12
THE FARM AND
Yet steep it how you may, and steam it too,
Selecting every sort with labour due,
Degenerate they will, as I have seen, 230
Unless, each year, you cull the sample clean.
Thus all things, sadly falling off, grow worse,
Relapsing, tottering, under nature's curse.
As one against the current, hard bested,
With desperate tugging strains his shallop's head, 235
If, for one breath, his brawny arms he stay,
Instant the torrent hurries him away.
Moreover, we must watch Arcturus' beam,
The rising of the Kids, the Serpent's gleam, 239
Like sailors tempest-toss'd, and homeward bound
Through Pontus, and pearl-famed Abydos' sound.
When Libra now hath balanced work and sleep,
Bisecting earth with light and shadow deep,
Urge on the bulls, sow barley o'er the plain,
E'en to the verge of surly Winter's rain. 245
Now sow the Cereal poppy-seed, and now
The flax, and lean full weight upon the plough,
While yet the favouring earth continues dry,
And clouds hang undetermined in the sky.
Sow beans in Spring, give saintfoin mellow land,
Selecting every sort with labour due,
Degenerate they will, as I have seen, 230
Unless, each year, you cull the sample clean.
Thus all things, sadly falling off, grow worse,
Relapsing, tottering, under nature's curse.
As one against the current, hard bested,
With desperate tugging strains his shallop's head, 235
If, for one breath, his brawny arms he stay,
Instant the torrent hurries him away.
Moreover, we must watch Arcturus' beam,
The rising of the Kids, the Serpent's gleam, 239
Like sailors tempest-toss'd, and homeward bound
Through Pontus, and pearl-famed Abydos' sound.
When Libra now hath balanced work and sleep,
Bisecting earth with light and shadow deep,
Urge on the bulls, sow barley o'er the plain,
E'en to the verge of surly Winter's rain. 245
Now sow the Cereal poppy-seed, and now
The flax, and lean full weight upon the plough,
While yet the favouring earth continues dry,
And clouds hang undetermined in the sky.
Sow beans in Spring, give saintfoin mellow land,
