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And Dawn bedews the world。 By night 'tis best
To reap light stubble； and parched fields by night；
For nights the suppling moisture never fails。
And one will sit the long late watches out
By winter fire…light； shaping with keen blade
The torches to a point； his wife the while；
Her tedious labour soothing with a song；
Speeds the shrill comb along the warp； or else
With Vulcan's aid boils the sweet must…juice down；
And skims with leaves the quivering cauldron's wave。
But ruddy Ceres in mid heat is mown；
And in mid heat the parched ears are bruised
Upon the floor； to plough strip； strip to sow；
Winter's the lazy time for husbandmen。
In the cold season farmers wont to taste
The increase of their toil； and yield themselves
To mutual interchange of festal cheer。
Boon winter bids them； and unbinds their cares；
As laden keels； when now the port they touch；
And happy sailors crown the sterns with flowers。
Nathless then also time it is to strip
Acorns from oaks； and berries from the bay；
Olives； and bleeding myrtles； then to set
Snares for the crane； and meshes for the stag；
And hunt the long…eared hares； then pierce the doe
With whirl of hempen…thonged Balearic sling；
While snow lies deep； and streams are drifting ice。
What need to tell of autumn's storms and stars；
And wherefore men must watch； when now the day
Grows shorter； and more soft the summer's heat？
When Spring the rain…bringer comes rushing down；
Or when the beards of harvest on the plain
Bristle already； and the milky corn
On its green stalk is swelling？ Many a time；
When now the farmer to his yellow fields
The reaping…hind came bringing； even in act
To lop the brittle barley stems； have I
Seen all the windy legions clash in war
Together； as to rend up far and wide
The heavy corn…crop from its lowest roots；
And toss it skyward： so might winter's flaw；
Dark…eddying； whirl light stalks and flying straws。
Oft too comes looming vast along the sky
A march of waters； mustering from above；
The clouds roll up the tempest； heaped and grim
With angry showers： down falls the height of heaven；
And with a great rain floods the smiling crops；
The oxen's labour： now the dikes fill fast；
And the void river…beds swell thunderously；
And all the panting firths of Ocean boil。
The Sire himself in midnight of the clouds
Wields with red hand the levin； through all her bulk
Earth at the hurly quakes； the beasts are fled；
And mortal hearts of every kindred sunk
In cowering terror； he with flaming brand
Athos； or Rhodope； or Ceraunian crags
Precipitates： then doubly raves the South
With shower on blinding shower； and woods and coasts
Wail fitfully beneath the mighty blast。
This fearing； mark the months and Signs of heaven；
Whither retires him Saturn's icy star；
And through what heavenly cycles wandereth
The glowing orb Cyllenian。 Before all
Worship the Gods； and to great Ceres pay
Her yearly dues upon the happy sward
With sacrifice； anigh the utmost end
Of winter； and when Spring begins to smile。
Then lambs are fat； and wines are mellowest then；
Then sleep is sweet； and dark the shadows fall
Upon the mountains。 Let your rustic youth
To Ceres do obeisance； one and all；
And for her pleasure thou mix honeycombs
With milk and the ripe wine…god； thrice for luck
Around the young corn let the victim go；
And all the choir； a joyful company；
Attend it； and with shouts bid Ceres come
To be their house…mate； and let no man dare
Put sickle to the ripened ears until；
With woven oak his temples chapleted；
He foot the rugged dance and chant the lay。
Aye； and that these things we might win to know
By certain tokens； heats； and showers； and winds
That bring the frost； the Sire of all himself
Ordained what warnings in her monthly round
The moon should give； what bodes the south wind's fall；
What oft…repeated sights the herdsman seeing
Should keep his cattle closer to their stalls。
No sooner are the winds at point to rise；
Than either Ocean's firths begin to toss
And swell； and a dry crackling sound is heard
Upon the heights； or one loud ferment booms
The beach afar； and through the forest goes
A murmur multitudinous。 By this
Scarce can the billow spare the curved keels；
When swift the sea…gulls from the middle main
Come winging； and their shrieks are shoreward borne；
When ocean…loving cormorants on dry land
Besport them； and the hern； her marshy haunts
Forsaking； mounts above the soaring cloud。
Oft； too； when wind is toward； the stars thou'lt see
From heaven shoot headlong； and through murky night
Long trails of fire white…glistening in their wake；
Or light chaff flit in air with fallen leaves；
Or feathers on the wave…top float and play。
But when from regions of the furious North
It lightens； and when thunder fills the halls
Of Eurus and of Zephyr； all the fields
With brimming dikes are flooded； and at sea
No mariner but furls his dripping sails。
Never at unawares did shower annoy：
Or； as it rises； the high…soaring cranes
Flee to the vales before it； with face
Upturned to heaven； the heifer snuffs the gale
Through gaping nostrils； or about the meres
Shrill…twittering flits the swallow； and the frogs
Crouch in the mud and chant their dirge of old。
Oft； too； the ant from out her inmost cells；
Fretting the narrow path； her eggs conveys；
Or the huge bow sucks moisture； or a host
Of rooks from food returning in long line
Clamour with jostling wings。 Now mayst thou see
The various ocean…fowl and those that pry
Round Asian meads within thy fresher…pools；
Cayster； as in eager rivalry；
About their shoulders dash the plenteous spray；
Now duck their head beneath the wave； now run
Into the billows； for sheer idle joy
Of their mad bathing…revel。 Then the crow
With full voice； good…for…naught； inviting rain；
Stalks on the dry sand mateless and alone。
Nor e'en the maids； that card their nightly task；
Know not the storm…sign； when in blazing crock
They see the 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 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