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Against the heifer sprung from Inachus。 From this too thou； since in the
noontide heats 'Tis most persistent； fend thy teeming herds； And feed them
when the sun is newly risen； Or the first stars are ushering in the night。
But； yeaning ended； all their tender care Is to the calves transferred； at
once with marks They brand them； both to designate their race； And which
to rear for breeding； or devote As altar…victims； or to cleave the ground
And into ridges tear and turn the sod。 The rest along the greensward graze
at will。 Those that to rustic uses thou wouldst mould； As calves encourage
and take steps to tame； While pliant wills and plastic youth allow。 And first
of slender withies round the throat Loose collars hang； then when their
free…born necks Are used to service； with the self…same bands Yoke them
in pairs； and steer by steer compel Keep pace together。 And time it is that
oft Unfreighted wheels be drawn along the ground Behind them； as to dint
the surface…dust； Then let the beechen axle strain and creak 'Neath some
stout burden； whilst a brazen pole Drags on the wheels made fast thereto。
Meanwhile For their unbroken youth not grass alone； Nor meagre willow…
leaves and marish…sedge； But corn…ears with thy hand pluck from the crops。
Nor shall the brood…kine； as of yore； for thee Brim high the snowy
milking…pail； but spend Their udders' fullness on their own sweet young。
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But if fierce squadrons and the ranks of war Delight thee rather； or on
wheels to glide At Pisa； with Alpheus fleeting by； And in the grove of
Jupiter urge on The flying chariot； be your steed's first task To face the
warrior's armed rage； and brook The trumpet； and long roar of rumbling
wheels； And clink of chiming bridles in the stall； Then more and more to
love his master's voice Caressing； or loud hand that claps his neck。 Ay；
thus far let him learn to dare； when first Weaned from his mother； and his
mouth at times Yield to the supple halter； even while yet Weak； tottering…
limbed； and ignorant of life。 But； three years ended； when the fourth
arrives； Now let him tarry not to run the ring With rhythmic hoof…beat
echoing； and now learn Alternately to curve each bending leg； And be like
one that struggleth； then at last Challenge the winds to race him； and at
speed Launched through the open； like a reinless thing； Scarce print his
footsteps on the surface…sand。 As when with power from Hyperborean
climes The north wind stoops； and scatters from his path Dry clouds and
storms of Scythia； the tall corn And rippling plains 'gin shiver with light
gusts； A sound is heard among the forest…tops； Long waves come racing
shoreward： fast he flies； With instant pinion sweeping earth and main。
A steed like this or on the mighty course Of Elis at the goal will sweat； and
shower Red foam…flakes from his mouth； or； kindlier task； With patient
neck support the Belgian car。 Then； broken at last； let swell their burly
frame With fattening corn…mash； for； unbroke； they will With pride wax
wanton； and； when caught； refuse Tough lash to brook or jagged curb obey。
But no device so fortifies their power As love's blind stings of passion to
forefend； Whether on steed or steer thy choice be set。 Ay； therefore 'tis they
banish bulls afar To solitary pastures； or behind Some mountain…barrier； or
broad streams beyond； Or else in plenteous stalls pen fast at home。 For；
even through sight of her； the female wastes His strength with
smouldering fire； till he forget Both grass and woodland。 She indeed full
oft With her sweet charms can lovers proud compel To battle for the
conquest horn to horn。 In Sila's forest feeds the heifer fair； While each on
each the furious rivals run； Wound follows wound； the black blood laves
their limbs； Horns push and strive against opposing horns； With mighty
groaning； all the forest…side And far Olympus bellow back the roar。 Nor
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wont the champions in one stall to couch； But he that's worsted hies him to
strange climes Far off； an exile； moaning much the shame； The blows of
that proud conqueror； then love's loss Avenged not； with one glance
toward the byre； His ancient royalties behind him lie。 So with all heed his
strength he practiseth； And nightlong makes the hard bare stones his bed；
And feeds on prickly leaf and pointed rush； And proves himself； and
butting at a tree Learns to fling wrath into his horns； with blows Provokes
the air； and scattering clouds of sand Makes prelude of the battle；
afterward； With strength repaired and gathered might breaks camp； And
hurls him headlong on the unthinking foe： As in mid ocean when a wave
far of Begins to whiten； mustering from the main Its rounded breast； and；
onward rolled to land Falls with prodigious roar among the rocks； Huge as
a very mountain： but the depths Upseethe in swirling eddies； and disgorge
The murky sand…lees from their sunken bed。 Nay； every race on earth
of men； and beasts； And ocean…folk； and flocks； and painted birds； Rush to
the raging fire： love sways them all。 Never than then more fiercely o'er the
plain Prowls heedless of her whelps the lioness： Nor monstrous bears such
wide…spread havoc…doom Deal through the forests； then the boar is fierce；
Most deadly then the tigress： then； alack！ Ill roaming is it on Libya's
lonely plains。 Mark you what shivering thrills the horse's frame； If but a
waft the well…known gust conveys？ Nor curb can check them then； nor
lash severe； Nor rocks and caverned crags； nor barrier…floods； That rend
and whirl and wash the hills away。 Then speeds amain the great Sabellian
boar； His tushes whets； with forefoot tears the ground； Rubs 'gainst a tree
his flanks； and to and fro Hardens each wallowing shoulder to the wound。
What of the youth； when love's relentless might Stirs the fierce fire within
his veins？ Behold！ In blindest midnight how he swims the gulf Convulsed
with bursting storm…clouds！ Over him Heaven's huge gate thunders； the
rock…shattered main Utters a warning cry； nor parents' tears Can backward
call him； nor the maid he loves； Too soon to die on his untimely pyre。
What of the spotted ounce to Bacchus dear； Or warlike wolf…kin or the
breed of dogs？ Why tell how timorous stags the battle join？ O'er all
conspicuous is the rage of mares； By Venus' self inspired of old； what time
The Potnian four with rending jaws devoured The limbs of Glaucus。 Love…
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constrained they roam Past Gargarus； past the loud Ascanian flood； They
climb the mountains； and the torrents swim； And when their eager marrow
first conceives The fire； in Spring…tide chiefly； for with Spring Warmth
doth their frames revisit； then they stand All facing westward on the rocky
heights； And of the gentle breezes take their fill； And oft unmated；
marvellous to tell； But of the wind impregnate； far and wide O'er craggy
height and lowly vale they scud； Not toward thy rising； Eurus； or the sun's；
But westward and north…west； or whence up…springs Black Auster； that
glooms heaven with rainy cold。 Hence from their groin slow drips a
poisonous juice； By shepherds truly named hippomanes； Hippomanes； fell
stepdames oft have culled； And mixed with herbs and spells of baneful
bode。 Fast flies meanwhile the irreparable hour； As point to point our
charmed round we trace。 Enough of herds。 This second task remains； The
wool…clad flocks and shaggy goats to treat。 Here lies a labour； hence for
glory look； Brave husbandmen。 Nor doubtfully know How hard it is for
words to triumph here； And shed their lustre on a theme so slight： But I am
caught by ravishing desire Above the lone Parnassian steep； I love To walk
the heights； from whence no earlier track Slopes gently downward t