(7) Lit. "farming is best adapted to rearing horses along with other
produce."
(8) Lit. "to labour willingly and earnestly at hunting earth helps to
incite us somewhat."
Earth, too, adds stimulus in war-time to earth's tillers; she pricks them on to aid the country under arms, and this she does by fostering her fruits in open field, the prize of valour for the mightiest. (9) For this also is the art athletic, this of husbandry; as thereby men are fitted to run, and hurl the spear, and leap with the best. (10)
(9) Cf. "Hipparch," viii. 8.
(10) Cf. "Hunting," xii. 1 foll.
This, too, is that kindliest of arts which makes requital tenfold in kind for every work of the labourer. (11) She is the sweet mistress who, with smile of welcome and outstretched hand, greets the approach of her devoted one, seeming to say, Take from me all thy heart's desire. She is the generous hostess; she keeps open house for the stranger. (12) For where else, save in some happy rural seat of her devising, shall a man more cheerily cherish content in winter, with bubbling bath and blazing fire? or where, save afield, in summer rest more sweetly, lulled by babbling streams, soft airs, and tender shades? (13)
(11) Lit. "What art makes an ampler return for their labour to those
who work for her? What art more sweetly welcomes him that is
devoted to her?"
(12) Lit. "What art welcomes the stranger with greater prodigality?"
(13) See "Hellenica Essays," p. 380; and as still more to the point,
Cowley's Essays: "Of Agriculture," passim.
Her high prerogative it is to offer fitting first-fruits to high heaven, hers to furnish forth the overflowing festal board. (14) Hers is a kindly presence in the household. She is the good wife's favourite, the children long for her, she waves her hand winningly to the master's friends.
(14) Or, "to appoint the festal board most bounteously."
For myself, I marvel greatly if it has ever fallen to the lot of freeborn man to own a choicer possession, or to discover an occupation more seductive, or of wider usefulness in life than this.
But, furthermore, earth of her own will (15) gives lessons in justice and uprightness to all who can understand her meaning, since the nobler the service of devotion rendered, the ampler the riches of her recompense. (16) One day, perchance, these pupils of hers, whose conversation in past times was in husbandry, (17) shall, by reason of the multitude of invading armies, be ousted from their labours. The work of their hands may indeed be snatched from them, but they were brought up in stout and manly fashion. They stand, each one of them, in body and soul equipped; and, save God himself shall hinder them, they will march into the territory of those their human hinderers, and take from them the wherewithal to support their lives. Since often enough in war it is surer and safer to quest for food with sword and buckler than with all the instruments of husbandry.
(15) Reading {thelousa}, vulg., or if after Cobet, {theos ousa},
transl. "by sanction of her divinity." With {thelousa} Holden
aptly compares Virgil's "volentia rura," "Georg." ii. 500.
(16) "That is, her 'lex talionis.'"
(17) "Engaged long time in husbandry."