University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Thalia Rediviva

The Pass-times and Diversions of a Countrey-muse, In Choice Poems on several Occasions. With Some Learned Remains of the Eminent Eugenius Philalethes. Never made Publick till now [by Henry Vaughan]

expand section 

The Sphere of Archimedes out of Claudian.

Jupiter in parvo cum cerneret æthera vitro
Risit, & ad superos &c.

When Jove a heav'n of small glass did behold,
He smil'd, and to the Gods these words he told.
Comes then the power of mans Art to this?
In a frail Orbe my work new acted is.
The poles decrees, the fate of things: God's laws
Down by his Art old Archimedes draws.
Spirits inclos'd the sev'ral Stars attend,
And orderly the living work they bend.
A feigned Zodiac measures out the year,
Ev'ry new month a false Moon doth appear.
And now bold industry is proud, it can
Wheel round its world, and rule the Stars by man.
Why at Salmoneus thunder do I stand?
Nature is rivall'd by a single hand.