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the heights； from whence no earlier track Slopes gently downward to
Castalia's spring。 Now； awful Pales； strike a louder tone。 First； for the
sheep soft pencotes I decree To browse in； till green summer's swift return；
And that the hard earth under them with straw And handfuls of the fern be
littered deep； Lest chill of ice such tender cattle harm With scab and
loathly foot…rot。 Passing thence I bid the goats with arbute…leaves be stored；
And served with fresh spring…water； and their pens Turned southward from
the blast； to face the suns Of winter； when Aquarius' icy beam Now sinks
in showers upon the parting year。 These too no lightlier our protection
claim； Nor prove of poorer service； howsoe'er Milesian fleeces dipped in
Tyrian reds Repay the barterer； these with offspring teem More numerous；
these yield plenteous store of milk： The more each dry…wrung udder froths
the pail； More copious soon the teat…pressed torrents flow。 Ay； and on
Cinyps' bank the he…goats too Their beards and grizzled chins and bristling
hair Let clip for camp…use； or as rugs to wrap Seafaring wretches。 But they
browse the woods And summits of Lycaeus； and rough briers； And brakes
that love the highland： of themselves Right heedfully the she…goats
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homeward troop Before their kids； and with plump udders clogged Scarce
cross the threshold。 Wherefore rather ye； The less they crave man's
vigilance； be fain From ice to fend them and from snowy winds； Bring
food and feast them with their branchy fare； Nor lock your hay…loft all the
winter long。 But when glad summer at the west wind's call Sends either
flock to pasture in the glades； Soon as the day…star shineth； hie we then To
the cool meadows； while the dawn is young； The grass yet hoary； and to
browsing herds The dew tastes sweetest on the tender sward。 When
heaven's fourth hour draws on the thickening drought； And shrill cicalas
pierce the brake with song； Then at the well…springs bid them； or deep
pools； From troughs of holm…oak quaff the running wave： But at day's
hottest seek a shadowy vale； Where some vast ancient…timbered oak of
Jove Spreads his huge branches； or where huddling black Ilex on ilex
cowers in awful shade。 Then once more give them water sparingly； And
feed once more； till sunset； when cool eve Allays the air； and dewy
moonbeams slake The forest glades； with halcyon's song the shore； And
every thicket with the goldfinch rings。 Of Libya's shepherds why the
tale pursue？ Why sing their pastures and the scattered huts They house in？
Oft their cattle day and night Graze the whole month together； and go
forth Into far deserts where no shelter is； So flat the plain and boundless。
All his goods The Afric swain bears with him； house and home； Arms；
Cretan quiver； and Amyclaean dog； As some keen Roman in his country's
arms Plies the swift march beneath a cruel load； Soon with tents pitched
and at his post he stands； Ere looked for by the foe。 Not thus the tribes Of
Scythia by the far Maeotic wave； Where turbid Ister whirls his yellow
sands； And Rhodope stretched out beneath the pole Comes trending
backward。 There the herds they keep Close…pent in byres； nor any grass is
seen Upon the plain； nor leaves upon the tree： But with snow…ridges and
deep frost afar Heaped seven ells high the earth lies featureless： Still
winter？ still the north wind's icy breath！ Nay； never sun disparts the
shadows pale； Or as he rides the steep of heaven； or dips In ocean's fiery
bath his plunging car。 Quick ice…crusts curdle on the running stream； And
iron…hooped wheels the water's back now bears； To broad wains opened；
as erewhile to ships； Brass vessels oft asunder burst； and clothes Stiffen
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upon the wearers； juicy wines They cleave with axes； to one frozen mass
Whole pools are turned； and on their untrimmed beards Stiff clings the
jagged icicle。 Meanwhile All heaven no less is filled with falling snow；
The cattle perish： oxen's mighty frames Stand island…like amid the frost；
and stags In huddling herds； by that strange weight benumbed； Scarce top
the surface with their antler…points。 These with no hounds they hunt； nor
net with toils； Nor scare with terror of the crimson plume； But； as in vain
they breast the opposing block； Butcher them； knife in hand； and so
dispatch Loud…bellowing； and with glad shouts hale them home。
Themselves in deep…dug caverns underground Dwell free and careless； to
their hearths they heave Oak…logs and elm…trees whole； and fire them there；
There play the night out； and in festive glee With barm and service sour
the wine…cup mock。 So 'neath the seven…starred Hyperborean wain The
folk live tameless； buffeted with blasts Of Eurus from Rhipaean hills； and
wrap Their bodies in the tawny fells of beasts。 If wool delight thee； first；
be far removed All prickly boskage； burrs and caltrops； shun Luxuriant
pastures； at the outset choose White flocks with downy fleeces。 For the
ram； How white soe'er himself； be but the tongue 'Neath his moist palate
black； reject him； lest He sully with dark spots his offspring's fleece； And
seek some other o'er the teeming plain。 Even with such snowy bribe of
wool； if ear May trust the tale； Pan； God of Arcady； Snared and beguiled
thee； Luna； calling thee To the deep woods； nor thou didst spurn his call。
But who for milk hath longing； must himself Carry lucerne and lotus…
leaves enow With salt herbs to the cote； whence more they love The
streams； more stretch their udders； and give back A subtle taste of saltness
in the milk。 Many there be who from their mothers keep The new…born
kids； and straightway bind their mouths With iron…tipped muzzles。 What
they milk at dawn； Or in the daylight hours； at night they press； What
darkling or at sunset； this ere morn They bear away in baskets… for to town
The shepherd hies him… or with dash of salt Just sprinkle； and lay by for
winter use。 Nor be thy dogs last cared for； but alike Swift Spartan
hounds and fierce Molossian feed On fattening whey。 Never； with these to
watch； Dread nightly thief afold and ravening wolves； Or Spanish
desperadoes in the rear。 And oft the shy wild asses thou wilt chase； With
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hounds； too； hunt the hare； with hounds the doe； Oft from his woodland
wallowing…den uprouse The boar； and scare him with their baying； and
drive； And o'er the mountains urge into the toils Some antlered monster to
their chiming cry。 Learn also scented cedar…wood to burn Within the
stalls； and snakes of noxious smell With fumes of galbanum to drive away。
Oft under long…neglected cribs； or lurks A viper ill to handle； that hath fled
The light in terror； or some snake； that wont 'Neath shade and sheltering
roof to creep； and shower Its bane among the cattle； hugs the ground； Fell
scourge of kine。 Shepherd； seize stakes； seize stones！ And as he rears
defiance； and puffs out A hissing throat； down with him！ see how low That
cowering crest is vailed in flight； the while； His midmost coils and final
sweep of tail Relaxing； the last fold drags lingering spires。 Then that vile
worm that in Calabrian glades Uprears his breast； and wreathes a scaly
back； His length of belly pied with mighty spots… While from their founts
gush any streams； while yet With showers of Spring and rainy south…winds
earth Is moistened； lo！ he haunts the pools； and here Housed in the banks；
with fish and chattering frogs Crams the black void of his insatiate maw。
Soon as the fens are parched； and earth with heat Is gaping； forth he darts
into the dry； Rolls eyes of fire and rages through the fields； Furious from
thirst and by the d