Aratus with Commentaries

140

as that which shows itself at the tail of the great Bear.
For that one is terrible, and terrible are the stars near it;
one would not be able to identify them by looking,
such as the one that moves before his feet, beautiful and large,
one of the shoulder-stars, and one of those descending from above,
145

and another under the tail-knees. But all of them
are simple, and they are carried about with no names.
On his head are the Gemini Twins, and below in the middle is Cancer Crab;
and by the hind feet, Leo Lion shines beautifully beneath.
There are the paths of the sun’s summer heat;
150

and the fields seem empty of wheat
when the sun first joins with Leo.
Then the roaring Etesian winds fall upon the wide sea,
and the voyage is no longer timely for oars.
Broad ships would please me then,
155

and let the helmsmen keep the rudders against the wind.
If you wish to observe the Heniochus Charioteer and the stars of the Charioteer,
and the story of the Goat has come to you,
and of the Kids, who in the purple sea
often have observed men perishing,
160

you will find him entirely, great, reclined on the left
of the Gemini; and the furthest head of Helice Ursa Major
turns opposite to him. And upon his left shoulder is driven
the sacred Goat, which they say suckled Zeus;
the interpreters call her the Olenian Goat of Zeus.
165

But she is large and glorious; and there, fine stars
appear as the Kids upon the wrist of his hand.