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green plain fast by the water…side； Where Mincius winds more vast in lazy
coils； And rims his margent with the tender reed。 Amid my shrine shall
Caesar's godhead dwell。 To him will I； as victor； bravely dight In Tyrian
purple； drive along the bank A hundred four…horse cars。 All Greece for me；
Leaving Alpheus and Molorchus' grove； On foot shall strive； or with the
raw…hide glove； Whilst I； my head with stripped green olive crowned； Will
offer gifts。 Even 'tis present joy To lead the high processions to the fane；
And view the victims felled； or how the scene Sunders with shifted face；
and Britain's sons Inwoven thereon with those proud curtains rise。 Of gold
and massive ivory on the doors I'll trace the battle of the Gangarides； And
our Quirinus' conquering arms； and there Surging with war； and hugely
flowing； the Nile； And columns heaped on high with naval brass。 And
Asia's vanquished cities I will add； And quelled Niphates； and the Parthian
foe； Who trusts in flight and backward…volleying darts； And trophies torn
with twice triumphant hand From empires twain on ocean's either shore。
And breathing forms of Parian marble there Shall stand； the offspring of
Assaracus； And great names of the Jove…descended folk； And father Tros；
and Troy's first founder； lord Of Cynthus。 And accursed Envy there Shall
dread the Furies； and thy ruthless flood； Cocytus； and Ixion's twisted
snakes； And that vast wheel and ever…baffling stone。 Meanwhile the
Dryad…haunted woods and lawns Unsullied seek we； 'tis thy hard behest；
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Maecenas。 Without thee no lofty task My mind essays。 Up！ break the
sluggish bonds Of tarriance； with loud din Cithaeron calls； Steed…taming
Epidaurus； and thy hounds； Taygete； and hark！ the assenting groves With
peal on peal reverberate the roar。 Yet must I gird me to rehearse ere long
The fiery fights of Caesar； speed his name Through ages； countless as to
Caesar's self From the first birth…dawn of Tithonus old。 If eager for the
prized Olympian palm One breed the horse； or bullock strong to plough；
Be his prime care a shapely dam to choose。 Of kine grim…faced is
goodliest； with coarse head And burly neck； whose hanging dewlaps reach
From chin to knee； of boundless length her flank； Large every way she is；
large…footed even； With incurved horns and shaggy ears beneath。 Nor let
mislike me one with spots of white Conspicuous； or that spurns the yoke；
whose horn At times hath vice in't： liker bull…faced she； And tall…limbed
wholly； and with tip of tail Brushing her footsteps as she walks along。 The
age for Hymen's rites； Lucina's pangs； Ere ten years ended； after four
begins； Their residue of days nor apt to teem； Nor strong for ploughing。
Meantime； while youth's delight Survives within them； loose the males： be
first To speed thy herds of cattle to their loves； Breed stock with stock； and
keep the race supplied。 Ah！ life's best hours are ever first to fly From
hapless mortals； in their place succeed Disease and dolorous eld； till
travail sore And death unpitying sweep them from the scene。 Still will be
some； whose form thou fain wouldst change； Renew them still； with
yearly choice of young Preventing losses； lest too late thou rue。 Nor
steeds crave less selection； but on those Thou think'st to rear； the promise
of their line； From earliest youth thy chiefest pains bestow。 See from the
first yon high…bred colt afield； His lofty step； his limbs' elastic tread：
Dauntless he leads the herd； still first to try The threatening flood； or brave
the unknown bridge； By no vain noise affrighted； lofty…necked； With
clean…cut head； short belly； and stout back； His sprightly breast exuberant
with brawn。 Chestnut and grey are good； the worst…hued white And sorrel。
Then lo！ if arms are clashed afar； Bide still he cannot： ears stiffen and
limbs quake； His nostrils snort and roll out wreaths of fire。 Dense is his
mane； that when uplifted falls On his right shoulder； betwixt either loin
The spine runs double； his earth…dinting hoof Rings with the ponderous
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beat of solid horn。 Even such a horse was Cyllarus； reined and tamed By
Pollux of Amyclae； such the pair In Grecian song renowned； those steeds
of Mars； And famed Achilles' team： in such…like form Great Saturn's self
with mane flung loose on neck Sped at his wife's approach； and flying
filled The heights of Pelion with his piercing neigh。 Even him； when
sore disease or sluggish eld Now saps his strength； pen fast at home； and
spare His not inglorious age。 A horse grown old Slow kindling unto love in
vain prolongs The fruitless task； and； to the encounter come； As fire in
stubble blusters without strength； He rages idly。 Therefore mark thou first
Their age and mettle； other points anon； As breed and lineage； or what
pain was theirs To lose the race； what pride the palm to win。 Seest how the
chariots in mad rivalry Poured from the barrier grip the course and go；
When youthful hope is highest； and every heart Drained with each wild
pulsation？ How they ply The circling lash； and reaching forward let The
reins hang free！ Swift spins the glowing wheel； And now they stoop； and
now erect in air Seem borne through space and towering to the sky： No
stop； no stay； the dun sand whirls aloft； They reek with foam…flakes and
pursuing breath； So sweet is fame； so prized the victor's palm。 'Twas
Ericthonius first took heart to yoke Four horses to his car； and rode above
The whirling wheels to victory： but the ring And bridle…reins； mounted on
horses' backs； The Pelethronian Lapithae bequeathed； And taught the
knight in arms to spurn the ground； And arch the upgathered footsteps of
his pride。 Each task alike is arduous； and for each A horse young； fiery；
swift of foot； they seek； How oft so…e'er yon rival may have chased The
flying foe； or boast his native plain Epirus； or Mycenae's stubborn hold；
And trace his lineage back to Neptune's birth。 These points regarded； as
the time draws nigh； With instant zeal they lavish all their care To plump
with solid fat the chosen chief And designated husband of the herd： And
flowery herbs they cut； and serve him well With corn and running water；
that his strength Not fail him for that labour of delight； Nor puny colts
betray the feeble sire。 The herd itself of purpose they reduce To leanness；
and when love's sweet longing first Provokes them； they forbid the leafy
food； And pen them from the springs； and oft beside With running shake；
and tire them in the sun； What time the threshing…floor groans heavily
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With pounding of the corn…ears； and light chaff Is whirled on high to catch
the rising west。 This do they that the soil's prolific powers May not be
dulled by surfeiting； nor choke The sluggish furrows； but eagerly absorb
Their fill of love； and deeply entertain。 To care of sire the mother's care
succeeds。 When great with young they wander nigh their time； Let no man
suffer them to drag the yoke In heavy wains； nor leap across the way； Nor
scour the meads； nor swim the rushing flood。 In lonely lawns they feed
them； by the course Of brimming streams； where moss is； and the banks
With grass are greenest； where are sheltering caves； And far outstretched
the rock…flung shadow lies。 Round wooded Silarus and the ilex…bowers Of
green Alburnus swarms a winged pest… Its Roman name Asilus； by the
Greeks Termed Oestros… fierce it is； and harshly hums； Driving whole
herds in terror through the groves； Till heaven is madded by their
bellowing din； And Tanager's dry bed and forest…banks。 With this same
scourge did Juno wreak of old The terrors of her wrath； a plague devised
Against the heifer sprung from Inachus。 From this too thou； since in the
noontide heats 'Tis most persis