When first [113]Orion’s beamy strength is born, Let then thy labourers thresh the sacred corn: Smooth be the level floor, [114]on gusty ground, Where winnowing gales may sweep in eddies round. Hoard in thy ample bins the meted grain: And now, as I advise, [115]thy hireling swain From forth thy house dismiss, when all the store Of kindly food is laid within thy door: And to thy service let a female come; But childless, for a child were burthensome. [116]Keep, too, a sharp-tooth’d dog, nor thrifty spare To feed his fierceness high with generous fare: Lest the day-slumbering thief thy nightly door Wakeful besiege, and pilfer from thy store. For ox and mule the yearly fodder lay Within thy loft; the heapy straw and hay: This care dispatch’d, refresh the bending knees Of thy tired hinds, and give thy unyoked oxen ease. When Sirius and Orion the mid-sky Ascend, and [117]on Arcturus looks from high The rosy-finger’d morn, the vintage calls: Then bear the gather’d grapes within thy walls. Ten days and nights exposed the clusters lay Bask’d in the lustre of each mellowing day: Let five their circling round successive run, Whilst lie thy frails o’ershaded from the sun: The sixth in vats the gifts of Bacchus press; Of Bacchus gladdening earth with store of pleasantness. But when beneath the skies [118]on morning’s brink The Pleiads, Hyads, and Orion sink; Know then the ploughing and the seed-time near: Thus well-disposed shall glide thy rustic year. But if thy breast with nautical desire The perilous deep’s uncertain gains inspire, When chased by strong Orion down the heaven Sink the seven stars in gloomy ocean driven; [119]Then varying winds in gustful eddies roar: Then to [120]black ocean trust thy ships no more: But heedful care to this my caution yield, And, as I bid thee, labour safe the field. Hale on firm land the ship: with stones made fast Against the staggering force of humid-blowing blast: Draw from its keel the peg, lest rotting rain Suck’d in the hollow of the hold remain: Within thy house the tackling order’d be. And furl thy vessel’s wings that skimm’d the sea: The well-framed rudder in the smoke suspend, And calm and navigable seas attend. Then launch the rapid bark: fit cargo load, And freighted rich repass the liquid road. Oh witness Perses! thus for honest gain, Thus did our mutual father plough the main. Erst, from Æolian Cuma’s distant shore, Hither in sable ship his course he bore; Through the wide seas his venturous way he took; No rich revenues; prosperous ease forsook: His wandering course from poverty began, The visitation sent from heaven to man: Ascra’s sad hamlet he his dwelling chose Where nigh impending Helicon arose: [121]In summer irksome and in winter drear,