Georgics

Virgil

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

  1. Oh! all too happy tillers of the soil,
  2. Could they but know their blessedness, for whom
  3. Far from the clash of arms all-equal earth
  4. Pours from the ground herself their easy fare!
  5. What though no lofty palace portal-proud
  6. From all its chambers vomits forth a tide
  7. Of morning courtiers, nor agape they gaze
  8. On pillars with fair tortoise-shell inwrought,
  9. Gold-purfled robes, and bronze from Ephyre;
  10. Nor is the whiteness of their wool distained
  11. With drugs Assyrian, nor clear olive's use
  12. With cassia tainted; yet untroubled calm,
  13. A life that knows no falsehood, rich enow
  14. With various treasures, yet broad-acred ease,
  15. Grottoes and living lakes, yet Tempes cool,
  16. Lowing of kine, and sylvan slumbers soft,
  17. They lack not; lawns and wild beasts' haunts are there,
  18. A youth of labour patient, need-inured,
  19. Worship, and reverend sires: with them from earth
  20. Departing justice her last footprints left.