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year； Four varying seasons to one law conformed。 If chilly showers e'er
shut the farmer's door； Much that had soon with sunshine cried for haste；
He may forestall； the ploughman batters keen His blunted share's hard
tooth； scoops from a tree His troughs； or on the cattle stamps a brand； Or
numbers on the corn…heaps； some make sharp The stakes and two…pronged
forks； and willow…bands Amerian for the bending vine prepare。 Now let
the pliant basket plaited be Of bramble…twigs； now set your corn to parch
Before the fire； now bruise it with the stone。 Nay even on holy days some
tasks to ply Is right and lawful： this no ban forbids； To turn the runnel's
course； fence corn…fields in； Make springes for the birds； burn up the briars；
And plunge in wholesome stream the bleating flock。 Oft too with oil or
apples plenty…cheap The creeping ass's ribs his driver packs； And home
from town returning brings instead A dented mill…stone or black lump of
pitch。 The moon herself in various rank assigns The days for labour
lucky： fly the fifth； Then sprang pale Orcus and the Eumenides； Earth then
in awful labour brought to light Coeus； Iapetus； and Typhoeus fell； And
those sworn brethren banded to break down The gates of heaven； thrice；
sooth to say； they strove Ossa on Pelion's top to heave and heap； Aye； and
on Ossa to up…roll amain Leafy Olympus； thrice with thunderbolt Their
mountain…stair the Sire asunder smote。 Seventh after tenth is lucky both to
set The vine in earth； and take and tame the steer； And fix the leashes to
the warp； the ninth To runagates is kinder； cross to thieves。 Many the
tasks that lightlier lend themselves In chilly night； or when the sun is
young； And Dawn bedews the world。 By night 'tis best To reap light
stubble； and parched fields by night； For nights the suppling moisture
never fails。 And one will sit the long late watches out By winter fire…light；
shaping with keen blade The torches to a point； his wife the while； Her
tedious labour soothing with a song； Speeds the shrill comb along the
warp； or else With Vulcan's aid boils the sweet must…juice down； And
skims with leaves the quivering cauldron's wave。 But ruddy Ceres in
mid heat is mown； And in mid heat the parched ears are bruised Upon the
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floor； to plough strip； strip to sow； Winter's the lazy time for husbandmen。
In the cold season farmers wont to taste The increase of their toil； and
yield themselves To mutual interchange of festal cheer。 Boon winter bids
them； and unbinds their cares； As laden keels； when now the port they
touch； And happy sailors crown the sterns with flowers。 Nathless then also
time it is to strip Acorns from oaks； and berries from the bay； Olives； and
bleeding myrtles； then to set Snares for the crane； and meshes for the stag；
And hunt the long…eared hares； then pierce the doe With whirl of hempen…
thonged Balearic sling； While snow lies deep； and streams are drifting ice。
What need to tell of autumn's storms and stars； And wherefore men must
watch； when now the day Grows shorter； and more soft the summer's heat？
When Spring the rain…bringer comes rushing down； Or when the beards of
harvest on the plain Bristle already； and the milky corn On its green stalk
is swelling？ Many a time； When now the farmer to his yellow fields The
reaping…hind came bringing； even in act To lop the brittle barley stems；
have I Seen all the windy legions clash in war Together； as to rend up far
and wide The heavy corn…crop from its lowest roots； And toss it skyward：
so might winter's flaw； Dark…eddying； whirl light stalks and flying straws。
Oft too comes looming vast along the sky A march of waters； mustering
from above； The clouds roll up the tempest； heaped and grim With angry
showers： down falls the height of heaven； And with a great rain floods the
smiling crops； The oxen's labour： now the dikes fill fast； And the void
river…beds swell thunderously； And all the panting firths of Ocean boil。
The Sire himself in midnight of the clouds Wields with red hand the levin；
through all her bulk Earth at the hurly quakes； the beasts are fled； And
mortal hearts of every kindred sunk In cowering terror； he with flaming
brand Athos； or Rhodope； or Ceraunian crags Precipitates： then doubly
raves the South With shower on blinding shower； and woods and coasts
Wail fitfully beneath the mighty blast。 This fearing； mark the months and
Signs of heaven； Whither retires him Saturn's icy star； And through what
heavenly cycles wandereth The glowing orb Cyllenian。 Before all Worship
the Gods； and to great Ceres pay Her yearly dues upon the happy sward
With sacrifice； anigh the utmost end Of winter； and when Spring begins to
smile。 Then lambs are fat； and wines are mellowest then； Then sleep is
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sweet； and dark the shadows fall Upon the mountains。 Let your rustic
youth To Ceres do obeisance； one and all； And for her pleasure thou mix
honeycombs With milk and the ripe wine…god； thrice for luck Around the
young corn let the victim go； And all the choir； a joyful company； Attend it；
and with shouts bid Ceres come To be their house…mate； and let no man
dare Put sickle to the ripened ears until； With woven oak his temples
chapleted； He foot the rugged dance and chant the lay。 Aye； and that
these things we might win to know By certain tokens； heats； and showers；
and winds That bring the frost； the Sire of all himself Ordained what
warnings in her monthly round The moon should give； what bodes the
south wind's fall； What oft…repeated sights the herdsman seeing Should
keep his cattle closer to their stalls。 No sooner are the winds at point to rise；
Than either Ocean's firths begin to toss And swell； and a dry crackling
sound is heard Upon the heights； or one loud ferment booms The beach
afar； and through the forest goes A murmur multitudinous。 By this Scarce
can the billow spare the curved keels； When swift the sea…gulls from the
middle main Come winging； and their shrieks are shoreward borne； When
ocean…loving cormorants on dry land Besport them； and the hern； her
marshy haunts Forsaking； mounts above the soaring cloud。 Oft； too； when
wind is toward； the stars thou'lt see From heaven shoot headlong； and
through murky night Long trails of fire white…glistening in their wake； Or
light chaff flit in air with fallen leaves； Or feathers on the wave…top float
and play。 But when from regions of the furious North It lightens； and when
thunder fills the halls Of Eurus and of Zephyr； all the fields With
brimming dikes are flooded； and at sea No mariner but furls his dripping
sails。 Never at unawares did shower annoy： Or； as it rises； the high…soaring
cranes Flee to the vales before it； with face Upturned to heaven； the heifer
snuffs the gale Through gaping nostrils； or about the meres Shrill…
twittering flits the swallow； and the frogs Crouch in the mud and chant
their dirge of old。 Oft； too； the ant from out her inmost cells； Fretting the
narrow path； her eggs conveys； Or the huge bow sucks moisture； or a host
Of rooks from food returning in long line Clamour with jostling wings。
Now mayst thou see The various ocean…fowl and those that pry Round
Asian meads within thy fresher…pools； Cayster； as in eager rivalry； About
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29BC THE GEORGICS
their shoulders dash the plenteous spray； Now duck their head beneath the
wave； now run Into the billows； for sheer idle joy Of their mad bathing…
revel。 Then the crow With full voice； good…for…naught； inviting rain； Stalks
on the dry sand mateless and alone。 Nor e'en the maids； that card their
nightly task； Know not the storm…sign； when in blazing crock They see the
lamp…oil sputtering with a growth Of mou