Straightway I will pursue the celestial gifts of airy honey: look also upon this part, Maecenas.
§4.3Admiranda tibi levium spectacula rerum §4.4magnanimosque duces totiusque ordine gentis §4.5mores et studia et populos et proelia dicam.
For you I shall sing of the admirable spectacles of tiny things, of high-spirited leaders, and in order, the customs and pursuits of the whole race, their peoples and their battles.
Slight is the field of labor; but not slight the glory, if the adverse deities permit one, and invoked Apollo hears.
§4.8Principio sedes apibus statioque petenda, §4.9quo neque sit ventis aditus—nam pabula venti §4.10ferre domum prohibent—neque oves haedique petulci §4.11floribus insultent aut errans bucula campo §4.12decutiat rorem et surgentes atterat herbas.
First, a home and site must be sought for the bees, where there may be no access for the winds—for winds prevent them from carrying food home—and where no sheep or butting kids trample the flowers, or wandering heifer on the plain brushes off the dew and wears down the rising grass.
§4.13Absint et picti squalentia terga lacerti §4.14pinguibus a stabulis meropesque aliaeque volucres §4.15et manibus Procne pectus signata cruentis; §4.16omnia nam late vastant ipsasque volantes §4.17ore ferunt dulcem nidis immitibus escam.
Let also the painted lizards with scaly backs be absent from the rich hives, and bee-eaters and other birds, and Procne, her breast marked by bloody hands; for they devastate everything far and wide, and carry off the flying bees themselves in their mouths, a sweet morsel for their pitiless nests.
§4.18At liquidi fontes et stagna virentia musco §4.19adsint et tenuis fugiens per gramina rivus, §4.20palmaque vestibulum aut ingens oleaster inumbret, §4.21ut, cum prima novi ducent examina reges §4.22vere suo ludetque favis emissa iuventus, §4.23vicina invitet decedere ripa calori, §4.24obviaque hospitiis teneat frondentibus arbos.
But let clear springs and pools green with moss be near, and a tiny stream gliding through the grass, and let a palm or huge wild olive shade the vestibule, so that, when the new kings lead out the first swarms in their own spring-time, and the youth, released from the combs, sport about, the neighboring bank may invite them to withdraw from the heat, and the tree in their path may hold them in its leafy shelter.
§4.25In medium, seu stabit iners seu profluet umor, §4.26transversas salices et grandia conice saxa, §4.27pontibus ut crebris possint consistere et alas §4.28pandere ad aestivum solem, si forte morantes §4.29sparserit aut praeceps Neptuno immerserit Eurus.
Into the midst, whether the water stands still or flows, cast willows crosswise and huge stones, so that they can stand on them as on frequent bridges, and spread their wings to the summer sun, if by chance a sudden East Wind has sprinkled them while lingering or plunged them into Neptune's waters.
§4.30Haec circum casiae virides et olentia late §4.31serpylla et graviter spirantis copia thymbrae §4.32floreat inriguumque bibant violaria fontem.
Around these let green wild cinnamon and far-scented wild thyme, and abundance of heavy-breathing savory bloom, and let violet-beds drink from the irrigating spring.
§4.33Ipsa autem, seu corticibus tibi suta cavatis, §4.34seu lento fuerint alvaria vimine texta, §4.35angustos habeant aditus: nam frigore mella §4.36cogit hiems, eademque calor liquefacta remittit.
But as for the hives themselves, whether sewn for you from hollow bark or woven of pliant osier, let them have narrow entrances: for winter congeals the honey with cold, and heat relaxes it, melted.
§4.37Utraque vis apibus pariter metuenda; neque illae §4.38nequiquam in tectis certatim tenuia cera §4.39spiramenta linunt fucoque et floribus oras §4.40explent collectumque haec ipsa ad munera gluten §4.41et visco et Phrygiae servant pice lentius Idae.
Both extremes are equally to be feared by the bees; nor do they in vain compete to smear the tiny chinks in their dwellings with wax, and fill the edges with pollen and flowers, and keep the glue collected for these very tasks, stickier than birdlime or the pitch of Phrygian Ida.
§4.42Saepe etiam effossis, si vera est fama, latebris §4.43sub terra fovere larem, penitusque repertae §4.44pumicibusque cavis exesaeque arboris antro.
Often too, if rumor is true, they have cherished their home in dug-out hiding places underground, and have been found deep within hollow pumice-stones and the cavern of a decayed tree.
Do you nevertheless smear smooth mud around their chinky chambers, warming them, and throw a few leaves on top.
§4.47Neu propius tectis taxum sine, neve rubentes §4.48ure foco cancros, altae neu crede paludi, §4.49aut ubi odor caeni gravis aut ubi concava pulsu §4.50saxa sonant vocisque offensa resultat imago.
And do not allow a yew-tree near their homes, nor burn reddened crabs on the hearth, nor trust a deep marsh, or where the smell of mud is heavy, or where hollow rocks resound at a blow and the struck image of a voice leaps back.
§4.51Quod superest, ubi pulsam hiemem sol aureus egit §4.52sub terras caelumque aestiva luce reclusit, §4.53illae continuo saltus silvasque peragrant §4.54purpureosque metunt flores et flumina libant §4.55summa leves.
For the rest, when the golden sun has driven vanquished winter beneath the earth and unlocked the sky with summer light, straightway they roam through glades and woods, and harvest bright flowers, and lightly sip the surface of the streams.
Hinc nescio qua dulcedine laetae §4.56progeniem nidosque fovent, hinc arte recentes §4.57excudunt ceras et mella tenacia fingunt.
Hence, glad with some sweet delight, they cherish their offspring and nests; hence with skill they forge fresh wax and mold the clinging honey.
§4.58Hinc ubi iam emissum caveis ad sidera caeli §4.59nare per aestatem liquidam suspexeris agmen §4.60obscuramque trahi vento mirabere nubem, §4.61contemplator: aquas dulces et frondea semper §4.62tecta petunt.
Hence, when you look up and see a swarm newly released from the hives floating towards the stars of heaven through the clear summer air, and marvel at the dark cloud dragged by the wind, watch closely: they always seek sweet waters and leafy shelters.
Huc tu iussos adsperge sapores, §4.63trita melisphylla et cerinthae ignobile gramen, §4.64tinnitusque cie et Matris quate cymbala circum.
Here do you sprinkle the prescribed scents, bruised balm and the humble herb of honeywort, and raise a tinkling din, and shake the cymbals of the Great Mother around.
They of themselves will settle on the scented spots, of themselves they will hide in the innermost cradle after their custom.
§4.67Sin autem ad pugnam exierint, nam saepe duobus §4.68regibus incessit magno discordia motu, §4.69continuoque animos vulgi et trepidantia bello §4.70corda licet longe praesciscere; namque morantes §4.71Martius ille aeris rauci canor increpat et vox §4.72auditur fractos sonitus imitata tubarum; §4.73tum trepidae inter se coeunt pennisque coruscant §4.74spiculaque exacuunt rostris aptantque lacertos §4.75et circa regem atque ipsa ad praetoria densae §4.76miscentur magnisque vocant clamoribus hostem.
But if they have gone forth to battle—for often discord with great commotion falls upon two kings— straightway you may foreknow from afar the minds of the crowd and their hearts trembling for war; for that martial clang of hoarse brass chides the loiterers, and a sound is heard mimicking the broken blasts of trumpets; then, trembling, they gather together, and flash with their wings, and sharpen their stings with their beaks, and make ready their arms, and crowd around their king and his very headquarters, and with loud cries challenge the enemy.
§4.77Ergo ubi ver nactae sudum camposque patentes, §4.78erumpunt portis; concurritur, aethere in alto §4.79fit sonitus, magnum mixtae glomerantur in orbem §4.80praecipitesque cadunt; non densior aere grando, §4.81nec de concussa tantum pluit ilice glandis.
Therefore, when they find a clear spring day and open fields, they burst forth from the gates; there is a clash, a sound arises in the high air, they gather mixed into a great wheel, and fall headlong; not thicker is hail from the sky, nor does so much acorn rain from a shaken oak.
§4.82ipsi per medias acies insignibus alis
The kings themselves, through the midst of the battlelines, with distinguished wings...