The Georgicks of Hesiod by George Chapman; Translated elaborately out of the Greek: Containing Doctrine of Husbandrie, Moralitie, and Pietie; with a perpetuall Calendar of Good and Bad Daies; Not superstitious, but necessarie (as farre as naturall Causes compell) for all Men to obserue, and difference in following their affaires |
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HESIODS' BOOKE OF DAYES. |
 | The Georgicks of Hesiod |  |
36
HESIODS' BOOKE OF DAYES.
The Daies, that for thy workes, are Good, or Ill,
According to the Influence, they instill;
Of Ioue with all care, learne, and giue them then,
(For their discharge) in precept to thy Men.
The thirtith Day of euery Moneth, is best
With diligent inspection, to digest
The next Moneths workes; and part thy house-hould foods:
That being the Day, when all litigious Goods,
Are iustly sentenc't, by the peoples voyces.
And till that Daie, next Moneth, giue these Daies choyces;
For they are markt out, by most-knowing Ioue.
First, the first Day, in which the Moone doth mooue,
With radiance renu'd. And then, the fourth,
The seuenth Day, next; being first in sacred worth:
For that Day, did Latona bring to light,
The gould-sword-wearing Sun. Next then the eightth,
And ninth, are Good; being both, Daies that retaine
The Moones prime strength, t'instruct the works of Men.
The leauenth and twelfth, are likewise both Good Daies;
The twelfth yet, farre exceeds, the 'leuenths repaire;
For that Day hangs the Spinner in the Aire;
And weaues her web vp. So the Spinster, all
Her Rock then ends, exposing it to sale.
So Earth's third Huswife, the ingenious Ant,
On that Day ends her Mole-hils cure of want.
The Day her selfe, in their example then,
Tasking her fire, and bounds her length to Men.
According to the Influence, they instill;
Of Ioue with all care, learne, and giue them then,
(For their discharge) in precept to thy Men.
The thirtith Day of euery Moneth, is best
With diligent inspection, to digest
The next Moneths workes; and part thy house-hould foods:
That being the Day, when all litigious Goods,
Are iustly sentenc't, by the peoples voyces.
And till that Daie, next Moneth, giue these Daies choyces;
For they are markt out, by most-knowing Ioue.
First, the first Day, in which the Moone doth mooue,
With radiance renu'd. And then, the fourth,
The seuenth Day, next; being first in sacred worth:
For that Day, did Latona bring to light,
The gould-sword-wearing Sun. Next then the eightth,
37
The Moones prime strength, t'instruct the works of Men.
The leauenth and twelfth, are likewise both Good Daies;
The twelfth yet, farre exceeds, the 'leuenths repaire;
For that Day hangs the Spinner in the Aire;
And weaues her web vp. So the Spinster, all
Her Rock then ends, exposing it to sale.
So Earth's third Huswife, the ingenious Ant,
On that Day ends her Mole-hils cure of want.
The Day her selfe, in their example then,
Tasking her fire, and bounds her length to Men.
The thirteenth Day, take care thou sowe no seed;
To plant yet, tis a Day of speciall speed.
The sixteenth Day, Plants set, prooue fruitlesse still;
To get a Sonne tis good, a Daughter ill.
Nor good to get, nor giue in Nuptials;
Nor in the sixt Day, any Influence falls,
To fashion her begetting Confluence.
But to geld Kids, and Lambs, and Sheep-coats fence;
It is a Day of much beneuolence:
To get a Sonne, it good effects affords;
And loues to cut ones heart, with bitter words.
And yet it likes faire speeches too, and lies;
And whispering out detractiue obloquies.
To plant yet, tis a Day of speciall speed.
The sixteenth Day, Plants set, prooue fruitlesse still;
To get a Sonne tis good, a Daughter ill.
Nor good to get, nor giue in Nuptials;
Nor in the sixt Day, any Influence falls,
To fashion her begetting Confluence.
But to geld Kids, and Lambs, and Sheep-coats fence;
It is a Day of much beneuolence:
To get a Sonne, it good effects affords;
And loues to cut ones heart, with bitter words.
And yet it likes faire speeches too, and lies;
And whispering out detractiue obloquies.
The eight, the bellowing Bullock lib, and Gote;
The twelfth, the labouring Mule; but if of note,
For wisedome, and to make a Iudge of Lawes;
To estimate, and arbitrate a Cause,
Thou wouldst a Sonne get, the great twentith Day,
Consort thy wife, when full the Morns broad Ray,
Shines through thy windowes: for that Day is fit,
To forme a great, and honourable wit.
The tenth is likewise good, to get a Son;
Fourteenth a Daughter; then lay hand vpon
The Colt, the Mule, and horne-retorted Stere;
And sore-bit Mastiffe; and their forces rere,
To vsefull seruices. Be carefull then,
The foure and twentith Day, (the bane of Men,
Hurling amongst them) to make safe thy State;
For tis a Day, of Death insatiate.
The fourth Day, celebrate thy Nuptiall feast,
All Birds obseru'd, that fit a Bridall best.
All fift Daies, to effect affaires in, flie;
Being all of harsh and horrid qualitie.
For then, all vengefull spirits walke their Round,
And haunt Men like their hand-maids; to confound
Their faithles peace; whose plague Contention got.
The seuenteenth Day, what Ceres did allot
Thy Barnes in Haruest (since then view'd with care)
Vpon a smooth floore; let the vinnoware,
Dight, and expose, to the opposed Gale.
Then, let thy Forrest-feller, cut thee all
Thy Chamber fuell; and the numerous parts
Of Nauall timber, apt for Ship-wrights Arts.
The foure and twentith Day, begin to close
Thy Ships of leake. The ninth Day neuer blowes
Least ill at all on Men. The ninteenth Day,
Yeelds (after Noone yet) a more gentle Ray;
Auspicious, both to plant, and generate
Both Sonnes and Daughters; ill to no estate.
But the thrice ninth Daies Goodnes, few Men know;
Being best Day of the whole Moneth, to make flow
Both wine, and Corne-tuns; and to curb the force
Of Mules and Oxen and the swift-hoou'd Horse.
And then, the well-built Ship lanch. But few men,
Know truth in any thing. Or where, or when
To doe, or order, what they must doe, needs:
Daies differencing, with no more care than deeds.
The twice seuenth Day (for sacred worth) exceeds.
But few Men, when the twentith Day is past,
Which is the best Day (while the Morne doth last
In her increasing power; though after Noone,
Her grace growes faint) approue, or end that Moone,
With any Care; Mans life, most pris'd, is least:
Though lengthlesse; spent as endless. Fowle and Beast
Farre passing it, for Date. For all the store
Of yeares, Man boasts; the prating Crowe hath more,
By thrice three liues. The long-liu'd Stagge, foure parts,
Exceeds the Crowes Time; the Rauens Age; the Harts,
Triples in durance; all the Rauens long Date,
The Phœnix, ninefolde doth reduplicate.
Yet Nymphs (the blest seed of the Thunderer)
Ten liues out-last the Phœnix. But preferre
Good life, to long life; and obserue these Daies,
That must direct it; being to all Mens waies
Of excellent conduct. All the rest but sound's,
That follow falls; meere vaine and haue no grounds:
But, one doth one Day praise; another, other;
Few knowing the truth. This Day becomes a Mother;
The next, a Step-dame. But, be Man still one;
That Man a happy Angell waites vpon;
Makes rich, and blessed, that through all these Daies
Is knowingly emploid. In all his waies,
(Betwixt him and the Gods) goes still vnblam'd.
All their forewarnings, and suggestions fram'd,
To their obedience; being directly view'd:
All Good endeauour'd, and all Ill eschew'd.
The twelfth, the labouring Mule; but if of note,
For wisedome, and to make a Iudge of Lawes;
To estimate, and arbitrate a Cause,
Thou wouldst a Sonne get, the great twentith Day,
Consort thy wife, when full the Morns broad Ray,
Shines through thy windowes: for that Day is fit,
To forme a great, and honourable wit.
The tenth is likewise good, to get a Son;
Fourteenth a Daughter; then lay hand vpon
The Colt, the Mule, and horne-retorted Stere;
And sore-bit Mastiffe; and their forces rere,
38
The foure and twentith Day, (the bane of Men,
Hurling amongst them) to make safe thy State;
For tis a Day, of Death insatiate.
The fourth Day, celebrate thy Nuptiall feast,
All Birds obseru'd, that fit a Bridall best.
All fift Daies, to effect affaires in, flie;
Being all of harsh and horrid qualitie.
For then, all vengefull spirits walke their Round,
And haunt Men like their hand-maids; to confound
Their faithles peace; whose plague Contention got.
The seuenteenth Day, what Ceres did allot
Thy Barnes in Haruest (since then view'd with care)
Vpon a smooth floore; let the vinnoware,
Dight, and expose, to the opposed Gale.
Then, let thy Forrest-feller, cut thee all
Thy Chamber fuell; and the numerous parts
Of Nauall timber, apt for Ship-wrights Arts.
The foure and twentith Day, begin to close
Thy Ships of leake. The ninth Day neuer blowes
Least ill at all on Men. The ninteenth Day,
Yeelds (after Noone yet) a more gentle Ray;
Auspicious, both to plant, and generate
Both Sonnes and Daughters; ill to no estate.
But the thrice ninth Daies Goodnes, few Men know;
Being best Day of the whole Moneth, to make flow
Both wine, and Corne-tuns; and to curb the force
Of Mules and Oxen and the swift-hoou'd Horse.
And then, the well-built Ship lanch. But few men,
Know truth in any thing. Or where, or when
To doe, or order, what they must doe, needs:
Daies differencing, with no more care than deeds.
The twice seuenth Day (for sacred worth) exceeds.
But few Men, when the twentith Day is past,
Which is the best Day (while the Morne doth last
39
Her grace growes faint) approue, or end that Moone,
With any Care; Mans life, most pris'd, is least:
Though lengthlesse; spent as endless. Fowle and Beast
Farre passing it, for Date. For all the store
Of yeares, Man boasts; the prating Crowe hath more,
By thrice three liues. The long-liu'd Stagge, foure parts,
Exceeds the Crowes Time; the Rauens Age; the Harts,
Triples in durance; all the Rauens long Date,
The Phœnix, ninefolde doth reduplicate.
Yet Nymphs (the blest seed of the Thunderer)
Ten liues out-last the Phœnix. But preferre
Good life, to long life; and obserue these Daies,
That must direct it; being to all Mens waies
Of excellent conduct. All the rest but sound's,
That follow falls; meere vaine and haue no grounds:
But, one doth one Day praise; another, other;
Few knowing the truth. This Day becomes a Mother;
The next, a Step-dame. But, be Man still one;
That Man a happy Angell waites vpon;
Makes rich, and blessed, that through all these Daies
Is knowingly emploid. In all his waies,
(Betwixt him and the Gods) goes still vnblam'd.
All their forewarnings, and suggestions fram'd,
To their obedience; being directly view'd:
All Good endeauour'd, and all Ill eschew'd.
The end of Hesiods Works, and Daies.
| The Georgicks of Hesiod | |