INTRODUCTION TO THE GEORGICS.

THE civil wars, that had distracted the Roman empire, had nearly desolated Italy. The land lay neglected, and the inhabitants were reduced to great distress for want of the necessaries of life. In this state of things, they cast the blame upon Augustus, and murmured against his administration. To remedy the existing evils, and to avert heavier calamities, it became necessary to revive agriculture; which for many years had been almost wholly neglected, the people being taken from their lands to supply the armies. It occurred to Mæcenas that a treatise upon that subject would be highly useful to the inhabitants of Italy; he therefore engaged Virgil, who had just finished his Eclogues, to undertake the work. It had the desired effect. For, after the publication of the Georgics, Italy began to assume a new and flourishing appearance, and the people found themselves in plenty, and in the enjoyment of peace and content. Virgil spent about seven years in this part of his works. His correct taste, his chaste style, and above all, his extensive knowledge, duly qualified him for a work of this kind. The Georgics, like the Eclogues, were every where well received.

The rules for the improvement of husbandry, and the advice given to the farmer upon the several subjects connected with it, were not only suited to the climate of Italy, but have been esteemed valuable in every country where "due honor has been paid to the plough," down to the present time.

The word Georgica is from the Greek. Its original word properly signifies the cultivation or tillage of the earth. In the Georgics, Virgil imitated Hesiod, who wrote a treatise upon this subject, entitled, Opera et Dies, but he far excelled him in every respect. He began this part of his works in the year of Rome 717, being then about thirty-two years of age, and dedicated it to Macenas, his friend and patron, at whose request he wrote it.

The Georgics are divided into four books. The first treats of the various soils, and the proper method of managing each. The second treats of the various ways of propagating fruit trees, and particularly the vine. The third treats of the several kinds of grass, and the proper method of raising horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. The fourth treats of the proper management of bees.

With the main subject, the poet hath interwoven several very interesting fables and episodes, which contribute to our pleasure, and relieve the mind under the dryness of precept.

QUESTIONS.

What was the state of Italy, when Virgil began his Georgics?

At whose request did he write them?
To whom did he dedicate them?
What is the meaning of the word Geor-
gica, or Georgics?

From what language is the word derived? What effect had the Georgics upon the state of Italy?

How long was Virgil in writing them?
In what year of Rome did he begin them?

Were they well received by his countrymen? Was Virgil well qualified to write upon the subject of agriculture?

Whom did he imitate?

What is the comparative merit of each work?

Do the Georgics contain valuable rules and directions to the agriculturist in all countries?

Into how many books are they divided?
What is the subject of each book? &c.

P. VIRGILII MARONIS

GEORGICA.

LIBER PRIMUS.

THIS BOOK opens with the plan of the whole work: and in the four first lines informs us of the subject of each book. The poet then proceeds to invoke the gods, that were thought to have any concern in the affairs of tillage or husbandry; and particularly, he compliments Augustus with divinity. After which, he goes on to show the different kinds of tillage proper for the different soils. He traces out the origin of agriculture. He describes the various implements proper for that use. He notices the prognostics of the weather. And concludes, by relating the prodigies which happened about the time of Julius Cæsar's death; and by invoking the gods for the safety of Augustus, his prince.

The whole is embellished with a variety of other matter, so judiciously blended with the subject, that, besides preventing languor and fatigue under the dryness of precept, it contributes to our pleasure and delight.

QUID faciat lætas segetes; quo sidere terram
Vertere, Mæcenas, ulmisque adjungere vites,
Conveniat: quæ cura boum; qui cultus habendo
Sit pecori; atque apibus quanta experientia parcis ;
Hinc canere incipiam. Vos, ô clarissima mundi
Lumina, labentem cœlo quæ ducitis annum.
Liber et alma Ceres, vestro si munere tellus
Chaoniam pingui glandem mutavit aristâ,
Poculaque inventis Acheloïa miscuit uvis :

NOTES.

1. Latas: in the sense of copiosas vel fertiles.

3. Qui cultus, &c. What management is necessary for raising cattle. It is plain that necessarius, aptus, or some word of the like import, is to be supplied, agreeing with cultus. Habendo may be a future part. pass. or a gerund in do, of the dat. case.

4. Quanta experientia, &c. How great care, or attention, is necessary to rear the frugal bees. Or, it may mean; how great experience, foresight, and regular management, in their affairs, there may be to the frugal bees. When sentences are very elliptical, it is sometimes difficult to fall upon the meaning of the author.

6. Lumina. We are here to understand, apprehend, the sun and moon, as they go

2. O Mecenas, incipiam canere hinc, quid faciat lætas segetes, quo sidere conveniat vertere 5 terram

3. Que sit cura boum;

qui

7. O Liber, et alma Ceres, si

vern the seasons; rather than Ceres and Bacchus, as some imagine.

7. Liber et alma Ceres. Rumus considers these as the Clarissima Lumina mundi in the preceding line. But the reason which he gives for so doing appears insufficient. Alma: an adj. cherishing-nourishing. In this sense it is a very appropriate epithet of Ceres, as being the goddess of husbandry. It also signifies, pure-holy, &c.

8. Chaoniam glandem: Chaonian acorns, or mast: here put for mast in general; the species for the genus. Chaoniam: an adj. from Chaonia, a part of Epirus, in which was the famous grove Dodona,that abounded in mast-trees.

9. Acheloïa pocula: draughts of pure wa ter. Pocula, properly the cups, here put by

10. Et vos, O Fauni, Et vos, agrestûm præsentia numina, Fauni, præsentia numina agres- Ferte simul Faunique pedem Dryadesque puellæ ; tum; O Faunique Dry- Munera vestra cano. Tuque ô, cui prima frementem Fudit equum magno tellus percussa tridenti,

14. Et, tu O Aristae, Neptune: et cultor nemorum, cui pinguia Cææ cultor nemorum, cui ter Ter centum nivei tondent dumeta juvenci: centum nivei juvenci Ipse nemus linquens patrium, saltusque Lycæi, 16. Tu ipse, O Tegeæc

Pan, custos ovium, lin- Pan ovium custos, tua si tibi Mænala curæ, quens patrium nemus, Adsis, ô Tegeæe, favens: oleæque Minerva

NOTES.