The Works of Virgil

LIBRARY

...be accustomed to service, once their limbs are formed and firm. Now, let the calves original: "vitulos" be driven to heavy carts; let empty wheels be drawn by them so often across the soil that they leave only light tracks in the dust. Afterwards, let the beechen axle, straining under a heavy load, creak, and let the bronze-bound pole original: "temo aereus" pull the joined wheels. Meanwhile, for the unbroken young, you shall gather not just grass, nor the thin leaves of willows and swamp-sedge, but pluck grain with your hand. Nor shall your pregnant cows, after the manner of our fathers, fill the snowy milk-pails; rather, they shall spend all the richness of their udders on their dear offspring.

But if your interest is rather toward war and fierce squadrons, or to glide past the Alpheos The Alpheos is the longest river in the Peloponnese, flowing past Olympia; Virgil refers here to the training of horses for the Olympic Games. rivers of Pisa and to drive flying chariots in the grove of Jupiter: the horse's first task is to look upon the spirit and arms of warriors, and to endure the trumpets original: "lituos"; a lituus was a curved bronze trumpet used by the Roman cavalry., and to bear the groan of the wheel in its track, and to hear the rattling of bridles in the stable. Then, more and more, let him rejoice in the flattering praises of his master and love the sound of his neck being patted.

LIBRARY

Even from the time he is first weaned from his mother's breast, let him venture this, and in turn offer his tender mouth to the soft halters original: "capistris".