------------------------------------------------------------------------ [331] “From the east there shone upon the Mountain Cytherea, who in the flame of love seems to be always burning.” _Purg._ xxvii. 94-96. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The position of Venus in her course through the zodiac is indicated in the previous passage by the expression “velando i Pesci.”[332] The oscillating motion, by which she appears first on the morning and then on the evening side of the sun is referred to several times. In prose Dante speaks of her two apparitions, the morning and the evening: “la sua apparenza, or da mane, or da sera;”[333] in poetry, he describes her as wooing the sun, first following and then facing him:— ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [332] “Veiling the Fishes” (the zodiacal constellation). [333] “Her appearance, now in the morning, and now in the evening.” _Conv._ II. xiv. 114, 115. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “la stella Che il sol vagheggia or da coppa or da ciglio.”[334] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [334] “The star That woos the sun, now following, now in front.” _Par._ viii. 11-12. (_Longfellow_). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mercury and Venus (called rather oddly after their mothers), are said both to move closely round the sun:— ... “vidi com’ si move Circa e vicino a lui Maia e Dione.”[335] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [335] “I saw how move themselves, Around and near him, Maia and Dione.” _Par._ xxii. 143-144. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Quel bel pianeta di Mercuro”[336] keeps closest, for he is more hidden than any other in the rays of the sun. Here again the fact is expressed in simple prose in the _Convivio_:— ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [336] “That fair planet, Mercury.” _Son._ xxviii. 9. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Mercurio ... più va velata de’ raggi del sole che null’ altra stella.”[337] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [337] “Mercury ... as it moves is more veiled by the rays of the sun than any other star.” _Conv._ II. xiv. 99-100. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ which explains (if necessary) the more poetical language of the _Paradiso_:— “La spera, Che si vela ai mortal con altrui raggi.”[338]