Sagittarius

The double Centaur different Tempers breeds,* 1.19

They break the Horse, and tame the fiery Steeds;

They love the sounding Whip, the Race, the Rein,

And whirl the Chariot o're the dusty Plain:

Nor is their Humor to the Fields confin'd,

They range the Woods, and tame the Savage Kind;

Young Bears they break, and Tygers heats asswage,

And hear Young Lions roaring without Rage.

Discourse the 23 Elephant, and Teach the Mass

A mimick Action, and a decent Grace;

To Act in Plays, or raise th' unweildly load,

To Dance, and be the Darling of the Crowd.

For in the Frame, in double forms exprest,

The Man is uppermost, and rules the Beast;

His Bow full drawn implies, his Rays impart,

Strength to the Limbs, and Vigor to the Heart.

Quick active Motions, full of warmth and heat,

Still pressing on, unknowing to retreat.

-Manilius, translated by Thomas Creech

Taurus simplicibus dotabit rura colonis 140

pacatisque labor veniet; nec praemia laudis

sed terrae tribuet partus. summittit in astris

colla iugumque suis poscit cervicibus ipse.

ille suis Phoebi portat cum cornibus orbem

militiam indicit terris et segnia rura 145

in veteres revocat cultus, dux ipse laboris,

nec iacet in sulcis solvitque in pulvere pectus.

Serranos Curiosque tulit fascesque per arva

tradidit, eque suo dictator venit aratro.

laudis amor tacitae; mentes et corpora tarda 150

mole valent, habitatque puer sub fronte Cupido.

Cancer ad ardentem fulgens in cardine metam,

quam Phoebus summis revocatus cursibus ambit,

articulum mundi retinet lucesque reflectit.

ille tenax animi nullosque effusus in usus 165

attribuit varios quaestus artemque lucrorum:

merce peregrina fortunam ferre per urbes

et gravia annonae speculantem incendia ventis

credere opes orbisque orbi bona vendere posse

totque per ignotas commercia iungere terras 170

atque alio sub sole novas exquirere praedas

et rerum pretio subitos componere census.

ignava et, celeris optando sortibus annos,

dulcibus usuris aequo Iove tempora vendit.

ingenium sollers suaque in compendia pugnax.

Hikaru and his wife