Georgics

Virgil

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

  1. Now while yet
  2. The leaves are in their first fresh infant growth,
  3. Forbear their frailty, and while yet the bough
  4. Shoots joyfully toward heaven, with loosened rein
  5. Launched on the void, assail it not as yet
  6. With keen-edged sickle, but let the leaves alone
  7. Be culled with clip of fingers here and there.
  8. But when they clasp the elms with sturdy trunks
  9. Erect, then strip the leaves off, prune the boughs;
  10. Sooner they shrink from steel, but then put forth
  11. The arm of power, and stem the branchy tide.