L. IUNIUS MODERATUS COLUMELLA
DE RE RUSTICA LIBER DECIMUS





CEPURICUS DE CULTU HORTORUM

Faenoris tui, Silvine, quod stipulanti spoponderam tibi, reliquam pensiunculam percipe. Nam superioribus novem libris hac minus parte debitum, quod nunc persolvo, reddideram. Superest ergo cultus hortorum segnis ac neglectus quondam veteribus agricolis, nunc vel celeberrimus. Siquidem cum parcior apud priscos esset frugalitas, largior tamen pauperibus fuit usus epularum, lactis copia ferinaeque ac domesticarum pecudum carne velut aqua frumentoque summis atque humillimis victum tolerantibus.
[2] Mox cum sequens et praecipue nostra aetas dapibus libidinosa pretia constituerit cenaeque non naturalibus desideriis sed censibus aestimentur, plebeia paupertas summota pretiosioribus cibis ad vulgares compellitur. [3] Quare cultus hortorum, quorum iam fructus magis in usu est, diligentius nobis, quam tradidere maiores, praecipiendus est, isque, sicut institueram, prorsa oratione prioribus subnecteretur exordiis, nisi propositum meum expugnasset frequens postulatio tua, quae praecepit, ut poeticis numeris explerem georgici carminis omissas partis, quas tamen et ipse Vergilius significaverat posteris se memorandas relinquere. Neque enim aliter istud nobis fuerat audendum quam ex voluntate vatis maxime venerandi; [4] cuius quasi numine instigante pigre sine dubio propter difficultatem operis, verumtamen non sine spe prosperi successus adgressi sumus tenuem admodum et paene viduatam corpore materiam, quae tam exilis est, ut in consummatione quidem totius operis adnumerari veluti particula possit laboris nostri, per se vero et quasi suis finibus terminata nullo modo speciose conspici. Nam etsi multa sunt eius quasi membra, de quibus aliquid possumus effari, tamen eadem tam exigua sunt, ut, quod aiunt Graeci, ex inconprehensibili parvitate harenae funis effici non possit. [5] Quare quicquid est istud, quod elucubravimus, adeo propriam sibi laudem non vindicat, ut boni consulat, si non sit dedecori prius editis a me scriptorum monumentis. Sed iam praefari desinamus.

                          Hortorum quoque te cultus, Silvine, docebo,
                          atque ea quae quondam spatiis exclusus iniquis,
                          cum caneret laetas segetes et munera Bacchi,
                          et te, magna Pales, necnon caelestia mella,
                          Vergilius nobis post se memoranda reliquit.                     5
                          Principio sedem numeroso praebeat horto
                          pinguis ager putris glebae resolutaque terga
                          qui gerit, et fossus gracilis imitatur harenas,
                          atque habilis natura soli, quae gramine laeto
                          parturit, et rutilas ebuli creat uvida bacas.                       10
                          Nam neque sicca placet, nec quae stagnata palude
                          perpetitur querulae semper convicia ranae.
                          Tum quae sponte sua frondosas educat ulmos
                          palmitibusque feris laetatur, et aspera silvis
                          achradis, aut pruni lapidosis obruta pomis                       15
                          gaudet, et iniussi consternitur ubere mali;
                          sed negat elleboros, et noxia carbasa suco,
                          nec patitur taxos, nec strenua toxica sudat,
                          quamvis semihominis vesano gramine feta
                          mandragorae pariat flores maestamque cicutam                20
                          nec manibus mitis ferulas nec cruribus aequa
                          terga rubi spinisque ferat paliuron acutis.
                          Vicini quoque sint amnes, quos incola durus
                          attrahat auxilio semper sitientibus hortis,
                          aut fons inlacrimet putei non sede profunda,                     25
                          ne gravis hausuris tendentibus ilia vellat.
                          Talis humus vel parietibus vel saepibus hirtis
                          claudatur, ne sit pecori neu pervia furi.
                          Neu tibi Daedaliae quaerantur munera dextrae,
                          nec Polyclitea nec Phradmonis aut Ageladae                    30
                          arte laboretur, sed truncum forte dolatum
                          arboris antiquae numen venerare Priapi
                          terribilis membri, medio qui semper in horto
                          inguinibus puero, praedoni falce minetur.
                          Ergo age nunc cultus et tempora quaeque serendis            35
                          seminibus, quae cura satis, quo sidere primum
                          nascantur flores Paestique rosaria gemment,
                          quo Bacchi genus aut aliena stirpe gravata
                          mitis adoptatis curvetur frugibus arbos,
                          Pierides tenui deducite carmine Musae.                          40
                          Oceani sitiens cum iam Canis hauserit undas,
                          et paribus Titan orbem libraverit horis,
                          cum satur Autumnus quassans sua tempora pomis
                          sordidus et musto spumantis exprimet uvas,
                          tum mihi ferrato versetur robore palae                          45
                          dulcis humus, si iam pluviis defessa madebit.
                          At si cruda manet caelo durata sereno,
                          tum iussi veniant declivi tramite rivi,
                          terra bibat fontis et hiantia compleat ora.
                          Quod si nec caeli nec campi competit humor,                     50
                          ingeniumque loci vel Iuppiter abnegat imbrem,
                          exspectetur hiemps dum Bacchi Gnosius ardor
                          aequore caeruleo celetur vertice mundi,
                          solis et adversos metuant Atlantides ortus.
                          Atque ubi iam tuto necdum confisus Olympo                    55
                          sed trepidus profugit chelas et spicula Phoebus
                          dira Nepae tergoque Croti festinat equino,
                          nescia plebs generis matri ne parcite falsae.
                          Ista Prometheae genetrix fuit altera cretae;
                          altera nos enixa parens, quo tempore saevos                    60
                          tellurem ponto mersit Neptunus, et imum
                          concutiens barathrum Lethaeas terruit undas.
                          Tumque semel Stygium regem videre trementem
                          Tartara, cum pelagi streperent sub pondere Manes.
                          Nos fecunda manus viduo mortalibus orbe                         65
                          progenerat, nos abruptae tum montibus altis
                          Deucalioneae cautes peperere. Sed ecce
                          durior aeternusque vocat labor: eia age segnis
                          pellite nunc somnos, et curvi vomere dentis
                          iam viridis lacerate comas, iam scindite amictus.                  70
                          Tu gravibus rastris cunctantia perfode terga,
                          tu penitus latis eradere viscera marris
                          ne dubita, et summo ferventia cespite mixta
                          ponere, quae canis iaceant urenda pruinis,
                          verberibus gelidis iraeque obnoxia Cauri,                     75
                          alliget ut saevus Boreas Eurusque resolvat.
                          Post ubi Riphaeae torpentia frigora brumae
                          candidus aprica Zephyrus regelaverit aura
                          sidereoque polo cedet Lyra mersa profundo,
                          veris et adventum nidis cantabit hirundo,                     80
                          rudere tum pingui, solido vel stercore aselli,
                          armentive fimo saturet ieiunia terrae
                          ipse ferens holitor diruptos pondere qualos,
                          pabula nec pudeat fisso praebere novali
                          immundis quaecumque vomit latrina cloacis.                     85
                          Densaque iam pluviis durataque summa pruinis
                          aequora dulcis humi repetat mucrone bidentis.
                          Mox bene cum glebis vivacem cespitis herbam
                          contundat marrae vel fracti dente ligonis,
                          putria maturi solvantur ut ubera campi.                            90
                          Tunc quoque trita solo splendentia sarcula sumat
                          angustosque foros adverso limite ducens,
                          rursus in obliquum distinguat tramite parvo.
                          Verum ubi iam puro discrimine pectita tellus
                          deposito squalore nitens sua semina poscet,                     95
                          pingite tunc varios, terrestria sidera, flores,
                          candida leucoia, et flaventia lumina caltae,
                          narcissique comas, et hiantis saeva leonis
                          ora feri, calathisque virentia lilia canis,
                          nec non vel niveos vel caeruleos hyacinthos.                      100
                          Tum quae pallet humi, quae frondens purpurat auro,
                          ponatur viola, et nimium rosa plena pudoris.
                          Nunc medica panacem lacrima, sucoque salubri
                          glaucea, et profugos vinctura papavera somnos
                          spargite, quaeque viros acuunt armantque puellis,                105
                          iam Megaris veniant genitalia semina bulbi,
                          et quae Sicca legit Getulis obruta glebis,
                          et quae frugifero seritur vicina Priapo,
                          excitet ut Veneri tardos eruca maritos.
                          Iam breve chaerepolum et torpenti grata palato                    110
                          intiba, iam teneris frondens lactucula fibris
                          aliaque infractis spicis et olentia late
                          ulpica quaeque fabis habilis fabrilia miscet.
                          Iam siser Assyrioque venit quae semine radix
                          sectaque praebetur madido sociata lupino,                     115
                          ut Pelusiaci proritet pocula zythi.
                          Tempore non alio vili quoque salgama merce
                          capparis et tristes inulae ferulaeque minaces
                          plantantur, nec non serpentia gramina mentae
                          et bene odorati flores sparguntur anethi                    120
                          rutaque Palladiae bacae iutura saporem
                          seque lacessenti fletum factura sinapis,
                          atque holeris pulli radix lacrimosaque caepa
                          ponitur et lactis gustus quae condiat herba,
                          deletura quidem fronti data signa fugarum,                     125
                          vimque suam idcirco profitetur nomine Graio.
                          Tum quoque conseritur, toto quae plurima terrae
                          orbe virens pariter plebi regique superbo
                          frigoribus caules et veri cymata mittit:
                          quae pariunt veteres cesposo litore Cumae,                     130
                          quae Marrucini, quae Signia monte Lepino,
                          pinguis item Capua, et Caudinis faucibus horti,
                          fontibus et Stabiae celebres et Vesuvia rura,
                          doctaque Parthenope Sebethide roscida lympha,
                          quae dulcis Pompeia palus vicina salinis                    135
                          Herculeis vitreoque Siler qui defluit amni,
                          quae duri praebent cymosa stirpe Sabelli,
                         et Turni lacus et pomosi Tiburis arva,
                          Bruttia quae tellus et mater Aricia porri.
                          Haec ubi credidimus resolutae semina terrae,                     140
                          adsiduo gravidam cultu curaque fovemus,
                          ut redeant nobis cumulato fenore messes.
                          Et primum moneo largos inducere fontis,
                          ne sitis exurat concepto semine partum.
                          At cum feta suos nexus adaperta resolvit,                     145
                          florida cum soboles materno pullulat arvo,
                          primitiis plantae modicos tum praebeat imbres
                          sedulus inrorans holitor ferroque bicorni
                          pectat, et angentem sulcis exterminet herbam.
                          At si dumosis positi sunt collibus horti                    150
                          nec summo nemoris labuntur vertice rivi,
                          aggere praeposito cumulatis area glebis
                          emineat, sicco ut consuescat pulvere planta,
                          nec mutata loco sitiens exhorreat aestus.
                          Mox ubi nubigenae Phrixi nec portitor Helles                    155
                          signorum et pecorum princeps caput efferet undis,
                          alma sinum tellus iam pandet adultaque poscens
                          semina depositis cupiet se nubere plantis:
                          invigilate, viri; tacito nam tempora gressu
                          diffugiunt nulloque sono convertitur annus.                     160
                          Flagitat ecce suos genetrix mitissima fetus,
                          et, quos enixa est partus iam quaerit alendos
                          privignasque rogat proles. Date nunc sua matri
                          pignora, tempus adest; viridi redimite parentem
                          progenie, tu cinge comas, tu dissere crinis.                     165
                          Nunc apio viridi crispetur florida tellus,
                          nunc capitis porri longo resoluta capillo
                          laetetur mollemque sinum staphylinus inumbret.
                          Nunc et odoratae peregrino munere plantae
                          Sicaniis croceae descendant montibus Hyblae,                     170
                          nataque iam veniant hilaro sampsucha Canopo,
                          et lacrimas imitata tuas, Cinyreia virgo,
                          sed melior stactis ponatur Achaia murra,
                          et male damnati maesto qui sanguine surgunt
                          Aeacii flores inmortalesque amaranti                    175
                          et quos mille parit dives natura colores
                          disponat plantis holitor, quos semine sevit.
                          Nunc veniat quamvis oculis inimica coramble,
                          iamque salutari properet lactuca sapore,
                          tristia quae relevat longi fastidia morbi.                     180
                          Altera crebra viret, fusco nitet altera crine,
                          utraque Caecilii de nomine dicta Metelli;
                          tertia, quae spisso sed puro vertice pallet,
                          haec sua Cappadocae servat cognomina gentis.
                          Et mea, quam generant Tartesi litore Gades,                     185
                          candida vibrato discrimine, candida thyrso est.
                          Cypros item Paphio quam pingui nutrit in arvo,
                          punicea depexa coma, sed lactea crure est.
                          Quot facies, totidem sunt tempora quamque serendi.
                          Caeciliam primo deponit Aquarius anno,                         190
                          Cappadocamque premit ferali mense Lupercus.
                          Tuque tuis, Mavors, Tartessida pange kalendis,
                          tuque tuis Paphien, Cythereia, pange kalendis;
                          dum cupit et cupidae quaerit se iungere matri
                          et mater facili mollissima subiacet arvo,                     195
                          ingenera; nunc sunt genitalia tempora mundi,
                          nunc amor ad coitus properat, nunc spiritus orbis
                          bacchatur Veneri stimulisque cupidinis actus
                          ipse suos adamat partus et fetibus implet.
                          Nunc pater aequoreus, nunc et regnator aquarum,                     200
                          ille suam Tethyn, hic polluit Amphitriten,
                          et iam caeruleo partus enixa marito
                          utraque nunc reserat pontumque natantibus implet.
                          Maximus ipse deum posito iam fulmine fallax
                          Acrisioneos veteres imitatur amores,                                   205
                          inque sinus matris violento depluit imbre.
                          Nec genetrix nati nunc aspernatur amorem,
                          et patitur nexus flammata cupidine tellus.
                          Hinc maria, hinc montes, hinc totus denique mundus
                          ver agit, hinc hominum pecudum volucrumque cupido               210
                          atque amor ignescit menti saevitque medullis,
                          dum satiata Venus fecundos compleat artus,
                          et generet varias soboles semperque frequentet
                          prole nova mundum, vacuo ne torpeat aevo.
                          Sed quid ego infreno volitare per aethera cursu                    215
                          passus equos audax sublimi tramite raptor?
                          Ista canit, maiore deo quem Delphica laurus
                          impulit ad rerum causas et sacra moventem
                          orgia naturae secretaque foedera caeli
                          exstimulat vatem per Dindyma casta Cybeles                    220
                          perque Cithaeronem, Nyseia per iuga Bacchi,
                          per sua Parnasi, per amica silentia Musis
                          Pierii nemoris, Bacchea voce frementem
                          Delie te Paean, et te Euhie Euhie Paean.
                          Me mea Calliope cura leviore vagantem                    225
                          iam revocat parvoque iubet decurrere gyro,
                          et secum gracili conectere carmina filo,
                          quae canat inter opus Musa modulante putator
                          pendulus arbustis, holitor viridantibus hortis.
                          Quare age, quod sequitur, parvo discrimine sulci                    230
                          spargantur caecis nasturcia dira colubris,
                          indomito male sana cibo quas educat alvus,
                          et satureia thymi referens thymbraeque saporem,
                          et tenero cucumis fragilique cucurbita collo.
                          Hispida ponatur cinara, quae dulcis Iaccho                    235
                          potanti veniat nec Phoebo grata canenti.
                          Haec modo purpureo surgit glomerata corymbo,
                          murteolo modo crine viret deflexaque collo
                          nunc adaperta manet, nunc pinea vertice pungit,
                          nunc similis calatho spinisque minantibus horret,                     240
                          pallida nonnumquam tortos imitatur acanthos.
                          Mox ubi sanguineis se floribus induit arbos
                          Punica, quae rutilo mitescit tegmine grani,
                          tempus aris satio famosaque tunc coriandra
                          nascuntur gracilique melanthia grata cumino,                     245
                          et baca asparagi spinosa prosilit herba,
                          et moloche, prono sequitur quae vertice solem,
                          quaeque tuas audax imitatur, Nysie, vitis,
                          nec metuit sentis; nam vepribus improba surgens
                          achradas indomitasque bryonias alligat alnos.                     250
                          Nomine tum Graio, ceu littera proxima primae
                          pangitur in cera docti mucrone magistri,
                          sic et humo pingui ferratae cuspidis ictu
                          deprimitur folio viridis, pede candida beta.
                          Quin et odoratis messis iam floribus instat,                     255
                          iam ver purpureum, iam versicoloribus anni
                          fetibus alma parens pingi sua tempora gaudet.
                          Iam Phrygiae loti gemmantia lumina promunt,
                          et coniventis oculos violaria solvunt;
                          oscitat et leo, et ingenuo confusa rubore                    260
                          virgineas adaperta genas rosa praebet honores
                          caelitibus templisque Sabaeum miscet odorem.
                          Nunc vos Pegasidum comites Acheloidas oro
                          Maenaliosque choros Dryadum nymphasque Napaeas,
                          quae colitis nemus Amphrysi, quae Thessala Tempe,                    265
                          quae iuga Cyllenes et opaci rura Lycaei
                          antraque Castaliis semper rorantia guttis,
                          et quae Sicanii flores legistis Halaesi,
                          cum Cereris proles vestris intenta choreis
                          aequoris Hennaei vernantia lilia carpsit                    270
                          raptaque Lethaei coniunx mox facta tyranni
                          sideribus tristis umbras et Tartara caelo
                          praeposuit Ditemque Iovi letumque saluti
                          et nunc inferno potitur Proserpina regno;
                          vos quoque iam posito luctu maestoque timore                    275
                          huc facili gressu teneras advertite plantas
                          tellurisque comas sacris aptate canistris.
                          Hinc nullae insidiae nymphis, non ulla rapina,
                          casta Fides nobis colitur sanctique Penates.
                          Omnia plena iocis, securo plena cachinno,                     280
                          plena mero laetisque virent convivia pratis.
                          Nunc ver egelidum, nunc est mollissimus annus,
                          dum Phoebus tener, ac tenera decumbere in herba
                          suadet, et arguto fugientis gramine fontis
                          nec rigidos potare iuvat, nec sole tepentis.                     285
                          Iamque Dionaeis redimitur floribus hortus,
                          iam rosa mitescit Sarrano clarior ostro.
                          Nec tam nubifugo Borea Latonia Phoebe
                          purpureo radiat vultu, nec Sirius ardor
                          sic micat, aut rutilus Pyrois, aut ore corusco                    290
                          Hesperus, Eoo remeat cum Lucifer ortu,
                          nec tam sidereo fulget Thaumantias arcu,
                          quam nitidis hilares conlucent fetibus horti.
                          Quare age vel iubare exorto iam nocte suprema,
                          vel dum Phoebus equos in gurgite mersat Hibero,                     295
                          sicubi odoratas praetexit amaracus umbras,
                          carpite narcissique comas sterilisque balausti.
                          Et tu, ne Corydonis opes despernat Alexis,
                          formoso Nais puero formosior ipsa
                          fer calathis violam et nigro permixta ligustro                    300
                          balsama cum casia nectens croceosque corymbos
                          sparge mero Bacchi; nam Bacchus condit odores.
                          Et vos, agrestes, duro qui pollice mollis
                          demetitis flores, cano iam vimine textum
                          sirpiculum ferrugineis cumulate hyacinthis.                     305
                          Iam rosa distendat contorti stamina iunci,
                          pressaque flammeola rumpatur fiscina calta,
                          mercibus ut vernis dives Vortumnus abundet,
                          et titubante gradu multo madefactus Iaccho
                          aere sinus gerulus plenos gravis urbe reportet.                     310
                          Sed cum maturis flavebit messis aristis
                          atque diem gemino Titan extenderit astro,
                          hauserit et flammis Lernaei brachia Cancri,
                          alia tunc caepis, Cereale papaver anetho
                          iungite, dumque virent, nexos deferte maniplos                    315
                          et celebres Fortis Fortunae dicite laudes
                          mercibus exactis hilarisque recurrite in hortos.
                          Tunc quoque proscisso riguoque inspersa novali
                          ocima comprimite et gravibus densate cylindris,
                          exurat sata ne resoluti pulveris aestus,                     320
                          parvulus aut pulex inrepens dente lacessat,
                          neu formica rapax populari semina possit.
                          Nec solum teneras audent erodere frondes
                          implicitus conchae limax hirsutaque campe,
                          sed cum iam valido pinguescit lurida caule                    325
                          brassica cumque tument pallentia robora betae
                          mercibus atque holitor gaudet securus adultis
                          et iam maturis quaerit supponere falcem,
                          saepe ferus duros iaculatur Iuppiter imbres,
                          grandine dilapidans hominumque boumque labores;              330
                          saepe etiam gravidis inrorat pestifer undis,
                          e quibus infestae Baccho glaucisque salictis
                          nascuntur volucres serpitque eruca per hortos,
                          quos super ingrediens exurit semina morsu,
                          quae capitis viduata comas spoliataque nudo                    335
                          vertice trunca iacent tristi consumpta veneno.
                          Haec ne ruricolae paterentur monstra, salutis
                          ipsa novas artis varia experientia rerum
                          et labor ostendit miseris ususque magister
                          tradidit agricolis ventos sedare furentis                    340
                          et tempestatem Tuscis avertere sacris.
                          Hinc mala Rubigo viridis ne torreat herbas,
                          sanguine lactentis catuli placatur et extis.
                          Hinc caput Arcadici nudum cute fertur aselli
                          Tyrrhenus fixisse Tages in limite ruris,                     345
                          utque Iovis magni prohiberet fulgura Tarchon,
                          saepe suas sedes praecinxit vitibus albis.
                          Hinc Amythaonius, docuit quem plurima Chiron,
                          nocturnas crucibus volucres suspendit et altis
                          culminibus vetuit feralia carmina flere.                     350
                          Sed ne dira novas segetes animalia carpant,
                          profuit interdum medicantem semina pingui
                          Palladia sine fruge salis conspargere amurca,
                          innatave laris nigra satiare favilla.
                          Profuit et plantis latices infundere amaros                    355
                          marruvii multoque sedi contingere suco.
                          At si nulla valet medicina repellere pestem,
                          Dardaniae veniunt artes nudataque plantas
                          femina, quae iustis tum demum operata iuvencae
                          legibus obsceno manat pudibunda cruore,                     360
                          sed resoluta sinus, resoluto maesta capillo,
                          ter circum areolas et saepem ducitur horti.
                          Quem cum lustravit gradiens, mirabile visu,
                          non aliter quam decussa pluit arbore nimbus
                          vel teretis mali vel tectae cortice glandis,                     365
                          volvitur in terram distorto corpore campe.
                          Sic quondam magicis sopitum cantibus anguem
                          vellere Phrixeo delapsum vidit Iolcos.
                          Sed iam prototomos tempus decidere caules
                          et Tartesiacos Paphiosque revellere thyrsos                    370
                          atque apio fasces et secto cingere porro.
                          Iamque eruca salax fecundo provenit horto,
                          lubrica iam lapathos, iam thamni sponte virescunt
                          et scilla, hirsuto saepes nunc horrida rusco
                          prodit et asparagi corruda simillima filo                          375
                          umidaque andrachle sitientis protegit antes
                          et gravis atriplici consurgit longa phaselos.
                          Tum modo dependens trichilis, modo more chelydri
                          sole sub aestivo gelidas per graminis umbras
                          intortus cucumis praegnasque cucurbita serpit.                     380
                          Vna neque est illis facies: nam si tibi cordi
                          longior est, gracili capitis quae vertice pendet,
                          e tenui collo semen lege; sive globosi
                          corporis atque utero nimium quae vasta tumescit,
                          ventre leges medio; sobolem dabit illa capacem                    385
                          Naryciae picis aut Actaei mellis Hymetti
                          aut habilem lymphis hamulam Bacchove lagoenam,
                          tum pueros eadem fluviis innare docebit.
                          Lividus at cucumis, gravida qui nascitur alvo
                          hirtus et ut coluber nodoso gramine tectus                        390
                          ventre cubat flexo semper collectus in orbem,
                          noxius exacuit morbos aestatis iniquae.
                          fetidus hic suco, pingui quoque semine fartus.
                          At qui sub trichila manantem repit ad undam
                          labentemque sequens nimium tenuatur amore,                     395
                          candidus, effetae tremebundior ubere porcae,
                          mollior infuso calathis modo lacte gelato,
                          dulcis erit riguoque madescit luteus arvo
                          et feret auxilium quondam mortalibus aegris.
                          Cum canis Erigones flagrans Hyperionis aestu                    400
                          arboreos aperit fetus cumulataque moris
                          candida sanguineo manat fiscella cruore,
                          tunc praecox bifera descendit ab arbore ficus
                          Armeniisque et cereolis prunisque Damasci
                          stipantur calathi et pomis, quae barbara Persis                    405
                          miserat, ut fama est, patriis armata venenis.
                          At nunc expositi parvo discrimine leti
                          Ambrosios praebent sucos, oblita nocendi.
                          Quin etiam eiusdem gentis de nomine dicta
                          exiguo properant mitescere Persica malo.                       410
                          Tempestiva madent quae maxima Gallia donat,
                          frigoribus pigro veniunt Asiatica fetu.
                          At gravis Arcturi sub sidere parturit arbos
                          Livia, Chalcidicis et caunis aemula Chiis,
                          purpureaeque Chelidoniae pinguesque Mariscae               415
                          et callistruthis, roseo quae semine ridet,
                          albaque, quae servat flavae cognomina cerae,
                          scissa Libyssa simul, picto quoque Lydia tergo.
                          Quin et Tardipedi sacris iam rite solutis
                          nube nova seritur, caeli pendentibus undis,                        420
                          gongylis, inlustri mittit quam Nursia campo,
                          quaeque Amiterninis defertur bunias arvis.
                          Sed iam maturis nos flagitat anxius uvis
                          Euhius excultosque iubet claudamus ut hortos.
                          Claudimus imperioque tuo paremus agrestes,                     425
                          ac metimus laeti tua munera, dulcis Iacche,
                          inter lascivos Satyros Panasque biformes,
                          brachia iactantes vetulo marcentia vino.
                          Et te Maenalium, te Bacchum teque Lyaeum
                          Lenaeumque patrem canimus sub tecta vocantes,               430
                          ferveat ut lacus et multo completa Falerno
                          exundent pingui spumantia dolia musto.
                          Hactenus hortorum cultus, Silvine, docebam,
                          siderei vatis referens praecepta Maronis,
                          qui primus veteres ausus recludere fontis                          435
                          Ascraeum cecinit Romana per oppida carmen.



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