罢丑别听Georgics聽was the second official work by Virgil, ostensibly written to be poetic instruction for the proper care of one鈥檚 land and farm creatures. Following Virgil鈥檚聽Eclogues聽and preceding the聽Aeneid, the聽Georgics聽was published around 38-32 BC.
Despite some scholars calling the聽Georgics聽merely an ancient version of a farming manual, it displays much more literary finesse than other manuals, such as Marcus Terentius Varro鈥檚聽Res Rusticae. 罢丑别听Georgics聽does describe several agricultural methods and techniques, but is also an inspirational didactic poem of great elegance, which deploys many poetic devices such as similes and metaphors.
Like Sir Edmund Hillary, Virgil had exposure to the art of beekeeping (through his father) and learnt the importance of hard work from this interesting insect community. Virgil even dedicates much of the 4th Book of the聽Georgics聽to the characteristics of bees. It reflects the comfort Virgil found in nature, and the happiness that accompanied him in the countryside, away from the turbulence of the city.
Although shorter than the聽Aeneid, the聽Georgics聽is nonetheless an important poetic work. The poem places great emphasis on the hard work necessary to enjoy the benefits of farming, and can be admired for its lessons on the moral value of effort.
