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！
heaven Still set thee trembling for the ripened grapes。 Not so with
olives； small husbandry need they； Nor look for sickle bowed or biting
rake； When once they have gripped the soil； and borne the breeze。 Earth of
herself； with hooked fang laid bare； Yields moisture for the plants； and
heavy fruit； The ploughshare aiding； therewithal thou'lt rear The olive's
fatness well…beloved of Peace。 Apples； moreover； soon as first they feel
Their stems wax lusty； and have found their strength； To heaven climb
swiftly； self…impelled； nor crave Our succour。 All the grove meanwhile no
less With fruit is swelling； and the wild haunts of birds Blush with their
blood…red berries。 Cytisus Is good to browse on； the tall forest yields Pine…
torches； and the nightly fires are fed And shoot forth radiance。 And shall
men be loath To plant； nor lavish of their pains？ Why trace Things
mightier？ Willows even and lowly brooms To cattle their green leaves； to
shepherds shade； Fences for crops； and food for honey yield。 And blithe it
is Cytorus to behold Waving with box； Narycian groves of pitch； Oh！
blithe the sight of fields beholden not To rake or man's endeavour！ the
barren woods That crown the scalp of Caucasus； even these； Which
furious blasts for ever rive and rend； Yield various wealth； pine…logs that
serve for ships； Cedar and cypress for the homes of men； Hence； too； the
23
… Page 24…
29BC THE GEORGICS
farmers shave their wheel…spokes； hence Drums for their wains； and
curved boat…keels fit； Willows bear twigs enow； the elm…tree leaves；
Myrtle stout spear…shafts； war…tried cornel too； Yews into Ituraean bows
are bent： Nor do smooth lindens or lathe…polished box Shrink from man's
shaping and keen…furrowing steel； Light alder floats upon the boiling flood
Sped down the Padus； and bees house their swarms In rotten holm…oak's
hollow bark and bole。 What of like praise can Bacchus' gifts afford？ Nay；
Bacchus even to crime hath prompted； he The wine…infuriate Centaurs
quelled with death； Rhoetus and Pholus； and with mighty bowl Hylaeus
threatening high the Lapithae。 Oh！ all too happy tillers of the soil；
Could they but know their blessedness； for whom Far from the clash of
arms all…equal earth Pours from the ground herself their easy fare！ What
though no lofty palace portal…proud From all its chambers vomits forth a
tide Of morning courtiers； nor agape they gaze On pillars with fair
tortoise…shell inwrought； Gold…purfled robes； and bronze from Ephyre；
Nor is the whiteness of their wool distained With drugs Assyrian； nor clear
olive's use With cassia tainted； yet untroubled calm； A life that knows no
falsehood； rich enow With various treasures； yet broad…acred ease；
Grottoes and living lakes； yet Tempes cool； Lowing of kine； and sylvan
slumbers soft； They lack not； lawns and wild beasts' haunts are there； A
youth of labour patient； need…inured； Worship； and reverend sires： with
them from earth Departing justice her last footprints left。 Me before all
things may the Muses sweet； Whose rites I bear with mighty passion
pierced； Receive； and show the paths and stars of heaven； The sun's
eclipses and the labouring moons； From whence the earthquake； by what
power the seas Swell from their depths； and； every barrier burst； Sink back
upon themselves； why winter…suns So haste to dip 'neath ocean； or what
check The lingering night retards。 But if to these High realms of nature the
cold curdling blood About my heart bar access； then be fields And stream…
washed vales my solace； let me love Rivers and woods； inglorious。 Oh for
you Plains； and Spercheius； and Taygete； By Spartan maids o'er…revelled！
Oh； for one； Would set me in deep dells of Haemus cool； And shield me
with his boughs' o'ershadowing might！ Happy； who had the skill to
understand Nature's hid causes； and beneath his feet All terrors cast； and
24
… Page 25…
29BC THE GEORGICS
death's relentless doom； And the loud roar of greedy Acheron。 Blest too is
he who knows the rural gods； Pan； old Silvanus； and the sister…nymphs！
Him nor the rods of public power can bend； Nor kingly purple； nor fierce
feud that drives Brother to turn on brother； nor descent Of Dacian from the
Danube's leagued flood； Nor Rome's great State； nor kingdoms like to die；
Nor hath he grieved through pitying of the poor； Nor envied him that hath。
What fruit the boughs； And what the fields； of their own bounteous will
Have borne； he gathers； nor iron rule of laws； Nor maddened Forum have
his eyes beheld； Nor archives of the people。 Others vex The darksome
gulfs of Ocean with their oars； Or rush on steel： they press within the
courts And doors of princes； one with havoc falls Upon a city and its
hapless hearths； From gems to drink； on Tyrian rugs to lie； This hoards his
wealth and broods o'er buried gold； One at the rostra stares in blank amaze；
One gaping sits transported by the cheers； The answering cheers of plebs
and senate rolled Along the benches： bathed in brothers' blood Men revel；
and； all delights of hearth and home For exile changing； a new country
seek Beneath an alien sun。 The husbandman With hooked ploughshare
turns the soil； from hence Springs his year's labour； hence； too； he sustains
Country and cottage homestead； and from hence His herds of cattle and
deserving steers。 No respite！ still the year o'erflows with fruit； Or young of
kine； or Ceres' wheaten sheaf； With crops the furrow loads； and bursts the
barns。 Winter is come： in olive…mills they bruise The Sicyonian berry；
acorn…cheered The swine troop homeward； woods their arbutes yield； So；
various fruit sheds Autumn； and high up On sunny rocks the mellowing
vintage bakes。 Meanwhile about his lips sweet children cling； His chaste
house keeps its purity； his kine Drop milky udders； and on the lush green
grass Fat kids are striving； horn to butting horn。 Himself keeps holy days；
stretched o'er the sward； Where round the fire his comrades crown the
bowl； He pours libation； and thy name invokes； Lenaeus； and for the
herdsmen on an elm Sets up a mark for the swift javelin； they Strip their
tough bodies for the rustic sport。 Such life of yore the ancient Sabines led；
Such Remus and his brother： Etruria thus； Doubt not； to greatness grew；
and Rome became The fair world's fairest； and with circling wall Clasped
to her single breast the sevenfold hills。 Ay； ere the reign of Dicte's king； ere
25
… Page 26…
29BC THE GEORGICS
men； Waxed godless； banqueted on slaughtered bulls； Such life on earth
did golden Saturn lead。 Nor ear of man had heard the war…trump's blast；
Nor clang of sword on stubborn anvil set。 But lo！ a boundless space we
have travelled o'er； 'Tis time our steaming horses to unyoke。
26
… Page 27…
29BC THE GEORGICS
GEORGIC III
Thee too； great Pales； will I hymn； and thee； Amphrysian shepherd；
worthy to be sung； You； woods and waves Lycaean。 All themes beside；
Which else had charmed the vacant mind with song； Are now waxed
common。 Of harsh Eurystheus who The story knows not； or that praiseless
king Busiris； and his altars？ or by whom Hath not the tale been told of
Hylas young； Latonian Delos and Hippodame； And Pelops for his ivory
shoulder famed； Keen charioteer？ Needs must a path be tried； By which I
too may lift me from the dust； And float triumphant through the mouths of
men。 Yea； I shall be the first； so life endure； To lead the Muses with me； as
I pass To mine own country from the Aonian height； I； Mantua； first will
bring thee back the palms Of Idumaea； and raise a marble shrine On thy
green plain fast by the water…side； Where Mincius w