De Rerum Natura

Lucretius

Lucretius. De Rerum Natura. William Ellery Leonard. E. P. Dutton. 1916.

  1. Again, from following cause it comes to pass
  2. That yon swift golden hue of liquid fire
  3. Darts downward to the earth: because the clouds
  4. Themselves must hold abundant seeds of fire;
  5. For, when they be without all moisture, then
  6. They be for most part of a flamy hue
  7. And a resplendent. And, indeed, they must
  8. Even from the light of sun unto themselves
  9. Take multitudinous seeds, and so perforce
  10. Redden and pour their bright fires all abroad.
  11. And therefore, when the wind hath driven and thrust,
  12. Hath forced and squeezed into one spot these clouds,
  13. They pour abroad the seeds of fire pressed out,
  14. Which make to flash these colours of the flame.
  15. Likewise, it lightens also when the clouds
  16. Grow rare and thin along the sky; for, when
  17. The wind with gentle touch unravels them
  18. And breaketh asunder as they move, those seeds
  19. Which make the lightnings must by nature fall;
  20. At such an hour the horizon lightens round
  21. Without the hideous terror of dread noise
  22. And skiey uproar.