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lamp…oil sputtering with a growth Of mouldy snuff…clots。
So too； after rain； Sunshine and open skies thou mayst forecast； And learn
by tokens sure； for then nor dimmed Appear the stars' keen edges； nor the
moon As borrowing of her brother's beams to rise； Nor fleecy films to
float along the sky。 Not to the sun's warmth then upon the shore Do
halcyons dear to Thetis ope their wings； Nor filthy swine take thought to
toss on high With scattering snout the straw…wisps。 But the clouds Seek
more the vales； and rest upon the plain； And from the roof…top the night…
owl for naught Watching the sunset plies her 'lated song。 Distinct in
clearest air is Nisus seen Towering； and Scylla for the purple lock Pays
dear； for whereso； as she flies； her wings The light air winnow； lo！ fierce；
implacable； Nisus with mighty whirr through heaven pursues； Where
Nisus heavenward soareth； there her wings Clutch as she flies； the light air
winnowing still。 Soft then the voice of rooks from indrawn throat Thrice；
four times； o'er repeated； and full oft On their high cradles； by some
hidden joy Gladdened beyond their wont； in bustling throngs Among the
leaves they riot； so sweet it is； When showers are spent； their own loved
nests again And tender brood to visit。 Not； I deem； That heaven some
native wit to these assigned； Or fate a larger prescience； but that when The
storm and shifting moisture of the air Have changed their courses； and the
sky…god now； Wet with the south…wind； thickens what was rare； And what
was gross releases； then； too； change Their spirits' fleeting phases； and
their breasts Feel other motions now； than when the wind Was driving up
the cloud…rack。 Hence proceeds That blending of the feathered choirs
afield； The cattle's exultation； and the rooks' Deep…throated triumph。
But if the headlong sun And moons in order following thou regard； Ne'er
will to…morrow's hour deceive thee； ne'er Wilt thou be caught by guile of
cloudless night。 When first the moon recalls her rallying fires； If dark the
air clipped by her crescent dim； For folks afield and on the open sea A
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mighty rain is brewing； but if her face With maiden blush she mantle；
'twill be wind； For wind turns Phoebe still to ruddier gold。 But if at her
fourth rising； for 'tis that Gives surest counsel； clear she ride thro' heaven
With horns unblunted； then shall that whole day； And to the month's end
those that spring from it； Rainless and windless be； while safe ashore Shall
sailors pay their vows to Panope； Glaucus； and Melicertes； Ino's child。
The sun too； both at rising； and when soon He dives beneath the waves；
shall yield thee signs； For signs； none trustier； travel with the sun； Both
those which in their course with dawn he brings； And those at star…rise。
When his springing orb With spots he pranketh； muffled in a cloud； And
shrinks mid…circle； then of showers beware； For then the South comes
driving from the deep； To trees and crops and cattle bringing bane。 Or
when at day…break through dark clouds his rays Burst and are scattered； or
when rising pale Aurora quits Tithonus' saffron bed； But sorry shelter then；
alack I will yield Vine…leaf to ripening grapes； so thick a hail In spiky
showers spins rattling on the roof。 And this yet more 'twill boot thee bear
in mind； When now； his course upon Olympus run； He draws to his
decline： for oft we see Upon the sun's own face strange colours stray； Dark
tells of rain； of east winds fiery…red； If spots with ruddy fire begin to mix；
Then all the heavens convulsed in wrath thou'lt see… Storm…clouds and
wind together。 Me that night Let no man bid fare forth upon the deep； Nor
rend the rope from shore。 But if； when both He brings again and hides the
day's return； Clear…orbed he shineth；idly wilt thou dread The storm…clouds；
and beneath the lustral North See the woods waving。 What late eve in fine
Bears in her bosom； whence the wind that brings Fair…weather…clouds； or
what the rain South Is meditating； tokens of all these The sun will give
thee。 Who dare charge the sun With leasing？ He it is who warneth oft Of
hidden broils at hand and treachery； And secret swelling of the waves of
war。 He too it was； when Caesar's light was quenched； For Rome had pity；
when his bright head he veiled In iron…hued darkness； till a godless age
Trembled for night eternal； at that time Howbeit earth also； and the ocean…
plains； And dogs obscene； and birds of evil bode Gave tokens。 Yea； how
often have we seen Etna； her furnace…walls asunder riven； In billowy
floods boil o'er the Cyclops' fields； And roll down globes of fire and
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29BC THE GEORGICS
molten rocks！ A clash of arms through all the heaven was heard By
Germany； strange heavings shook the Alps。 Yea； and by many through the
breathless groves A voice was heard with power； and wondrous…pale
Phantoms were seen upon the dusk of night； And cattle spake； portentous！
streams stand still； And the earth yawns asunder； ivory weeps For sorrow
in the shrines； and bronzes sweat。 Up…twirling forests with his eddying tide；
Madly he bears them down； that lord of floods； Eridanus； till through all
the plain are swept Beasts and their stalls together。 At that time In gloomy
entrails ceased not to appear Dark…threatening fibres； springs to trickle
blood； And high…built cities night…long to resound With the wolves'
howling。 Never more than then From skies all cloudless fell the
thunderbolts； Nor blazed so oft the comet's fire of bale。 Therefore a second
time Philippi saw The Roman hosts with kindred weapons rush To battle；
nor did the high gods deem it hard That twice Emathia and the wide
champaign Of Haemus should be fattening with our blood。 Ay； and the
time will come when there anigh； Heaving the earth up with his curved
plough； Some swain will light on javelins by foul rust Corroded； or with
ponderous harrow strike On empty helmets； while he gapes to see Bones
as of giants from the trench untombed。 Gods of my country； heroes of the
soil； And Romulus； and Mother Vesta； thou Who Tuscan Tiber and Rome's
Palatine Preservest； this new champion at the least Our fallen generation to
repair Forbid not。 To the full and long ago Our blood thy Trojan perjuries
hath paid； Laomedon。 Long since the courts of heaven Begrudge us thee；
our Caesar； and complain That thou regard'st the triumphs of mankind；
Here where the wrong is right； the right is wrong； Where wars abound so
many； and myriad…faced Is crime； where no meet honour hath the plough；
The fields； their husbandmen led far away； Rot in neglect； and curved
pruning…hooks Into the sword's stiff blade are fused and forged。 Euphrates
here； here Germany new strife Is stirring； neighbouring cities are in arms；
The laws that bound them snapped； and godless war Rages through all the
universe； as when The four…horse chariots from the barriers poured Still
quicken o'er the course； and； idly now Grasping the reins； the driver by his
team Is onward borne； nor heeds the car his curb。
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GEORGIC II
Thus far the tilth of fields and stars of heaven； Now will I sing thee；
Bacchus； and； with thee； The forest's young plantations and the fruit Of
slow…maturing olive。 Hither haste； O Father of the wine…press； all things
here Teem with the bounties of thy hand； for thee With viny autumn laden
blooms the field； And foams the vintage high with brimming vats； Hither；
O Father of the wine…press； come； And stripped of buskin stain thy bared
limbs In the new must with me。 First；
nature's law For generating trees is manifold； For some of their own force
spontaneous