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summers and for winters fine； Ye husbandmen； in winter's dust the crops
Exceedingly rejoice； the field hath joy； No tilth makes Mysia lift her head
so high； Nor Gargarus his own harvests so admire。 Why tell of him； who；
having launched his seed； Sets on for close encounter； and rakes smooth
The dry dust hillocks； then on the tender corn Lets in the flood； whose
waters follow fain； And when the parched field quivers； and all the blades
Are dying； from the brow of its hill…bed； See！ see！ he lures the runnel；
down it falls； Waking hoarse murmurs o'er the polished stones； And with
its bubblings slakes the thirsty fields？ Or why of him； who lest the heavy
ears O'erweigh the stalk； while yet in tender blade Feeds down the crop's
luxuriance； when its growth First tops the furrows？ Why of him who
drains The marsh…land's gathered ooze through soaking sand； Chiefly what
time in treacherous moons a stream Goes out in spate； and with its coat of
slime Holds all the country； whence the hollow dykes Sweat steaming
vapour？ But no whit the more For all
expedients tried and travail borne By man and beast in turning oft the soil；
Do greedy goose and Strymon…haunting cranes And succory's bitter fibres
cease to harm； Or shade not injure。 The great Sire himself No easy road to
husbandry assigned； And first was he by human skill to rouse The
slumbering glebe； whetting the minds of men With care on care； nor
suffering realm of his In drowsy sloth to stagnate。 Before Jove Fields
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29BC THE GEORGICS
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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29BC THE GEORGICS
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
slac