Behold our orbit as through twice six signs
Our central Sun apparently inclines:
The Golden Fleece his pale ray first adorns,
Then tow'rds the Bull he winds and gilds his horns;
Castor and Pollux then receive his ray;
On burning Cancer then he seems to stay;
On flaming Leo pours the liquid shower;
Then faints beneath the Virgin's conquering power:
Now the just Scales weigh well both day and night;
The Scorpion then receives the solar light;
Then quivered Chiron clouds his wintry face,
And the tempestuous Sea-Goat mends his pace;
Now in the water Sol's warm beams are quench'd,
Till with the Fishes he is fairly drench'd.
These twice six signs successively appear,
And mark the twelve months of the circling year.