LI. (LXVIII.) _Archimedes’ Sphere._ When Jove looked down and saw the heavens figured in a sphere of glass he laughed and said to [114] Nothing is known of this man. Birt dates the poem 401. [115] Suzanna was martyred under Diocletian. [116] There were several virgins, saints, and martyrs of this name. Claudian probably means the proto-martyr of Iconium, the friend and companion of S. Paul. * * * * * Page 280 “hucine mortalis progressa potentia curae? iam meus in fragili luditur orbe labor? iura poli rerumque fidem legesque deorum 5 ecce Syracusius transtulit arte senex. inclusus variis famulatur spiritus astris et vivum certis motibus urget opus. percurrit proprium mentitus Signifer annum, et simulata novo Cynthia mense redit, 10 iamque suum volvens audax industria mundum gaudet et humana sidera mente regit. quid falso insontem tonitru Salmonea miror? aemula naturae parva reperta manus.” LII. (XXXVII.) _Gigantomachia._ Terra parens quondam caelestibus invida regnis Titanumque simul crebros miserata dolores omnia monstrifero complebat Tartara fetu invisum genitura nefas Phlegramque retexit tanta prole tumens et in aethera protulit hostes. 5 fit sonus: erumpunt crebri necdumque creati iam dextras in bella parant superosque lacessunt stridula volventes gemino vestigia lapsu. pallescunt subito stellae flectitque rubentes Phoebus equos docuitque timor revocare meatus. 10 Oceanum petit Arctos inocciduique Triones occasum didicere pati. tum fervida natos talibus hortatur genetrix in proelia dictis: “O pubes domitura deos, quodcumque videtis, * * * * * Page 281 the other gods: “Has the power of mortal effort gone so far? Is my handiwork now mimicked in a fragile globe? An old man of Syracuse has imitated on earth the laws of the heavens, the order of nature, and the ordinances of the gods. Some hidden influence within the sphere directs the various courses of the stars and actuates the lifelike mass with definite motions. A false zodiac runs through a year of its own, and a toy moon waxes and wanes month by month. Now bold invention rejoices to make its own heaven revolve and sets the stars in motion by human wit. Why should I take umbrage at harmless Salmoneus and his mock thunder? Here the feeble hand of man has proved Nature’s rival.” LII. (XXXVII.) _The Battle of the Giants._