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knew no taming hand of husbandmen； To mark the plain or mete with
boundary…line… Even this was impious； for the common stock They
gathered； and the earth of her own will All things more freely； no man
bidding； bore。 He to black serpents gave their venom…bane； And bade the
wolf go prowl； and ocean toss； Shook from the leaves their honey； put fire
away； And curbed the random rivers running wine； That use by gradual
dint of thought on thought Might forge the various arts； with furrow's help
The corn…blade win； and strike out hidden fire From the flint's heart。 Then
first the streams were ware Of hollowed alder…hulls： the sailor then Their
names and numbers gave to star and star； Pleiads and Hyads； and Lycaon's
child Bright Arctos； how with nooses then was found To catch wild beasts；
and cozen them with lime； And hem with hounds the mighty forest…glades。
Soon one with hand…net scourges the broad stream； Probing its depths； one
drags his dripping toils Along the main； then iron's unbending might； And
shrieking saw…blade；… for the men of old With wedges wont to cleave the
splintering log；… Then divers arts arose； toil conquered all； Remorseless
toil； and poverty's shrewd push In times of hardship。 Ceres was the first
Set mortals on with tools to turn the sod； When now the awful groves 'gan
fail to bear Acorns and arbutes； and her wonted food Dodona gave no
more。 Soon； too； the corn Gat sorrow's increase； that an evil blight Ate up
the stalks； and thistle reared his spines An idler in the fields； the crops die
down； Upsprings instead a shaggy growth of burrs And caltrops； and amid
the corn…fields trim Unfruitful darnel and wild oats have sway。 Wherefore；
unless thou shalt with ceaseless rake The weeds pursue； with shouting
scare the birds； Prune with thy hook the dark field's matted shade； Pray
down the showers； all vainly thou shalt eye； Alack！ thy neighbour's
heaped…up harvest…mow； And in the greenwood from a shaken oak Seek
solace for thine hunger。 Now to tell The
sturdy rustics' weapons； what they are； Without which； neither can be
sown nor reared The fruits of harvest； first the bent plough's share And
heavy timber； and slow…lumbering wains Of the Eleusinian mother；
threshing…sleighs And drags； and harrows with their crushing weight； Then
the cheap wicker…ware of Celeus old； Hurdles of arbute； and thy mystic
fan； Iacchus； which； full tale； long ere the time Thou must with heed lay
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by； if thee await Not all unearned the country's crown divine。 While yet
within the woods； the elm is tamed And bowed with mighty force to form
the stock； And take the plough's curved shape； then nigh the root A pole
eight feet projecting； earth…boards twain； And share…beam with its double
back they fix。 For yoke is early hewn a linden light； And a tall beech for
handle； from behind To turn the car at lowest： then o'er the hearth The
wood they hang till the smoke knows it well。 Many the precepts of the
men of old I can recount thee； so thou start not back； And such slight cares
to learn not weary thee。 And this among the first： thy threshing…floor With
ponderous roller must be levelled smooth； And wrought by hand； and
fixed with binding chalk； Lest weeds arise； or dust a passage win Splitting
the surface； then a thousand plagues Make sport of it： oft builds the tiny
mouse Her home； and plants her granary； underground； Or burrow for their
bed the purblind moles； Or toad is found in hollows； and all the swarm Of
earth's unsightly creatures； or a huge Corn…heap the weevil plunders； and
the ant； Fearful of coming age and penury。 Mark too； what time the
walnut in the woods With ample bloom shall clothe her； and bow down
Her odorous branches； if the fruit prevail； Like store of grain will follow；
and there shall come A mighty winnowing…time with mighty heat； But if
the shade with wealth of leaves abound； Vainly your threshing…floor will
bruise the stalks Rich but in chaff。 Many myself have seen Steep； as they
sow； their pulse…seeds； drenching them With nitre and black oil…lees； that
the fruit Might swell within the treacherous pods； and they Make speed to
boil at howso small a fire。 Yet； culled with caution； proved with patient toil；
These have I seen degenerate； did not man Put forth his hand with power；
and year by year Choose out the largest。 So； by fate impelled； Speed all
things to the worse； and backward borne Glide from us； even as who with
struggling oars Up stream scarce pulls a shallop； if he chance His arms to
slacken； lo！ with headlong force The current sweeps him down the
hurrying tide。 Us too behoves Arcturus' sign observe； And the Kids'
seasons and the shining Snake； No less than those who o'er the windy
main Borne homeward tempt the Pontic； and the jaws Of oyster…rife
Abydos。 When the Scales Now poising fair the hours of sleep and day
Give half the world to sunshine； half to shade； Then urge your bulls； my
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29BC THE GEORGICS
masters； sow the plain Even to the verge of tameless winter's showers
With barley： then； too； time it is to hide Your flax in earth； and poppy；
Ceres' joy； Aye； more than time to bend above the plough； While earth； yet
dry； forbids not； and the clouds Are buoyant。 With the spring comes bean…
sowing； Thee； too； Lucerne； the crumbling furrows then Receive； and
millet's annual care returns； What time the white bull with his gilded horns
Opens the year； before whose threatening front； Routed the dog…star sinks。
But if it be For wheaten harvest and the hardy spelt； Thou tax the soil； to
corn…ears wholly given； Let Atlas' daughters hide them in the dawn； The
Cretan star； a crown of fire； depart； Or e'er the furrow's claim of seed thou
quit； Or haste thee to entrust the whole year's hope To earth that would not。
Many have begun Ere Maia's star be setting； these； I trow； Their looked…
for harvest fools with empty ears。 But if the vetch and common kidney…
bean Thou'rt fain to sow； nor scorn to make thy care Pelusiac lentil； no
uncertain sign Bootes' fall will send thee； then begin； Pursue thy sowing
till half the frosts be done。 Therefore it is the golden sun； his course
Into fixed parts dividing； rules his way Through the twelve constellations
of the world。 Five zones the heavens contain； whereof is one Aye red with
flashing sunlight； fervent aye From fire； on either side to left and right Are
traced the utmost twain； stiff with blue ice； And black with scowling
storm…clouds； and betwixt These and the midmost； other twain there lie；
By the Gods' grace to heart…sick mortals given； And a path cleft between
them； where might wheel On sloping plane the system of the Signs。 And
as toward Scythia and Rhipaean heights The world mounts upward；
likewise sinks it down Toward Libya and the south； this pole of ours Still
towering high； that other； 'neath their feet； By dark Styx frowned on； and
the abysmal shades。 Here glides the huge Snake forth with sinuous coils
'Twixt the two Bears and round them river…wise… The Bears that fear 'neath
Ocean's brim to dip。 There either； say they； reigns the eternal hush Of night
that knows no seasons； her black pall Thick…mantling fold on fold； or
thitherward From us returning Dawn brings back the day； And when the
first breath of his panting steeds On us the Orient flings； that hour with
them Red Vesper 'gins to trim his his 'lated fires。 Hence under doubtful
skies forebode we can The coming tempests； hence both harvest…day And
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29BC THE GEORGICS
seed…time； when to smite the treacherous main With driving oars； when
launch the fair…rigged fleet； Or in ripe hour to fell the forest…pine。 Hence；
too； not idly do we watch the stars… Their rising and their setting…and the
year； Four varying seasons to one law conformed。