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Oft under long…neglected cribs； or lurks A viper ill to handle； that hath fled
The light in terror； or some snake； that wont 'Neath shade and sheltering
roof to creep； and shower Its bane among the cattle； hugs the ground； Fell
scourge of kine。 Shepherd； seize stakes； seize stones！ And as he rears
defiance； and puffs out A hissing throat； down with him！ see how low That
cowering crest is vailed in flight； the while； His midmost coils and final
sweep of tail Relaxing； the last fold drags lingering spires。 Then that vile
worm that in Calabrian glades Uprears his breast； and wreathes a scaly
back； His length of belly pied with mighty spots… While from their founts
gush any streams； while yet With showers of Spring and rainy south…winds
earth Is moistened； lo！ he haunts the pools； and here Housed in the banks；
with fish and chattering frogs Crams the black void of his insatiate maw。
Soon as the fens are parched； and earth with heat Is gaping； forth he darts
into the dry； Rolls eyes of fire and rages through the fields； Furious from
thirst and by the drought dismayed。 Me list not then beneath the open
heaven To snatch soft slumber； nor on forest…ridge Lie stretched along the
grass； when； slipped his slough； To glittering youth transformed he winds
his spires； And eggs or younglings leaving in his lair； Towers sunward；
lightening with three…forked tongue。 Of sickness； too； the causes and
the signs I'll teach thee。 Loathly scab assails the sheep； When chilly
showers have probed them to the quick； And winter stark with hoar…frost；
or when sweat Unpurged cleaves to them after shearing done； And rough
thorns rend their bodies。 Hence it is Shepherds their whole flock steep in
running streams； While； plunged beneath the flood； with drenched fell；
The ram； launched free； goes drifting down the tide。 Else； having shorn；
they smear their bodies o'er With acrid oil…lees； and mix silver…scum And
native sulphur and Idaean pitch； Wax mollified with ointment； and
therewith Sea…leek； strong hellebores； bitumen black。 Yet ne'er doth
kindlier fortune crown his toil； Than if with blade of iron a man dare lance
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The ulcer's mouth ope： for the taint is fed And quickened by confinement；
while the swain His hand of healing from the wound withholds； Or sits for
happier signs imploring heaven。 Aye； and when inward to the bleater's
bones The pain hath sunk and rages； and their limbs By thirsty fever are
consumed； 'tis good To draw the enkindled heat therefrom； and pierce
Within the hoof…clefts a blood…bounding vein。 Of tribes Bisaltic such the
wonted use； And keen Gelonian； when to Rhodope He flies； or Getic
desert； and quaffs milk With horse…blood curdled。
Seest one far afield Oft to the shade's mild covert win； or pull The grass
tops listlessly； or hindmost lag； Or； browsing； cast her down amid the plain；
At night retire belated and alone； With quick knife check the mischief； ere
it creep With dire contagion through the unwary herd。 Less thick and fast
the whirlwind scours the main With tempest in its wake； than swarm the
plagues Of cattle； nor seize they single lives alone； But sudden clear whole
feeding grounds； the flock With all its promise； and extirpate the breed。
Well would he trow it who； so long after； still High Alps and Noric hill…
forts should behold； And Iapydian Timavus' fields； Ay； still behold the
shepherds' realms a waste； And far and wide the lawns untenanted。
Here from distempered heavens erewhile arose A piteous season； with the
full fierce heat Of autumn glowed； and cattle…kindreds all And all wild
creatures to destruction gave； Tainted the pools； the fodder charged with
bane。 Nor simple was the way of death； but when Hot thirst through every
vein impelled had drawn Their wretched limbs together； anon o'erflowed
A watery flux； and all their bones piecemeal Sapped by corruption to itself
absorbed。 Oft in mid sacrifice to heaven… the white Wool…woven fillet half
wreathed about his brow… Some victim； standing by the altar； there
Betwixt the loitering carles a…dying fell： Or； if betimes the slaughtering
priest had struck； Nor with its heaped entrails blazed the pile； Nor seer to
seeker thence could answer yield； Nay； scarce the up…stabbing knife with
blood was stained； Scarce sullied with thin gore the surface…sand。 Hence
die the calves in many a pasture fair； Or at full cribs their lives' sweet
breath resign； Hence on the fawning dog comes madness； hence Racks the
sick swine a gasping cough that chokes With swelling at the jaws： the
conquering steed； Uncrowned of effort and heedless of the sward； Faints；
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29BC THE GEORGICS
turns him from the springs； and paws the earth With ceaseless hoof： low
droop his ears； wherefrom Bursts fitful sweat； a sweat that waxes cold
Upon the dying beast； the skin is dry； And rigidly repels the handler's
touch。 These earlier signs they give that presage doom。 But； if the
advancing plague 'gin fiercer grow； Then are their eyes all fire； deep…
drawn their breath； At times groan…laboured： with long sobbing heave
Their lowest flanks； from either nostril streams Black blood； a rough
tongue clogs the obstructed jaws。 'Twas helpful through inverted horn to
pour Draughts of the wine…god down； sole way it seemed To save the
dying： soon this too proved their bane； And； reinvigorate but with frenzy's
fire； Even at death's pinch… the gods some happier fate Deal to the just；
such madness to their foes… Each with bared teeth his own limbs mangling
tore。 See！ as he smokes beneath the stubborn share； The bull drops；
vomiting foam…dabbled gore； And heaves his latest groans。 Sad goes the
swain； Unhooks the steer that mourns his fellow's fate； And in mid labour
leaves the plough…gear fast。 Nor tall wood's shadow； nor soft sward may
stir That heart's emotion； nor rock…channelled flood； More pure than amber
speeding to the plain： But see！ his flanks fail under him； his eyes Are
dulled with deadly torpor； and his neck Sinks to the earth