Georgics

Virgil

Vergil. The Poems of Vergil. Rhoades, James, translator. London: Oxford University Press, 1921.

  1. Hence, too, not idly do we watch the stars—
  2. Their rising and their setting-and the year,
  3. Four varying seasons to one law conformed.
  4. If chilly showers e'er shut the farmer's door,
  5. Much that had soon with sunshine cried for haste,
  6. He may forestall; the ploughman batters keen
  7. His blunted share's hard tooth, scoops from a tree
  8. His troughs, or on the cattle stamps a brand,
  9. Or numbers on the corn-heaps; some make sharp
  10. The stakes and two-pronged forks, and willow-bands
  11. Amerian for the bending vine prepare.
  12. Now let the pliant basket plaited be
  13. Of bramble-twigs; now set your corn to parch
  14. Before the fire; now bruise it with the stone.
  15. Nay even on holy days some tasks to ply
  16. Is right and lawful: this no ban forbids,
  17. To turn the runnel's course, fence corn-fields in,
  18. Make springes for the birds, burn up the briars,
  19. And plunge in wholesome stream the bleating flock.
  20. Oft too with oil or apples plenty-cheap
  21. The creeping ass's ribs his driver packs,
  22. And home from town returning brings instead
  23. A dented mill-stone or black lump of pitch.