Georgics

Virgil

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

  1. But no device so fortifies their power
  2. As love's blind stings of passion to forefend,
  3. Whether on steed or steer thy choice be set.
  4. Ay, therefore 'tis they banish bulls afar
  5. To solitary pastures, or behind
  6. Some mountain-barrier, or broad streams beyond,
  7. Or else in plenteous stalls pen fast at home.
  8. For, even through sight of her, the female wastes
  9. His strength with smouldering fire, till he forget
  10. Both grass and woodland. She indeed full oft
  11. With her sweet charms can lovers proud compel
  12. To battle for the conquest horn to horn.
  13. In Sila's forest feeds the heifer fair,
  14. While each on each the furious rivals run;
  15. Wound follows wound; the black blood laves their limbs;
  16. Horns push and strive against opposing horns,
  17. With mighty groaning; all the forest-side
  18. And far Olympus bellow back the roar.
  19. Nor wont the champions in one stall to couch;
  20. But he that's worsted hies him to strange climes
  21. Far off, an exile, moaning much the shame,
  22. The blows of that proud conqueror, then love's loss
  23. Avenged not; with one glance toward the byre,
  24. His ancient royalties behind him lie.
  25. So with all heed his strength he practiseth,
  26. And nightlong makes the hard bare stones his bed,
  27. And feeds on prickly leaf and pointed rush,
  28. And proves himself, and butting at a tree
  29. Learns to fling wrath into his horns, with blows
  30. Provokes the air, and scattering clouds of sand
  31. Makes prelude of the battle; afterward,
  32. With strength repaired and gathered might breaks camp,
  33. And hurls him headlong on the unthinking foe:
  34. As in mid ocean when a wave far of
  35. Begins to whiten, mustering from the main
  36. Its rounded breast, and, onward rolled to land
  37. Falls with prodigious roar among the rocks,
  38. Huge as a very mountain: but the depths
  39. Upseethe in swirling eddies, and disgorge
  40. The murky sand-lees from their sunken bed.