vestibuli custos vultu longaeva decoro ante fores Natura sedet, cunctisque volantes dependent membris animae. mansura verendus scribit iura senex, numeros qui dividit astris et cursus stabilesque moras, quibus omnia vivunt 435 ac pereunt fixis cum legibus. ille recenset, incertum quid Martis iter certumque Tonantis prospiciat mundo; quid velox semita Lunae pigraque Saturni; quantum Cytherea sereno curriculo Phoebique comes Cyllenius erret. 440 Illius ut magno Sol limine constitit antri, occurrit Natura potens seniorque superbis canitiem inclinat radiis. tum sponte reclusus laxavit postes adamas, penetrale profundum panditur et sedes aevique arcana patescunt. 445 hic habitant vario facies distincta metallo saecula certa locis: illic glomerantur aena, hic ferrata rigent, illic argentea candent. eximia regione domus, contingere terris difficilis, rutili stabat grex aureus anni: 450 quorum praecipuum pretioso corpore Titan signandum Stilichone legit; tunc imperat omnes pone sequi dictisque simul compellat euntes: “En, cui distulimus melioris saecla metalli, consul adest. ite optati mortalibus anni, 455 ducite virtutes; hominum florescite rursus ingeniis hilares Baccho frugumque feraces. non inter geminos Anguis glaciale Triones sibilet, inmodico nec frigore saeviat Ursa. * * * * * Page 35 the entrance sits Nature, guardian of the threshold, of age immense yet ever lovely, around whom throng and flit spirits on every side. A venerable old man writes down immutable laws: he fixes the number of stars in each constellation and causes these to move and those to be at rest, whereby everything lives or dies by pre-ordained laws. ’Tis he decides Mar’s uncertain orbit, Jupiter’s fixed course through the heaven, the swift path of the moon, and the slow march of Saturn; he limits the wanderings of Venu’s bright chariot and of Mercury, Phoebu’s companion.