integit, et large diffuso lumine rident. 3.18 Indeed the power of Nature is so great, her sphere is so universal that it is impossible to conceive of any other power which should be greater. She is self existent self controlling. Quae bene cognita si teneas, natura videtur libera continuo dominis privata superbis ipsa sua per se sponte omnia dis agere expers. 2.1090 The control of Nature extends over every detail of the Universe. As no power is above her, so too no minor powers exist beneath her sway, but with direct control sh guides all things "praeterea solis cursus lunaeque meatus expediam qua vi flectat natura gubernaus; ne forte haec inter caelum terramque reamur 5.76 Again the secret mysterious force that works through all things and controls even the fate of human beings is described in the following lines, which also show the misinterpretation of this force by men summa etiam cum vis violenti per mare venti induperatorem classis super aequora verrit cum validis pariter legionibus atque elephantis, non divom pacem votis adit ac prece quaesit ventorum pavidus paces animas que secundas, nequiquam, quonian violento turbine saepe 5.1226 The world of Nature is a vast organism. It has had its beginning,its various stages of growth and development --it will some day come to an end. Through all these periods the power of Nature is seen at work. The world as we know it was gradually evolved from a chaos of disconnected atoms- "dumque ad extremam crescendi perfica finem omnia perduxit rerum natura creatrix." 5.1116 From the earth sprang the many living forms which now adorn and people it. First came plants- "Principio genus herbarum vividemque nitorem terra dedit circum collis campos que per omnis, crescendi magnum inmissis certamen habenis." 5.783 Animals, too, sprang from the earth quae cuncta creavit saecla dedit que ferarum ingentia corpora partu. 2.1151 And even man came into existence in the same way, as an "Quae etiam atque etiam maternum nomen adepta 5.821 |