Translation Cons. Phil. Book 1 Metrum 3
Metrum 3
1 Then was dark night dispelled, the shadows fled away,
2 and my eyes received returning power as before.
3 'Twas just as when the heavenly bodies are enveloped by the west wind's rush,
4 and the sky stands thick with watery clouds;
5 the sun is hidden and the stars are not yet come into the sky,
6 and night descending from above o'erspreads the earth:
7 but if the north wind smites this scene, launched forth from the Thracian cave,
8 it unlocks the imprisoned daylight;
9 the sun shines forth, and thus sparkling Phœbus
10 smites with his rays our wondering eyes.