nd his middle holds;
Yet gravely he, bright shining in the skies,
Moves on, and treads on Nepa's[181] breast and eyes.

The Septentriones[182] are followed by--

Arctophylax,[183] that's said to be the same
Which we Booetes call, who has the name,
Because he drives the Greater Bear along
Yoked to a wain.

Besides, in Booetes,

A star of glittering rays about his waist,
Arcturus called, a name renown'd, is placed.[184]

Beneath which is

The Virgin of illustrious form, whose hand
Holds a bright spike.

XLIII. And truly these signs are so regularly disposed that a divine
wisdom evidently appears in them:

Beneath the Bear's[185] head have the Twins their seat,
Under his chest the Crab, beneath his feet
The mighty Lion darts a trembling flame.[186]

The Charioteer

On the left side of Gemini we see,[187]
And at his head behold fierce Helice;
On his left shoulder the bright Goat appears.

But to proceed--

This is indeed a great and glorious star,
On th' other side the Kids, inferior far,
Yield but a slender light to mortal eyes.

Under his feet

The horned bull,[188] with sturdy limbs, is placed:

his head is spangled with a number of stars;

These by the Greeks are called the Hyades,

from raining; for [Greek: hyein] is to rain: therefore they are
injudiciously called _Suculae_ by our people, as if they had their name
from [Greek: hys], a sow, and not from [Greek: hyo].

Behind the Lesser Bear, Cepheus[189] follows with extended hands,

For close behind the Lesser Bear he comes.

Before him goes

Cassiopea[190] with a faintish light;
But near her moves (fair and illustrious sight!)
Andromeda,[191] who, with an eager pace,
Seems to avoid her parent's mournful face.[192]
With glittering mane the Horse[193] now seems to tread,
So near he comes, on her refulgent head;
With a fair star, that close to him appears,
A double form[194] and but one light he wears;
By which he seems ambitious in the sky
An everlasting knot of stars to tie.
Near him the Ram, with wreathed horns, is placed;

by whom

The Fishes[195] are; of which one seems to haste
Somewhat before the other, to the blast
Of the north wind exposed.

XLIV. Perseus is described as placed at the feet of Andromeda:

And him the sharp blasts of the north wind beat.
Near his left knee