Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

CALPURNIUS SICULUS1 too have been wont to offer first-fruits to tlie i^ods ^who protect my apple-orchard and to mould forPriapus cakes of sacrifice. Dripping combs of tricklinghoney I present—nor think they shall be lessacceptable to heaven than a goat's blood stainingthe altar.A thousand lambs I feed which bleat beneath their•mother's teats ; as many Tarentine ewes yield metheir fleeces.'' Throuiihout the year I press thesnow-white cheese : if you come, Crocale, the wholeproduce of this year will be at your command.He mIio would count what multitude of apples Igather under my trees will sooner count fine sand.Ever am I plucking the green fruits of the earthneither midwinter nor summer stays me. If youcome, Crocale, the whole garden will be at yourcommand.Although the parched field is withering the droopinggrass, yet accept from me pails of quivering curdledmilk. Fleeces will I give in the early days ofspring sunshine so soon as sheep-shearing startswith the temperate kalends.-But I who receive gifts even from the scorchingsummer vdW give you a thousand Chian figs ofglistening skin, and as many chestnuts, when theDecember sun ripens the nuts and their green husksburst.Sheep from the district of Tarentum in South Italy were'famed for the good quality of their wool : Varro, R.R., II.ii. 18; Columella, R.B., VII, ii. .3; iv. 3: cf. Horace's referenceto the valuable fleeces of sheep pasturing near theneighbouring river, the Galaesus, Od. II. vi. 10.' The moderately warm weather in the months betweenthe spring equinox and midsummer is recommended forshearing by Varro, R.R. II. xi. G.