
light
substances
being
prevented
by
the
heavy
ones
from
flying
up
,
while
on
the
contrary
the
heavy
substances
are
held
from
crashing
down
by
the
upward
tendency
of
the
light
ones
.
In
this
way
owing
to
an
equal
urge
in
opposite
directions
the
elements
remain
stationary
,
each
in
its
own
place
,
bound
together
by
the
unresting
revolution
of
the
world
itself
;
and
with
this
always
running
back
to
its
starting-point
,
the
earth
is
the
lowest
and
central
object
in
the
whole
,
and
stays
suspended
at
the
pivot
of
the
universe
and
also
balancing
the
bodies
to
which
its
suspension
is
due
;
thus
being
alone
motionless
with
the
universe
revolving
round
her
she
both
hangs
attached
to
them
all
and
at
the
same
time
is
that
on
which
they
all
rest
.
NH 2.12
Chiara Palladino / Pliny, Naturalis Historia
- Created on 2022-03-11 12:08:39
- Translated by H. Rackam, 1952
- Aligned by Chiara Palladino
Latin
English
inter hanc caelumque eodem spiritu pendent certis discreta spatiis septem sidera , quae ab incessu vocamus errantia , cum errent nulla minus illis . eorum medius sol fertur , amplissima magnitudine ac potestate nec temporum modo terrarumque , sed siderum etiam ipsorum caelique rector .
Upheld
by
the
same
vapour
between
earth
and
heaven
,
at
definite
spaces
apart
,
hang
the
seven
stars
which
owing
to
their
motion
we
call
'
planets
,
'
although
no
stars
wander
less
than
they
do
.
In
the
midst
of
these
moves
the
sun
,
whose
magnitude
and
power
are
the
greatest
,
and
who
is
the
ruler
not
only
of
the
seasons
and
of
the
lands
;
but
even
of
the
stars
themselves
and
of
the
heaven
.
NH 2.13
Chiara Palladino / Pliny, Naturalis Historia
- Created on 2022-03-11 12:14:00
- Modified on 2022-03-11 12:14:12
- Translated by H. Rackam, 1952
- Aligned by Chiara Palladino
Latin
English
hunc esse mundi totius animum ac planius mentem , hunc principale naturae regimen ac numen credere decet opera eius aestimantes . hic lucem rebus ministrat aufertque tenebras , hic reliqua sidera occultat , inlustrat ; hic vices temporum annumque semper renascentem ex usu naturae temperat ; hic caeli tristitiam discutit atque etiam humani nubila animi serenat ; hic suum lumen ceteris quoque sideribus fenerat , praeclarus , eximius , omnia intuens , omnia etiam exaudiens , ut principi litterarum Homero placuisse in uno eo video .
Taking
into
account
all
that
he
effects
,
we
must
believe
him
to
be
the
soul
,
or
more
precisely
the
mind
,
of
the
whole
world
,
the
supreme
ruling
principle
and
divinity
of
nature
.
He
furnishes
the
world
with
light
and
removes
darkness
,
he
obscures
and
he
illumines
the
rest
of
the
stars
,
he
regulates
in
accord
with
nature
'
s
precedent
the
changes
of
the
seasons
and
the
continuous
rebirth
of
the
year
,
he
dissipates
the
gloom
of
heaven
and
even
calms
the
storm-clouds
of
the
mind
of
man
,
he
lends
his
light
to
the
rest
of
the
stars
also
;
he
is
glorious
and
pre-eminent
,
all-seeing
and
even
all-hearing
-
this
I
observe
that
Homer
the
prince
of
literature
held
to
be
true
in
the
case
of
the
sun
alone
.