Georgics

Virgil

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

  1. What more? When now the golden sun has put
  2. Winter to headlong flight beneath the world,
  3. And oped the doors of heaven with summer ray,
  4. Forthwith they roam the glades and forests o'er,
  5. Rifle the painted flowers, or sip the streams,
  6. Light-hovering on the surface. Hence it is
  7. With some sweet rapture, that we know not of,
  8. Their little ones they foster, hence with skill
  9. Work out new wax or clinging honey mould.
  10. So when the cage-escaped hosts you see
  11. Float heavenward through the hot clear air, until
  12. You marvel at yon dusky cloud that spreads
  13. And lengthens on the wind, then mark them well;
  14. For then 'tis ever the fresh springs they seek
  15. And bowery shelter: hither must you bring
  16. The savoury sweets I bid, and sprinkle them,
  17. Bruised balsam and the wax-flower's lowly weed,
  18. And wake and shake the tinkling cymbals heard
  19. By the great Mother: on the anointed spots
  20. Themselves will settle, and in wonted wise
  21. Seek of themselves the cradle's inmost depth.
  1. But if to battle they have hied them forth—
  2. For oft 'twixt king and king with uproar dire
  3. Fierce feud arises, and at once from far
  4. You may discern what passion sways the mob,
  5. And how their hearts are throbbing for the strife;
  6. Hark! the hoarse brazen note that warriors know
  7. Chides on the loiterers, and the ear may catch
  8. A sound that mocks the war-trump's broken blasts;
  9. Then in hot haste they muster, then flash wings,
  10. Sharpen their pointed beaks and knit their thews,
  11. And round the king, even to his royal tent,
  12. Throng rallying, and with shouts defy the foe.
  13. So, when a dry Spring and clear space is given,
  14. Forth from the gates they burst, they clash on high;
  15. A din arises; they are heaped and rolled
  16. Into one mighty mass, and headlong fall,
  17. Not denselier hail through heaven, nor pelting so
  18. Rains from the shaken oak its acorn-shower.
  19. Conspicuous by their wings the chiefs themselves
  20. Press through the heart of battle, and display
  21. A giant's spirit in each pigmy frame,
  22. Steadfast no inch to yield till these or those
  23. The victor's ponderous arm has turned to flight.
  24. Such fiery passions and such fierce assaults
  25. A little sprinkled dust controls and quells.
  1. And now, both leaders from the field recalled,
  2. Who hath the worser seeming, do to death,
  3. Lest royal waste wax burdensome, but let
  4. His better lord it on the empty throne.
  5. One with gold-burnished flakes will shine like fire,
  6. For twofold are their kinds, the nobler he,
  7. Of peerless front and lit with flashing scales;
  8. That other, from neglect and squalor foul,
  9. Drags slow a cumbrous belly. As with kings,
  10. So too with people, diverse is their mould,
  11. Some rough and loathly, as when the wayfarer
  12. Scapes from a whirl of dust, and scorched with heat
  13. Spits forth the dry grit from his parched mouth:
  14. The others shine forth and flash with lightning-gleam,
  15. Their backs all blazoned with bright drops of gold
  16. Symmetric: this the likelier breed; from these,
  17. When heaven brings round the season, thou shalt strain
  18. Sweet honey, nor yet so sweet as passing clear,
  19. And mellowing on the tongue the wine-god's fire.
  1. But when the swarms fly aimlessly abroad,
  2. Disport themselves in heaven and spurn their cells,
  3. Leaving the hive unwarmed, from such vain play
  4. Must you refrain their volatile desires,
  5. Nor hard the task: tear off the monarchs' wings;
  6. While these prove loiterers, none beside will dare
  7. Mount heaven, or pluck the standards from the camp.
  8. Let gardens with the breath of saffron flowers
  9. Allure them, and the lord of Hellespont,
  10. Priapus, wielder of the willow-scythe,
  11. Safe in his keeping hold from birds and thieves.
  12. And let the man to whom such cares are dear
  13. Himself bring thyme and pine-trees from the heights,
  14. And strew them in broad belts about their home;
  15. No hand but his the blistering task should ply,
  16. Plant the young slips, or shed the genial showers.