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nature's law For generating trees is manifold； For some of their own force
spontaneous spring； No hand of man compelling； and possess The plains
and river…windings far and wide； As pliant osier and the bending broom；
Poplar； and willows in wan companies With green leaf glimmering gray；
and some there be From chance…dropped seed that rear them； as the tall
Chestnuts； and； mightiest of the branching wood； Jove's Aesculus； and
oaks； oracular Deemed by the Greeks of old。 With some sprouts forth A
forest of dense suckers from the root； As elms and cherries； so； too； a
pigmy plant； Beneath its mother's mighty shade upshoots The bay…tree of
Parnassus。 Such the modes Nature imparted first； hence all the race Of
forest…trees and shrubs and sacred groves Springs into verdure。
Other means there are； Which use by method for itself acquired。 One；
sliving suckers from the tender frame Of the tree…mother； plants them in
the trench； One buries the bare stumps within his field； Truncheons cleft
four…wise； or sharp…pointed stakes； Some forest…trees the layer's bent arch
await； And slips yet quick within the parent…soil； No root need others； nor
doth the pruner's hand Shrink to restore the topmost shoot to earth That
gave it being。 Nay； marvellous to tell； Lopped of its limbs； the olive； a
mere stock； Still thrusts its root out from the sapless wood； And oft the
branches of one kind we see Change to another's with no loss to rue； Pear…
tree transformed the ingrafted apple yield； And stony cornels on the plum…
tree blush。 Come then； and learn what tilth to each belongs According
to their kinds； ye husbandmen； And tame with culture the wild fruits； lest
earth Lie idle。 O blithe to make all Ismarus One forest of the wine…god；
and to clothe With olives huge Tabernus！ And be thou At hand； and with
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me ply the voyage of toil I am bound on； O my glory； O thou that art
Justly the chiefest portion of my fame； Maecenas； and on this wide ocean
launched Spread sail like wings to waft thee。 Not that I With my poor
verse would comprehend the whole； Nay； though a hundred tongues； a
hundred mouths Were mine； a voice of iron； be thou at hand； Skirt but the
nearer coast…line； see the shore Is in our grasp； not now with feigned song
Through winding bouts and tedious preludings Shall I detain thee。
Those that lift their head Into the realms of light spontaneously； Fruitless
indeed； but blithe and strenuous spring； Since Nature lurks within the soil。
And yet Even these； should one engraft them； or transplant To well…drilled
trenches； will anon put of Their woodland temper； and； by frequent tilth；
To whatso craft thou summon them； make speed To follow。 So likewise
will the barren shaft That from the stock…root issueth； if it be Set out with
clear space amid open fields： Now the tree…mother's towering leaves and
boughs Darken； despoil of increase as it grows； And blast it in the bearing。
Lastly； that Which from shed seed ariseth； upward wins But slowly；
yielding promise of its shade To late…born generations； apples wane
Forgetful of their former juice； the grape Bears sorry clusters； for the birds
a prey。 Soothly on all must toil be spent； and all Trained to the trench
and at great cost subdued。 But reared from truncheons olives answer best；
As vines from layers； and from the solid wood The Paphian myrtles； while
from suckers spring Both hardy hazels and huge ash； the tree That rims
with shade the brows of Hercules； And acorns dear to the Chaonian sire：
So springs the towering palm too； and the fir Destined to spy the dangers
of the deep。 But the rough arbutus with walnut…fruit Is grafted； so have
barren planes ere now Stout apples borne； with chestnut…flower the beech；
The mountain…ash with pear…bloom whitened o'er； And swine crunched
acorns 'neath the boughs of elms。 Nor is the method of inserting eyes
And grafting one： for where the buds push forth Amidst the bark； and burst
the membranes thin； Even on the knot a narrow rift is made； Wherein from
some strange tree a germ they pen； And to the moist rind bid it cleave and
grow。 Or； otherwise； in knotless trunks is hewn A breach； and deep into the
solid grain A path with wedges cloven； then fruitful slips Are set herein；
and… no long time… behold！ To heaven upshot with teeming boughs； the
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tree Strange leaves admires and fruitage not its own。 Nor of one kind
alone are sturdy elms； Willow and lotus； nor the cypress…trees Of Ida； nor
of self…same fashion spring Fat olives； orchades； and radii And bitter…
berried pausians； no； nor yet Apples and the forests of Alcinous； Nor from
like cuttings are Crustumian pears And Syrian； and the heavy hand…fillers。
Not the same vintage from our trees hangs down； Which Lesbos from
Methymna's tendril plucks。 Vines Thasian are there； Mareotids white；
These apt for richer soils； for lighter those： Psithian for raisin…wine more
useful； thin Lageos； that one day will try the feet And tie the tongue：
purples and early…ripes； And how； O Rhaetian； shall I hymn thy praise？ Yet
cope not therefore with Falernian bins。 Vines Aminaean too； best…bodied
wine； To which the Tmolian bows him； ay； and king Phanaeus too； and；
lesser of that name； Argitis； wherewith not a grape can vie For gush of
wine…juice or for length of years。 Nor thee must I pass over； vine of
Rhodes； Welcomed by gods and at the second board； Nor thee； Bumastus；
with plump clusters swollen。 But lo！ how many kinds； and what their
names； There is no telling； nor doth it boot to tell； Who lists to know it； he
too would list to learn How many sand…grains are by Zephyr tossed On
Libya's plain； or wot； when Eurus falls With fury on the ships； how many
waves Come rolling shoreward from the Ionian sea。 Not that all soils
can all things bear alike。 Willows by water…courses have their birth； Alders
in miry fens； on rocky heights The barren mountain…ashes； on the shore
Myrtles throng gayest； Bacchus； lastly； loves The bare hillside； and yews
the north wind's chill。 Mark too the earth by outland tillers tamed； And
Eastern homes of Arabs； and tattooed Geloni； to all trees their native lands
Allotted are； no clime but India bears Black ebony； the branch of
frankincense Is Saba's sons' alone； why tell to thee Of balsams oozing
from the perfumed wood； Or berries of acanthus ever green？ Of Aethiop
forests hoar with downy wool； Or how the Seres comb from off the leaves
Their silky fleece？ Of groves which India bears； Ocean's near neighbour；
earth's remotest nook； Where not an arrow…shot can cleave the air Above
their tree…tops？ yet no laggards they； When girded with the quiver！ Media
yields The bitter juices and slow…lingering taste Of the blest citron…fruit；
than which no aid Comes timelier； when fierce step…dames drug the cup
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With simples mixed and spells of baneful power； To drive the deadly
poison from the limbs。 Large the tree's self in semblance like a bay； And；
showered it not a different scent abroad； A bay it had been； for no wind of
heaven Its foliage falls； the flower； none faster； clings； With it the Medes
for sweetness lave the lips； And ease the panting breathlessness of age。
But no； not Mede…land with its wealth of woods； Nor Ganges fair； and
Hermus thick with gold； Can match the praise of Italy； nor Ind； Nor
Bactria； nor Panchaia； one wide tract Of incense…teeming sand。 Here never
bulls With nostrils snorting fire upturned the sod Sown with the monstrous
dragon's teeth； nor crop Of warriors bristled thick with lance and helm；
But heavy harvests and the Massic juice Of Bacchus fill its borders；
overspread With fruitful flocks