y head to face the fresh Zephyr； from the everflowing spring which pours down unfouled thrice pour an offering of water； but make a fourth libation of wine。
（ll。 597…608） Set your slaves to winnow Demeter's holy grain； when strong Orion （28） first appears； on a smooth threshing…floor in an airy place。 Then measure it and store it in jars。 And so soon as you have safely stored all your stuff indoors； I bid you put your bondman out of doors and look out for a servant…girl with no children； for a servant with a child to nurse is troublesome。 And look after the dog with jagged teeth； do not grudge him his food； or some time the Day…sleeper （29） may take your stuff。 Bring in fodder and litter so as to have enough for your oxen and mules。 After that； let your men rest their poor knees and unyoke your pair of oxen。
（ll。 609…617） But when Orion and Sirius are come into mid…heaven； and rosy…fingered Dawn sees Arcturus （30）； then cut off all the grape…clusters； Perses； and bring them home。 Show them to the sun ten days and ten nights： then cover them over for five； and on the sixth day draw off into vessels the gifts of joyful Dionysus。 But when the Pleiades and Hyades and strong Orion begin to set （31）； then remember to plough in season： and so the completed year （32） will fitly pass beneath the earth。
（ll。 618…640） But if desire for uncomfortable sea…faring seize you； when the Pleiades plunge into the misty sea （33） to escape Orion's rude strength； then truly gales of all kinds rage。 Then keep ships no longer on the sparkling sea； but bethink you to till the land as I bid you。 Haul up your ship upon the land and pack it closely with stones all round to keep off the power of the winds which blow damply； and draw out the bilge…plug so that the rain of heaven may not rot it。 Put away all the tackle and fittings in your house； and stow the wings of the sea…going ship neatly； and hang up the well…shaped rudder over the smoke。 You yourself wait until the season for sailing is come； and then haul your swift ship down to the sea and stow a convenient cargo in it； so that you may bring home profit； even as your father and mine； foolish Perses； used to sail on shipboard because he lacked sufficient livelihood。 And one day he came to this very place crossing over a great stretch of sea； he left Aeolian Cyme and fled； not from riches and substance； but from wretched poverty which Zeus lays upon men； and he settled near Helicon in a miserable hamlet； Ascra； which is bad in winter； sultry in summer； and good at no time。
（ll。 641…645） But you； Perses； remember all works in their season but sailing especially。 Admire a small ship； but put your freight in a large one； for the greater the lading； the greater will be your piled gain； if only the winds will keep back their harmful gales。
（ll。 646…662） If ever you turn your misguided heart to trading and with to escape from debt and joyless hunger； I will show you the measures of the loud…roaring sea； though I have no skill in sea…faring nor in ships； for never yet have I sailed by ship over the wide sea； but only to Euboea from Aulis where the Achaeans once stayed through much storm when they had gathered a great host from divine Hellas for Troy； the land of fair women。 Then I crossed over to Chalcis； to the games of wise Amphidamas where the sons of the great…hearted hero proclaimed and appointed prizes。 And there I boast that I gained the victory with a song and carried off an handled tripod which I dedicated to the Muses of Helicon； in the place where they first set me in the way of clear song。 Such is all my experience of many…pegged ships； nevertheless I will tell you the will of Zeus who holds the aegis； for the Muses have taught me to sing in marvellous song。
（ll。 663…677） Fifty days after the solstice （34）； when the season of wearisome heat is come to an end； is the right time for me to go sailing。 Then you will not wreck your ship； nor will the sea destroy the sailors； unless Poseidon the Earth…Shaker be set upon it； or Zeus； the king of the deathless gods； wish to slay them； for the issues of good and evil alike are with them。 At that time the winds are steady； and the sea is harmless。 Then trust in the winds without care； and haul your swift ship down to the sea and put all the freight no board； but make all haste you can to return home again and do not wait till the time of the new wine and autumn rain and oncoming storms with the fierce gales of Notus who accompanies the heavy autumn rain of Zeus and stirs up the sea and makes the deep dangerous。
（ll。 678…694） Another time for men to go sailing is in spring when a man first sees leaves on the topmost shoot of a fig…tree as large as the foot…print that a cow makes； then the sea is passable； and this is the spring sailing time。 For my part I do not praise it； for my heart does not like it。 Such a sailing is snatched； and you will hardly avoid mischief。 Yet in their ignorance men do even this； for wealth means life to poor mortals； but it is fearful to die among the waves。 But I bid you consider all these things in your heart as I say。 Do not put all your goods in hallow ships； leave the greater part behind； and put the lesser part on board； for it is a bad business to meet with disaster among the waves of the sea； as it is bad if you put too great a load on your waggon and break the axle； and your goods are spoiled。 Observe due measure： and proportion is best in all things。
（ll。 695…705） Bring home a wife to your house when you are of the right age； while you are not far short of thirty years nor much above； this is the right age for marriage。 Let your wife have been grown up four years； and marry her in the fifth。 Marry a maiden； so that you can teach her careful ways； and especially marry one who lives near you； but look well about you and see that your marriage will not be a joke to your neighbours。 For a man wins nothing better than a good wife； and； again； nothing worse than a bad one； a greedy soul who roasts her man without fire； strong though he may be； and brings him to a raw （35） old age。
（ll。 706…714） Be careful to avoid the anger of the deathless gods。 Do not make a friend equal to a brother； but if you do； do not wrong him first； and do not lie to please the tongue。 But if he wrongs you first； offending either in word or in deed； remember to repay him double； but if he ask you to be his friend again and be ready to give you satisfaction； welcome him。 He is a worthless man who makes now one and now another his friend； but as for you； do not let your face put your heart to shame （36）。
（ll。 715…716） Do not get a name either as lavish or as churlish； as a friend of rogues or as a slanderer of good men。
（ll。 717…721） Never dare to taunt a man with deadly poverty which eats out the heart； it is sent by the deathless gods。 The best treasure a man can have is a sparing tongue； and the greatest pleasure； one that moves orderly； for if you speak evil； you yourself will soon be worse spoken of。
（ll。 722…723） Do not be boorish at a common feast where there are many guests； the pleasure is greatest and the expense is least （37）。
（ll。 724…726） Never pour a libation of sparkling wine to Zeus after dawn with unwashen hands； nor to others of the deathless gods； else they do not hear your prayers but spit them back。
（ll。 727…732） Do not stand upright facing the sun when you make water； but remember to do this when he has set towards his rising。 And do not make water as you go； whether on the road or off the road； and do not uncover yourself： the nights belong to the blessed gods。 A scrupulous man who has a wise heart sits down or goes to the wall of an enclosed court。
（ll。 733…736） Do not expose yourself befouled by the fireside in your house； but avoid this。 Do not beget children when you are come back from ill…omened burial； but after a festival of the gods。
（ll。 737…741） Never cross the sweet…flowing water of ever…rolling rivers afoot until you have prayed； gazing into the soft flood； and washed your hands in the clear； lovely water。 Whoever crosses a river with hands unwashed of wickedness； the gods are angry with him and bring trouble upon him afterwards。
（ll。 742…743） At a cheerful festival of the gods do not cut the withered from the quick upon that which has five branches （38） with bright steel。
（ll。 744…745） Never put the ladle upon the mixing…bowl at a wine party； for malignant ill…luck is attached to that。
（ll。 746…747） When you are building a house； do not leave it rough…hewn； or a cawing crow may settle on it and croak。
（ll。 748…749） Take nothing to eat or to wash with from uncharmed pots； for in them there is mischief。
（ll。 750…759） Do not let a boy of twelve years sit on things which may not be moved （39）； for that is bad； and makes a man unmanly； nor yet a child of twelve months； for that has the same effect。 A man should not clean his body with water in which a woman has washed； for there is bitter mischief in that also for a time。 When you come upon a burning sacrifice； do not make a mock of mysteries； for Heaven is angry at this also。 Never make water in the mouths of rivers which flow to the sea； nor yet in springs； but be careful to avoid this。 And do not ease yourself in them： it is not well to do this。
（ll。 760…763） So do： and avoid the talk of men。 For Talk is mischievous； light； and easily raised； but hard to bear and difficult to be rid of。 Talk never wholly dies away when many people voice her： even Talk is in some ways divine。
（ll。 765…767） Mark the days which come from Zeus； duly telling your slaves of them； and that the thirtieth day of the month is best for one to look over the work and to deal out supplies。
（ll。 769…768） （40） For these are days which come from Zeus the all…wise； when men discern aright。
（ll。 770…779） To begin with； the first； the fourth； and the seventh on which Leto bare Apollo with the blade of gold each is a holy day。 The eighth and the ninth； two days at least of the waxing month （41）； are specially good for the works of man。 Also the eleventh and twelfth are both excellent； alike for shearing sheep and for reaping the kindly fruits； but the twelfth is much better than the eleventh； for on it