On the Nature of Things

Mother of Rome, delight of Gods and men, Dear Venus that beneath the gliding stars Makest to teem the many-voyaged main And fruitful lands—for all of living things Through thee alone are evermore conceived, Through thee are risen to visit the great sun—

罗马之母，神与人的喜悦，亲爱的维纳斯，在滑动的星辰下，你使得众多航海的海洋和丰饶的土地充满生机——因为所有生物都是通过你独自被孕育，通过你升起来看伟大的太阳——

A Greek it was who first opposing dared Raise mortal eyes that terror to withstand, Whom nor the fame of Gods nor lightning's stroke Nor threatening thunder of the ominous sky Abashed; but rather chafed to angry zest His dauntless heart to be the first to rend The crossbars at the gates of Nature old.

正是一个希腊人，他首先敢于反抗，抬起凡人的眼睛来面对那恐怖，无论是神的名声还是闪电的打击，还是那不祥天空的威胁性雷声，都没有使他畏缩；反而激起了他无畏的心，成为第一个撕开古老自然大门的横木的人。