Aratus of Soli: Phenomena and Weather Signs

XVII. A. P. vs. 130-133.

What shall I say of oxen? Their very backs declare that they were not formed to receive a burden; but their necks were born for the yoke; then the strength of their shoulders and their breadth for pulling plows. By whom, when the earth was being subdued by the splitting of clods, no violence was ever brought by that golden generation, as the poets speak.

Then indeed a race of iron suddenly sprang up,
And was the first to dare to forge the deadly sword,
And to taste, by hand, food from the tamed bullock.

So great was the utility thought to be derived from oxen, that it was considered a crime to eat their flesh.

XVIII. A. P. vs. 134.

And he took his seat in the kingdom of Jove and in a part of the sky.

XIX. A. P. vs. 145.

The third light opens up under the tail towards the lineage itself.

XX. A. P. vs. 147. 148.

And the signs are so marked out that divine skill appears in such great descriptions.

And you shall visit the born Twins under the head of the Bear;
Subject to the middle is the Crab, and by its feet is held
The great Lion, shaking a trembling flame from its body:

XXI. A. P. vs. 153.

With this movement of the radiant Etesian winds into the shallows of the sea

XXII. A. P. vs. 154.

And aplustra and aplustria [stern-ornaments] are found to have been used by the ancients. Cicero in his Aratus:

With ships taken, to seek the floating stern-ornaments.