Works and Days

Hesiod

Hesiod, creator; Homer, creator; Evelyn-White, Hugh G. (Hugh Gerard), d. 1924, translator

  • Before she comes, prune the vines, for it is best so. But when the House-carrier[*](I.e.the snail. The season is the middle of May.) climbs up the plants from the earth to escape the Pleiades, then it is no longer the season for digging vineyards, but to whet your sickles and rouse up your slaves. Avoid shady seats and sleeping until dawn
  • in the harvest season, when the sun scorches the body. Then be busy and bring home your fruits, getting up early to make your livelihood sure. For dawn takes away a third part of your work, dawn advances a man on his journey and advances him in his work,—
  • dawn which appears and sets many men on their road, and puts yokes on many oxen. But when the artichoke flowers,[*](In June.) and the chirping grass-hopper sits in a tree and pours down his shrill song continually from under his wings in the season of wearisome heat,