In one place Castor and Pollux are mentioned, but merely as a synonym for the whole constellation of Gemini.[281] “Il petto del Leone ardente”[282] is perhaps Cor Leonis, the Heart of the Lion, for this is the name given to Regulus by both Ptolemy and Alfraganus. The “Maggior Fortuna”[283] of _Purg._ xix. 4, is a group of stars belonging to the two constellations of Aquarius and Pisces, in which the geomancers, who told fortunes by means of certain points traced at random, thought they saw a special series of these points,-:::.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [281] _Purg._ iv. 61. [282] “The burning Lion’s breast.” _Par._ xxi. 14. [283] “Greater Fortune.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It is generally agreed that the “gemme” of _Purg._ ix. 4, “poste in figura del freddo animale, Che con la coda percote la gente,”[284] are some stars of Scorpio which were shining on the eastern horizon just before the moon rose on the first night in the Island of Purgatory. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [284] “Gems ... set in the shape of that cold animal Which with its tail doth smite amain the nations.” (_Longfellow_). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The zodiacal constellations in general are spoken of as “all the lights of his [the sun’s] path:” “Tutti i lumi della sua strada.” (_Par._ xxvi. 121, 122). The pole star is described as the point of the axle round which the first sphere revolves.[285] The first sphere (or wheel, as it is called, with reference to its circling motion) is here the Primum Mobile, which was thought to cause the diurnal motion. This unique position gains for the pole star the name of “the star,” as for instance in _Conv._ III. v. 84, 85, where Dante says that a man standing at the north pole would have “la stella” directly over his head. And in Paradise he hears a voice among the spirits which makes him turn in its direction as the needle turns to the star— ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [285] _Par._ xiii. 11, 12. “Voce, che l’ago alla stella Parer mi fece in volgermi al suo dove.”[286] [286] “A voice, That made me seem like needle to the star, In turning to its whereabout.” _Par._ xii. 29, 30. (_Carey_). ------------------------------------------------------------------------