§1.1–1.129
Quid faciat laetas segetes, quo sidere terram
What makes the cornfield smile; beneath what star
vertere, Maecenas, ulmisque adiungere vitis
Maecenas, it is meet to turn the sod
conveniat, quae cura boum, qui cultus habendo
Or marry elm with vine; how tend the steer;
sit pecori, apibus quanta experientia parcis,
What pains for cattle-keeping, or what proof
5
hinc canere incipiam. Vos, o clarissima mundi
Of patient trial serves for thrifty bees;—
lumina, labentem caelo quae ducitis annum,
Such are my themes. O universal lights
Liber et alma Ceres, vestro si munere tellus
Most glorious! ye that lead the gliding year
Chaoniam pingui glandem mutavit arista,
Along the sky, Liber and Ceres mild,
poculaque inventis Acheloia miscuit uvis;
If by your bounty holpen earth once changed
10
et vos, agrestum praesentia numina, Fauni,
Chaonian acorn for the plump wheat-ear,
ferte simul Faunique pedem Dryadesque puellae:
And mingled with the grape, your new-found gift,
Munera vestra cano. Tuque o, cui prima frementem
The draughts of Achelous; and ye Fauns
fudit equum magno tellus percussa tridenti,
To rustics ever kind, come foot it, Fauns
Neptune; et cultor nemorum, cui pinguia Ceae
And Dryad-maids together; your gifts I sing.
15
ter centum nivei tondent dumeta iuvenci;
And thou, for whose delight the war-horse first
ipse nemus linquens patrium saltusque Lycaei,
Sprang from earth's womb at thy great trident's stroke,
Pan, ovium custos, tua si tibi Maenala curae,
Neptune; and haunter of the groves, for whom
adsis, o Tegeaee, favens, oleaeque Minerva
Three hundred snow-white heifers browse the brakes,
inventrix, uncique puer monstrator aratri,
The fertile brakes of Ceos; and clothed in power,
20
et teneram ab radice ferens, Silvane, cupressum,
Thy native forest and Lycean lawns,
dique deaeque omnes, studium quibus arva tueri,
Pan, shepherd-god, forsaking, as the love
quique novas alitis non ullo semine fruges,
Of thine own Maenalus constrains thee, hear
quique satis largum caelo demittitis imbrem;
And help, O lord of Tegea! And thou, too,
tuque adeo, quem mox quae sint habitura deorum
Minerva, from whose hand the olive sprung;
25
concilia, incertum est, urbisne invisere, Caesar,
And boy-discoverer of the curved plough;
terrarumque velis curam et te maximus orbis
And, bearing a young cypress root-uptorn,
auctorem frugum tempestatumque potentem
Silvanus, and Gods all and Goddesses,
accipiat, cingens materna tempora myrto,
Who make the fields your care, both ye who nurse
an deus inmensi venias maris ac tua nautae
The tender unsown increase, and from heaven
30
numina sola colant, tibi serviat ultima Thule
Shed on man's sowing the riches of your rain:
teque sibi generum Tethys emat omnibus undis,
And thou, even thou, of whom we know not yet
anne novum tardis sidus te mensibus addas,
What mansion of the skies shall hold thee soon,
qua locus Erigonen inter Chelasque sequentis
Whether to watch o'er cities be thy will,
panditur—ipse tibi iam bracchia contrahit ardens
Great Caesar, and to take the earth in charge,
35
Scorpius et caeli iusta plus parte reliquit—
That so the mighty world may welcome thee
quidquid eris,—nam te nec sperant Tartara regem
Lord of her increase, master of her times,
nec tibi regnandi veniat tam dira cupido,
Binding thy mother's myrtle round thy brow,
quamvis Elysios miretur Graecia campos
Or as the boundless ocean's God thou come,
nec repetita sequi curet Proserpina matrem—
Sole dread of seamen, till far Thule bow
40
da facilem cursum atque audacibus adnue coeptis
Before thee, and Tethys win thee to her son
ignarosque viae mecum miseratus agrestis
With all her waves for dower; or as a star
ingredere et votis iam nunc adsuesce vocari.
Lend thy fresh beams our lagging months to cheer,
Vere novo, gelidus canis cum montibus humor
Where 'twixt the Maid and those pursuing Claws
liquitur et Zephyro putris se glaeba resolvit,
A space is opening; see! red Scorpio's self
45
depresso incipiat iam tum mihi taurus aratro
His arms draws in, yea, and hath left thee more
ingemere et sulco attritus splendescere vomer.
Than thy full meed of heaven: be what thou wilt—
Illa seges demum votis respondet avari
For neither Tartarus hopes to call thee king,
agricolae, bis quae solem, bis frigora sensit;
Nor may so dire a lust of sovereignty
illius inmensae ruperunt horrea messes.
E'er light upon thee, howso Greece admire
50
At prius ignotum ferro quam scindimus aequor,
Elysium's fields, and Proserpine not heed
ventos et varium caeli praediscere morem
Her mother's voice entreating to return—
cura sit ac patrios cultusque habitusque locorum
Vouchsafe a prosperous voyage, and smile on this
et quid quaeque ferat regio et quid quaeque recuset.
My bold endeavour, and pitying, even as I,
Hic segetes, illic veniunt felicius uvae,
These poor way-wildered swains, at once begin,
55
arborei fetus alibi, atque iniussa virescunt
Grow timely used unto the voice of prayer.
gramina. Nonne vides, croceos ut Tmolus odores,
In early spring-tide, when the icy drip
India mittit ebur, molles sua tura Sabaei,
Melts from the mountains hoar, and Zephyr's breath
at Chalybes nudi ferrum, virosaque Pontus
Unbinds the crumbling clod, even then 'tis time;
castorea, Eliadum palmas Epiros equarum.
Press deep your plough behind the groaning ox,
60
Continuo has leges aeternaque foedera certis
And teach the furrow-burnished share to shine.
inposuit natura locis, quo tempore primum
That land the craving farmer's prayer fulfils,
Deucalion vacuum lapides iactavit in orbem,
Which twice the sunshine, twice the frost has felt;
unde homines nati, durum genus. Ergo age, terrae
Ay, that's the land whose boundless harvest-crops
pingue solum primis extemplo a mensibus anni
Burst, see! the barns. But ere our metal cleave
65
fortes invertant tauri glaebasque iacentis
An unknown surface, heed we to forelearn
pulverulenta coquat maturis solibus aestas;
The winds and varying temper of the sky,
at si non fuerit tellus fecunda, sub ipsum
The lineal tilth and habits of the spot,
Arcturum tenui sat erit suspendere sulco:
What every region yields, and what denies.
illic, officiant laetis ne frugibus herbae,
Here blithelier springs the corn, and here the grape,
70
hic, sterilem exiguus ne deserat humor harenam.
There earth is green with tender growth of trees
Alternis idem tonsas cessare novalis
And grass unbidden. See how from Tmolus comes
et segnem patiere situ durescere campum;
The saffron's fragrance, ivory from Ind,
aut ibi flava seres mutato sidere farra,
From Saba's weakling sons their frankincense,
unde prius laetum siliqua quassante legumen
Iron from the naked Chalybs, castor rank
75
aut tenuis fetus viciae tristisque lupini
From Pontus, from Epirus the prize-palms
sustuleris fragilis calamos silvamque sonantem.
O' the mares of Elis. Such the eternal bond
Urit enim lini campum seges, urit avenae,
And such the laws by Nature's hand imposed
urunt Lethaeo perfusa papavera somno:
On clime and clime, e'er since the primal dawn
sed tamen alternis facilis labor, arida tantum
When old Deucalion on the unpeopled earth
80
ne saturare fimo pingui pudeat sola neve
Cast stones, whence men, a flinty race, were reared.
effetos cinerem inmundum iactare per agros.
Up then! if fat the soil, let sturdy bulls
Sic quoque mutatis requiescunt fetibus arva;
Upturn it from the year's first opening months,
nec nulla interea est inaratae gratia terrae.
And let the clods lie bare till baked to dust
Saepe etiam sterilis incendere profuit agros
By the ripe suns of summer; but if the earth
85
atque levem stipulam crepitantibus urere flammis:
Less fruitful just ere Arcturus rise
sive inde occultas viris et pabula terrae
With shallower trench uptilt it—'twill suffice;
pinguia concipiunt, sive illis omne per ignem
There, lest weeds choke the crop's luxuriance, here,
excoquitur vitium atque exsudat inutilis humor,
Lest the scant moisture fail the barren sand.
seu pluris calor ille vias et caeca relaxat
Then thou shalt suffer in alternate years
90
spiramenta, novas veniat qua sucus in herbas,
The new-reaped fields to rest, and on the plain
seu durat magis et venas adstringit hiantis,
A crust of sloth to harden; or, when stars
ne tenues pluviae rapidive potentia solis
Are changed in heaven, there sow the golden grain
acrior aut Boreae penetrabile frigus adurat.
Where erst, luxuriant with its quivering pod,
Multum adeo, rastris glaebas qui frangit inertis
Pulse, or the slender vetch-crop, thou hast cleared,
95
vimineasque trahit cratis, iuvat arva, neque illum
And lupin sour, whose brittle stalks arise,
flava Ceres alto nequiquam spectat Olympo;
A hurtling forest. For the plain is parched
et qui, proscisso quae suscitat aequore terga,
By flax-crop, parched by oats, by poppies parched
rursus in obliquum verso perrumpit aratro,
In Lethe-slumber drenched. Nathless by change
exercetque frequens tellurem atque imperat arvis.
The travailing earth is lightened, but stint not
100
Humida solstitia atque hiemes orate serenas,
With refuse rich to soak the thirsty soil,
agricolae; hiberno laetissima pulvere farra,
And shower foul ashes o'er the exhausted fields.
laetus ager: nullo tantum se Mysia cultu
Thus by rotation like repose is gained,
iactat et ipsa suas mirantur Gargara messis.
Nor earth meanwhile uneared and thankless left.
Quid dicam, iacto qui semine comminus arva
Oft, too, 'twill boot to fire the naked fields,
105
insequitur cumulosque ruit male pinguis harenae
And the light stubble burn with crackling flames;
deinde satis fluvium inducit rivosque sequentis
Whether that earth therefrom some hidden strength
et, cum exustus ager morientibus aestuat herbis,
And fattening food derives, or that the fire
ecce supercilio clivosi tramitis undam
Bakes every blemish out, and sweats away
elicit. illa cadens raucum per levia murmur
Each useless humour, or that the heat unlocks
110
saxa ciet, scatebrisque arentia temperat arva.
New passages and secret pores, whereby
Quid qui, ne gravidis procumbat culmus aristis,
Their life-juice to the tender blades may win;
luxuriem segetum tenera depascit in herba,
Or that it hardens more and helps to bind
cum primum sulcos aequant sata. quique paludis
The gaping veins, lest penetrating showers,
collectum humorem bibula deducit harena.
Or fierce sun's ravening might, or searching blast
115
Praesertim incertis si mensibus amnis abundans
Of the keen north should sear them. Well, I wot,
exit et obducto late tenet omnia limo,
He serves the fields who with his harrow breaks
unde cavae tepido sudant humore lacunae.
The sluggish clods, and hurdles osier-twined
Nec tamen, haec cum sint hominumque boumque labores
Hales o'er them; from the far Olympian height
versando terram experti, nihil inprobus anser
Him golden Ceres not in vain regards;
120
Strymoniaeque grues et amaris intiba fibris
And he, who having ploughed the fallow plain
officiunt aut umbra nocet. Pater ipse colendi
And heaved its furrowy ridges, turns once more
haud facilem esse viam voluit, primusque per artem
Cross-wise his shattering share, with stroke on stroke
movit agros curis acuens mortalia corda
The earth assails, and makes the field his thrall.
nec torpere gravi passus sua regna veterno.
Pray for wet summers and for winters fine,
125
Ante Iovem nulli subigebant arva coloni;
Ye husbandmen; in winter's dust the crops
ne signare quidem aut partiri limite campum
Exceedingly rejoice, the field hath joy;
fas erat: in medium quaerebant ipsaque tellus
No tilth makes Mysia lift her head so high,
omnia liberius nullo poscente ferebat.
Nor Gargarus his own harvests so admire.
Ille malum virus serpentibus addidit atris
Why tell of him, who, having launched his seed,
§1.130–1.258
130
praedarique lupos iussit pontumque moveri,
Sets on for close encounter, and rakes smooth
mellaque decussit foliis ignemque removit
The dry dust hillocks, then on the tender corn
et passim rivis currentia vina repressit,
Lets in the flood, whose waters follow fain;
ut varias usus meditando extunderet artis
And when the parched field quivers, and all the blades
paulatim et sulcis frumenti quaereret herbam.
Are dying, from the brow of its hill-bed,
135
Ut silicis venis abstrusum excuderet ignem.
See! see! he lures the runnel; down it falls,
Tunc alnos primum fluvii sensere cavatas;
Waking hoarse murmurs o'er the polished stones,
navita tum stellis numeros et nomina fecit,
And with its bubblings slakes the thirsty fields?
Pleiadas, Hyadas, claramque Lycaonis Arcton;
Or why of him, who lest the heavy ears
tum laqueis captare feras et fallere visco
O'erweigh the stalk, while yet in tender blade
140
inventum et magnos canibus circumdare saltus;
Feeds down the crop's luxuriance, when its growth
atque alius latum funda iam verberat amnem
First tops the furrows? Why of him who drains
alta petens, pelagoque alius trahit humida lina;
The marsh-land's gathered ooze through soaking sand,
tum ferri rigor atque argutae lamina serrae,—
Chiefly what time in treacherous moons a stream
nam primi cuneis scindebant fissile lignum
Goes out in spate, and with its coat of slime
145
tum variae venere artes. Labor omnia vicit
Holds all the country, whence the hollow dykes
inprobus et duris urgens in rebus egestas.
Sweat steaming vapour?
Prima Ceres ferro mortalis vertere terram
But no whit the more
instituit, cum iam glandes atque arbuta sacrae
For all expedients tried and travail borne
deficerent silvae et victum Dodona negaret.
By man and beast in turning oft the soil,
150
Mox et frumentis labor additus, ut mala culmos
Do greedy goose and Strymon-haunting cranes
esset robigo segnisque horreret in arvis
And succory's bitter fibres cease to harm,
carduus; intereunt segetes, subit aspera silva,
Or shade not injure. The great Sire himself
lappaeque tribolique, interque nitentia culta
No easy road to husbandry assigned,
infelix lolium et steriles dominantur avenae.
And first was he by human skill to rouse
155
Quod nisi et adsiduis herbam insectabere rastris,
The slumbering glebe, whetting the minds of men
et sonitu terrebis aves, et ruris opaci
With care on care, nor suffering realm of his
falce premes umbras votisque vocaveris imbrem,
In drowsy sloth to stagnate. Before Jove
heu magnum alterius frustra spectabis acervum,
Fields knew no taming hand of husbandmen;
concussaque famem in silvis solabere quercu.
To mark the plain or mete with boundary-line—
160
Dicendum et, quae sint duris agrestibus arma,
Even this was impious; for the common stock
quis sine nec potuere seri nec surgere messes:
They gathered, and the earth of her own will
vomis et inflexi primum grave robur aratri
All things more freely, no man bidding, bore.
tardaque Eleusinae matris volventia plaustra
He to black serpents gave their venom-bane,
tribulaque traheaeque et iniquo pondere rastri;
And bade the wolf go prowl, and ocean toss;
165
virgea praeterea Celei vilisque supellex,
Shooed from the leaves their honey, put fire away,
arbuteae crates et mystica vannus Iacchi.
And curbed the random rivers running wine,
Omnia quae multo ante memor provisa repones,
That use by gradual dint of thought on thought
si te digna manet divini gloria ruris.
Might forge the various arts, with furrow's help
Continuo in silvis magna vi flexa domatur
The corn-blade win, and strike out hidden fire
170
in burim et curvi formam accipit ulmus aratri.
From the flint's heart. Then first the streams were ware
Huic a stirpe pedes temo protentus in octo,
Of hollowed alder-hulls: the sailor then
binae aures, duplici aptantur dentalia dorso
Their names and numbers gave to star and star,
caeditur et tilia ante iugo levis altaque fagus,
Pleiads and Hyads, and Lycaon's child
stivaque, quae currus a tergo torqueat imos,
Bright Arctos; how with nooses then was found
175
et suspensa focis explorat robora fumus.
To catch wild beasts, and cozen them with lime,
Possum multa tibi veterum praecepta referre,
And hem with hounds the mighty forest-glades.
ni refugis tenuisque piget cognoscere curas.
Soon one with hand-net scourges the broad stream,
Area cum primis ingenti aequanda cylindro
Probing its depths, one drags his dripping toils
et vertenda manu et creta solidanda tenaci,
Along the main; then iron's unbending might,
180
ne subeant herbae neu pulvere victa fatiscat,
And shrieking saw-blade,—for the men of old
tum variae inludant pestes: saepe exiguus mus
With wedges wont to cleave the splintering log;—
sub terris posuitque domos atque horrea fecit,
Then divers arts arose; toil conquered all,
aut oculis capti fodere cubilia talpae,
Remorseless toil, and poverty's shrewd push
inventusque cavis bufo et quae plurima terrae
In times of hardship. Ceres was the first
185
monstra ferunt, populatque ingentem farris acervum
Set mortals on with tools to turn the sod,
curculio atque inopi metuens formica senectae.
When now the awful groves 'gan fail to bear
Contemplator item, cum se nux plurima silvis
Acorns and arbutes, and her wonted food
induet in florem et ramos curvabit olentis.
Dodona gave no more. Soon, too, the corn
Si superant fetus, pariter frumenta sequentur
Gat sorrow's increase, that an evil blight
190
magnaque cum magno veniet tritura calore;
Ate up the stalks, and thistle reared his spines
at si luxuria foliorum exuberat umbra,
An idler in the fields; the crops die down;
nequiquam pinguis palea teret area culmos.
Upsprings instead a shaggy growth of burrs
Semina vidi equidem multos medicare serentis
And caltrops; and amid the corn-fields trim
et nitro prius et nigra perfundere amurca,
Unfruitful darnel and wild oats have sway.
195
grandior ut fetus siliquis fallacibus esset,
Wherefore, unless thou shalt with ceaseless rake
et, quamvis igni exiguo, properata maderent.
The weeds pursue, with shouting scare the birds,
Vidi lecta diu et multo spectata labore
Prune with thy hook the dark field's matted shade,
degenerare tamen, ni vis humana quot annis
Pray down the showers, all vainly thou shalt eye,
maxima quaeque manu legeret. Sic omnia fatis
Alack! thy neighbour's heaped-up harvest-mow,
200
in peius ruere ac retro sublapsa referri,
And in the greenwood from a shaken oak
non aliter, quam qui adverso vix flumine lembum
Seek solace for thine hunger.
remigiis subigit, si bracchia forte remisit,
Now to tell
atque illum in praeceps prono rapit alveus amni.
The sturdy rustics' weapons, what they are,
Praeterea tam sunt Arcturi sidera nobis
Without which, neither can be sown nor reared
205
Haedorumque dies servandi et lucidus Anguis,
The fruits of harvest; first the bent plough's share
quam quibus in patriam ventosa per aequora vectis
And heavy timber, and slow-lumbering wains
pontus et ostriferi fauces temptantur Abydi.
Of the Eleusinian mother, threshing-sleighs
Libra die somnique pares ubi fecerit horas
And drags, and harrows with their crushing weight;
et medium luci atque umbris iam dividit orbem,
Then the cheap wicker-ware of Celeus old,
210
exercete, viri, tauros, serite hordea campis
Hurdles of arbute, and thy mystic fan,
usque sub extremum brumae intractabilis imbrem;
Iacchus; which, full tale, long ere the time
nec non et lini segetem et Cereale papaver
Thou must with heed lay by, if thee await
tempus humo tegere et iamdudum incumbere aratris,
Not all unearned the country's crown divine.
dum sicca tellure licet, dum nubila pendent.
While yet within the woods, the elm is tamed
215
Vere fabis satio; tum te quoque, Medica, putres
And bowed with mighty force to form the stock,
accipiunt sulci et milio venit annua cura,
And take the plough's curved shape, then nigh the root
candidus auratis aperit cum cornibus annum
A pole eight feet projecting, earth-boards twain,
Taurus et averso cedens Canis occidit astro.
And share-beam with its double back they fix.
At si triticeam in messem robustaque farra
For yoke is early hewn a linden light,
220
exercebis humum solisque instabis aristis,
And a tall beech for handle, from behind
ante tibi Eoae Atlantides abscondantur
To turn the car at lowest: then o'er the hearth
Gnosiaque ardentis decedat stella Coronae,
The wood they hang till the smoke knows it well.
debita quam sulcis committas semina quamque
Many the precepts of the men of old
invitae properes anni spem credere terrae.
I can recount thee, so thou start not back,
225
Multi ante occasum Maiae coepere; sed illos
And such slight cares to learn not weary thee.
exspectata seges vanis elusit avenis.
And this among the first: thy threshing-floor
Si vero viciamque seres vilemque phaselum
With ponderous roller must be levelled smooth,
nec Pelusiacae curam aspernabere lentis,
And wrought by hand, and fixed with binding chalk,
haud obscura cadens mittet tibi signa Bootes:
Lest weeds arise, or dust a passage win
230
incipe et ad medias sementem extende pruinas.
Splitting the surface, then a thousand plagues
Idcirco certis dimensum partibus orbem
Make sport of it: oft builds the tiny mouse
per duodena regit mundi Sol aureus astra.
Her home, and plants her granary, underground,
Quinque tenent caelum zonae; quarum una corusco
Or burrow for their bed the purblind moles,
semper sole rubens et torrida semper ab igni;
Or toad is found in hollows, and all the swarm
235
quam circum extremae dextra laevaque trahuntur
Of earth's unsightly creatures; or a huge
caeruleae, glacie concretae atque imbribus atris;
Corn-heap the weevil plunders, and the ant,
has inter mediamque duae mortalibus aegris
Fearful of coming age and penury.
munere concessae divom, et via secta per ambas,
Mark too, what time the walnut in the woods
obliquus qua se signorum verteret ordo.
With ample bloom shall clothe her, and bow down
240
Mundus, ut ad Scythiam Rhipaeasque arduus arces
Her odorous branches, if the fruit prevail,
consurgit, premitur Libyae devexus in austros.
Like store of grain will follow, and there shall come
Hic vertex nobis semper sublimis; at illum
A mighty winnowing-time with mighty heat;
sub pedibus Styx atra videt Manesque profundi.
But if the shade with wealth of leaves abound,
Maximus hic flexu sinuoso elabitur Anguis
Vainly your threshing-floor will bruise the stalks
245
circum perque duas in morem fluminis Arctos,
Rich but in chaff. Many myself have seen
Arctos Oceani metuentis aequore tingui.
Steep, as they sow, their pulse-seeds, drenching them
Illic, ut perhibent, aut intempesta silet nox,
With nitre and black oil-lees, that the fruit
semper et obtenta densentur nocte tenebrae,
Might swell within the treacherous pods, and they
aut redit a nobis Aurora diemque reducit;
Make speed to boil at howso small a fire.
250
nosque ubi primus equis Oriens adflavit anhelis,
Yet, culled with caution, proved with patient toil,
illic, sera rubens accendit lumina Vesper.
These have I seen degenerate, did not man
Hinc tempestates dubio praediscere caelo
Put forth his hand with power, and year by year
possumus, hinc messisque diem tempusque serendi,
Choose out the largest. So, by fate impelled,
et quando infidum remis inpellere marmor
Speed all things to the worse, and backward borne
255
conveniat, quando armatas deducere classis,
Glide from us; even as who with struggling oars
aut tempestivam silvis evertere pinum.
Up stream scarce pulls a shallop, if he chance
Nec frustra signorum obitus speculamur et ortus,
His arms to slacken, lo! with headlong force
temporibusque parem diversis quattuor annum.
The current sweeps him down the hurrying tide.
§1.259–1.387
Frigidus agricolam si quando continet imber,
Us too behoves Arcturus' sign observe,
260
multa, forent quae mox caelo properanda sereno,
And the Kids' seasons and the shining Snake,
maturare datur: durum procudit arator
No less than those who o'er the windy main
vomeris obtunsi dentem, cavat arbore lintres,
Borne homeward tempt the Pontic, and the jaws
aut pecori signum aut numeros inpressit acervis.
Of oyster-rife Abydos. When the Scales
Exacuunt alii vallos furcasque bicornis
Now poising fair the hours of sleep and day
265
atque Amerina parant lentae retinacula viti.
Give half the world to sunshine, half to shade,
Nunc facilis rubea texatur fiscina virga,
Then urge your bulls, my masters; sow the plain
nunc torrete igni fruges, nunc frangite saxo.
Even to the verge of tameless winter's showers
Quippe etiam festis quaedam exercere diebus
With barley: then, too, time it is to hide
fas et iura sinunt; rivos deducere nulla
Your flax in earth, and poppy, Ceres' joy,
270
religio vetuit, segeti praetendere saepem,
Aye, more than time to bend above the plough,
insidias avibus moliri, incendere vepres,
While earth, yet dry, forbids not, and the clouds
balantumque gregem fluvio mersare salubri.
Are buoyant. With the spring comes bean-sowing;
Saepe oleo tardi costas agitator aselli
Thee, too, Lucerne, the crumbling furrows then
vilibus aut onerat pomis, lapidemque revertens
Receive, and millet's annual care returns,
275
incusum aut atrae massam picis urbe reportat.
What time the white bull with his gilded horns
Ipsa dies alios alio dedit ordine Luna
Opens the year, before whose threatening front,
felicis operum. Quintam fuge: pallidus Orcus
Routed the dog-star sinks. But if it be
Eumenidesque satae; tum partu Terra nefando
For wheaten harvest and the hardy spelt,
Coeumque Iapetumque creat saevumque Typhoea
Thou tax the soil, to corn-ears wholly given,
280
et coniuratos caelum rescindere fratres.
Let Atlas' daughters hide them in the dawn,
Ter sunt conati inponere Pelio Ossam
The Cretan star, a crown of fire, depart,
scilicet, atque Ossae frondosum involvere Olympum;
Or e'er the furrow's claim of seed thou quit,
ter pater exstructos disiecit fulmine montis.
Or haste thee to entrust the whole year's hope
Septima post decimam felix et ponere vitem
To earth that would not. Many have begun
285
et prensos domitare boves et licia telae
Ere Maia's star be setting; these, I trow,
addere: nona fugae melior, contraria furtis.
Their looked-for harvest fools with empty ears.
Multa adeo gelida melius se nocte dedere,
But if the vetch and common kidney-bean
aut cum sole novo terras inrorat Eous.
Thou'rt fain to sow, nor scorn to make thy care
Nocte leves melius stipulae, nocte arida prata
Pelusiac lentil, no uncertain sign
290
tondentur, noctes lentus non deficit humor.
Bootes' fall will send thee; then begin,
Et quidam seros hiberni ad luminis ignis
Pursue thy sowing till half the frosts be done.
pervigilat ferroque faces inspicat acuto;
Therefore it is the golden sun, his course
interea longum cantu solata laborem
Into fixed parts dividing, rules his way
arguto coniunx percurrit pectine telas,
Through the twelve constellations of the world.
295
aut dulcis musti Volcano decoquit humorem
Five zones the heavens contain; whereof is one
et foliis undam trepidi despumat aeni.
Aye red with flashing sunlight, fervent aye
At rubicunda Ceres medio succiditur aestu
From fire; on either side to left and right
et medio tostas aestu terit area fruges.
Are traced the utmost twain, stiff with blue ice,
Nudus ara, sere nudus; hiems ignava colono.
And black with scowling storm-clouds, and betwixt
300
Frigoribus parto agricolae plerumque fruuntur
These and the midmost, other twain there lie,
mutuaque inter se laeti convivia curant.
By the Gods' grace to heart-sick mortals given,
Invitat genialis hiems curasque resolvit,
And a path cleft between them, where might wheel
ceu pressae cum iam portum tetigere carinae,
On sloping plane the system of the Signs.
puppibus et laeti nautae inposuere coronas.
And as toward Scythia and Rhipaean heights
305
Sed tamen et quernas glandes tum stringere tempus
The world mounts upward, likewise sinks it down
et lauri bacas oleamque cruentaque myrta,
Toward Libya and the south, this pole of ours
tum gruibus pedicas et retia ponere cervis
Still towering high, that other, 'neath their feet,
auritosque sequi lepores, tum figere dammas,
By dark Styx frowned on, and the abysmal shades.
stuppea torquentem Balearis verbera fundae,
Here glides the huge Snake forth with sinuous coils
310
cum nix alta iacet, glaciem cum flumina trudunt.
'Twixt the two Bears and round them river-wise—
Quid tempestates autumni et sidera dicam,
The Bears that fear 'neath Ocean's brim to dip.
atque, ubi iam breviorque dies et mollior aestas,
There either, say they, reigns the eternal hush
quae vigilanda viris. vel cum ruit imbriferum ver,
Of night that knows no seasons, her black pall
spicea iam campis cum messis inhorruit et cum
Thick-mantling fold on fold; or thitherward
315
frumenta in viridi stipula lactentia turgent.
From us returning Dawn brings back the day;
Saepe ego, cum flavis messorem induceret arvis
And when the first breath of his panting steeds
agricola et fragili iam stringeret hordea culmo,
On us the Orient flings, that hour with them
omnia ventorum concurrere proelia vidi,
Red Vesper 'gins to trim his 'lated fires.
quae gravidam late segetem ab radicibus imis
Hence under doubtful skies forebode we can
320
sublimem expulsam eruerent; ita turbine nigro
The coming tempests, hence both harvest-day
ferret hiems culmumque levem stipulasque volantis.
And seed-time, when to smite the treacherous main
Saepe etiam inmensum caelo venit agmen aquarum
With driving oars, when launch the fair-rigged fleet,
et foedam glomerant tempestatem imbribus atris
Or in ripe hour to fell the forest-pine.
collectae ex alto nubes; ruit arduus aether
Hence, too, not idly do we watch the stars—
325
et pluvia ingenti sata laeta boumque labores
Their rising and their setting-and the year,
diluit; inplentur fossae et cava flumina crescunt
Four varying seasons to one law conformed.
cum sonitu fervetque fretis spirantibus aequor.
If chilly showers e'er shut the farmer's door,
Ipse pater media nimborum in nocte corusca
Much that had soon with sunshine cried for haste,
fulmina molitur dextra; quo maxuma motu
He may forestall; the ploughman batters keen
330
terra tremit; fugere ferae et mortalia corda
His blunted share's hard tooth, scoops from a tree
per gentis humilis stravit pavor; ille flagranti
His troughs, or on the cattle stamps a brand,
aut Athon aut Rhodopen aut alta Ceraunia telo
Or numbers on the corn-heaps; some make sharp
deicit; ingeminant austri et densissimus imber;
The stakes and two-pronged forks, and willow-bands
nunc nemora ingenti vento, nunc litora plangunt.
Amerian for the bending vine prepare.
335
Hoc metuens caeli menses et sidera serva,
Now let the pliant basket plaited be
frigida Saturni sese quo stella receptet,
Of bramble-twigs; now set your corn to parch
quos ignis caelo Cyllenius erret in orbis.
Before the fire; now bruise it with the stone.
In primis venerare deos atque annua magnae
Nay even on holy days some tasks to ply
sacra refer Cereri laetis operatus in herbis
Is right and lawful: this no ban forbids,
340
extremae sub casum hiemis, iam vere sereno.
To turn the runnel's course, fence corn-fields in,
Tum pingues agni et tum mollissima vina,
Make springes for the birds, burn up the briars,
tum somni dulces densaeque in montibus umbrae.
And plunge in wholesome stream the bleating flock.
Cuncta tibi Cererem pubes agrestis adoret;
Oft too with oil or apples plenty-cheap
cui tu lacte favos et miti dilue Baccho,
The creeping ass's ribs his driver packs,
345
terque novas circum felix eat hostia fruges,
And home from town returning brings instead
omnis quam chorus et socii comitentur ovantes,
A dented mill-stone or black lump of pitch.
et Cererem clamore vocent in tecta; neque ante
The moon herself in various rank assigns
falcem maturis quisquam supponat aristis,
The days for labour lucky: fly the fifth;
quam Cereri torta redimitus tempora quercu
Then sprang pale Orcus and the Eumenides;
350
det motus incompositos et carmina dicat.
Earth then in awful labour brought to light
Atque haec ut certis possemus discere signis,
Coeus, Iapetus, and Typhoeus fell,
aestusque pluviasque et agentis frigora ventos,
And those sworn brethren banded to break down
ipse Pater statuit, quid menstrua Luna moneret,
The gates of heaven; thrice, sooth to say, they strove
quo signo caderent austri, quid saepe videntes
Ossa on Pelion's top to heave and heap,
355
agricolae propius stabulis armenta tenerent.
Aye, and on Ossa to up-roll amain
Continuo ventis surgentibus aut freta ponti
Leafy Olympus; thrice with thunderbolt
incipiunt agitata tumescere et aridus altis
Their mountain-stair the Sire asunder smote.
montibus audiri fragor aut resonantia longe
Seventh after tenth is lucky both to set
litora misceri et nemorum increbrescere murmur.
The vine in earth, and take and tame the steer,
360
Iam sibi tum a curvis male temperat unda carinis,
And fix the leashes to the warp; the ninth
cum medio celeres revolant ex aequore mergi
To runagates is kinder, cross to thieves.
clamoremque ferunt ad litora, cumque marinae
Many the tasks that lightlier lend themselves
in sicco ludunt fulicae notasque paludes
In chilly night, or when the sun is young,
deserit atque altam supra volat ardea nubem.
And Dawn bedews the world. By night 'tis best
365
Saepe etiam stellas vento inpendente videbis
To reap light stubble, and parched fields by night;
praecipitis caelo labi noctisque per umbram
For nights the suppling moisture never fails.
flammarum longos a tergo albescere tractus;
And one will sit the long late watches out
saepe levem paleam et frondes volitare caducas
By winter fire-light, shaping with keen blade
aut summa nantis in aqua colludere plumas.
The torches to a point; his wife the while,
370
At Boreae de parte trucis cum fulminat et cum
Her tedious labour soothing with a song,
Eurique Zephyrique tonat domus: omnia plenis
Speeds the shrill comb along the warp, or else
rura natant fossis atque omnis navita ponto
With Vulcan's aid boils the sweet must-juice down,
humida vela legit. Numquam inprudentibus imber
And skims with leaves the quivering cauldron's wave.
obfuit: aut illum surgentem vallibus imis
But ruddy Ceres in mid heat is mown,
375
aëriae fugere grues, aut bucula caelum
And in mid heat the parched ears are bruised
suspiciens patulis captavit naribus auras,
Upon the floor; to plough strip, strip to sow;
aut arguta lacus circumvolitavit hirundo
Winter's the lazy time for husbandmen.
et veterem in limo ranae cecinere querelam.
In the cold season farmers wont to taste
Saepius et tectis penetralibus extulit ova
The increase of their toil, and yield themselves
380
angustum formica terens iter et bibit ingens
To mutual interchange of festal cheer.
arcus et e pastu decedens agmine magno
Boon winter bids them, and unbinds their cares,
corvorum increpuit densis exercitus alis.
As laden keels, when now the port they touch,
Iam variae pelagi volucres et quae Asia circum
And happy sailors crown the sterns with flowers.
dulcibus in stagnis rimantur prata Caystri,
Nathless then also time it is to strip
385
certatim largos umeris infundere rores:
Acorns from oaks, and berries from the bay,
nunc caput obiectare fretis, nunc currere in undas
Olives, and bleeding myrtles, then to set
et studio incassum videas gestire lavandi.
Snares for the crane, and meshes for the stag,
§1.388–1.514
Tum cornix plena pluviam vocat inproba voce
And hunt the long-eared hares, then pierce the doe
et sola in sicca secum spatiatur harena.
With whirl of hempen-thonged Balearic sling,
390
Ne nocturna quidem carpentes pensa puellae
While snow lies deep, and streams are drifting ice.
nescivere hiemem, testa cum ardente viderent
What need to tell of autumn's storms and stars,
scintillare oleum et putris concrescere fungos.
And wherefore men must watch, when now the day
Nec minus ex imbri soles et aperta serena
Grows shorter, and more soft the summer's heat?
prospicere et certis poteris cognoscere signis:
When Spring the rain-bringer comes rushing down,
395
nam neque tum stellis acies obtunsa videtur,
Or when the beards of harvest on the plain
nec fratris radiis obnoxia surgere Luna,
Bristle already, and the milky corn
tenuia nec lanae per caelum vellera ferri;
On its green stalk is swelling? Many a time,
non tepidum ad solem pinnas in litore pandunt
When now the farmer to his yellow fields
dilectae Thetidi alcyones, non ore solutos
The reaping-hind came bringing, even in act
400
inmundi meminere sues iactare maniplos.
To lop the brittle barley stems, have I
At nebulae magis ima petunt campoque recumbunt,
Seen all the windy legions clash in war
solis et occasum servans de culmine summo
Together, as to rend up far and wide
nequiquam seros exercet noctua cantus.
The heavy corn-crop from its lowest roots,
Adparet liquido sublimis in aëre Nisus
And toss it skyward: so might winter's flaw,
405
et pro purpureo poenas dat Scylla capillo:
Dark-eddying, whirl light stalks and flying straws.
quacumque illa levem fugiens secat aethera pinnis,
Oft too comes looming vast along the sky
ecce inimicus, atrox, magno stridore per auras
A march of waters; mustering from above,
insequitur Nisus; qua se fert Nisus ad auras,
The clouds roll up the tempest, heaped and grim
illa levem fugiens raptim secat aethera pinnis
With angry showers: down falls the height of heaven,
410
Tum liquidas corvi presso ter gutture voces
And with a great rain floods the smiling crops,
aut quater ingeminant, et saepe cubilibus altis
The oxen's labour: now the dikes fill fast,
nescio qua praeter solitum dulcedine laeti
And the void river-beds swell thunderously,
inter se in foliis strepitant; iuvat imbribus actis
And all the panting firths of Ocean boil.
progeniem parvam dulcisque revisere nidos;
The Sire himself in midnight of the clouds
415
haud equidem credo, quia sit divinitus illis
Wields with red hand the levin; through all her bulk
ingenium aut rerum fato prudentia maior;
Earth at the hurly quakes; the beasts are fled,
verum ubi tempestas et caeli mobilis humor
And mortal hearts of every kindred sunk
mutavere vias et Iuppiter uvidus austris
In cowering terror; he with flaming brand
denset, erant quae rara modo, et, quae densa, relaxat,
Athos, or Rhodope, or Ceraunian crags
420
vertuntur species animorum et pectora motus
Precipitates: then doubly raves the South
nunc alios, alios, dum nubila ventus agebat,
With shower on blinding shower, and woods and coasts
concipiunt: hinc ille avium concentus in agris
Wail fitfully beneath the mighty blast.
et laetae pecudes et ovantes gutture corvi.
This fearing, mark the months and Signs of heaven,
Si vero solem ad rapidum lunasque sequentis
Whither retires him Saturn's icy star,
425
ordine respicies, numquam te crastina fallet
And through what heavenly cycles wandereth
hora neque insidiis noctis capiere serenae.
The glowing orb Cyllenian. Before all
Luna, revertentis cum primum colligit ignis,
Worship the Gods, and to great Ceres pay
si nigrum obscuro conprenderit aera cornu,
Her yearly dues upon the happy sward
maxumus agricolis pelagoque parabitur imber;
With sacrifice, anigh the utmost end
430
at si virgineum suffuderit ore ruborem,
Of winter, and when Spring begins to smile.
ventus erit; vento semper rubet aurea Phoebe.
Then lambs are fat, and wines are mellowest then;
Sin ortu quarto, namque is certissimus auctor,
Then sleep is sweet, and dark the shadows fall
pura neque obtunsis per caelum cornibus ibit,
Upon the mountains. Let your rustic youth
totus et ille dies et qui nascentur ab illo
To Ceres do obeisance, one and all;
435
exactum ad mensem pluvia ventisque carebunt,
And for her pleasure thou mix honeycombs
votaque servati solvent in litore nautae
With milk and the ripe wine-god; thrice for luck
Glauco et Panopeae et Inoo Melicertae.
Around the young corn let the victim go,
Sol quoque et exoriens et cum se condet in undas
And all the choir, a joyful company,
signa dabit; solem certissima signa sequuntur,
Attend it, and with shouts bid Ceres come
440
et quae mane refert et quae surgentibus astris.
To be their house-mate; and let no man dare
Ille ubi nascentem maculis variaverit ortum
Put sickle to the ripened ears until,
conditus in nubem medioque refugerit orbe,
With woven oak his temples chapleted,
suspecti tibi sint imbres; namque urget ab alto
He foot the rugged dance and chant the lay.
arboribusque satisque Notus pecorique sinister.
Aye, and that these things we might win to know
445
Aut ubi sub lucem densa inter nubila sese
By certain tokens, heats, and showers, and winds
diversi rumpent radii aut ubi pallida surget
That bring the frost, the Sire of all himself
Tithoni croceum linquens Aurora cubile,
Ordained what warnings in her monthly round
heu male tum mitis defendet pampinus uvas:
The moon should give, what bodes the south wind's fall,
tam multa in tectis crepitans salit horrida grando.
What oft-repeated sights the herdsman seeing
450
Hoc etiam, emenso cum iam decedit Olympo,
Should keep his cattle closer to their stalls.
profuerit meminisse magis; nam saepe videmus
No sooner are the winds at point to rise,
ipsius in voltu varios errare colores:
Than either Ocean's firths begin to toss
caeruleus pluviam denuntiat, igneus Euros;
And swell, and a dry crackling sound is heard
sin maculae incipient rutilo inmiscerier igni,
Upon the heights, or one loud ferment booms
455
omnia tum pariter vento nimbisque videbis
The beach afar, and through the forest goes
fervere. Non illa quisquam me nocte per altum
A murmur multitudinous. By this
ire, neque a terra moneat convellere funem.
Scarce can the billow spare the curved keels,
At si, cum referetque diem condetque relatum,
When swift the sea-gulls from the middle main
lucidus orbis erit, frustra terrebere nimbis
Come winging, and their shrieks are shoreward borne,
460
et claro silvas cernes Aquilone moveri.
When ocean-loving cormorants on dry land
Denique quid vesper serus vehat, unde serenas
Besport them, and the hern, her marshy haunts
ventus agat nubes, quid cogitet humidus Auster,
Forsaking, mounts above the soaring cloud.
sol tibi signa dabit. Solem quis dicere falsum
Oft, too, when wind is toward, the stars thou'lt see
audeat. Ille etiam caecos instare tumultus
From heaven shoot headlong, and through murky night
465
saepe monet fraudemque et operta tumescere bella.
Long trails of fire white-glistening in their wake,
Ille etiam exstincto miseratus Caesare Romam,
Or light chaff flit in air with fallen leaves,
cum caput obscura nitidum ferrugine texit
Or feathers on the wave-top float and play.
inpiaque aeternam timuerunt saecula noctem.
But when from regions of the furious North
Tempore quamquam illo tellus quoque et aequora ponti
It lightens, and when thunder fills the halls
470
obscenaeque canes inportunaeque volucres
Of Eurus and of Zephyr, all the fields
signa dabant. Quotiens Cyclopum effervere in agros
With brimming dikes are flooded, and at sea
vidimus undantem ruptis fornacibus Aetnam
No mariner but furls his dripping sails.
flammarumque globos liquefactaque volvere saxa!
Never at unawares did shower annoy:
Armorum sonitum toto Germania caelo
Or, as it rises, the high-soaring cranes
475
audiit, insolitis tremuerunt motibus Alpes.
Flee to the vales before it, with face
Vox quoque per lucos volgo exaudita silentis
Upturned to heaven, the heifer snuffs the gale
ingens et simulacra modis pallentia miris
Through gaping nostrils, or about the meres
visa sub obscurum noctis, pecudesque locutae,
Shrill-twittering flits the swallow, and the frogs
infandum! sistunt amnes terraeque dehiscunt
Crouch in the mud and chant their dirge of old.
480
et maestum inlacrimat templis ebur aeraque sudant.
Oft, too, the ant from out her inmost cells,
Proluit insano contorquens vertice silvas
Fretting the narrow path, her eggs conveys;
fluviorum rex Eridanus camposque per omnis
Or the huge bow sucks moisture; or a host
cum stabulis armenta tulit. Nec tempore eodem
Of rooks from food returning in long line
tristibus aut extis fibrae adparere minaces
Clamour with jostling wings. Now mayst thou see
485
aut puteis manare cruor cessavit et altae
The various ocean-fowl and those that pry
per noctem resonare lupis ululantibus urbes.
Round Asian meads within thy fresher-pools,
Non alias caelo ceciderunt plura sereno
Cayster, as in eager rivalry,
fulgura nec diri totiens arsere cometae.
About their shoulders dash the plenteous spray,
ergo inter sese paribus concurrere telis
Now duck their head beneath the wave, now run
490
Romanas acies iterum videre Philippi;
Into the billows, for sheer idle joy
nec fuit indignum superis, bis sanguine nostro
Of their mad bathing-revel. Then the crow
Emathiam et latos Haemi pinguescere campos.
With full voice, good-for-naught, inviting rain,
Scilicet et tempus veniet, cum finibus illis
Stalks on the dry sand mateless and alone.
agricola incurvo terram molitus aratro
Nor e'en the maids, that card their nightly task,
495
exesa inveniet scabra robigine pila
Know not the storm-sign, when in blazing crock
aut gravibus rastris galeas pulsabit inanis
They see the lamp-oil sputtering with a growth
grandiaque effossis mirabitur ossa sepulchris.
Of mouldy snuff-clots.
Di patrii, Indigetes, et Romule Vestaque mater,
So too, after rain,
quae Tuscum Tiberim et Romana Palatia servas,
Sunshine and open skies thou mayst forecast,
500
hunc saltem everso iuvenem succurrere saeclo
And learn by tokens sure, for then nor dimmed
ne prohibete! Satis iam pridem sanguine nostro
Appear the stars' keen edges, nor the moon
Laomedonteae luimus periuria Troiae;
As borrowing of her brother's beams to rise,
iam pridem nobis caeli te regia, Caesar,
Nor fleecy films to float along the sky.
invidet atque hominum queritur curare triumphos;
Not to the sun's warmth then upon the shore
505
quippe ubi fas versum atque nefas: tot bella per orbem,
Do halcyons dear to Thetis ope their wings,
tam multae scelerum facies; non ullus aratro
Nor filthy swine take thought to toss on high
dignus honos, squalent abductis arva colonis
With scattering snout the straw-wisps. But the clouds
et curvae rigidum falces conflantur in ensem.
Seek more the vales, and rest upon the plain,
Hinc movet Euphrates, illinc Germania bellum;
And from the roof-top the night-owl for naught
510
vicinae ruptis inter se legibus urbes
Watching the sunset plies her 'lated song.
arma ferunt; saevit toto Mars inpius orbe;
Distinct in clearest air is Nisus seen
ut cum carceribus sese effudere quadrigae,
Towering, and Scylla for the purple lock
addunt in spatia et frustra retinacula tendens
Pays dear; for whereso, as she flies, her wings
fertur equis auriga neque audit currus habenas.
The light air winnow, lo! fierce, implacable,
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