Aratus with Commentaries

...six times as much would run past it. But each
measured equally is cut by two stars.
They call it by the name of the Zodiac circle.
545 In it is Karkinos Cancer, and Leon Leo upon it, and beneath it
Parthenos Virgo; and upon it are the Chelai Claws and Skorpios Scorpion itself;
Toxeutes Archer and Aigokeros Capricorn, and upon Aigokeros
Hydrochoos Water-bearer; and two Ichthyes Fishes are starred beneath it,
and after them Krios Ram, and Tauros Bull upon it, and Didymoi Twins.
550 In all these twelve the sun is carried
leading the whole year, and as it goes around this
circle, all the fruit-bearing seasons grow.
And as much of it as sets into the hollow Ocean,
so much is carried above the earth; and in every night
555 six twelfths of the circle always set,
and as many rise. And by such length each
night is always stretched, as much as half of the circle
being lifted above the earth at the beginning of the night.
It would not be a thing to cast aside, when watching for the day
560 of the fates, to observe when each rises;
for the sun always rises together with one of these.
You would observe them most
by looking at them; but if they should become dark with clouds
or rise hidden by a mountain...