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ho puts off his work： industry makes work go well； but a man who putts off work is always at hand…grips with ruin。
（ll。 414…447） When the piercing power and sultry heat of the sun abate； and almighty Zeus sends the autumn rains （12）； and men's flesh comes to feel far easier； for then the star Sirius passes over the heads of men； who are born to misery； only a little while by day and takes greater share of night； then； when it showers its leaves to the ground and stops sprouting； the wood you cut with your axe is least liable to worm。 Then remember to hew your timber： it is the season for that work。 Cut a mortar （13） three feet wide and a pestle three cubits long； and an axle of seven feet； for it will do very well so； but if you make it eight feet long； you can cut a beetle （14） from it as well。 Cut a felloe three spans across for a waggon of ten palms' width。 Hew also many bent timbers； and bring home a plough…tree when you have found it； and look out on the mountain or in the field for one of holm…oak； for this is the strongest for oxen to plough with when one of Athena's handmen has fixed in the share…beam and fastened it to the pole with dowels。 Get two ploughs ready work on them at home； one all of a piece； and the other jointed。 It is far better to do this； for if you should break one of them； you can put the oxen to the other。 Poles of laurel or elm are most free from worms； and a share…beam of oak and a plough…tree of holm…oak。 Get two oxen； bulls of nine years； for their strength is unspent and they are in the prime of their age： they are best for work。 They will not fight in the furrow and break the plough and then leave the work undone。 Let a brisk fellow of forty years follow them； with a loaf of four quarters （15） and eight slices （16） for his dinner； one who will attend to his work and drive a straight furrow and is past the age for gaping after his fellows； but will keep his mind on his work。 No younger man will be better than he at scattering the seed and avoiding double…sowing； for a man less staid gets disturbed； hankering after his fellows。
（ll。 448…457） Mark； when you hear the voice of the crane （17） who cries year by year from the clouds above； for she give the signal for ploughing and shows the season of rainy winter； but she vexes the heart of the man who has no oxen。 Then is the time to feed up your horned oxen in the byre； for it is easy to say： ‘Give me a yoke of oxen and a waggon；' and it is easy to refuse： ‘I have work for my oxen。' The man who is rich in fancy thinks his waggon as good as built already the fool！ He does not know that there are a hundred timbers to a waggon。 Take care to lay these up beforehand at home。
（ll。 458…464） So soon as the time for ploughing is proclaimed to men； then make haste； you and your slaves alike； in wet and in dry； to plough in the season for ploughing； and bestir yourself early in the morning so that your fields may be full。 Plough in the spring； but fallow broken up in the summer will not belie your hopes。 Sow fallow land when the soil is still getting light： fallow land is a defender from harm and a soother of children。
（ll。 465…478） Pray to Zeus of the Earth and to pure Demeter to make Demeter's holy grain sound and heavy； when first you begin ploughing； when you hold in your hand the end of the plough…tail and bring down your stick on the backs of the oxen as they draw on the pole…bar by the yoke…straps。 Let a slave follow a little behind with a mattock and make trouble for the birds by hiding the seed； for good management is the best for mortal men as bad management is the worst。 In this way your corn…ears will bow to the ground with fullness if the Olympian himself gives a good result at the last； and you will sweep the cobwebs from your bins and you will be glad； I ween； as you take of your garnered substance。 And so you will have plenty till you come to grey （18） springtime； and will not look wistfully to others； but another shall be in need of your help。
（ll。 479…492） But if you plough the good ground at the solstice （19）； you will reap sitting； grasping a thin crop in your hand； binding the sheaves awry； dust…covered； not glad at all； so you will bring all home in a basket and not many will admire you。 Yet the will of Zeus who holds the aegis is different at different times； and it is hard for mortal men to tell it； for if you should plough late； you may find this remedy when the cuckoo first calls （20） in the leaves of the oak and makes men glad all over the boundless earth； if Zeus should send rain on the third day and not cease until it rises neither above an ox's hoof nor falls short of it； then the late…plougher will vie with the early。 Keep all this well in mind； and fail not to mark grey spring as it comes and the season of rain。
（ll 493…501） Pass by the smithy and its crowded lounge in winter time when the cold keeps men from field work； for then an industrious man can greatly prosper his house lest bitter winter catch you helpless and poor and you chafe a swollen foot with a shrunk hand。 The idle man who waits on empty hope； lacking a livelihood； lays to heart mischief…making； it is not an wholesome hope that accompanies a need man who lolls at ease while he has no sure livelihood。
（ll。 502…503） While it is yet midsummer command your slaves： ‘It will not always be summer； build barns。'
（ll。 504…535） Avoid the month Lenaeon （21）； wretched days； all of them fit to skin an ox； and the frosts which are cruel when Boreas blows over the earth。 He blows across horse…breeding Thrace upon the wide sea and stirs it up； while earth and the forest howl。 On many a high…leafed oak and thick pine he falls and brings them to the bounteous earth in mountain glens： then all the immense wood roars and the beasts shudder and put their tails between their legs； even those whose hide is covered with fur； for with his bitter blast he blows even through them although they are shaggy…breasted。 He goes even through an ox's hide； it does not stop him。 Also he blows through the goat's fine hair。 But through the fleeces of sheep； because their wool is abundant； the keen wind Boreas pierces not at all； but it makes the old man curved as a wheel。 And it does not blow through the tender maiden who stays indoors with her dear mother； unlearned as yet in the works of golden Aphrodite； and who washes her soft body and anoints herself with oil and lies down in an inner room within the house； on a winter's day when the Boneless One （22） gnaws his foot in his fireless house and wretched home； for the sun shows him no pastures to make for； but goes to and fro over the land and city of dusky men （23）； and shines more sluggishly upon the whole race of the Hellenes。 Then the horned and unhorned denizens of the wood； with teeth chattering pitifully； flee through the copses and glades； and all； as they seek shelter； have this one care； to gain thick coverts or some hollow rock。 Then； like the Three…legged One （24） whose back is broken and whose head looks down upon the ground； like him； I say； they wander to escape the white snow。
（ll。 536…563） Then put on； as I bid you； a soft coat and a tunic to the feet to shield your body； and you should weave thick woof on thin warp。 In this clothe yourself so that your hair may keep still and not bristle and stand upon end all over your body。
Lace on your feet close…fitting boots of the hide of a slaughtered ox； thickly lined with felt inside。 And when the season of frost comes on； stitch together skins of firstling kids with ox…sinew； to put over your back and to keep off the rain。 On your head above wear a shaped cap of felt to keep your ears from getting wet； for the dawn is chill when Boreas has once made his onslaught； and at dawn a fruitful mist is spread over the earth from starry heaven upon the fields of blessed men： it is drawn from the ever flowing rivers and is raised high above the earth by windstorm； and sometimes it turns to rain towards evening； and sometimes to wind when Thracian Boreas huddles the thick clouds。 Finish your work and return home ahead of him； and do not let the dark cloud from heaven wrap round you and make your body clammy and soak your clothes。 Avoid it； for this is the hardest month； wintry； hard for sheep and hard for men。 In this season let your oxen have half their usual food； but let your man have more； for the helpful nights are long。 Observe all this until the year is ended and you have nights and days of equal length； and Earth； the mother of all； bears again her various fruit。
（ll。 564…570） When Zeus has finished sixty wintry days after the solstice； then the star Arcturus （25） leaves the holy stream of Ocean and first rises brilliant at dusk。 After him the shrilly wailing daughter of Pandion； the swallow； appears to men when spring is just beginning。 Before she comes； prune the vines； for it is best so。
（ll。 571…581） But when the House…carrier （26） 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 ho