Book IX, 384: The Roman Months

January: From me opens the door of the solar year and the sun looks on the supreme magistrates of Italy. February: wet the land with thick snowflakes, making it pregnant with the splendour of spring. March: Mars begins from me, and flowers and sweet milk, and on my twentieth day night and day are equal. April: Let the gardener now cut shoots and graft tame branches on wild stems. May: Now the sea is open; equip the ships ; it is time to sail them out of the untroubled harbours. June: I am half way between the rose and white lily, and I am heavy with branches of yellow cherries. July : The Sun crosses Cancer, and the husbandman with his sickle cuts the ripe ears. August : I separate the corn from the straw, and in Leo the fountains of the Naiads are at their purest. September: I am heavy with grapes and all kinds of fruit, and again night and day become equal. October: Who can be sweeter than me, who pour forth wine when I bring Bacchus from the vineyard to the press? November: If thou hast Pallas’ olive-trees it is time to press the fruit and remember thee of labour. December: I bid thee cease from ploughing the fallow land, for the frosts will injure the milky seeds.