4.116–124

A digression on gardens and a southern Italian gardener Vergil once knew.

This set piece (lines 116–148) gives a brief description of the most notable omission in the Georgics, the cultivation of vegetable crops. Vergil explains that his “journey” of describing agricultural work is nearly over. Yet, if he had time, he would discuss the caretaking of gardens, celebrate the roses of Paestum, and other garden crops—both vegetables and ornamental plants.

116–122 extrēmō nī…crēsceret in ventrem cucumis: these lines encompass a present contrary-to-fact condition, but with the present subjunctive in the protasis (traham, festinem) for vividness (AG 517e). These lines are an example of praeteritio, the introduction of a topic by stating that one is going to pass over or ignore it.

116 extrēmō…sub fine labōrum: “near the very end of my efforts.”

117 vēla traham: “furl sails” (that is, roll up the sails), a nautical term.

117 terrīs: advertō can either be followed by in + accusative or the dative, to show toward what something is being turned. Vergil uses a metaphor of furling the sails and turning to land to show that he is coming to the end of this literary journey.

118–119 forsitan…Paestī = forsitan et canerem quae cūra colendī ōrnāret pinguēs hortōs et rosāria biferī Paestī. colendī is a gerund (AG 501, 504).

119 biferī: according to Servius’s commentary on Vergil, the roses at Paestum, an Ancient Greek city in southern Italy, bloomed twice a year, though this may just be Vergil’s exaggeration to indicate the fantastical beauty and fertility of the land. The roses of Paestum were reportedly exceptionally fragrant, though the varietal that grew there appears now to be extinct. rosāria: may be either the direct object of canerem or ōrnāret.

120 quōque: = quō + que, not quoque “also.” Take quō closely with modō.

120 pōtīs < pōtō, pōtāre, pōtāvi, pōtus; perfect passive participle modifying rivīs, “that the plants drink.”

120 intiba…et viridēs apiō ripae: plural subjects of gaudērent. gaudeō takes an ablative. intiba: endive or chicory, of the genus Chicorium.

121 apiō: some take apiō as an ablative of specification with viridēs (AG 418), but the parallelism of the banks rejoicing in the apium—as the intiba rejoiced in the water—creates a graceful image. Likely refers to celery (Apium graveolens).

122 in ventrem: “into a belly,” so that it would look similar to a gourd.

122 cucumis: take closely with tortus. Probably cucumber (Cucumis sativus), though Cucumis melo var. flexuosus—the Armenian cucumber—is a compelling alternative. Both are in the Cucurbitaceae family.

122 sēra comantem: “late blooming;” sēra is used adverbially (AG 214d).

123 narcissum: the narcissus is a spring perennial, though Narcissus serotinus blooms in fall. Daffodils are part of this genus.

123 tacuissem: continuing the contrary-to-fact condition, with a pluperfect potential subjunctive.

123 acanthī: likely Acanthus mollis, or “bear’s breeches.” vīmen may refer to the pliant floral stalk rather than a twig.

124 hederās: ivy (Hedera helix), with pallentēs as its modifier.

124 amantēs…myrtōs: amantēs modifies myrtōs. Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is hardy and grows well even on the coast.