De Rerum Natura

Lucretius

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

  1. And, now, the speed and stroke of thunderbolt
  2. Is so tremendous, and with glide so swift
  3. Those thunderbolts rush on and down, because
  4. Their roused force itself collects itself
  5. First always in the clouds, and then prepares
  6. For the huge effort of their going-forth;
  7. Next, when the cloud no longer can retain
  8. The increment of their fierce impetus,
  9. Their force is pressed out, and therefore flies
  10. With impetus so wondrous, like to shots
  11. Hurled from the powerful Roman catapults.
  12. Note, too, this force consists of elements
  13. Both small and smooth, nor is there aught that can
  14. With ease resist such nature. For it darts
  15. Between and enters through the pores of things;
  16. And so it never falters in delay
  17. Despite innumerable collisions, but
  18. Flies shooting onward with a swift elan.
  19. Next, since by nature always every weight
  20. Bears downward, doubled is the swiftness then
  21. And that elan is still more wild and dread,
  22. When, verily, to weight are added blows,
  23. So that more madly and more fiercely then
  24. The thunderbolt shakes into shivers all
  25. That blocks its path, following on its way.
  26. Then, too, because it comes along, along
  27. With one continuing elan, it must
  28. Take on velocity anew, anew,
  29. Which still increases as it goes, and ever
  30. Augments the bolt's vast powers and to the blow
  31. Gives larger vigour; for it forces all,
  32. All of the thunder's seeds of fire, to sweep
  33. In a straight line unto one place, as 'twere,-
  34. Casting them one by other, as they roll,
  35. Into that onward course. Again, perchance,
  36. In coming along, it pulls from out the air
  37. Some certain bodies, which by their own blows
  38. Enkindle its velocity. And, lo,
  39. It comes through objects leaving them unharmed,
  40. It goes through many things and leaves them whole,
  41. Because the liquid fire flieth along
  42. Athrough their pores. And much it does transfix,
  43. When these primordial atoms of the bolt
  44. Have fallen upon the atoms of these things
  45. Precisely where the intertwined atoms
  46. Are held together. And, further, easily
  47. Brass it unbinds and quickly fuseth gold,
  48. Because its force is so minutely made
  49. Of tiny parts and elements so smooth
  50. That easily they wind their way within,
  51. And, when once in, quickly unbind all knots
  52. And loosen all the bonds of union there.