the georgics(农事诗集)-第14章
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nor no second time Hell's boatman brooks he pass the watery bar。 What
should he do？ fly whither； twice bereaved？ Move with what tears the
Manes； with what voice The Powers of darkness？ She indeed even now
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29BC THE GEORGICS
Death…cold was floating on the Stygian barge！ For seven whole months
unceasingly； men say； Beneath a skyey crag； by thy lone wave； Strymon；
he wept； and in the caverns chill Unrolled his story； melting tigers' hearts；
And leading with his lay the oaks along。 As in the poplar…shade a
nightingale Mourns her lost young； which some relentless swain； Spying；
from the nest has torn unfledged； but she Wails the long night； and perched
upon a spray With sad insistence pipes her dolorous strain； Till all the
region with her wrongs o'erflows。 No love； no new desire； constrained his
soul： By snow…bound Tanais and the icy north； Far steppes to frost
Rhipaean forever wed； Alone he wandered； lost Eurydice Lamenting； and
the gifts of Dis ungiven。 Scorned by which tribute the Ciconian dames；
Amid their awful Bacchanalian rites And midnight revellings； tore him
limb from limb； And strewed his fragments over the wide fields。 Then too；
even then； what time the Hebrus stream； Oeagrian Hebrus； down mid…
current rolled； Rent from the marble neck； his drifting head； The death…
chilled tongue found yet a voice to cry 'Eurydice！ ah！ poor Eurydice！' With
parting breath he called her； and the banks From the broad stream caught
up 'Eurydice！'〃 So Proteus ending plunged into the deep； And； where he
plunged； beneath the eddying whirl Churned into foam the water； and was
gone； But not Cyrene； who unquestioned thus Bespake the trembling
listener： 〃Nay； my son； From that sad bosom thou mayst banish care：
Hence came that plague of sickness； hence the nymphs； With whom in the
tall woods the dance she wove； Wrought on thy bees； alas！ this deadly
bane。 Bend thou before the Dell…nymphs； gracious powers： Bring gifts；
and sue for pardon： they will grant Peace to thine asking； and an end of
wrath。 But how to approach them will I first unfold… Four chosen bulls of
peerless form and bulk； That browse to…day the green Lycaean heights；
Pick from thy herds； as many kine to match； Whose necks the yoke
pressed never： then for these Build up four altars by the lofty fanes； And
from their throats let gush the victims' blood； And in the greenwood leave
their bodies lone。 Then； when the ninth dawn hath displayed its beams； To
Orpheus shalt thou send his funeral dues； Poppies of Lethe； and let slay a
sheep Coal…black； then seek the grove again； and soon For pardon found
adore Eurydice With a slain calf for victim。〃
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29BC THE GEORGICS
No delay： The self…same hour he hies him forth to do His mother's bidding：
to the shrine he came； The appointed altars reared； and thither led Four
chosen bulls of peerless form and bulk； With kine to match； that never
yoke had known； Then； when the ninth dawn had led in the day； To
Orpheus sent his funeral dues； and sought The grove once more。 But
sudden； strange to tell A portent they espy： through the oxen's flesh；
Waxed soft in dissolution； hark！ there hum Bees from the belly； the rent
ribs overboil In endless clouds they spread them； till at last On yon tree…
top together fused they cling； And drop their cluster from the bending
boughs。 So sang I of the tilth of furrowed fields； Of flocks and trees；
while Caesar's majesty Launched forth the levin…bolts of war by deep
Euphrates； and bare rule o'er willing folk Though vanquished； and essayed
the heights of heaven。 I Virgil then； of sweet Parthenope The nursling；
wooed the flowery walks of peace Inglorious； who erst trilled for
shepherd…wights The wanton ditty； and sang in saucy youth Thee； Tityrus；
'neath the spreading beech tree's shade。
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