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oft In mighty war； whenas the legion's length Deploys its cohorts； and the
column stands In open plain； the ranks of battle set； And far and near with
rippling sheen of arms The wide earth flickers； nor yet in grisly strife Foe
grapples foe； but dubious 'twixt the hosts The war…god wavers； so let all be
ranged In equal rows symmetric； not alone To feed an idle fancy with the
view； But since not otherwise will earth afford Vigour to all alike； nor yet
the boughs Have power to stretch them into open space。 Shouldst haply
of the furrow's depth inquire； Even to a shallow trench I dare commit The
vine； but deeper in the ground is fixed The tree that props it； aesculus in
chief； Which howso far its summit soars toward heaven； So deep strikes
root into the vaults of hell。 It therefore neither storms； nor blasts； nor
showers Wrench from its bed； unshaken it abides； Sees many a generation；
many an age Of men roll onward； and survives them all； Stretching its
titan arms and branches far； Sole central pillar of a world of shade。 Nor
toward the sunset let thy vineyards slope； Nor midst the vines plant hazel；
neither take The topmost shoots for cuttings； nor from the top Of the
supporting tree your suckers tear； So deep their love of earth； nor wound
the plants With blunted blade； nor truncheons intersperse Of the wild olive：
for oft from careless swains A spark hath fallen； that； 'neath the unctuous
rind Hid thief…like first； now grips the tough tree…bole； And mounting to
the leaves on high； sends forth A roar to heaven； then coursing through the
boughs And airy summits reigns victoriously； Wraps all the grove in robes
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29BC THE GEORGICS
of fire； and gross With pitch…black vapour heaves the murky reek Skyward；
but chiefly if a storm has swooped Down on the forest； and a driving wind
Rolls up the conflagration。 When 'tis so； Their root…force fails them； nor；
when lopped away； Can they recover； and from the earth beneath Spring to
like verdure； thus alone survives The bare wild olive with its bitter leaves。
Let none persuade thee； howso weighty…wise； To stir the soil when stiff
with Boreas' breath。 Then ice…bound winter locks the fields； nor lets The
young plant fix its frozen root to earth。 Best sow your vineyards when in
blushing Spring Comes the white bird long…bodied snakes abhor； Or on the
eve of autumn's earliest frost； Ere the swift sun…steeds touch the wintry
Signs； While summer is departing。 Spring it is Blesses the fruit…plantation；
Spring the groves； In Spring earth swells and claims the fruitful seed。
Then Aether； sire omnipotent； leaps down With quickening showers to his
glad wife's embrace； And； might with might commingling； rears to life All
germs that teem within her； then resound With songs of birds the
greenwood…wildernesses； And in due time the herds their loves renew；
Then the boon earth yields increase； and the fields Unlock their bosoms to
the warm west winds； Soft moisture spreads o'er all things； and the blades
Face the new suns； and safely trust them now； The vine…shoot； fearless of
the rising south； Or mighty north winds driving rain from heaven； Bursts
into bud； and every leaf unfolds。 Even so； methinks； when Earth to being
sprang； Dawned the first days； and such the course they held； 'Twas
Spring…tide then； ay； Spring； the mighty world Was keeping： Eurus spared
his wintry blasts； When first the flocks drank sunlight； and a race Of men
like iron from the hard glebe arose； And wild beasts thronged the woods；
and stars the heaven。 Nor could frail creatures bear this heavy strain； Did
not so large a respite interpose 'Twixt frost and heat； and heaven's
relenting arms Yield earth a welcome。 For
the rest； whate'er The sets thou plantest in thy fields； thereon Strew refuse
rich； and with abundant earth Take heed to hide them； and dig in withal
Rough shells or porous stone； for therebetween Will water trickle and fine
vapour creep； And so the plants their drooping spirits raise。 Aye； and there
have been； who with weight of stone Or heavy potsherd press them from
above； This serves for shield in pelting showers； and this When the hot
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dog…star chaps the fields with drought。 The slips once planted； yet
remains to cleave The earth about their roots persistently； And toss the
cumbrous hoes； or task the soil With burrowing plough…share； and ply up
and down Your labouring bullocks through the vineyard's midst； Then too
smooth reeds and shafts of whittled wand； And ashen poles and sturdy
forks to shape； Whereby supported they may learn to mount； Laugh at the
gales； and through the elm…tops win From story up to story。
Now while yet The leaves are in their first fresh infant growth； Forbear
their frailty； and while yet the bough Shoots joyfully toward heaven； with
loosened rein Launched on the void； assail it not as yet With keen…edged
sickle； but let the leaves alone Be culled with clip of fingers here and there。
But when they clasp the elms with sturdy trunks Erect； then strip the
leaves off； prune the boughs； Sooner they shrink from steel； but then put
forth The arm of power； and stem the branchy tide。 Hedges too must be
woven and all beasts Barred entrance； chiefly while the leaf is young And
witless of disaster； for therewith； Beside harsh winters and o'erpowering
sun； Wild buffaloes and pestering goats for ay Besport them； sheep and
heifers glut their greed。 Nor cold by hoar…frost curdled； nor the prone Dead
weight of summer upon the parched crags； So scathe it； as the flocks with
venom…bite Of their hard tooth； whose gnawing scars the stem。 For no
offence but this to Bacchus bleeds The goat at every altar； and old plays
Upon the stage find entrance； therefore too The sons of Theseus through
the country…side… Hamlet and crossway… set the prize of wit； And on the
smooth sward over oiled skins Dance in their tipsy frolic。 Furthermore The
Ausonian swains； a race from Troy derived； Make merry with rough
rhymes and boisterous mirth； Grim masks of hollowed bark assume；
invoke Thee with glad hymns； O Bacchus； and to thee Hang puppet…faces
on tall pines to swing。 Hence every vineyard teems with mellowing fruit；
Till hollow vale o'erflows； and gorge profound； Where'er the god hath
turned his comely head。 Therefore to Bacchus duly will we sing Meet
honour with ancestral hymns； and cates And dishes bear him； and the
doomed goat Led by the horn shall at the altar stand； Whose entrails rich
on hazel…spits we'll roast。 This further task again； to dress the vine；
Hath needs beyond exhausting； the whole soil Thrice； four times； yearly
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must be cleft； the sod With hoes reversed be crushed continually； The
whole plantation lightened of its leaves。 Round on the labourer spins the
wheel of toil； As on its own track rolls the circling year。 Soon as the vine
her lingering leaves hath shed； And the chill north wind from the forests
shook Their coronal； even then the careful swain Looks keenly forward to
the coming year； With Saturn's curved fang pursues and prunes The vine
forlorn； and lops it into shape。 Be first to dig the ground up； first to clear
And burn the refuse…branches； first to house Again your vine…poles； last to
gather fruit。 Twice doth the thickening shade beset the vine； Twice weeds
with stifling briers o'ergrow the crop； And each a toilsome labour。 Do thou
praise Broad acres； farm but few。 Rough twigs beside Of butcher's broom
among the woods are cut； And reeds upon the river…banks； and still The
undressed willow claims thy fostering care。 So now the vines are fettered；
now the trees Let go the sickle； and the last dresser now Sings of his
finished rows； but still the ground Must vexed be； the dust be stirred； and
heaven Still set thee trembling for the ripened grapes。 Not so with
oli