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29BC THE GEORGICS
29BC THE GEORGICS
by Virgil
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29BC THE GEORGICS
GEORGIC I
What makes the cornfield smile； beneath what star Maecenas； it is
meet to turn the sod Or marry elm with vine； how tend the steer； What
pains for cattle…keeping； or what proof Of patient trial serves for thrifty
bees；… Such are my themes。 O universal
lights Most glorious！ ye that lead the gliding year Along the sky； Liber and
Ceres mild； If by your bounty holpen earth once changed Chaonian acorn
for the plump wheat…ear； And mingled with the grape； your new…found gift；
The draughts of Achelous； and ye Fauns To rustics ever kind； come foot it；
Fauns And Dryad…maids together； your gifts I sing。 And thou； for whose
delight the war…horse first Sprang from earth's womb at thy great trident's
stroke； Neptune； and haunter of the groves； for whom Three hundred
snow…white heifers browse the brakes； The fertile brakes of Ceos； and
clothed in power； Thy native forest and Lycean lawns； Pan； shepherd…god；
forsaking； as the love Of thine own Maenalus constrains thee； hear And
help； O lord of Tegea！ And thou； too； Minerva； from whose hand the olive
sprung； And boy…discoverer of the curved plough； And； bearing a young
cypress root…uptorn； Silvanus； and Gods all and Goddesses； Who make the
fields your care； both ye who nurse The tender unsown increase； and from
heaven Shed on man's sowing the riches of your rain： And thou； even thou；
of whom we know not yet What mansion of the skies shall hold thee soon；
Whether to watch o'er cities be thy will； Great Caesar； and to take the earth
in charge； That so the mighty world may welcome thee Lord of her
increase； master of her times； Binding thy mother's myrtle round thy brow；
Or as the boundless ocean's God thou come； Sole dread of seamen； till far
Thule bow Before thee； and Tethys win thee to her son With all her waves
for dower； or as a star Lend thy fresh beams our lagging months to cheer；
Where 'twixt the Maid and those pursuing Claws A space is opening； see！
red Scorpio's self His arms draws in； yea； and hath left thee more Than thy
full meed of heaven： be what thou wilt… For neither Tartarus hopes to call
thee king； Nor may so dire a lust of sovereignty E'er light upon thee；
howso Greece admire Elysium's fields； and Proserpine not heed Her
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29BC THE GEORGICS
mother's voice entreating to return… Vouchsafe a prosperous voyage； and
smile on this My bold endeavour； and pitying； even as I； These poor way…
wildered swains； at once begin； Grow timely used unto the voice of prayer。
In early spring…tide； when the icy drip Melts from the mountains hoar； and
Zephyr's breath Unbinds the crumbling clod； even then 'tis time； Press
deep your plough behind the groaning ox； And teach the furrow…burnished
share to shine。 That land the craving farmer's prayer fulfils； Which twice
the sunshine； twice the frost has felt； Ay； that's the land whose boundless
harvest…crops Burst； see！ the barns。 But ere
our metal cleave An unknown surface； heed we to forelearn The winds and
varying temper of the sky； The lineal tilth and habits of the spot； What
every region yields； and what denies。 Here blithelier springs the corn； and
here the grape； There earth is green with tender growth of trees And grass
unbidden。 See how from Tmolus comes The saffron's fragrance； ivory
from Ind； From Saba's weakling sons their frankincense； Iron from the
naked Chalybs； castor rank From Pontus； from Epirus the prize…palms O'
the mares of Elis。 Such the eternal bond And
such the laws by Nature's hand imposed On clime and clime； e'er since the
primal dawn When old Deucalion on the unpeopled earth Cast stones；
whence men； a flinty race； were reared。 Up then！ if fat the soil； let sturdy
bulls Upturn it from the year's first opening months； And let the clods lie
bare till baked to dust By the ripe suns of summer； but if the earth Less
fruitful just ere Arcturus rise With shallower trench uptilt it… 'twill suffice；
There； lest weeds choke the crop's luxuriance； here； Lest the scant
moisture fail the barren sand。 Then thou shalt suffer in alternate years
The new…reaped fields to rest； and on the plain A crust of sloth to harden；
or； when stars Are changed in heaven； there sow the golden grain Where
erst； luxuriant with its quivering pod； Pulse； or the slender vetch…crop；
thou hast cleared； And lupin sour； whose brittle stalks arise； A hurtling
forest。 For the plain is parched By flax…crop； parched by oats； by poppies
parched In Lethe…slumber drenched。 Nathless by change The travailing
earth is lightened； but stint not With refuse rich to soak the thirsty soil；
And shower foul ashes o'er the exhausted fields。 Thus by rotation like
repose is gained； Nor earth meanwhile uneared and thankless left。 Oft； too；
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'twill boot to fire the naked fields； And the light stubble burn with
crackling flames； Whether that earth therefrom some hidden strength And
fattening food derives； or that the fire Bakes every blemish out； and sweats
away Each useless humour； or that the heat unlocks New passages and
secret pores； whereby Their life…juice to the tender blades may win； Or
that it hardens more and helps to bind The gaping veins； lest penetrating
showers； Or fierce sun's ravening might； or searching blast Of the keen
north should sear them。 Well； I wot； He serves the fields who with his
harrow breaks The sluggish clods； and hurdles osier…twined Hales o'er
them； from the far Olympian height Him golden Ceres not in vain regards；
And he； who having ploughed the fallow plain And heaved its furrowy
ridges； turns once more Cross…wise his shattering share； with stroke on
stroke The earth assails； and makes the field his thrall。 Pray for wet
summers and for winters fine； Ye husbandmen； in winter's dust the crops
Exceedingly rejoice； the field hath joy； No tilth makes Mysia lift her head
so high； Nor Gargarus his own harvests so admire。 Why tell of him； who；
having launched his seed； Sets on for close encounter； and rakes smooth
The dry dust hillocks； then on the tender corn Lets in the flood； whose
waters follow fain； And when the parched field quivers； and all the blades
Are dying； from the brow of its hill…bed； See！ see！ he lures the runnel；
down it falls； Waking hoarse murmurs o'er the polished stones； And with
its bubblings slakes the thirsty fields？ Or why of him； who lest the heavy
ears O'erweigh the stalk； while yet in tender blade Feeds down the crop's
luxuriance； when its growth First tops the furrows？ Why of him who
drains The marsh…land's gathered ooze through soaking sand； Chiefly what
time in treacherous moons a stream Goes out in spate； and with its coat of
slime Holds all the country； whence the hollow dykes Sweat steaming
vapour？ But no whit the more For all
expedients tried and travail borne By man and beast in turning oft the soil；
Do greedy goose and Strymon…haunting cranes And succory's bitter fibres
cease to harm； Or shade not injure。 The great Sire himself No easy road to
husbandry assigned； And first was he by human skill to rouse The
slumbering glebe； whetting the minds of men With care on care； nor
suffering realm of his In drowsy sloth to stagnate。 Before Jove Fields
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29BC THE GEORGICS
knew no taming hand of husbandmen； To mark the plain or mete with
boundary…line…