Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

NEMESIANUSwide circuit with the smoke of the fire to mark a convenientround space, so that you may stand unharmedin the middle of the circle : to this all the puppies,to this the whole crowd as yet unseparated must bebrought : the mother will provide the test of herprogeny, saving the valuable young ones by herselection and from their alarming peril. For whenshe sees her offspring shut in by flames, at once witha leap she clears the blazing boundaries of the firezone,snatches the first in her jaws and carries it tothe kennel ; next another, next another in turnso does the intelligent mother distinguish her noblerprogeny by her love of merit. These then alongwith their mother, now^ that it is clear spring, youare to feed on soft whey (for everywhere the seasonthat abounds in milk has come, and sheepfolds arewhite with brimming milk-pails) : at times, too, addto their food bread with milk," so that they may beable to fill their young marrows with powerful juicesand even at that time give promise of vigorousstrength.But after the burning Sun-God has reached theglowing height of heaven, entering on his slow pathsand on the sign of the lingering Crab,^ then it willbe useful to lessen their regular fattening food andretain the more delicate nourishment ,'' so that theweight of heavy bulk may not overstrain their limbs ;for that is when they have the connecting joints ofthe body slack, and plant on the ground unstablefeet and swimming legs : then too their mouths arefurnished with snowy teeth. But you should notimperceptible lengthening and shortening of the days beforeand after the solstice."^i.e. the molle serum of 1. 152.KK 2499