按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the while his meagre garden…herbs Among the thorns he planted； and all
round White lilies； vervains； and lean poppy set； In pride of spirit matched
the wealth of kings； And home returning not till night was late； With
unbought plenty heaped his board on high。 He was the first to cull the rose
in spring； He the ripe fruits in autumn； and ere yet Winter had ceased in
sullen ire to rive The rocks with frost； and with her icy bit Curb in the
running waters； there was he Plucking the rathe faint hyacinth； while he
chid Summer's slow footsteps and the lagging West。 Therefore he too with
earliest brooding bees And their full swarms o'erflowed； and first was he
To press the bubbling honey from the comb； Lime…trees were his； and
many a branching pine； And all the fruits wherewith in early bloom The
orchard…tree had clothed her； in full tale Hung there； by mellowing autumn
perfected。 He too transplanted tall…grown elms a…row； Time…toughened
pear； thorns bursting with the plum And plane now yielding serviceable
shade For dry lips to drink under： but these things； Shut off by rigorous
limits； I pass by； And leave for others to sing after me。 Come； then； I
will unfold the natural powers Great Jove himself upon the bees bestowed；
The boon for which； led by the shrill sweet strains Of the Curetes and their
clashing brass； They fed the King of heaven in Dicte's cave。 Alone of all
things they receive and hold Community of offspring； and they house
Together in one city； and beneath The shelter of majestic laws they live；
And they alone fixed home and country know； And in the summer； warned
of coming cold； Make proof of toil； and for the general store Hoard up
their gathered harvesting。 For some Watch o'er the victualling of the hive；
and these By settled order ply their tasks afield； And some within the
confines of their home Plant firm the comb's first layer； Narcissus' tear；
And sticky gum oozed from the bark of trees； Then set the clinging wax to
hang therefrom。 Others the while lead forth the full…grown young； Their
country's hope； and others press and pack The thrice repured honey； and
stretch their cells To bursting with the clear…strained nectar sweet。 Some；
43
… Page 44…
29BC THE GEORGICS
too； the wardship of the gates befalls； Who watch in turn for showers and
cloudy skies； Or ease returning labourers of their load； Or form a band and
from their precincts drive The drones； a lazy herd。 How glows the work！
How sweet the honey smells of perfumed thyme Like the Cyclopes； when
in haste they forge From the slow…yielding ore the thunderbolts； Some
from the bull's…hide bellows in and out Let the blasts drive； some dip i' the
water…trough The sputtering metal： with the anvil's weight Groans Etna：
they alternately in time With giant strength uplift their sinewy arms； Or
twist the iron with the forceps' grip… Not otherwise； to measure small with
great； The love of getting planted in their breasts Goads on the bees； that
haunt old Cecrops' heights； Each in his sphere to labour。 The old have
charge To keep the town； and build the walled combs； And mould the
cunning chambers； but the youth； Their tired legs packed with thyme；
come labouring home Belated； for afar they range to feed On arbutes and
the grey…green willow…leaves； And cassia and the crocus blushing red；
Glue…yielding limes； and hyacinths dusky…eyed。 One hour for rest have all；
and one for toil： With dawn they hurry from the gates… no room For
loiterers there： and once again； when even Now bids them quit their
pasturing on the plain； Then homeward make they； then refresh their
strength： A hum arises： hark！ they buzz and buzz About the doors and
threshold； till at length Safe laid to rest they hush them for the night； And
welcome slumber laps their weary limbs。 But from the homestead not too
far they fare； When showers hang like to fall； nor； east winds nigh；
Confide in heaven； but 'neath the city walls Safe…circling fetch them water；
or essay Brief out…goings； and oft weigh…up tiny stones； As light craft
ballast in the tossing tide； Wherewith they poise them through the cloudy
vast。 This law of life； too； by the bees obeyed； Will move thy wonder； that
nor sex with sex Yoke they in marriage； nor yield their limbs to love； Nor
know the pangs of labour； but alone From leaves and honied herbs； the
mothers； each； Gather their offspring in their mouths； alone Supply new
kings and pigmy commonwealth； And their old court and waxen realm
repair。 Oft； too； while wandering； against jagged stones Their wings they
fray； and 'neath the burden yield Their liberal lives： so deep their love of
flowers； So glorious deem they honey's proud acquist。 Therefore； though
44
… Page 45…
29BC THE GEORGICS
each a life of narrow span； Ne'er stretched to summers more than seven；
befalls； Yet deathless doth the race endure； and still Perennial stands the
fortune of their line； From grandsire unto grandsire backward told。
Moreover； not Aegyptus； nor the realm Of boundless Lydia； no； nor
Parthia's hordes； Nor Median Hydaspes； to their king Do such obeisance：
lives the king unscathed； One will inspires the million： is he dead； Snapt is
the bond of fealty； they themselves Ravage their toil…wrought honey； and
rend amain Their own comb's waxen trellis。 He is the lord Of all their
labour； him with awful eye They reverence； and with murmuring throngs
surround； In crowds attend； oft shoulder him on high； Or with their bodies
shield him in the fight； And seek through showering wounds a glorious
death。 Led by these tokens； and with such traits to guide； Some say that
unto bees a share is given Of the Divine Intelligence； and to drink Pure
draughts of ether； for God permeates all… Earth； and wide ocean； and the
vault of heaven… From whom flocks； herds； men； beasts of every kind；
Draw each at birth the fine essential flame； Yea； and that all things hence
to Him return； Brought back by dissolution； nor can death Find place： but；
each into his starry rank； Alive they soar； and mount the heights of heaven。
If now their narrow home thou wouldst unseal； And broach the treasures
of the honey…house； With draught of water first toment thy lips； And
spread before thee fumes of trailing smoke。 Twice is the teeming produce
gathered in； Twofold their time of harvest year by year； Once when
Taygete the Pleiad uplifts Her comely forehead for the earth to see； With
foot of scorn spurning the ocean…streams； Once when in gloom she flies
the watery Fish； And dips from heaven into the wintry wave。 Unbounded
then their wrath； if hurt； they breathe Venom into their bite； cleave to the
veins And let the sting lie buried； and leave their lives Behind them in the
wound。 But if you dread Too rigorous a winter； and would fain Temper the
coming time； and their bruised hearts And broken estate to pity move thy
soul； Yet who would fear to fumigate with thyme； Or cut the empty wax
away？ for oft Into their comb the newt has gnawed unseen； And the light…
loathing beetles crammed their bed； And he that sits at others' board to
feast； The do…naught drone； or 'gainst the unequal foe Swoops the fierce
hornet； or the moth's fell tribe； Or spider； victim of Minerva's spite；
45
… Page 46…
29BC THE GEORGICS
Athwart the doorway hangs her swaying net。 The more impoverished they；
the keenlier all To mend the fallen fortunes of their race Will nerve them；
fill the cells up； tier on tier； And weave their granaries from the rifled
flowers。 Now； seeing that life doth even to bee…folk bring Our human
chances； if in dire disease Their bodies' strength should languish… which
anon By no uncertain tokens may be told… Forthwith the sick change hue；
grim leanness mars Their visage； then from out the cells they bear Forms
reft of light； and lead the mournful