Among the daring lambs the wolf doth stray, The forest scatters wild leaves in thy way, The ditcher-man rejoices in his mirth

Thrice with his foot to beat the hated earth.

LIBER III. CARMEN XXIII.

Caelo supinas si tuleris manus
Nascente luna, rustica Phidyle,
Si ture placaris et horna
Fruge lares avidaque porca,

Nec pestilentem sentiet Africum
Fecunda vitis nec sterilem seges

Rubiginem aut dulces alumni
Pomifero grave tempus anno.

Nam quae nivali pascitur Algido
Devota quercus inter et ilices

Aut crescit Albanis in herbis
Victima, pontificum secures

BOOK III. ODE XXIII.

If upward to the Heaven thy hands thou lift,
When the moon rises, O thou maid of thrift,
If frankincense and this year's grain appease,
Aye, and a greedy swine, the Images,
Nor will the fruitful vine the pestilence,
Wafted by Southern blast, experience,
Nor corn the sterile rust, nor darling flock
The apple-bearing season's deadly shock:
For the devoted victim which is fed,
Where snowy Algidus uplifts its head,
Betwixt the oaks and ilex-trees, or thrives
In Alban grasses, shall the Pontiffs' knives

Cervice tinguet: te nihil attinet Temptare multa caede bidentium Parvos coronantem marino Rore deos fragilique myrto.

Immunis aram si tetigit manus, Non sumptuosa blandior hostia Mollivit aversos penates

Farre pio et saliente mica.

Dye with its neck. Naught doth it thee avail By shedding blood of many beasts to' assail Thy little Gods, if but with rosemary

Thou crown them, and the fragile myrtle tree. pure the hand upon the altar laid,

If pure

No costly victim makes it more persuade,
It soothes the averted Gods to turn again
By mite of crackling salt and holy grain.