Georgics

Virgil

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

  1. So saying, an odour of ambrosial dew
  2. She sheds around, and all his frame therewith
  3. Steeps throughly; forth from his trim-combed locks
  4. Breathed effluence sweet, and a lithe vigour leapt
  5. Into his limbs. There is a cavern vast
  6. Scooped in the mountain-side, where wave on wave
  7. By the wind's stress is driven, and breaks far up
  8. Its inmost creeks—safe anchorage from of old
  9. For tempest-taken mariners: therewithin,
  10. Behind a rock's huge barrier, Proteus hides.
  11. Here in close covert out of the sun's eye
  12. The youth she places, and herself the while
  13. Swathed in a shadowy mist stands far aloof.
  14. And now the ravening dog-star that burns up
  15. The thirsty Indians blazed in heaven; his course
  16. The fiery sun had half devoured: the blades
  17. Were parched, and the void streams with droughty jaws
  18. Baked to their mud-beds by the scorching ray,
  19. When Proteus seeking his accustomed cave
  20. Strode from the billows: round him frolicking
  21. The watery folk that people the waste sea
  22. Sprinkled the bitter brine-dew far and wide.
  23. Along the shore in scattered groups to feed
  24. The sea-calves stretch them: while the seer himself,
  25. Like herdsman on the hills when evening bids
  26. The steers from pasture to their stall repair,
  27. And the lambs' bleating whets the listening wolves,
  28. Sits midmost on the rock and tells his tale.
  29. But Aristaeus, the foe within his clutch,
  30. Scarce suffering him compose his aged limbs,
  31. With a great cry leapt on him, and ere he rose
  32. Forestalled him with the fetters; he nathless,
  33. All unforgetful of his ancient craft,
  34. Transforms himself to every wondrous thing,
  35. Fire and a fearful beast, and flowing stream.
  36. But when no trickery found a path for flight,
  37. Baffled at length, to his own shape returned,
  38. With human lips he spake, “Who bade thee, then,
  39. So reckless in youth's hardihood, affront
  40. Our portals? or what wouldst thou hence?”—But he,
  41. “Proteus, thou knowest, of thine own heart thou knowest;
  42. For thee there is no cheating, but cease thou
  43. To practise upon me: at heaven's behest
  44. I for my fainting fortunes hither come
  45. An oracle to ask thee.” There he ceased.
  46. Whereat the seer, by stubborn force constrained,
  47. Shot forth the grey light of his gleaming eyes
  48. Upon him, and with fiercely gnashing teeth
  49. Unlocks his lips to spell the fates of heaven: