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GEORGIC IV
Of air…born honey； gift of heaven； I now Take up the tale。 Upon this
theme no less Look thou； Maecenas； with indulgent eye。 A marvellous
display of puny powers； High…hearted chiefs； a nation's history； Its traits；
its bent； its battles and its clans； All； each； shall pass before you； while I
sing。 Slight though the poet's theme； not slight the praise； So frown not
heaven； and Phoebus hear his call。 First find your bees a settled sure
abode； Where neither winds can enter （winds blow back The foragers with
food returning home） Nor sheep and butting kids tread down the flowers；
Nor heifer wandering wide upon the plain Dash off the dew； and bruise the
springing blades。 Let the gay lizard too keep far aloof His scale…clad body
from their honied stalls； And the bee…eater； and what birds beside； And
Procne smirched with blood upon the breast From her own murderous
hands。 For these roam wide Wasting all substance； or the bees themselves
Strike flying； and in their beaks bear home； to glut Those savage nestlings
with the dainty prey。 But let clear springs and moss…green pools be near；
And through the grass a streamlet hurrying run； Some palm…tree o'er the
porch extend its shade； Or huge…grown oleaster； that in Spring； Their own
sweet Spring…tide； when the new…made chiefs Lead forth the young
swarms； and； escaped their comb； The colony comes forth to sport and
play； The neighbouring bank may lure them from the heat； Or bough
befriend with hospitable shade。 O'er the mid…waters； whether swift or still；
Cast willow…branches and big stones enow； Bridge after bridge； where
they may footing find And spread their wide wings to the summer sun； If
haply Eurus； swooping as they pause； Have dashed with spray or plunged
them in the deep。 And let green cassias and far…scented thymes； And
savory with its heavy…laden breath Bloom round about； and violet…beds
hard by Sip sweetness from the fertilizing springs。 For the hive's self； or
stitched of hollow bark； Or from tough osier woven； let the doors Be strait
of entrance； for stiff winter's cold Congeals the honey； and heat resolves
and thaws； To bees alike disastrous； not for naught So haste they to cement
the tiny pores That pierce their walls； and fill the crevices With pollen
from the flowers； and glean and keep To this same end the glue； that binds
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more fast Than bird…lime or the pitch from Ida's pines。 Oft too in burrowed
holes； if fame be true； They make their cosy subterranean home； And
deeply lodged in hollow rocks are found； Or in the cavern of an age…hewn
tree。 Thou not the less smear round their crannied cribs With warm smooth
mud…coat； and strew leaves above； But near their home let neither yew…
tree grow； Nor reddening crabs be roasted； and mistrust Deep marish…
ground and mire with noisome smell； Or where the hollow rocks sonorous
ring； And the word spoken buffets and rebounds。 What more？ When
now the golden sun has put Winter to headlong flight beneath the world；
And oped the doors of heaven with summer ray； Forthwith they roam the
glades and forests o'er； Rifle the painted flowers； or sip the streams； Light…
hovering on the surface。 Hence it is With some sweet rapture； that we
know not of； Their little ones they foster； hence with skill Work out new
wax or clinging honey mould。 So when the cage…escaped hosts you see
Float heavenward through the hot clear air； until You marvel at yon dusky
cloud that spreads And lengthens on the wind； then mark them well； For
then 'tis ever the fresh springs they seek And bowery shelter： hither must
you bring The savoury sweets I bid； and sprinkle them； Bruised balsam
and the wax…flower's lowly weed； And wake and shake the tinkling
cymbals heard By the great Mother： on the anointed spots Themselves will
settle； and in wonted wise Seek of themselves the cradle's inmost depth。
But if to battle they have hied them forth… For oft 'twixt king and king with
uproar dire Fierce feud arises； and at once from far You may discern what
passion sways the mob； And how their hearts are throbbing for the strife；
Hark！ the hoarse brazen note that warriors know Chides on the loiterers；
and the ear may catch A sound that mocks the war…trump's broken blasts；
Then in hot haste they muster； then flash wings； Sharpen their pointed
beaks and knit their thews； And round the king； even to his royal tent；
Throng rallying； and with shouts defy the foe。 So； when a dry Spring and
clear space is given； Forth from the gates they burst； they clash on high； A
din arises； they are heaped and rolled Into one mighty mass； and headlong
fall； Not denselier hail through heaven； nor pelting so Rains from the
shaken oak its acorn…shower。 Conspicuous by their wings the chiefs
themselves Press through the heart of battle； and display A giant's spirit in
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each pigmy frame； Steadfast no inch to yield till these or those The victor's
ponderous arm has turned to flight。 Such fiery passions and such fierce
assaults A little sprinkled dust controls and quells。 And now； both leaders
from the field recalled； Who hath the worser seeming； do to death； Lest
royal waste wax burdensome； but let His better lord it on the empty throne。
One with gold…burnished flakes will shine like fire； For twofold are their
kinds； the nobler he； Of peerless front and lit with flashing scales； That
other； from neglect and squalor foul； Drags slow a cumbrous belly。 As
with kings； So too with people； diverse is their mould； Some rough and
loathly； as when the wayfarer Scapes from a whirl of dust； and scorched
with heat Spits forth the dry grit from his parched mouth： The others shine
forth and flash with lightning…gleam； Their backs all blazoned with bright
drops of gold Symmetric： this the likelier breed； from these； When heaven
brings round the season； thou shalt strain Sweet honey； nor yet so sweet as
passing clear； And mellowing on the tongue the wine…god's fire。 But
when the swarms fly aimlessly abroad； Disport themselves in heaven and
spurn their cells； Leaving the hive unwarmed； from such vain play Must
you refrain their volatile desires； Nor hard the task： tear off the monarchs'
wings； While these prove loiterers； none beside will dare Mount heaven；
or pluck the standards from the camp。 Let gardens with the breath of
saffron flowers Allure them； and the lord of Hellespont； Priapus； wielder
of the willow…scythe； Safe in his keeping hold from birds and thieves。 And
let the man to whom such cares are dear Himself bring thyme and pine…
trees from the heights； And strew them in broad belts about their home； No
hand but his the blistering task should ply； Plant the young slips； or shed
the genial showers。 And I myself； were I not even now Furling my sails；
and； nigh the journey's end； Eager to turn my vessel's prow to shore；
Perchance would sing what careful husbandry Makes the trim garden
smile； of Paestum too； Whose roses bloom and fade and bloom again；
How endives glory in the streams they drink； And green banks in their
parsley； and how the gourd Twists through the grass and rounds him to
paunch； Nor of Narcissus had my lips been dumb； That loiterer of the
flowers； nor supple…stemmed Acanthus； with the praise of ivies pale； And
myrtles clinging to the shores they love。 For 'neath the shade of tall
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Oebalia's towers； Where dark Galaesus laves the yellowing fields； An old
man once I mind me to have seen… From Corycus he came… to whom had
fallen Some few poor acres of neglected land； And they nor fruitful' neath
the plodding steer； Meet for the grazing herd； nor good for vines。 Yet he；
the while his meagre garden…herbs Among the thorns he