Translation Cons. Phil. Book 1 Metrum 6
Metrum 6
1 `When the sign of the crab doth scorch the field,
2 fraught with the sun's most grievous rays,
3 the husbandman that has freely intrusted
4 his seed to the fruitless furrow,
5 is cheated by the faithless harvest-goddess;
6 and he must turn him to the oak tree's fruit.
7 When the field is scarred
8 by the bleak north winds,
9 wouldst thou seek the wood's dark carpet
10 to gather violets?
11 If thou wilt enjoy the grapes,
12 wouldst thou seek with clutching hand
13 to prune the vines in spring?
14 'Tis in autumn
15 Bacchus brings his gifts.
16 Thus God marks out the times
17 and fits to them peculiar works:
18 He has set out a course of change,
19 and lets no confusion come.
20 If aught betake itself to headlong ways,
21 and leaves its sure design,
22 ill will the outcome be thereto.