Farming Implements, Seed Selection, and Sowing Seasons — Virgil, Georgics 1.148–1.218, Latin & English

148

instituit, cum iam glandes atque arbuta sacrae

established [this], when now the acorns and arbutus-berries of the sacred

deficerent silvae et victum Dodona negaret.

forest failed, and Dodona denied sustenance.

150

Mox et frumentis labor additus, ut¹ mala culmos

Soon, too, labor was added to the grain, so that destructive blight should eat the stalks

esset robigo segnisque horreret in arvis

and the sluggish thistle should bristle in the fields; the crops perish, a rough wood rises,

carduus; intereunt segetes, subit aspera silva,

both burrs and caltrops, and among the shining fields of grain

lappaeque tribolique, interque nitentia culta

the unhappy darnel and barren wild oats dominate.

infelix lolium et steriles dominantur avenae.

But unless you pursue the weeds with constant rakes,

155

Quod nisi² et adsiduis herbam insectabere rastris,

and terrify the birds with sound, and restrain the shade of the darkened field

et sonitu terrebis aves, et ruris opaci

with your sickle, and invoke the rain with prayers,

falce premes umbras votisque vocaveris imbrem,

alas, you will look in vain at another’s huge heap of grain,

heu magnum alterius frustra spectabis acervum,

and comfort your hunger in the woods by shaking the oak tree.

concussaque famem in silvis solabere quercu.

We must also tell what the weapons of the hardy rustics are,

160

Dicendum et, quae sint³ duris agrestibus arma,

without which crops could neither be sown nor rise:

quis sine nec potuere seri nec surgere messes:

first, the share and the heavy timber of the curved plow,

vomis et inflexi primum grave robur aratri

and the slow-rolling wagons of the Eleusinian mother,

tardaque Eleusinae matris volventia plaustra

threshing-sledges, drags, and rakes of excessive weight;

tribulaque traheaeque et iniquo pondere rastri;

besides, the wicker and cheap furniture of Celeus,

165

virgea praeterea Celei vilisque supellex,

arbutus hurdles, and the mystic winnowing-fan of Iacchus.

arbuteae crates et mystica vannus Iacchi.

All of which, mindful, you will provide and lay up long beforehand,

Omnia quae multo ante memor provisa repones,

if the worthy glory of the divine countryside awaits you.

si te digna manet divini gloria ruris.

Straightway in the woods, bent with great force, an elm is tamed

Continuo in silvis magna vi flexa domatur

into the plow-tail and receives the shape of the curved plow.

170

in burim et curvi formam accipit ulmus aratri.

To this, a pole extended eight feet from the base,

Huic a stirpe pedes temo protentus in octo,

two mold-boards, and share-beams with a double back are fitted;

binae aures, duplici aptantur dentalia dorso

and a light linden is cut beforehand for the yoke, and a tall beech,

caeditur et tilia ante iugo levis altaque fagus,

and the handle to turn the bottom of the carriage from behind,

stivaque, quae currus a tergo torqueat imos,

and smoke seasons the wood hung over hearths.

175

et suspensa focis explorat robora fumus.

I can relate to you many precepts of the ancients,

Possum multa tibi veterum praecepta referre,

unless you shrink back and feel loath to learn such small cares.

ni refugis tenuisque piget cognoscere curas.

First of all, the threshing floor must be leveled with a huge roller,

Area cum primis ingenti aequanda cylindro

and turned by hand, and consolidated with clinging clay,

et vertenda manu et creta solidanda tenaci,

lest weeds grow up or, conquered by dust, it crack open,

180

ne subeant herbae neu pulvere victa fatiscat,

and then various pests mock you: often the tiny mouse

tum variae inludant pestes: saepe exiguus mus

has set up home and made granaries under the earth,

sub terris posuitque domos atque horrea fecit,

or blind moles have dug their beds,

aut oculis capti fodere cubilia talpae,

and the toad is found in hollows, and all the many pests

inventusque cavis bufo et quae plurima terrae

that the earth produces; and the weevil ravages a huge pile of spelt,

185

monstra ferunt, populatque ingentem farris acervum

and the ant, fearing an old age of want.

curculio atque inopi metuens formica senectae.

Observe also when the almond tree in the woods clothes itself abundantly

Contemplator item, cum se nux plurima silvis

in blossom and bends its fragrant branches.

induet in florem et ramos curvabit olentis.

If the fruit prevails, a corresponding grain harvest will follow

Si superant fetus, pariter frumenta sequentur

and a great threshing will come with great heat;

190

magnaque cum magno veniet tritura calore;

but if the shade of leaves runs riot with luxuriance,

at si luxuria foliorum exuberat umbra,

in vain will the threshing floor bruise stalks rich only in chaff.

nequiquam pinguis palea teret area culmos.

Indeed, I have seen many sowers treat seeds,

Semina vidi equidem multos medicare serentis

steeping them first in nitre and black olive dregs,

et nitro prius et nigra perfundere amurca,

so that the yield might be larger in the deceptive pods,

195

grandior ut fetus siliquis fallacibus esset,

and that they might quickly soften even with a small fire.

et, quamvis igni exiguo, properata maderent.

I have seen seeds, though selected for a long time and tested with much labor,

Vidi lecta diu et multo spectata labore

degenerate nonetheless, unless human industry year by year

degenerare tamen, ni vis humana quot annis

hand-picked all the largest ones. Thus all things by fate

maxima quaeque manu legeret. Sic omnia fatis

rush to the worse and, slipping backward, are carried back;

200

in peius ruere ac retro sublapsa referri,

not otherwise than one who with difficulty forces his boat upstream

non aliter, quam qui⁴ adverso vix flumine lembum

with oars, if by chance he slackens his arms,

remigiis subigit, si bracchia forte remisit,

and the channel sweeps it headlong down the rushing river.

atque illum in praeceps prono rapit alveus amni.

Furthermore, the stars of Arcturus and the days of the Kids

Praeterea tam sunt Arcturi sidera nobis

must be observed by us, and the bright Serpent,

205

Haedorumque dies servandi et lucidus Anguis,

just as much as by those who, carried toward their homeland across windy seas,

quam quibus in patriam ventosa per aequora vectis

brave the deep and the straits of oyster-bearing Abydos.

pontus et ostriferi fauces temptantur Abydi.

When Libra has made the hours of day and sleep equal,

Libra die somnique pares ubi fecerit horas

and now divides the world midway between light and shade,

et medium luci atque umbris iam dividit orbem,

work your bulls, men, sow barley in the fields,

210

exercete, viri, tauros, serite hordea campis

right up to the last rain of unmanageable winter;

usque sub extremum brumae intractabilis imbrem;

and also it is time to cover the crop of flax and the poppy of Ceres in the soil,

nec non et lini segetem et Cereale papaver

and long since to lean over your plows,

tempus humo tegere et iamdudum incumbere aratris,

while the dry earth allows, while clouds hang.

dum sicca tellure licet, dum nubila pendent.

In spring is the sowing for beans; then, lucerne, the crumbling

215

Vere fabis satio; tum te quoque, Medica, putres

furrows receive you too, and the annual care comes for millet,

accipiunt sulci et milio venit annua cura,

when the bright Taurus with golden horns opens the year,

candidus auratis aperit cum cornibus annumTaurus et averso cedens Canis occidit astro.

and the Dog star, yielding to the backward-turning constellation, sets.

Syntax notes4 items

1.150labor additus, ut
The conjunction ut introduces a result clause with the imperfect subjunctives esset and horreret, detailing the harsh consequences imposed on grain cultivation.
1.155Quod nisi
The formulaic phrase quod nisi means 'but unless' or 'but if not.' The relative pronoun quod acts as a connecting relative, functioning as a coordinating conjunction.
1.160Dicendum et, quae sint
The impersonal gerundive construction denoting obligation (dicendum [est]) is followed by an indirect question introduced by the interrogative adjective quae. The verb sint is in the subjunctive mood.
1.201non aliter, quam qui
A comparative simile meaning 'not otherwise than [he] who...'. While the condition in the qui clause is expressed by si... remisit (perfect indicative), the main action of the comparison is carried out by the verb rapit (present indicative) with alveus as its subject, vividly depicting the instant momentum of the current.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:latinLit:phi0690.phi002.humanitext-lat2:1.148-1.218