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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
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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。
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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 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