Likewise that bounteous fountain of clear light, The sun in heaven, ceaselessly floods the sky With fresh brightness, and momently supplies The place of light with new light: for each former Emission of his radiance perishes, On whatsoever spot it falls. This truth You may thus learn. So soon as clouds begin To pass below the sun, and as it were To break off the light’s rays, their lower part Forthwith perishes wholly, and the earth Is shadow-swept, wherever the clouds move. Thus you may know that things have ever need Of fresh illumination, and that each Former discharge of radiance perishes, Nor in any other way could things be seen In sunlight, if the fountain-head itself Did not send forth a perpetual supply. Also those lights we use here upon earth At night-time, hanging lamps, and torches bright With darting beams, rich with abundant smoke, Are in haste in like fashion to supply New radiance with ministering fire; The very flames seem eager, eager to flicker; Nor does the still unbroken stream of light One instant quit the spots whereon it played, So suddenly is its perishing concealed By the swift birth of flame from all these fires. It is thus then you must think sun moon and stars Shoot forth their light from ever fresh supplies, And that they always lose whatever beams Come foremost; lest perchance you should believe Their energy to be indestructible. Again, is it not seen that even stones By time are vanquished, that tall towers fall And rocks crumble away, that shrines and idols Of gods grow worn out and dilapidate, Nor may the indwelling holiness prolong The bounds of destiny, or strive against The laws of Nature? Then do we not see The monuments of men, fallen to ruin, Ask for themselves whether you would believe That they also grow old?[F] See we not rocks Split off from mountain heights fall crashing down Unable more to endure the powerful stress Of finite years? Surely they would not fall Thus suddenly split off, if through the lapse Of infinite past years they had withstood All the assaults of time, without being shattered. Now contemplate that which around and above Compasses the whole earth with its embrace. If it begets all things out of itself, As some have told us, and receives them back When they have perished, then the whole sky is made Of a body that had birth and that must die. For whatsoever nourishes and augments Other things from itself, must needs be minished, And be replenished, when it receives them back.