Somnium Scipionis, Part VII

Since I gazed upon which more intently, Africanus said, “I ask, until when will your mind be fastened to the ground? Don’t you see into what temples you have come? It must be known by you that all things are connected by nine circles, or rather spheres, one of which is heavenly, the outermost, which embraces all remaining ones, the highest god himself enclosing and containing the others; fixed on which are those everlasting courses of the stars which are turned; thrown under which there are seven, which turn backwards with a motion contrary to the heaven; from which that one holds one sphere, which those in the lands call Saturn. Whence is that gleam, favorable and healthful to the race of men, which is called Jupiter; then one red and terrible to the lands which you call Mars; whence, below, the sun holds almost the middle region, the leader and chief and governor of the remaining lights, the mind and regulation of the world, with such great magnitude that it illuminates and fills up all things with its own light. The one course of Venus, the other of Mercury follow this one as satellites, and in the lowest region the moon is turned around, illuminated by the rays of the sun. But now below there is nothing unless mortal and perishable except the souls given by the duty of the gods to the race of men, above the moon all things are eternal. For that which is middle and ninth, Tellus, is not moved and it is the lowest and into it all masses are born by their own nod.”