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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
slacken； lo！ with headlong force The current sweeps him down the
hurrying tide。 Us too behoves Arcturus' sign observe； And the Kids'
seasons and the shining Snake； No less than those who o'er the windy
main Borne homeward tempt the Pontic； and the jaws Of oyster…rife
Abydos。 When the Scales Now poising fair the hours of sleep and day
Give half the world to sunshine； half to shade； Then urge your bulls； my
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29BC THE GEORGICS
masters； sow the plain Even to the verge of tameless winter's showers
With barley： then； too； time it is to hide Your flax in earth； and poppy；
Ceres' joy； Aye； more than time to bend above the plough； While earth； yet
dry； forbids not； and the clouds Are buoyant。 With the spring comes bean…
sowing； Thee； too； Lucerne； the crumbling furrows then Receive； and
millet's annual care returns； What time the white bull with his gilded horns
Opens the year； before whose threatening front； Routed the dog…star sinks。
But if it be For wheaten harvest and the hardy spelt； Thou tax the soil； to
corn…ears wholly given； Let Atlas' daughters hide them in the dawn； The
Cretan star； a crown of fire； depart； Or e'er the furrow's claim of seed thou
quit； Or haste thee to entrust the whole year's hope To earth that would not。
Many have begun Ere Maia's star be setting； these； I trow； Their looked…
for harvest fools with empty ears。 But if the vetch and common kidney…
bean Thou'rt fain to sow； nor scorn to make thy care Pelusiac lentil； no
uncertain sign Bootes' fall will send thee； then begin； Pursue thy sowing
till half the frosts be done。 Therefore it is the golden sun； his course
Into fixed parts dividing； rules his way Through the twelve constellations
of the world。 Five zones the heavens contain； whereof is one Aye red with
flashing sunlight； fervent aye From fire； on either side to left and right Are
traced the utmost twain； stiff with blue ice； And black with scowling
storm…clouds； and betwixt These and the midmost； other twain there lie；
By the Gods' grace to heart…sick mortals given； And a path cleft between
them； where might wheel On sloping plane the system of the Signs。 And
as toward Scythia and Rhipaean heights The world mounts upward；
likewise sinks it down Toward Libya and the south； this pole of ours Still
towering high； that other； 'neath their feet； By dark Styx frowned on； and
the abysmal shades。 Here glides the huge Snake forth with sinuous coils
'Twixt the two Bears and round them river…wise… The Bears that fear 'neath
Ocean's brim to dip。 There either； say they； reigns the eternal hush Of night
that knows no seasons； her black pall Thick…mantling fold on fold； or
thitherward From us returning Dawn brings back the day； And when the
first breath of his panting steeds On us the Orient flings； that hour with
them Red Vesper 'gins to trim his his 'lated fires。 Hence under doubtful
skies forebode we can The coming tempests； hence both harvest…day And
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29BC THE GEORGICS
seed…time； when to smite the treacherous main With driving oars； when
launch the fair…rigged fleet； Or in ripe hour to fell the forest…pine。 Hence；
too； not idly do we watch the stars… Their rising and their setting…and the
year； Four varying seasons to one law conformed。 If chilly showers e'er
shut the farmer's door； Much that had soon with sunshine cried for haste；
He may forestall； the ploughman batters keen His blunted share's hard
tooth； scoops from a tree His troughs； or on the cattle stamps a brand； Or
numbers on the corn…heaps； some make sharp The stakes and two…pronged
forks； and willow…bands Amerian for the bending vine prepare。 Now let
the pliant basket plaited be Of bramble…twigs； now set your corn to parch
Before the fire； now bruise it with the stone。 Nay even on holy days some
tasks to ply Is right and lawful： this no ban forbids； To turn the runnel's
course； fence corn…fields in； Make springes for the birds； burn up the briars；
And plunge in wholesome stream the bleating flock。 Oft too with oil or
apples plenty…cheap The creeping ass's ribs his driver packs； And home
from town returning brings instead A dented mill…stone or black lump of
pitch。 The moon herself in various rank assigns The days for labour
lucky： fly the fifth； Then sprang pale Orcus and the Eumenides； Earth then
in awful labour brought to light Coeus； Iapetus； and Typhoeus fell； And
those sworn brethren banded to break down The gates of heaven； thrice；
sooth to say； they strove Ossa on Pelion's top to heave and heap； Aye； and
on Ossa to up…roll amain Leafy Olympus； thrice with thunderbolt Their
mountain…stair the Sire asunder smote。 Seventh after tenth is lucky both to
set The vine in earth； and take and tame the steer； And fix the leashes to
the warp； the ninth To runagates is kinder； cross to thieves。 Many the
tasks that lightlier lend themselves In chilly night； or when the sun is
young； And Dawn bedews the world。 By night 'tis best To reap light
stubble； and parched fields by night； For nights the suppling moisture
never fails。 And one will sit the long late watches out By winter fire…light；
shaping with keen blade The torches to a point； his wife the while； Her
tedious labour soothing with a song； Speeds the shrill comb along the
warp； or else With Vulcan's aid boils the sweet must…juice down； And
skims with leaves the quivering cauldron's wave。 But ruddy Ceres in
mid heat is mown； And in mid heat the parched ears are bruised Upon the
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29BC THE GEORGICS
floor； to plough strip； strip to sow； Winter's the lazy time for husbandmen。
In the cold season farmers wont to taste The increase of their toil； and
yield themselves To mutual interchange of festal cheer。 Boon winter bids
them； and unbinds their cares； As laden keels； when now the port th